Chiropractic Alternative Treatments, Back Pain and Neck Pain

Chiropractic Alternative Treatments for Chronic Back Pain and Neck Pain That Will Help Stop Your Discomfort and Bring Relief to Your Neck and Save Your Back.

As a Chiropractic Doctor, I treat a lot of patients who come to me complaining that they feel like their neck is in a vice, the only thing they want is quick relief.  Whether you feel a sharp pain in your neck when you move your head or a dull aching throb in your back that won't go away, you don't want to go to your doctor but you need to function without discomfort. There are two simple alternatives, your chiropractor using gentle therapy or trying certain "do it yourself" treatments. 

You can be certain that if you have ever had tightness in your back or a stiff neck, you're not alone.  With society's push for eternal youth, and the dawn of the computer age, comes the need to stay in shape and the necessisty of sitting for long periods of time in front of a monitor. Both of these are daily habits we all have and both can lead to injuries and poor posture.  Now you would think that having a pinched nerve or minor inflammation in your back would not be anything serious, but if you leave it untreated it can possibly lead to further problems like bulging discs, sciatica and even mental discomfort. There are several effective solutions to this problem, but each will depend on how severe your discomfort is.

Here's a list of remedies you should try and if they work, great, if not get to your chiropractor for some great physical "adjustments" as soon as possible.

Cold Packs or Ice: No surprise here, if you have store bought ice packs in your freezer put it on your neck until you no longer feel the cold penetrating your skin.  If you don't have an icepack, get a ziplock bag and fill it with ice, and apply it the same way.  Make sure you can lie down and keep repeating the process as much as needed for 24-48 hours.  If the problem persists, you might need to try a combination of cold and heat. 

Different Heat Treatments: A hot shower is great for tight muscles and joints. Let the shower run directly on your on your head down your back for as long as you can stand it.  Afterwards try a heat pad to reduce the stiffness and any swelling.  As I mentioned above, an alternate treatment with hot and cold packs can be extremely helpful. Try heat for a few minutes, then apply cold and vise versa.  Do this until you feel relief and if this still hasn't helped, you need to look at other alternatives.

Exercise for the neck: Now I only recommend this if you don't have any pinched nerves whenever you move your head, otherwise take a pass on this.  Try this quick exercise.  Sit Upright on a chair and put your palms against your forehead and apply a little resistance. Try to bend your neck forward and then release.  Now put your palms against the back of your head and apply a little resistance while trying to bend your head backwards.  Continue the same way on either side of the head too.  Another exercise is simple rotation of your head from side to side.  Whether you sit or stand, do this as long as your comfortable and if this doesn't seem to help, have someone apply massage to your neck while you rotate and try this technique for several minutes as long as there is no discomfort.  

Gentle Massage : Having a Masseus or use of certain man made devices can also give you relief from the soreness you have in your neck. A word of caution, if the person performing the massage is not skilled in this technique, it's best you seek the help of a qualified masseus or see your chiropractor.  There are also a lot of over the counter electric and hand held devices that you can purchase from the internet or your local specialty stores like Brookstone or Relax the Back store that work great for providing temporary relief.  I would advise that you try them first hand before making any purchase.  Several stores both online and offline have cropped up over the years selling all types of equipment for dealing with back and neck pain.  Do your homework and try them personally if possible before you spend the money.   

Over the Counter or Prescribed Medication: Tylenol, Aleve, Vicodin, Hydrocodone, all forms of pain medication, all supposedly providing temporary relief.  Some you can buy at your pharmacy, some you have to see your doctor about.  Either way, you'll probably try this course of action if your problem persists. You can also use certain oinments or rubs.  I recommend Biofreeze which I promote to my patients and suggest anyone give a try.  This product is a roll on rub you can apply directly to the muscle or joint.  I do want to suggest that you seek professional medical guidance should you choose to use medication that has been known to be addictive.  

As a professional Doctor offering chiropractic care in the North Dallas, Texas area, I see all types of patients that need various types of therapy and care, and I believe that if you try these tips first, you will be able solve a majority of your problems.  If you have other back issues, go to my website: www.premierhealthclinic.net for other great information or contact me directly for questions you need answers to.  Stay Healthy and Flexible, Dr. Khayal 

Dr. H. Khayal is a board certified chiropractor and a graduate of Parker College of Chiropractic. He received his undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Texas at Dallas. After gaining clinical experience as an associate doctor, he started his own practice in the Dallas/Plano area. Having lived in the metroplex for over 22 years, Dallas was the obvious choice to open his clinic. Premier Health Clinic attracted patients from all over the city and surrounding areas. With referrals being the number one source of new patients seeking Dr. Khayal's care, he treats hundreds of patients every month.