Many people suffer from chronic back pain. Visits to medical doctors mostly result in treatment to mask the pain and do not cure the condition itself. If this has been your experience with back pain, it may be time to visit a Charleston Chiropractor who specializes in conditions related to the back and spine including the muscles and nerves. When the spine, also called the vertbral column, is healthy the overall health of the body is better.
It may help if you understand the structure of the spine. The bones forming the spine are called vertebra. The spine is defined by five groups of vertebra.
- Neck – The cervical vertebra, designated as C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 and C7.
- Chest – The thoracic vertebra, T1 through T7
- Waist – The lumbar vertebra, L1 through L5
- Sacrum – The sacral vertebra, S1 through S5
- Tail bone – The coccyx, an evolutional remenant of a tail, made up of four fused vertebra.
Disc of cartilage separate the vertebra which act as cushions for shock absorption and keep the vertebra from rubbing against each other. This allows the spine to articulate in its range of motion.
The large nerve called the spinal cord runs through and is protected by the spine. Smaller branches of nerves extend from the spine to the muscles and organs of the body.
Using a chiropractor should be looked at as complimentary to regular medical physician care especially when the spine is involved. There are medical doctors who realize the value of the knowledge and skills a doctor of chiropractic possesses are far more suited to the treatment of back pain and other neuro-muscular conditions. For instance, an auto accident may result dull ache to throbbing back pain that are best diagnosed and treated by a doctor of chiropractic. Many people do not realize it but stress can create back problems that can best be treated through chiropractic care.
Many chiropractors use a technique called spinal manipulation or adjustment. The objective is to increase the range of motion of the joints while treating the pain. It often involves carefully pushing your back slightly past the normal range of motion resulting in the release of tension. This process may look like massage but a chiropractor has been trained to use this procedure to make adjustements in the spine to reduce or get rid of pain.
If you are looking for a solution to your chronic back pain, a Charleston chiropractor may be just the ticket.
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