Dealing with chronic low back pain (pain that lasts longer than three months) can be especially trying if you don’t know the cause. Although many forms of back pain are age-related, such as arthritis, spinal stenosis, herniated discs, or other unexplained muscle pain and tenderness, it can also be the result of a specific injury. Because it can be difficult to pinpoint the cause of chronic back pain, it’s important not to make rushed decisions or undergo extensive medical procedures until the origin of the pain is found.

If the source of the pain is not found by your medical physician, seek the services of a chiropractor, a doctor trained and certified to work with patients to find the root cause of their pain and can then offer low back pain treatments with non-surgical alternatives, including:

1. Chiropractic Care or Spinal Decompression. Spinal adjustments to re-align the spine, eliminate nerve interference, and restore flexibility.
2. Physical Therapy. Rehabilitative exercise will be tailored to your specific symptoms and condition.
3. Meditation. To manage the frustration, irritability, depression and other psychological aspects of dealing with chronic pain, meditation, yoga, tai chi and other cognitive and relaxation strategies may be recommended to keep your mind from focusing on pain.
4. Diet. Avoid foods that are inflammatory, especially those high in trans fats, refined sugars, and processed foods. Maintaining a healthy weight reduces the pressure on our spine, and can help lessen your back pain.
5. Lifestyle Modifications. Accept your limitations and adapt and take note of the activities that worsen your pain to prevent your condition from getting worse. Stop smoking--nicotine accentuates pain and delays healing.
6. Injection-based Treatments. Nerve blocks, epidural steroid injections, nerve ablations, and other types of injection-based procedures are used when the source of the pain is known but are not intended as long-term solutions.
7. Alternative Treatments. Acupuncture, massage, biofeedback therapy, laser therapy, electrical nerve stimulation, and other nonsurgical treatments can be used in conjunction with chiropractic low back pain treatments.
8. Medications. Although analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and other medications can be used to manage chronic back pain, they come with unwanted side effects and are not intended for prolonged use.

If you have questions about what is the most effective treatment for lower back pain, call McKim Chiropractic and talk to one of our licensed chiropractors about your concerns. We offer the DRS Protocol™, a non-surgical spinal decompression therapy to relieve back pain associated with spinal and disc problems. Our licensed and certified staff is committed to helping the residents of Nampa, ID achieve their optimum level of health!