Back pain, especially lower back pain, has become an epidemic in the United States with over 31 million Americans being affected by it at any given time. According to the American Chiropractic Association, lower back pain is:
- The leading cause of disability around the world
- A problem for half of all working Americans
- The most common reason for employees to miss work and the second most common reason for visits to the emergency room
- Most commonly caused by mechanical issues rather than more serious conditions like arthritis or fracture
When you take into account all of the structures that work together to create the area known as your back, it’s no wonder that back pain is so common. This intricate melding of bones, joins, ligaments, muscles and discs can easily be disrupted from even the slightest of movements like bending over to tie your shoe. Slouching, hunching your shoulders, arthritis, stress, obesity, kidney problems and osteoporosis can also be catalysts for pain in your lower back.
A common way to treat back pain with traditional medicine is to prescribe painkillers such as Oxycontin and Vicodin to make the patient comfortable enough to function in daily life. Unfortunately, the longer you take these opioids the higher the dose that your body will require to achieve relief and this can lead to a dangerous addiction.
Because chiropractic medicine provides a drug-free and natural alternative, there is no danger of addiction or harmful side effects that these prescription painkillers can cause. By manipulating the spine through a series of adjustments, you can experience freedom from back pain and healing from the issue that caused it.