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Chiropractic Therapy Introduction to Research & Information Utilization/Res 110 May 21, 2010 Chiropractic Therapy Does chiropractic therapy help prevent back surgery' Chiropractic patients have noticed improvement in their lower back pain, which help the likelihood of back surgery. Patients have sought help to Chiropractors and Medical Doctors to help reduce surgery. Chiropractors have been more successful than medical doctors on achieving no surgery needed. How does Chiropractic therapy work' “Chiropractic works by restoring your own natural-given ability to be healthy. By restoring spinal function with Chiropractic adjustments, nerve interference by misaligned vertebrae is removed, thus allowing optimal nervous system function and normal health” (How does Chiropractic work', para. 1). In a Chiropractic office patients receive various treatments to alleviate lower back pain. These treatments include: First, Electrical muscle stimulation therapy to help increase blood circulation and strengthen weak muscles. Second, ultrasound therapy is used to decrease inflammation and muscle spasms. Third, ice packs are applied to reduce swelling, and pain. Then hot packs help relax tight muscles, prevent pain and increase blood circulation. Next, decompression table pulls back the patients lower back disc back into shape, which decreases pain and improves patients’ posture. Finally, the chiropractic will adjust the patient. “Chiropractic adjustment is a technique that delivers a controlled force to a specific vertebra to correct vertebral subluxations and eliminate nerve interference” (Gregg, 2005, para 1). Other types of therapy used in a chiropractic facility to decrease chronic low back pain and to prevent surgery are: Neurologist, Podiatrist, and Pain management. Neurologists perform a nerve test on patients to determine if there is any nerve damage and to detect balance, reflexes, and sensation in the lower back. Also available in the office is a Podiatrist who will examine patients’ feet and the way they walk to see if there are any abnormalities. For example, if the patient is flat footed, this increases the likelihood of patient to have lower back pain. When walking with flat feet it increases pressure on legs that causes the pain to rise up to the lower back. The Podiatrist will then cast patients’ foot for orthotics that is a shoe insole to help create an arch on the bottom of the foot to reduce lower back pain. All therapy is performed on patients in a period of several weeks and pain management result reduces the chance of the patient needing lower back surgery. Pain management consists of epidural injections. “An epidural injection places anti-inflammatory medicine into the epidural space to decrease inflammation of the nerve roots” (Manchikanti, 2003, para1). Immediately after the epidural procedure, the chiropractor will then adjust the patient whereas he or she is still under anesthesia. The body will adjust better because their is less resistance by the patient. Patients with chronic back pain will go through a series of three injections total, two weeks apart. (Mota, V, 2010, May 21, Interview with Dr. Harry Wurmsdobler, Doctor of Chiropractic more than 20 years, Sports Chiropractic Center) According to Dr. Harry Wurmsdobler, “I have been a Chiropractic Doctor for over 20 years, I have learned about a lot of different types of therapies to relieve back pain and reduce back surgery. I have treated many patients with chronic lower back pain that once were told surgery would be their only hope for back pain relief. I have also treated patients that have undergone back surgery with unsuccessful results. In addition, I also have treated several patients who did undergo surgery and have experience more amount of pain before getting lower back surgery. My advice is to seek a licensed chiropractor and do your research before committing to lower back surgery” (Wurmsdobler, 2010). On the other hand, medical doctors do not perform the types of therapies a chiropractor does to reduce lower back pain. Medical doctors examine their patients and prescribe medication. The downside of this is that many patients dislike taking medications because they do not want to become addicted on medication and believe it is harmful to their body. Patients will then follow-up with their medical doctor and if the doctor sees no improvement in the patient, the doctor will then advice the patient to under go lower back surgery. “Back surgery complications are always a risk when undergoing a surgical procedure. The fact that back surgery occurs so close to the actual spinal cord makes it a very delicate procedure. One false move by the surgeon can cause lifelong nerve damage or even paralysis. The risks of back surgery should always be considered carefully before making the decision to have a surgical procedure” (Back surgery, 2006). Unfortunately, patients find it easy to get surgery and believe it is a quick fix on relieving their lower back pain and end up with lifetime side effects. According to statistics, “In 2009, an estimated 26 million Americans have chronic pain in the lower back, and roughly 15% end up on medication prescribed by their medical doctor” (Minsky, 2009, para1). More than 20 million Americans go to a chiropractor within a year. Chiropractic care has been around for more than 100 years. According to patients at Sports Chiropractic Center, patients are three times more satisfied with their chiropractic care than their family practice physicians. In conclusion, chiropractic therapy has been successful for many patients to avoid back surgery. Nine out of ten patients felt their chiropractic treatment was more effective than their medical doctor treatment. The various amounts of therapies used to alleviate back pain have helped reduce the result of back surgery. Patients ought to do research before making any definite decisions regarding their lower back pain. References Sayegh, R. (2008). Sports Chiropractic Center. Retrieved from http://sportschiro.com/ Manchikanti, L. (2003). Epidural Injections. Retrieved from http://www.thepainmd.com Back surgery. (2006). Cure Back Pain. Retrieved from http://www.cure-back-pain.org/back-surgery-complications.html Gregg, J. (2005). Chiropractic Adjustment or Spinal Manipulation'. (pp. 20-21). Life University. Retrieved from Alt HealthWatch database. Minsky, J. (2009). Health Source . Chiropractic and Progressive Rehab. Retrieved from http://www.endseriousbackpain.com