Chiropractic is a health care profession that treats back pain, neck pain, sciatica, joint problems, sprains, strains, osteoarthritis, herniated discs and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. A chiropractor does not prescribe drugs or surgery but traditionally relies on a variety of manual therapies, including spinal manipulation and mobilization, to improve function and provide pain relief for patients.

While chiropractic adjustments of the joints are commonly associated with this profession, doctors of chiropractic are not just limited to manipulation of the spine. Many chiropractic treatments, including but not limited to the use of physiologic therapeutics like ultrasound, electrical nerve stimulation and traction, and the incorporation of exercise, nutrition and postural programs, are part of modern chiropractic care.

If your problem is that your spine is mis-aligned or you have soft tissue damage causing pain, there is no chemical in existence that can fix it. You need a physical solution to correct a physical problem. That is where chiropractic really shines. Chiropractors provide physical solutions -- adjustments, exercises, stretches, muscle therapy -- to help the body heal from conditions that are physical in origin, such as back pain, muscle spasms, headaches, and poor posture.

Common ailments chiropractors can treat:

Scoliosis is not a disease—it is a descriptive term. All spines have curves. Some curvature in the neck, upper back and lower back is normal. Humans need these spinal curves to help the upper body maintain proper balance and alignment over the pelvis. However, when there are abnormal side-to-side (lateral) curves in the spinal column, we refer to this as scoliosis.

Herniated Disc

Herniated discs are most likely to affect people between the ages of 30 and 40. Disc herniations may be present without causing pain. The most common symptom will be pain in the area of the herniation that may radiate across the hips or into the buttocks. You may also experience numbness or pain radiating down your leg to the ankle or foot.
If the herniation is large enough, you may notice weakness with extension of your big toe and you may be unable to walk on your toes or heels. In severe cases of lumbar disc herniation, you may experience changes in your bowel or bladder function and may have difficulty with sexual function.

Sciatic Pain

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. It runs from your pelvis, through your hip area and buttocks and down each leg. The sciatic nerve branches into smaller nerves as it travels down the legs providing feeling to your thighs, legs, and feet as well as controlling many of the muscles in your lower legs. The term sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of this nerve.

Low Back/Neck Pain

One single event may not cause your pain. You may have been doing many things improperly -- such as standing or lifting -- for a long time. Then suddenly, one simple movement (such as reaching for something or bending from your waist) leads to the feeling of pain.

The specific part of your back that is responsible for your pain is sometimes difficult to identify. There are several possible causes of low back pain:

Certain medical conditions such as fibromyalgia

• Herniated disc (part of a spinal disc pushes onto nearby nerves)
• Strain or tears to the muscles or ligaments supporting the back
• Degenerative disc disease
• Pelvic injury or fracture
• Piriformis syndrome (a pain disorder involving a narrow muscle in the buttocks)
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
• Small fractures to the spine from osteoporosis
• Spine curvatures (such as scoliosis or kyphosis), which may be inherited and seen in children and teens

Are over age 30
• Are pregnant
• Feel stressed or depressed
• Have arthritis or osteoporosis
• Smoke
• Do not exercise
• Are overweight
• Have a job that requires heavy lifting, a lot of bending and twisting, or whole body vibration (such as truck driving or using a sandblaster.

Symptoms

You may feel a variety of symptoms if you have hurt your spine, including:

• Tingling or burning sensation
• Dull aching
• Sharp pain
• Weakness in your legs or feet, arms or hands
• Headaches
  Pain can vary widely. The pain may be mild, or it can be so severe that you are unable to move.

• In lumbar stenosis, the spinal nerve roots in the lower back are compressed, or choked, and this can produce symptoms of sciatica -- tingling, weakness or numbness that radiates from the low back and into the buttocks and legs -- especially with activity.
• Spinal stenosis pain in the neck (cervical spinal stenosis) can be far more dangerous by compressing the spinal cord. Spinal cord stenosis may lead to serious symptoms, including major body weakness or even paralysis. Such severe spinal stenosis symptoms are virtually impossible in the lumbar spine, however, as the spinal cord is not present in the lumbar spine.

Commonly asked questions:

Technically a disc can’t “slip.”
The intervertebral disc is a pad of cartilage-type material situated between spinal bones. Each disc serves as a connector, spacer, and shock absorber for the spine. A soft, jelly- like center is contained by outer layers of fibrous tissue. Healthy discs help allow normal turning and bending.
Because of the way each disc is attached to the vertebrae above and below, a disc cannot “slip.” However, trauma or injury to the spine can cause discs to tear, bulge, or worse, rupture. This can be quite painful, as the soft center of the disc leaks, putting pressure on the adjacent nerve roots and spinal cord.
While results cannot be guaranteed, many patients have avoided surgery or a dependency. on pain pills, by choosing chiropractic care for their disc-related health problems.

How do I know if I have sciatica?

Pain that radiates from your lower (lumbar) spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark of sciatica. Sciatica may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness in the affected leg. This pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating discomfort. Sometimes it may feel like a jolt or electric shock. Sciatic pain often starts gradually and intensifies over time. It's likely to be worse when you sit, cough or sneeze.

Do I have a pinched nerve?

What is an adjustment?