Thirty-one million Americans have low back pain at any given time. One half of all working Americans admit to having back symptoms each year. One third of all Americans over age 18 had a back problem in the past five years severe enough for them to seek professional help. And the cost of this care is estimated to be a staggering $50 Billion yearly--and that's just for the more easily identified costs! These are just some of the astounding facts about Americans and their miserable backs! Is there any wonder why some experts estimate that as many as 80% of all of us will experience a back problem at some time in our lives?

What your Medical Doctor doesn't know about low back pain can cause you more harm in the long run. If you are like most Americans, you have some form of  HMO insurance coverage. This means that your ability to seek help from the type of doctor that can understand, properly diagnose and treat your back problem is very limited.

When you do go into your MD, they will most likely tell you that should minimize your activity, take medications to control pain, and a muscle relaxer to get rid of muscle spasms. The problem with this pattern of thought is that this addresses your “SYMPTOMS”, not the actual problem!

Why do you feel pain after injuring your low back? It’s very simple...your body is preventing you from doing activities or motions that will lead to more damage. It’s a defense mechanism that your body uses to protect you. Now, you take your pain medications, you feel better and go about your normal daily routine. Did you ever correct the problem? NO! Are you doing more damage? YES! Can this lead to more severe problems later on? OF COURSE!

So...why should you seek help from your Chiropractor? Because, your Doctor Of Chiropractic will assess you, test your range of motion, perform several Orthopedic tests, Neurological tests and radiographic studies to narrow down exactly what and where your problem is.  After your Chiropractor has determined what is wrong...that’s what he will fix! The Doctor will address your problem, the CAUSE of your pain.

Conservative care for your back pain is a wonderful, safe and long term solution. In many cases, patient with severe low back pain do not need surgery, but only your Chiropractor can determine if you are not a candidate for alternative care.