Commonly Asked Questions about Chiropractic
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Do you think I need to get imaging for my back?
Only about 1-5% of back pain is caused by serious disease or injury. X-rays are a static image that does not show segmental motion that chiropractors are looking for. After your chiropractor does a thorough exam to identify what factors your pain may be coming from, they will decide if you are ready for care or if you need imaging.
I have degenerative discs. Is this the cause of my pain?
Findings such as disc degeneration, arthritis, and disc bulges are very common in the pain free population. While a degenerated disc may become sensitized, the degree of degeneration is a poor predictor of a person's clinical presentation. Telling someone that their spine is degenerated as a diagnosis is inaccurate and can lead to fear, worry and protective guarding. This commonly will make your back pain worse and may lead to disability. Back pain is commonly caused by many different factors other than degeneration that are very treatable.
I have pain while exercising. Should I stop?
The severity of back pain is a poor measure of tissue damage. This means that while an activity may be painful, this is not an accurate sign of doing harm. It is important that you develop strength, mobility, and confidence to bend and lift.
Is my pain caused by poor posture?
There is minimal evidence that any specific spinal posture is causative, protective or preventative of back pain. While some postures may be painful to hold, this often reflects the level of sensitivity of the spine which may be associated with various factors. It is generally best to not be in one position for too long, so standing up and stretching will help your back and muscles from getting tight.