Back Pain Treatment in West Ashley

Back pain is a common problem for many people. In fact, studies show that some 80 percent of the population will suffer from back pain at some point in their life. It is also the second most common cause for patients to visit the doctor’s office. You’ll want to choose the right type of doctor–one that can identify and treat the root cause instead of masking the pain with medication.

If you’re not experiencing pain relief for your back pain from home care or exercises, or if your symptoms are prolonged or recurring, it’s time to schedule a full chiropractic exam. In addition to chiropractic adjustments, your practitioner can also provide guidance on proper rehabilitation exercises to perform at home to speed your recovery process.

Back pain may be intense and sharp, caused by an injury or wrong move, and heal in days or months. It can also become a chronic condition that alters a person’s ability to enjoy activities or work duties.

Back Pain Therapy

Your Body, Your Way

Together, we will create a personalized treatment plan catered to YOUR body, YOUR pain points and YOUR speed. What is right for one won’t be right for another. We specialize in the following methods to create a customized treatment plan.

If you are trying to eliminate back pain for good, consider chiropractic treatment. Chiropractic treatment involves gentle adjustments to the spine to help realign your body and keep the nervous system and immune system function properly while addressing aches, pains, and injuries.

Chiropractic adjustments can help alleviate back pain in addition to a myriad of other conditions and issues to keep you healthy and pain free. More importantly, chiropractic treats the underlying cause so the problem actually goes away.

 

Finding the source of back pain can be challenging. Is it coming from trouble with the vertebra, muscles, or something else? If you have been dealing with back pain a while, consider therapeutic massage. Working the muscles of your back and body before or after chiropractic adjustments helps increase blood flow to damaged tissues for superior healing and decreased inflammation. Massage techniques can be used to relax muscles and extend the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment for back pain relief. 

Activities that can affect the mechanics of the neck include prolonged or improper positions, accidents, repetitive motion, falls and blows to the body or head, aging, and everyday wear and tear. Neck pain can be bothersome, painful, and result from a variety of things

What other conditions can cause back pain besides injuries?

Injuries can cause back pain, but so can a variety of other issues. Aging can cause degeneration of the spine and discs which can lead to problems and pain with twisting and bending movements. Other conditions such as scoliosis and autoimmune disease can affect the spine and bones and result in back pain. 

Which areas of the back can have pain?

Any part of the back can experience back pain. The upper, middle, and lower back muscles can experience strain or damage, and the entire spine contains vertebrae, nerve roots, and discs that can have problems resulting in back pain. 

What are some causes of acute back pain?

Most acute back pain is a result of injuries during high-impact accidents such as car accidents and sports injuries. The joints may be dislodged or discs herniated resulting in pain and stiffness or pinches and sensitive nerve tissue. 

What causes chronic back pain?

Chronic back pain can result from repetitive motions or overuse injuries that cause strained muscles. It can also be a result of degeneration of vertebral joints or discs which compress nerve roots and alter alignment. 

How can chiropractic adjustments help back pain?

Adjustments shift components of the spine back into proper position which normalize joint motion, decrease nerve impingement, and relieve strain. 

How does spinal decompression relieve back pain?

Spinal decompression is used to create additional space between the vertebrae of the spine. This pressure pulls bulging and herniated discs away from nerve roots and reduces vertebral joint stress. 

HERNIATED DISCS

You may be familiar with the terms herniated and bulging discs, and while many people use them interchangeably, they are actually two separate conditions. A herniated disc results when a crack in the tough outer layer of the cartilage allows some of the soft inner cartilage to protrude out of the disc. This is also referred to as a ruptured disc or even a slipped disc–although actual disc slippage is rare. A herniated disc is more likely to cause pain and results from compression of the nerve or nerve root.

Most herniated discs occur in the lower back, although they can occur anywhere along the spine. The resulting pain is often dependent on where the herniated disc is located but may include pain in the arms or legs, numbness or tingling, and muscle weakness. Symptoms often occur only on one side of the body.

Pain from a herniated disc often comes on abruptly and is often caused by an acute injury. However, it can also be the result of gradual, age-related wear and tear. Many people are unable to pinpoint the exact moment and cause of their herniated disc pain.

There are a variety of treatment options for herniated discs. If pain has occurred for less than six weeks, anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections, physical therapy, and chiropractic care may help resolve the pain. Sometimes non-surgical spinal decompression is an option If those treatments don’t work. Sometimes if nerve damage has occurred, surgery called microdiscectomy may be considered.

Chiropractic and massage treatment are great options for herniated discs. Your medical practitioner will first evaluate the entire spine to better understand where your pain is truly coming from before providing any treatment. Once they have a better understanding of your personal pain pattern and symptoms, they may apply some gentle adjustments that can help to realign the spine for better overall function during the healing process.

How can chiropractic treatments help with a herniated disc?

There are several treatment options a chiropractor can use to heal and prevent herniated discs. These include chiropractic adjustments, cold laser therapy, electrical stimulation, ultrasound therapy, spinal decompression, and more.

Why does my herniated disc cause leg pain?

Nerves spread out from the spinal cord, and if a herniated disc is irritating the sciatic nerve, you may feel pain in your legs and even your feet.

Can spinal decompression help a herniated disc?

Spinal decompression therapy can help repair herniated discs or those that have developed cracks in their rubbery exterior and ruptured.

BULGING DISCS

Symptoms will vary according to the area of your spine that is affected. General symptoms include pain at the site of the bulging disc, pain that radiates into the arms or legs, pain that worsens with strenuous activity, pain that goes away when you stand upright with good posture, and muscle weakness or spasms.

As we age, the discs in our back deteriorate and naturally bulge due to the downward force and compression, so often bulging discs are due to age-related degeneration. The condition often develops over time and starts out gradually and progresses over time. Other causes of bulging discs may include repetitive spinal stress, genetics, obesity, spinal trauma or injury, poor lifting techniques, and poor posture.

Short-term treatment for bulging discs often includes anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and steroid injections if there is significant pain. If symptoms are affecting your quality of life long-term, spinal decompression may be an option.

Chiropractic and massage treatment are ideal options for bulged discs. Your medical practitioner will first evaluate the entire spine to better understand where your pain is truly coming from before providing any treatment. Once they have a better understanding of your personal pain pattern and symptoms, they may apply some gentle adjustments that can help to realign the spine for better overall function during the healing process.

How can chiropractic care treat bulging discs?

A chiropractor moves the spine into correct alignment which releases pressure on damaged discs. Non-surgical decompression may also be used to create extra space in the spine so the disc can return to its normal position.

How can spinal decompression help a bulging disc?

Spinal decompression therapy can help correct a bulging disc that has resulted in pain in the back or neck by using techniques to increase the space in the spine so that the bulging disc or discs can return to a healthy position. Decompression therapy also helps increase blood flow to the back therefore encouraging faster healing.

How are bulging discs different from other disc problems?

There is a lot of confusion about the differences between a herniated disc, bulging disc, and slipped disc. A herniated disc is actually torn and leaking fluid. A bulging disc is wider and flatter than it should be but is not leaking fluid. A slipped disc is typically used informally or as slang when discussing bulging or herniated discs–actual disc slippage is a rare occurrence.

A bulging disc occurs when a disc in your spine bulges outside of its usual area. There is no rupture or tear and the disc is intact and not leaking fluid. This can still result in a lot of pain or dysfunction because the disc is not in its normal shape or balance. If left untreated, bulging discs have the potential to become herniated.

DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE

Degenerative disc disease is when normal changes in the spine result in pain. The discs in the back act like shock absorbers between the bones of the spine and help the vertebrae stay flexible. As we age, they may begin to break down and may not work as well. While everyone’s discs will break down over time, not everyone will feel pain. If worn out spinal discs are the reason for your back pain, you likely have degenerative disc disease.

People with degenerative disc disease often feel constant, sharp pain in their back or neck. Where the pain is located depends on the location of the weakened disc. Pain may come and go, and feel worse when you sit, bend, lift, or twist. It may come and go and can last for a few days or possibly months. It may lead to numbness, tingling, and weakness in the arms and legs.

Our discs are made up of a soft core inside and tough outer layer. When degenerative disc disease occurs, it may be because your spinal discs dry out. As we age, they lose water and get thinner, and flatter discs don’t absorb shock as well and can lead to bulging discs which results in pain.

Over the years, minor injuries and every day stresses can result in tiny tears in the tough outer layer. This outer layer contains nerves and tears may be painful. The soft inner core may push through the cracks resulting in a herniated disc.

Pain management is a key focus of degenerative disc disease treatment. This helps reduce pain and improve mobility. Heat or cold therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, TENS units, spinal manipulation, and steroid injections may be potential treatment options for degenerative disc disease.

Performed by chiropractors, adjustments can greatly improve DDD, making it much easier to twist, bend, and move around in daily life. Adjustments (also called manipulations) involve carefully placing pressure on spinal joints to relieve dysfunction and pain.

Can a chiropractor help with degenerative disc disease?

Chiropractic care is often a preferred treatment for degenerative disc disease because it is gentle and non-invasive. It is also less likely to create undesirable side effects which are common with medications and surgery.

Is degenerative disc disease really a disease?

Not really in the traditional sense because degenerative disc disease stems from normal, natural wear and tear.

Does degenerative disc disease always lead to pain?

Aging of the discs happens to almost everyone given enough time, but many people feel no symptoms at all. The body has a way of compensating for age and the spine may function perfectly for years without pain, even with degenerative disc disease.

How can spinal decompression help degenerative disc disease?

Spinal decompression can help decrease feelings of discomfort and stiffness, improve spinal flexibility, enhance fluidity, and increase range of motion for those experiencing the negative effects of degenerative disc disease.

RIB DYSFUNCTION

Symptoms of rib dysfunction are typically on one side only and create pain upon deep exhalation or inhalation, sneezing, or coughing. Moving forward, bending, or twisting may also cause pain. The area may also be painful to the touch.

Common causes of rib dysfunction include trauma from a car accident, contact sports, or a fall. Other causes may include arthritis, poor posture, overuse strains, and sudden strains due to physical activity or labor.

Conservative care is typically the primary option for pain caused by rib dysfunction. This may include exercises to strengthen and stretch affected muscles, limiting movement that aggravates the pain, ice therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications. Chiropractic treatments also help lead to a faster recovery, as do myofascial release treatments.

Do ribs move?

During inspiration and expiration ribs move using a bucket handle motion. Rib dysfunction can cause problems with these motion patterns and restrict the breathing ability.

Is rib dysfunction common?

Studies show that up to 50 percent of cardiac clinic visits and emergency room visits for chest pain are not actually cardiac related and instead are the result of muscle and joint pain around the rib cage. Chiropractors are well equipped to diagnose and treat this pain.

What other conditions can rib dysfunction cause?

Rib dysfunction doesn’t just result in rib cage pain. It can also cause pain deep inside the chest making it feel like the pain is coming from the heart, stomach, lungs, or esophagus. It can also cause pain in the arms and aggravate breathing conditions such as asthma or COPD.

What can chiropractic care do for rib dysfunction?

A chiropractor can assess the movement of the ribs and then provide gentle manipulation to restore the movement and reduce pain and muscle spasms of the affected area.

Rib dysfunction is a problem that occurs between the thoracic spine and the head of the rib. Twelve sets of ribs join together at the breastbone and the spine to form the rib cage. Ribs move similar to a bucket handle when we take a breath. When the ribs move incorrectly or don’t move, it is called rib dysfunction. Pain is caused by improper movement of the rib head jamming at the joint. It is often the result of trunk rotation combined with trauma, heavy lifting, or excessive coughing.

SPINAL STENOSIS

Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spaces in the spine which put pressure on the nerves in the spine. It most frequently occurs in the neck and lower back, referred to as cervical spinal stenosis and lumbar spinal stenosis. While some people may not have any symptoms, others may have pain that worsens over time and includes muscle weakness, numbness, and tingling.

Most symptoms of spinal stenosis begin gradually and then worsen over time. The exact symptoms of the stenosis depend on the location and the affected nerves. Spinal stenosis in the cervical spine, or neck, tends to result in numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hands, arms, legs, or feet; problems with balance and walking; and neck pain. Stenosis in the lumbar spine (lower back) often results in tingling, numbness, or weakness in the feet or legs; or pain and cramping in one or both legs when standing for long periods of time.

Although some people are born with a small spinal canal, most spinal stenosis occurs when something happens that narrows the open space of the spine. This may include things such as thickened ligaments, overgrowth of bone, herniated discs, tumors, and spinal injuries.

Medication and physical therapy are sometimes used to treat spinal stenosis. Steroid injections may be suggested and are done by a doctor injecting steroid medication into the space around the impingement. Chiropractic treatments can help alleviate pain from spinal stenosis. Decompression procedures may also be done to increase spinal canal space and remove nerve root impingement. If none of these options work, surgery may be considered but should be a last resort.

How can chiropractic treatments help spinal stenosis?

Spinal manipulations can help shift herniated discs back into proper position to take pressure off the spinal cord nerves. Massage, vibration board therapy, and other stretches and exercises can help restore flexibility and muscle tone.

Is spinal decompression an option for spinal stenosis?

Spinal decompression is a treatment where the relevant spinal area is gently pulled to release pressure and allow the discs in your back to separate from the vertebrae so they can heal without additional pressure.

This may be performed manually or with one of the advanced decompression tables available that will automatically apply an exact amount of pressure to achieve the same result of decompressing the spine.

Additionally, blood flow is improved throughout the back to expedite the healing process throughout the back. Spinal decompression may be helpful for spinal stenosis.

Is spinal decompression painful?

Patients typically experience little to no discomfort during their treatment and the process is safe for most. Our practitioners will carefully assess your health and medical conditions to ensure the treatment will be safe and effective for you.

SCOLIOSIS

Symptoms of scoliosis may include uneven shoulders, uneven waist, one shoulder blade that appears more prominent than the other, or one hip that is higher than the other. As scoliosis worsens, the ribs on one side of the body may stick out further than the other side.

Although doctors don’t know the cause of most scoliosis, they do know that it tends to run in families and be hereditary. Less common causes of scoliosis may include things such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, birth defects that affect spinal development, and infections or injuries to the spine.

Most children with scoliosis have mild curvature of the spine and won’t need any significant treatment. Factors that determine if treatment is needed depend on the sex of the child (girl are more prone to progression than boys), how severe the curvature is, the location of the curve (curves located in the center of the spine tend to get worse more often than curves in other areas of the spine), the curve pattern (double curves tend to be worse than single curves), and age of the child.

Braces are one treatment option for scoliosis and are often contoured to the body and typically worn both day and night. If scoliosis is severe enough, surgery may be suggested to reduce the severity of the spinal curvature and prevent it from getting worse.

Chiropractic can also help treat milder cases of scoliosis. A regimen of gentle chiropractic adjustments apply pressure to reposition the curvature of the spine, greatly reducing its abnormal curve. When the body has the space to heal itself, the spine can return to its natural curvature, relieving both pain and inflammation.

How can chiropractic treatments help with scoliosis?

Living with scoliosis can sometimes be challenging, but with the assistance of a chiropractor, treatments can improve function of the nervous system, decrease inflammation, reduce pain, and increase flexibility and mobility all with non-invasive methods.

Is chiropractic treatment for scoliosis safe?

Chiropractic treatments have been shown to be safe and effective for scoliosis. The most common side effect is muscle soreness.

Can scoliosis curvature get better on its own?

Idiopathic scoliosis curves don’t usually straighten on their own. Many children with slight curves do not need significant treatment and may be helped simply from chiropractic care, but larger curves often do need treatments such as braces or even surgery.

Does scoliosis run in families?

Studies show that some 30 percent of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients have a family history of scoliosis. Roughly one in three children who have a parent with scoliosis will also develop scoliosis. Therefore, scoliosis is considered a partially genetic condition.

Scoliosis is a side to side curvature of the spine that often occurs during growth spurts right before puberty. It can also be a result of muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy, but the cause of most cases of scoliosis is unknown. Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but the spinal deformities sometimes get worse as affected children grow. Severe scoliosis can be disabling and can reduce the chest cavity space making it difficult for proper respiratory function to occur.

How to Fix Back Pain in West Ashley

If you’re looking to knock your back pain out for good, it’s best to combine at-home exercise with the correct treatment.

A great way that you can support your back, both through recovery from injury and with preventative care, is by seeking out chiropractic treatment. Chiropractic adjustments of the spine can help realign your body to keep the nervous and immune systems functioning properly while addressing any injuries, aches, or pains that may pop up from day-to-day life.

Oftentimes, individuals unknowingly have a misalignment of the spine that can cause a myriad of pain patterns – which chiropractic care and adjustments can help to alleviate.

During your new patient evaluation, we will determine 3 things:
What is the
underlying issue?
Is that a problem
we can help?
What will it take
to get you better?

You Don't Have To Live In Pain...

They had pain. They found relief here. You can too.

"The BEST chiropractic center I’ve been to. everyone is so nice and caring. I’ve had neck and back issues for years and was constantly getting headaches due to the neck issues and I have only had two sessions and have already noticed the headaches starting to become less frequent and less painful."
"Such a happy office. They really helped me with my back. I came in with tears with how bad my back hurt but now it feels great and am back to playing sports!"
"I had my first appointment yesterday. The staff were all nice. I didn't have to wait long to be seen. The Dr. was able to tell me what's causing my pain and started treatment right away. I left the office feeling great. I look forward to continued treatment there."