Back Pain Solutions

You've Got Back Pain. We've Got Solutions.

Back Pain Solution--LVC Difference | Lehigh Valley ChiropracticEight of every 10 people will suffer from back pain at some point in their life. Chances are good that you're one of them. Low back pain is the leading cause of disability in people under age 45 and the third leading cause of disability in individuals over 45. We get it. Back pain is a real problem for a lot of people. Whether your back pain is acute or chronic, we've got solutions. Chiropractors are trained as non-surgical spine specialists. The Doctors of Chiropractic at Lehigh Valley Chiropractic manage back pain without all those injections, drugs, gimmicky back pain relief appliances, muscle relaxers, or surgery. The chiropractors at LVC have effective relief strategies and solutions for managing your back pain like as spinal manipulation (also known as chiropractic adjustments), mobilization, flexion-distraction (spinal decompression), Active Release Technique®, trigger point therapy, and therapeutic exercise.

Is chiropractic safe and effective for treating low back pain?

Time and again, chiropractic is shown to be a useful, safe and preferred method for treating back pain. At Lehigh Valley Chiropractic, spinal manipulation (chiropractic treatments/adjustments) is combined with manual therapy, trigger point and myofascial therapy, and therapeutic exercise in order to provide you with the fastest results. Unlike most other treatment methods for low back pain (injections, medication, surgery), chiropractic is generally not associated with serious side effects. The most common side effect is a temporary increase in spinal pain. Most often, after the initial increase in discomfort is preceded with relief and increased range of motion. The doctors at this Bethlehem chiropractic practice are highly trained and skilled in the art and science of chiropractic adjustments. Click here to learn more about the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic care.

Chiropractic Consumers are Satisfied Customers

The consumers reported and chiropractors are the best choice when it comes to satisfaction with back pain treatments. In a recent Consumer Report Survey evaluating “Relief for your aching back,” chiropractic treatments were rated highest (59%) followed by spinal injections (51%), massage (48%) and physical therapy (46%). When asked who helped the most, the percentage of people who were completely or very satisfied with their “back-pain treatments and advice” ranked Doctors of Chiropractic at the top of their list (59%) followed by physical therapists (55%), acupuncturists (53%), physician specialists (44%) and primary care-doctors (34%). “About 80 percent of the adults in the U.S. have been bothered by back pain at some point. The Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center recently surveyed more than 14,000 subscribers who experienced lower-back pain in the past year but never had back surgery. More than half said the pain severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer, and 88 percent said it recurred throughout the year.” Chiropractic worked for Consumer Reports’ readers and may work for you or someone you know who is suffering with back pain. Chiropractors are non-surgical spine specialists who focus on the evaluation and management of spinal pain. With years of extensive training, Doctors of Chiropractic are fully qualified to treat spine and other musculoskeletal disorders. Click here to learn more about why consumers love chiropractic.

How to Avoid Back Surgery

Come here first!! One of the best predictors of whether or not you will need back surgery is whether or not you first see a surgeon. Get this--one study looked at workers with back pain and found that 42.7% of workers who saw the surgeon first had back surgery in contrast to 1.5% of those who first saw a chiropractor. If you really need surgery, we will get you to the right place, but we strongly feel that our back pain solutions can keep you from ever needing to go under the knife. Click here to learn more about how to avoid back surgery.

Wondering if your back pain is being caused by a lumbar disc herniation/"slipped disc"?

Lumbar disc herniation is a common cause of lower back pain. If you're wondering if your back pain is due to a herniated or bulging disc, you've come to the right place. The chiropractors at Lehigh Valley Chiropractic are specially trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of lumbar disc herniation. If you've got low back pain that is accompanied by radiating (traveling) pain down your leg, you might have a "hot" low back disc or what feels like a "slipped disc". Our back pain solutions are specially customized to treating disc herniation. We've also got management strategies that will help you to prevent future occurrences of low back and radiating leg pain. Click here to learn more about lumbar disc herniation.

How to Avoid Needles and Spinal Injections Used to Treat Lower Back Pain

We deliver effective low back pain relief without the use of medication, needles, spinal injections, or surgery. Chiropractic is proven to be a safe method for treating pain. For any type of treatment that you undergo, there are risks and benefits. Spinal injections, while sometimes useful and necessary for reducing inflammation (and in certain rare circumstances, we will recommend injection prior to chiropractic therapy), are associated with a few serious risks including infection, dural puncture, bleeding, fever, damage to the hip joint, etc. In order to avoid needles and spinal injections, avoid the pain management doctors who prescribe them and try chiropractic first. The Lehigh Valley Chiropractic approach is to exhaust every conservative treatment method available before resorting to invasive measures.

What to do when you think your "back went out"

We see it every day! You walk into our office sort of crooked, bent over and in a lot of pain. Or, you've just got a lot of discomfort and decreased ability to move. You feel like your back "went out" or like something slipped out of place. One of the first things you should do is call the office to schedule your appointment. Next, do the best you can to move. We know, it's counter intuitive. You've got pain and you feel like you've got to avoid moving all together. But, gentle movements can be effective in alleviating discomfort in the long run. Additionally, if your pain is acute (just started and feels severe), using an ice pack on the region for about 15 minutes every hour can be helpful. Additionally, topical pain relievers like Biofreeze, Tiger Balm, or Sombra cream can be of help.

Pinched Nerve | Sciatica

Written by Dr Scott Bentson on . Posted in Back Pain

What is Sciatica / Pinched Nerve?

The sciatic nerve is a long, wide and branching nerve that travels from the low back into the buttocks then down to the feet. When this nerve or its roots becomes irritated or inflamed, pain, numbness and weakness may ensue along its course. This is commonly referred to as a “pinched nerve” though the degree to which the nerve is actually being pinched can vary. Sciatica isn’t a disorder, per se; rather, it is a set of symptoms. The symptoms include pain (generally pain radiating into the buttock, thigh, and calf), pins and needles/tingling and decreased muscle strength. Often the pain becomes worse with activities that increase pressure including coughing, sneezing and bearing down when going to the bathroom. Rarely bowel, bladder and sexual dysfunction are reported; this may be a sign of a medical emergency (cauda equine syndrome)-if you are currently experiencing any of these symptoms, a visit to your nearest emergency room is warranted. It is important to recognize and treat the cause of sciatica. The most common cause is disc herniation. Other common causes include piriformis syndrome (spasm of the pirifomis muscle puts pressure on the sciatic nerve), stenosis, pregnancy and bone spurs (osteophytes). Less common and more serious causes of sciatica include bone tumors, nerve tumors and infection.

How to Avoid Back Surgery

Written by Dr Scott Bentson on . Posted in Back Pain

From our perspective, back surgery is rarely necessary for the treatment of lower back pain. While no one ever really wants to go under the knife, you really don’t want to knives anywhere near your spine. While in certain cases back surgery is necessary and effective, many studies investigating spine surgery find that not only is the procedure not necessary, it often leaves patients in worse shape and more pain than before they went onto the operating table. In fact, multiple research articles indicate that back surgery often fails. Additionally, people who undergo back surgery often report increased pain, increased disability, inability to return to work, and increased dependency on pain medications.

Lumbar Disc Herniation

Written by Dr Scott Bentson on . Posted in Back Pain

What is Disc Herniation ?

The intervertebral disc is the connective tissue between the vertebrae (bones of the spinal column). The disc is composed of a nucleus pulposus which is surrounded by annular fibers. When the nuclear material breaks though the annulus, it is considered a bulge, protrusion, herniation or sequestration. A herniation can occur anywhere in the spine but they are most common in the lumbar region (low back). Many asymptomatic individuals have disc herniations that are evident on MRI; it is important to understand that pain generation is not necessarily from the disc herniation itself. Symptoms arise when the surrounding tissues (such as nerves and the spinal cord) are affected. Radiculopathy (commonly called sciatica when in the lumbar spine) is a diseased condition of the nerve root; a common cause of radiculopathy is disc herniation.

Pregnancy and Back Pain

Written by Dr Scott Bentson on . Posted in Back Pain

You’re Going to be a Mom!

This is an exciting time full of changes both emotionally and physically. The chiropractors at Lehigh Valley Chiropractic are dedicated to serving women throughout the course of their pregnancy. Pregnant patients may greatly benefit from the services offered at Lehigh Valley Chiropractic. Studies have shown that treatments rendered by chiropractors may enable patients to achieve pain relief during pregnancy without the use of medications. Remember that over the counter medications such as Aspirin and Ibuprofen are not recommended during pregnancy. The best ways to beat back pain in pregnancy are through improved posture, exercise and hands-on therapeutic techniques.

Chiropractic care during pregnancy is an extremely safe and effective way of managing low back pain and sciatic pain.

-Dr Bentson

Pediatric Low Back Pain

Written by Dr Scott Bentson on . Posted in Back Pain

Kids Get Back Pain Too…

Did you know that 50% of children and young adults under the age of 20 experience back pain and 15% suffer from chronic back pain? Although disorders of the spine are less common in children, the pediatric population is not immune to musculoskeletal pain. Many young people are involved in aggressive sporting activities that may increase their risk of injury. At Lehigh Valley Chiropractic, we treat the common causes of musculoskeletal pain with non-invasive and modified (depending on the patient’s size) techniques.

Myofascial Pain

Written by Dr Scott Bentson on . Posted in Back Pain

What is Myofascial Pain?

Myofascial Pain (aka Myofascial dysfunction) is caused by focal areas of hypersensitivity (trigger points) that develop in muscle tissue. Muscle pain may be caused by trauma, injury, poor posture, stress/anxiety (leading to high levels of muscle tension), overuse, or immobility. Myofascial pain can develop in any muscle, and pain may be felt in the jaw, neck, back, pelvis, upper extremity or lower extremity. Persistent myofascial pain may lead to weakness (due to muscle underuse), migraine, TMJ dysfunction and difficulty sleeping. Long term and wide-spread myofascial pain may develop into fibromyalgia in certain individuals.

Sacroiliac Joint Pain

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What is Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction?

The Sacroiliac Joints (SIJ) are large joints at the bottom of the spine that connect the sacrum and ilium (pelvic bones).  Dysfunction of these joints commonly causes low back pain. The pain caused by dysfunction can range from mild to debilitating. Symptoms of SIJ dysfunction include low back and buttock pain which may radiate down the back of the thighs (but not generally below the knee). The pain is often described as sharp and stabbing and is generally worse with movement. The most common trigger for SIJ dysfunction is minor trauma (generally caused by bending or lifting). Due to ligament laxity caused by hormonal changes, pregnant women often suffer from this condition.

Facet Joint Dysfunction

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What is Facet Joint Dysfunction?

Facet joints are relatively tiny joints which join vertebrae and allow for motion of the spine. Joint dysfunction occurs when a joint becomes fixed and painful; this can happen anywhere in the spine (neck, midback, low back). Generally, you’ll experience reduced range of motion and pain in the region of the joint. Often, muscle spasm or guarding is also present. Additionally, specific pain referral patterns are often found. In certain individuals, joint dysfunction has a propensity to recur.

Lumbar Disc Derangement

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What is Lumbar Disc Derangement?

The intervertebral disc is the connective tissue between the vertebrae (bones of the spinal column). The disc is composed of a nucleus pulposus (gelatinous material at the center of the disc) which is surrounded by annular fibers. Lumbar Disc Derangement (otherwise known as discogenic pain) is a condition of the low back where the disc becomes painful. Lumbar Disc Derangement is thought to be caused by multiple small tears that develop in the disc; nuclear material seeps out into these tears and irritates the nerve endings in the outer portion of the disc.

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

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What is Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?

The word stenosis is a term used by medical professionals to describe an abnormal narrowing. Spinal stenosis indicates there is an abnormal narrowing in the spine which may or may not be causing impingement on the spinal cord or your nerves and possibly low back pain. There are several reasons why this narrowing occurs, and the chiropractors at LVC will investigate the root cause. Although this condition is most commonly seen in older individuals, occasionally it occurs in young people.  If you have spinal stenosis, the symptoms you are most likely experiencing include low back pain and leg pain which generally get worse when walking and become improved when you sit or flex forward. If you extend your back, pain usually increases.

Affiliations

Lehigh Valley Chiropractic Affiliations