Why Go to a Chiropractor Instead of a Doctor?

By Published On: January 24, 2023Categories: NJ Chiropractic Info, NJ Health and Wellness, NJ Herniated Disc, NJ Migraines and Headaches Info, NJ Pain Management, NJ Physical Therapy Info, NJ Pinched Nerve, NJ Rehab, NJ Spinal Stenosis, NJ Sports Injury, NJ Sprains, NJ Strain, NJ Tendonitis, Oakland Spine News
  • NJ Chiropractic Care - Bergen/Passaic County: New Jersey

If you suffer from back pain, you may be wondering if you should see your doctor or a chiropractor. The pain experts at Oakland Spine and Physical Therapy often encounter new patients who have questions about which option is best for their specific condition. With offices

In Oakland, Wayne, Fair Lawn, and Closter, New Jersey, the Oakland Spine team sees many patients with back pain who are looking for alternatives to spinal surgery.

Chronic back pain can be caused by a variety of issues, from injury and falls to aging and overuse. This type of back pain can be debilitating and interfere with every part of life. This pain can limit your ability to work, stand for long periods of time, walk without discomfort and negatively impact quality of life. This is why seeking a solution to back pain becomes so important for so many people.

Should I See My Doctor or a Chiropractor for Back Pain?

If you develop chronic back pain from a past injury or over time, you may be wondering if it makes sense to see your doctor or a chiropractor. The good news is, you do not have to choose between the two options. Many patients that visit Oakland Spine have first explored their options with their doctor.

However, when chronic back pain comes from a mechanical issue in the spine, doctors are most likely to suggest spinal surgery, such as spinal fusion. These types of surgeries however have not been shown to eliminate pain and can often come with significant risks and side effects. It’s often after being given this less-than-appealing option, that patients seek a non-surgical option, which is generally visiting a chiropractor.

Chiropractors, like those at Oakland Spine, are experts in the causes of back pain and using spinal manipulation to relieve feelings of discomfort. Although many patients experience lower back pain, the chiropractors at Oakland Spine treat all areas of the spine including:

  • the thoracic spine (upper and middle part of the spine)
  • the cervical spine (neck region)
  • the lumbar spine (lower back between the bottom of the ribs and top of the pelvis)

How Can a Chiropractor Help with Back Pain?

So if doctors typically recommend prescription medications and surgery for chronic back pain, what do chiropractors do? It’s a great question. In fact, there are many alternatives to medication and surgery that highly-trained chiropractors employ to relieve back and other areas with chronic pain.

For instance, with back pain, chiropractors will use therapies such as spinal adjustments, decompression techniques such as computerized traction, along with physical therapy exercises. Oakland Spine employs these therapies as well as deep tissue class IV laser therapy, activator methods, Pettibon Therapy, physiotherapy, and cranio-sacral therapy.

All of the techniques Oakland Spine performs are done with care and compassion to ensure each patient is not in pain. Along with these therapies, your chiropractor will work closely with you to identify lifestyle habits which may contribute to pain and lifestyle alternatives to help with relieving this discomfort.

When Should I See a Chiropractor?

It’s not just back pain that can be improved with the help of seeing a chiropractor. If you have other types of chronic pain, from repetitive stress, sedentary work, a car accident or other injury, you may benefit from the help of a chiropractor. Here are just some of the other conditions a chiropractor is skilled in treating:

Not only can this be a cost-effective option compared to surgery and other invasive medical practices, but chiropractic care will not involve the use of any medications or prescription drugs which may carry their own negative side effects.

Back Pain Symptoms That Should Not Be Ignored

In some rare instances back pain can signal a medical emergency. In these cases, you shouldn’t wait for an appointment with a chiropractor or doctor. Instead, if you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention at an emergency room:

  • Back pain that is accompanied by sudden bowel or bladder conditions, such as the inability to urinate or have a bowel movement.
  • Fever
  • Pain caused by a significant injury that recently occurred, such as a fall, car accident or other trauma.

By getting seen immediately by a healthcare professional, serious or life-threatening infections or conditions can be ruled out and further damage to the spine can be prevented.

Near Oakland, New Jersey and In Chronic Pain?

Schedule a Consultation with Oakland Spine and Physical Therapy

As you can see, there’s many reasons to visit a chiropractor for chronic pain conditions. Whether you have visited your doctor, plan to or are already exploring your alternatives, there’s no better time than now to make an appointment with a chiropractor near you.

With locations in Oakland, Wayne, Fair Lawn, and Closter, New Jersey, Oakland Spine and Physical Therapy provides relief from chronic pain for patients all across northern Jersey. The Butler Spine Center, part of Oakland Spine specializes in improving a variety of back conditions, such as herniated discs, stenosis, sciatica and spinal degeneration. Request an appointment using the online form and begin to experience a new, more personalized approach to care.