The Spinal Column

Fall 2021

Back pain checklist

Dear Patients and Friends,

Patients often ask me what they need to do to lose their back pain and to prevent it from recurring. Of course, chiropractic treatment is unique and irreplaceable for many in their efforts to feel better. But there are a number of other important factors that should be and sometimes must be addressed.
Below is a checklist of some of the most important.

It may not be necessary to cover all the things on this list. But factors leading to the onset or persistence of back pain are likely to be found here, and the more of these you can check off, the more likely you are to feel better and stay better. Some folks can get away for a while without doing any of these, but sooner or later their neglect catches up with them. Sometimes taking care of just one of these factors is enough to result in a very noticeable difference. But some folks may need to check off every item in order to eliminate their back pain and keep it better.

 Have I been getting regular or sufficient chiropractic care?

 Have I been doing consistent and sufficient back mobilizing and stabilizing exercises?

 Have I been doing enough walking or other aerobic exercise?

 Have I been eating an anti-inflammation diet and taking anti-inflammatory supplements?

 Have I been sleeping in a good position and on a decent mattress?

 Have I been mindful of good posture and ergonomics while working, sitting, and standing?

 Have I been getting sufficient rest and sleep?

 Have I been compassionate toward myself and managing stress reasonably well?

When you are able to check off every item on this list, your back is likely to feel better. And you may notice some side effects, which could include more energy, less pain in other parts of your body, better digestion, a stronger immune system, an enhanced feeling of general well-being, and more!

 

Yours for better health, naturally,

Mha Atma S. Khalsa, D.C.

 

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                Chiropractic Research: Some “Greatest Hits”

A growing list of research studies and reviews demonstrates that chiropractic care is clinically effective, safe and cost-effective. Following are excerpts and summaries from a few of those studies. The evidence supports the non-invasive, non-drug approach of chiropractic for a variety of conditions.

Dramatic reduction in chance of surgery for patients seeing a chiropractor first—This study was published in the prestigious medical journal Spine. Researchers evaluated a sample of 1885 workers who suffered lower back injuries at work in the state of Washington. They looked at the chances that a worker would wind up having low back surgery within three years of their injury. The researchers concluded: “Reduced odds of surgery were observed for those younger than 35 years, females, Hispanics, and those whose first provider was a chiropractor. Approximately 42.7% of workers who first saw a surgeon had surgery, in contrast to only 1.5% of those who saw a chiropractor…. There was a very strong association between surgery and first
provider seen for the injury even after adjustment for other important variables.”  Spine: May 15, 2013 - Volume 38 - Issue 11 - p 953-964

 

Chiropractic adjustments for pregnant women—In a small but intriguing study, researchers at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic evaluated 26 women, 11 pregnant for the first time and in their second trimester, and 15 non-pregnant. All were aged 18 to 35 and had no symptoms. They were assessed for spinal dysfunction (also called “subluxations” or vertebrae with
restriction of normal movement) by chiropractors with at least 10 years of clinical experience. Each subject was treated only once, first with a “control” intervention (examination and positioning but no actual treatment) and then with a regular chiropractic adjustment. Pelvic floor muscle tension was assessed with ultrasonic imaging before and after treatment. The images showed that muscle relaxation increased significantly after the actual chiropractic treatment in all pregnant women, but not in the non-pregnant women. Researchers explained that pelvic floor dysfunction during pregnancy contributes to incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and difficulties during vaginal delivery, and that therefore this preliminary study indicated the possibility of important benefits of chiropractic treatment for pregnant women.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics (JMPT) 39:339-347

Chiropractic reduces opioid use and harm—A study published in JMPT presents the case, supported by detailed analysis of Medicare data, that greater use of chiropractic services has promising potential for reducing American’s “expensive and expanding opioid use epidemic.” They note that, motivated by a 16.3% increase in overdose deaths from legal opioid drugs in 2014, the US Centers for Disease Control has issued new guidelines to physicians to reduce opioid prescriptions, stating that “the risks are addiction and death, and the benefits are unproven.” In this study, data analysis found that the per-capita supply of chiropractors and of Medicare spending on chiropractic care was
strongly inversely correlated with the percentage of younger Medicare beneficiaries with at least one, and with 6 or more, opioid prescriptions.

They suggested that “Medicare providers consider promoting a trial of CMT (chiropractic manipulative therapy) prior to use of conventional medical care for patients with neck or back pain.” They also referenced a 2012 study which compared CMT, home exercises and advice, and standard medical management for patients with neck pain. Patients in the CMT and in the exercise groups did much better and none of the 182 patients in those two groups took opioids, while 80 of the 90 in the medical management group were prescribed and took opioids. JMPT 39:263-266

MORE GREATEST HITS….

Another study shows reduced opioid use with chiropractic--Patients who saw a chiropractor as their initial provider for low back pain (LBP) had 90% decreased odds of both early and long-term opioid use.
Kazis et al. (2019), BMJ Open

“[Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy] in conjunction with [standard medical care] offers a significant advantage for decreasing pain and improving physical functioning when compared with only standard care, for men and women between 18 and 35 years of age with acute low back pain.”
Goertz et al. (2013), Spine

Neck pain--In a Randomized controlled trial, 183 patients with neck pain were randomly allocated to manual therapy (spinal mobilization), physiotherapy (mainly exercise) or general practitioner care (counseling, education and drugs) in a 52-week study. The clinical outcomes measures showed that manual therapy resulted in faster recovery than physiotherapy and general practitioner care. Moreover, total costs of the manual therapy-treated patients were about one-third of the costs of physiotherapy or general practitioner care.
Korthals-de Bos et al. (2003), British Medical Journal
 

Neck pain and headaches-- “Cervical spine manipulation was associated with significant improvement in headache outcomes in trials involving patients with neck pain and/or neck dysfunction and headache.”
McCrory, Penzlen, Hasselblad, Gray (2001), Duke Evidence Report

 

Tension headaches-- “The results of this study show that spinal manipulative therapy is an effective treatment for tension headaches. . . Four weeks after cessation of treatment . . . the patients who received spinal manipulative therapy experienced a sustained therapeutic benefit in all major outcomes in contrast to the patients that received amitriptyline therapy, who reverted to baseline values.”
Boline et al. (1995), Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

 

Neck pain-- In a study funded by NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine to test the effectiveness of different approaches for treating mechanical neck pain, 272 participants were divided into three groups that received either spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) from a doctor of chiropractic (DC), pain medication (over-the-counter pain relievers, narcotics and muscle relaxants) or exercise recommendations. After 12 weeks, about 57 percent of those who met with DCs and 48 percent who exercised reported at least a 75 percent reduction in pain, compared to 33 percent of the people in the medication group. After one year, approximately 53 percent of the drug-free groups continued to report at least a 75 percent reduction in pain; compared to just 38 percent pain reduction among those who took medication.
Bronfort et al. (2012), Annals of Internal Medicine

Chronic Migraines Helped by Chiropractic—A study published in the February 2000 issue JMPT showed that people suffering with migraine headaches were helped with chiropractic care. The study, at the Chiropractic Research Center of Macquarie University, Australia , included 177 volunteers who had migraine headaches for over 18 years on average. Many of the participants also suffered from neck pain. The average response of the group that received chiropractic care showed a statistically significant improvement in migraine frequency, duration, and disability. Those who received chiropractic care were able to reduce their medication use, with a significant number reducing their medication usage to zero. Additionally, 59% had no neck pain after a period of two months, and another 35% had a decrease in neck pain.

The above comprise only a fraction of the many published studies demonstrating the benefits of chiropractic care. Share these with folks you know who might benefit from understanding that chiropractic is safe, effective and could help millions more achieve better health while reducing the use of drugs and surgery as well as saving countless health care dollars.

 

&  MY CHIROPRACTIC STORY  &

I first sought out Khalsa Chiropractic because I was experiencing constant pain in my lower back. What started as an occasional “soreness” in my lumbar region had grown into a constant source of pain. Whether I was working out, driving, or sitting at my desk, my lower back would throb as a constant reminder of my pain and discomfort. The only relief came from pain relievers and Icy Hot back patches. I was reluctant to continue taking ibuprofen, as I didn’t see daily use of pain killers as a long-term solution for what I was experiencing.

After a while, the pain became so constant and limiting that I decided to seek out another solution. Some internet research led me toward chiropractic. I did not know much about chiropractic care and I’d never tried it, but I had people in my life who swore by it, so I decided to give it a shot. Khalsa Chiropractic was within walking distance from my house and came highly regarded by patients, so I decided to give it a try. I was very skeptical about whether or not chiropractic would help me. I viewed it as a sort of short-term, alternative medicine and felt that I wasn’t injured or “broken” enough to need chiropractic help.

My first impression was fantastic. The office was inviting and everyone was kind and approachable. Dr. Mha Atma was patient and thorough - he not only addressed my concerns, but helped me to understand chiropractic care in general and how it could be used as both a short-term fix and a long-term care plan that was integrated into my life. He recommended that I come in for once/twice weekly visits until I was unstuck and the pain started to subside. Then I could come every 3-4 weeks after that to maintain my proper health. He also recommended stretches to help with my lower back and the surrounding discomfort to use between treatments.

After my first treatment, I felt a bit more limber and relieved, but didn’t notice any huge difference. Same with my second and third treatments one week later. But then something changed. By the second and third week, I started noticing that my back was bothering me less and less. A few treatments later, my pain was gone altogether. I had gone from being in a state of constant pain, to never thinking about my lower back again.

I cannot recommend chiropractic care highly enough and encourage those in my life suffering with discomfort to seek out chiropractic care. I used to think chiropractic care was only for those who were seriously injured, as short-term solutions to their needs, but now I realize that it is part of a healthy and comfortable lifestyle. I have told everyone who will listen about chiropractic. I tell anyone who struggles with back pain or other similar ailments and is seeking relief to give chiropractic care a chance, because it just might surprise them.

Now that I have enjoyed the benefits of chiropractic care, I realize how wrong I was about it. It’s not a short-term fix or an “alternative” to medicine; it is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle and its benefits are profound. It is painless, non-invasive and prevents me from having to use harsh medications or expensive solutions to manage my pain. I long believed that constant pain and discomfort was “inevitable” or “part of life” and now, through chiropractic, I realize that it does not have to be that way. I am finally comfortable again in my own body. Thank you all for having such a wonderful and positive presence in my life. I am tremendously grateful for this office!

 

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