Baltimore Chiropractor Advises: See a Chiropractor Before Scheduling Back Surgery

There's an 80% chance that you'll suffer back pain during your lifetime. If you see a medical doctor, he will likely recommend medication to temporarily relieve the pain. Depending on your doctor's assessment and how you respond, he may even consider you a candidate for spine surgery.

According to the Mayo Clinic, "back surgery is needed in only a small percentage of cases. Most back problems can be taken care of with nonsurgical treatments, such as anti-inflammatory medication, ice, heat, gentle massage and physical therapy." The Mayo Clinic goes on to admit that while "back pain is extremely common ... surgery often fails to relieve it."

However, if you read that statement carefully, you will notice that chiropractic treatment is absent from the nonsurgical recommendations. This is despite research that supports chiropractic care for the treatment of back pain and also on the increasing reliance on chiropractic as a first-line treatment option. The authors of the study also noted that "there is little evidence spine surgery is associated with improved population outcomes, yet surgery rates have increased dramatically since the 1990s."

Unfortunately, too many people first head to their medical doctor's office instead of a chiropractor's office to treat their back pain. Even though research and experience show chiropractic is the safest, most effective option for most cases of back pain.

New patients to Baltimore Back and Pain Center receive a free, thorough chiropractic evaluation to determine if your pain can be treated through chiropractic care. Dr. Michael Dorn will ask specific questions about your pain or discomfort and examine your back or area of pain. And if necessary, you will be referred to another health care provider for conditions which are not appropriate for chiropractic care.

Call Baltimore Back and Pain Center at (410) 662-4476 for your free chiropractic evaluation and complimentary hydro massage. You don't have to just live with pain or hope that it will go away on it's own. You deserve to be pain free!

Chiropractic Care Available at Baltimore Back and Pain for Headache Treatment

Headaches are one of the most common reasons that people visit a doctor. More than 250 million work days are lost every year due to headaches. While headaches are rarely a sign of immediately serious or life threatening health problems, some are so painful that it may seem that something is very wrong inside the head. People have become accustomed to self medication which may mask potentially dangerous conditions.

Baltimore chiropractor Dr. Michael Dorn says, "A headache is your body's way of letting you know that something is not right." Some of the milder headaches are the result of occasional problems brought on by excess smoking, drinking or eating. Others might be the indirect symptom of eye strain, poor lighting, excessive noise, improper nutrition, hunger, daily pressures or an infection, etc. In rare cases, headaches can be attributed to organic conditions such as brain tumors or even diabetes. The chiropractic examination process helps identify the most likely cause of a headache.

An exam might show that the headache is the result of muscle tension and irritation of the nerves and blood vessels in the neck. The cervical vertebrae can become misaligned from excessive physical and/or emotional stress and can irritate the nerve roots in the neck and may even cause minor constriction in some vessels. If not cared for, more serious symptoms may develop.

Chiropractic care may help prevent unnecessary tension and/or irritation in the neck and head. Many studies show that cervical spine manipulation can offer significant improvement in headache outcomes in trials involving patients with neck pain and/or neck dysfunction and headache. In some instances, specific chiropractic adjustments can provide immediate relief for headaches. Others notice a slow decline in their symptoms after several weeks or longer of chiropractic care. Keep in mind that every headache victim is an individual case and may require special instructions or recommendations.

If the initial exam shows that your condition requires the attention of other health care specialists, Dr. Dorn will, of course, refer you to them. Your optimum health is our goal! If you have questions or would like more help with ways to manage your headaches, please contact Baltimore Back and Pain Center at 410-662-4476 and let us get you on the road to a healthier you. Visit the Baltimore Back and Pain Center's website for a coupon for a free chiropractic evaluation and hydromassage.

Baltimore Chiropractor Discusses Sciatica Pain and Treatment

Sciatica is a symptom of spinal disorder and it creates persistent pain that travels down through the nerve and it may be related to many areas of your pain. The sciatic nerve is one of the largest nerves in the human body. It begins at the lower back and runs vertically downward into the back of the thigh, behind the knee and then goes into the calf muscles and the feet.

Baltimore chiropractor Dr. Michael Dorn says, "often times a bulging or ruptured disc can irritate the sciatic nerve which can then cause pain, tingling, or numbness through the extensions of the nerve throughout the lower back and lower body." The most common symptom associated with sciatica is pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, from the lower back and down one leg; however, symptoms can vary widely depending on where the sciatic nerve is affected.

Some patients may experience a mild tingling, or a dull ache, or even a burning sensation, typically on one side of the body. Other patients also say they experience a pins-and-needles sensation, most often in the toes or foot, or numbness or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot. Pain from sciatica often begins slowly, gradually intensifying over time. In addition, the pain can worsen after prolonged sitting, sneezing, coughing, bending, or other sudden movements.

A visit to the chiropractic office of Baltimore Back and Pain Center will help determine a proper treatment plan to reduce or obliterate the pain that you are experiencing. Depending on the cause of the sciatica, a chiropractic treatment plan may cover several different treatment methods. Chiropractic spinal adjustments have proven to be very effective in reducing and possibly eliminating nerve irritation and pain. Other treatment options that may be used include trigger point therapy or instrumented-assisted soft tissue therapy. From a simple adjustment to spinal decompression, Dr. Dorn has helped hundreds of patients in the Baltimore area escape the pain from sciatica.