For acute low back pain, six to 12 sessions of chiropractic treatment over the course of two to four weeks is standard. These initial treatments emphasize the "passive" (non-exercise) approaches of manual therapy to relieve pain and improve function.
You usually do these between three and five times a week. Your physiotherapist will adjust the programme at each appointment, as you make progress. Physiotherapy will be only one part of your treatment for back pain.
In the first stages of treatment of a new or acute condition, a common Chiropractic treatment program is 2 times per week for 2 to 4 weeks, followed by a re-evaluation. If you are in chronic pain, you may need to keep up regular appointments for an extended period of time until your condition improves.
Acute (short-term) back pain lasts a few days to a few weeks. It usually resolves on its own within a few days with self-care and there is no long-term loss of function. Chronic back pain is pain that continues for 12 weeks or longer, even after an initial injury or underlying cause of back pain has been treated.
How Many Treatments Will You Need? More than one session is most often needed to correct a problem. Treatments generally last several weeks. Your chiropractor may suggest 2 or 3 short sessions a week at first.
For acute low back pain, six to 12 sessions of chiropractic treatment over the course of two to four weeks is standard. These initial treatments emphasize the "passive" (non-exercise) approaches of manual therapy to relieve pain and improve function.
Depending on the extent of the spinal injury, patients typically feel a reduction in pain of 40-80% following their first visit. However, general improvement occurs within 1 to 4 weeks from the start of chiropractic therapy.
“Red flag” and “yellow flag” signs
Red flags are possible indicators of serious spinal pathology: Thoracic pain. Fever and unexplained weight loss. Bladder or bowel dysfunction.
"Most people's back pain dissipates in about a week or two, but if your pain is long-term or chronic, it's time to see a spine specialist."
Your spinal disc is at the bottom of your back, so if you have pain in your lower back, you may assume it is a slipped disc. Furthermore, the feeling of pain will differ between the two. Muscle pain will feel like post-workout soreness, while disc pain will feel debilitating and tingly.
Like almost every kind of treatment, chiropractic treatments won't cure your body in just one or two sessions and you shouldn't expect to see the result right away or worse, write the practice off after one session. Getting better takes times and it may take a few sessions to start seeing results.
Some people have concerns over how much is too much when it comes to chiropractic care. Visiting the chiropractor isn't addictive, and many people go for a weekly adjustment or preventive care. People visit for many reasons, and it ultimately comes down to your situation and preferences.
You've heard chiropractors are a lifetime commitment.
Unfortunately, there are still a few unhelpful myths floating around that prevent people from seeking care. And one of the biggest ones is that once you start going to the chiropractor, you can never stop. This is simply not true!
Any back pain or soreness that lasts longer than a week should be seen to by a physiotherapist, especially if it's restricting your movement or aggravated by coughing or sneezing.
Physiotherapy may help you when back pain makes it hard to move around and do everyday tasks. This treatment helps you move better and may relieve pain. It also helps improve or restore your fitness level and how well you function.
Generally, if there is an increase in your presenting symptoms after a session, it's something that you should discuss with your physio. Other pains or soreness that occur after treatment are usually very normal and natural and is actually a sign that the treatment is helping.
Research shows that: Lying down longer than a day or two day isn't helpful for relieving back pain. People can recover more quickly without any bed rest. The sooner you start moving, even a little bit, or return to activities such as walking, the faster you are likely to improve.
Back pain is considered chronic if it lasts three months or longer. It can come and go, often bringing temporary relief, followed by frustration. Dealing with chronic back pain can be especially trying if you don't know the cause. Back pain rehabilitation specialist Andrew Nava, M.D.
If you're experiencing back pain when sitting, your impulse may be to lie down and then try to slowly progress back to sitting, says Dr. Atlas. But this is the wrong approach. You should lie down to relieve the pain, but the goal should be not to return to sitting, but rather to regain your ability to stand and move.
Some common disorders which can mimic chronic low back pain include sciatica, facet arthropathy, osteoporotic compression fractures, infection, tumor, trauma, and inflammatory diseases.
The bottom line is that not all pain is able to be detected on an x-ray or MRI. That does not mean that there is nothing there that needs to be treated or diagnosed. In fact, it means that it is possibly a precursor to something going really wrong and then eventually needing surgery because it eventually winds up torn.
To achieve maximum benefits, most injury and pain types will need somewhere between four and twelve sessions. Ongoing maintenance is used to prevent pain from coming back and to prevent additional injuries from forming due to a misalignment of the spine.
Chiropractic treatment
The main technique that chiropractors use is called manipulation. This means your chiropractor will use their hands to make precise, controlled movements or thrusts to your spine, which are called adjustments. You may hear popping sounds during the treatment, but this is normal.
Keep this alignment intact by not doing any quick or jerky movements following your adjustment, and not doing any heavy lifting or strenuous activities. Because your body needs to relearn how to be in the correct position, be mindful of your movements for the next day or so.