October is Spine Health Awareness Month, a good time to stop working around a stiff neck or aching lower back and learn what non-surgical spine treatment can offer. The CDC reports that in 2019, 39% of U.S. adults had back pain within a three-month period, more than any other type of pain in its national survey. There are more options than waiting it out, and the real question is which one suits the kind of pain you have.
Is Surgery Usually Necessary for Back Pain?
Surgery is rarely needed to treat back pain, according to Mayo Clinic, and most episodes improve within a month of home treatment, especially for people younger than 60. For many people, though, the pain lasts several months. Surgery may become an option for specific problems, such as nerve pressure that causes increasing muscle weakness. Doctors generally prefer a stepped approach, starting with non-surgical spine treatment and considering surgery only if that care does not help.
What Does Non-Surgical Spine Treatment Include?
Conservative care, or non-surgical spine treatment, covers a group of approaches that aim to ease pain and restore movement without an operation. Common examples include chiropractic care, therapeutic exercise, traction, and massage. Each one suits some problems better than others, and finding the source of pain is not always simple, because back pain often develops without a cause that a test or imaging study can identify.
Which Approach May Help Stiff or Restricted Spinal Joints?
When a joint in your neck or back feels locked up, a chiropractic adjustment is a familiar choice. During an adjustment, a chiropractor uses the hands or a small instrument to apply a controlled force to a spinal joint, with the goal of improving how the spine moves. Low back pain, neck pain, and headaches are the most common reasons people seek this kind of care. At Walker Road Chiropractic, the Activator Method is a low-force option for people who would rather avoid the popping and cracking sounds that can come with manual adjustments, and Dr. Gard teaches the technique as a clinical instructor for Activator Methods International. With any adjustment, some people notice minor side effects for a few days afterward, such as headaches, soreness in the treated area, or tiredness.
What May Help Pain That Travels Down Your Leg?
Pain that radiates from the low back into the buttock or leg can signal sciatica, which most often happens when a herniated disc or bone spur puts pressure on nerve roots in the lower spine. Disc-related cases can clear up with treatment in a matter of weeks to months. Spinal decompression is one non-surgical spine treatment for leg pain like this, using controlled traction to take pressure off irritated nerves. Beyond sciatica, decompression is also used for bulging discs and pinched nerves. Dr. Gard is certified in the Kennedy Decompression Technique, and you can read more on the spinal decompression page.
What If Tight Muscles Are Driving the Pain?
Muscle and ligament strain is commonly linked to back pain, and stress on its own can create muscle tension that contributes to an aching back. For pain caused by tense or overworked muscles, massage may help. Walker Road Chiropractic has licensed massage therapists on site, and their deep tissue and trigger point work is designed to complement adjustments and help maintain their results.
Why Does Staying Active Matter in Spine Care?
Movement is part of the treatment, not only the goal. Current medical guidance is to keep up your normal activities as much as you can, start with something light such as walking, and avoid holding back out of fear of pain. Bed rest is not recommended. For long-term back health, bicycling and swimming are also good choices because they do not strain or jolt the back. Core exercises train the abdominal and back muscles to work together to support the spine, and regular flexibility and posture work can help keep pain from returning. Long hours in a chair count too, since people who sit a lot or do not move much are more likely to develop herniated discs than those who stay active. A seat with good lower back support and a change of position at least every half hour can help. The practice offers on-site rehab and therapeutic exercise, plus at-home exercises to keep progress going between visits.
How Does Dr. Gard Decide Which Approach Fits You?
Dr. Gard bases each plan on an evaluation of your posture and movement patterns across the whole body, rather than only the area that hurts. He has practiced since 2001 and trained in a blend of chiropractic approaches, including Applied Kinesiology, so a non-surgical spine treatment plan can combine several methods rather than relying on one. He also completes more than 100 hours of continuing education each year, so the techniques he draws on stay current.
When Does Back Pain Need a Doctor’s Attention?
Mayo Clinic advises emergency care for back pain that follows trauma such as a car crash, a bad fall, or a sports injury, and for pain that causes new bowel or bladder control problems or comes with a fever. A visit with your healthcare professional is also warranted if the pain is constant or intense, especially at night, spreads below the knee, causes weakness, numbness, or tingling in the legs, or shows up alongside unintended weight loss. Problems like these need to be ruled out before any conservative care begins.
Talk With Dr. Gard About Non-Surgical Spine Treatment
If stiffness, leg pain, or a sore lower back has been shaping your days, Spine Health Awareness Month is an ideal reason to book an evaluation with Dr. Gard, who can help sort out what is behind it and which non-surgical spine treatment may fit.
Call (503) 439-9494 or reach out through our contact page to set up a visit. Our office is at 15220 NW Greenbrier Parkway, Suite 260, in Beaverton, and we see patients from Tigard, Hillsboro, and communities across the Portland metro.