Conservative Treatment for Chronic Back Pain

Chronic Back or Neck Pain:

Poor posture is a common cause for back and neck pain. Statistics show that 80% of American’s will suffer from back pain in their lifetime. Some of the symptoms include:

  • Cervical Kyphosis (straightening of neck)
  • Tension Headaches – often misdiagnosed as migraine headaches
  • Constant neck/shoulder strain
  • Rounded shoulders
  • Bicep/rotator cuff syndrome
  • Degeneration of cervical (neck) and lumbar (low back) usually caused by trauma or multiple micro-traumas
  • Weak and stiff muscles
  • Decreased range of motion
  • Low back and neck pain

Patients with scoliosis or other spinal deformities will have these additional effects from poor posture:

  • Usually causes cervical kyphosis
  • Muscle asymmetry (unbalanced)
  • Lower back pain
  • Middle (thoracic) back pain
  • Leg length problems

These are the most common causes of poor posture:

  • High heels
  • Sitting on top of your wallet
  • Sitting at computer for long durations. Ideally you should get up and stretch every 20 minutes. Lack of movement causes shortening of hamstrings, gluts (buttocks), and lower back muscles.
  • Lack of abdominal strength

Treatment Plan:

  1. Find the problem, do not band-aid the symptoms!

    2. – Proper medical history
    – X-rays

  2. Acute pain treatment

    3. – Chiropractic
    – Physical therapy
    – Accupuncture
    – Medication

  3. Work on range of motion

    4. – Chiropractic
    – Physical therapy

  4. Work on chronic pain

    5. – Ergonomics
    – Physical therapy
    – Home exercises

  5. Correct posture

    6. – Pilate’s
    – Yoga
    – Guided weight training
    – Patient education