Back Pain Relief with Chiropractic in Clarksville TN
Back pain relief is more than a lower number on a pain scale. It might mean sleeping better, walking farther or getting back to work, so at our Clarksville chiropractic office we start by asking which of those matters most to you.
How we look for the cause of back pain
From there we ask about where the pain travels, when it began, any injury, and any numbness or weakness. Bring any earlier X-ray, MRI or test reports.
We treat musculoskeletal causes of back pain. We don't diagnose or treat kidney stones or urinary tract infections; if your symptoms or exam point that way, we'll refer you for a medical evaluation.
Not every episode of low back pain needs imaging. NICE, which writes England's clinical guidelines, saves imaging for specialist care, and only when a scan is likely to change the treatment. Here, if the exam calls for X-rays, they're part of your first visit.
Where spinal manipulation fits for low back pain
We offer spinal manipulation, and NCCIH, part of the NIH, says it can offer modest benefit for some people with low back pain. Temporary soreness or increased discomfort can occur, and serious complications have also been reported. Your health history and the technique both bear on that risk, so an adjustment isn't automatic at a first visit.
NICE recommends considering manual therapy only as part of a package that includes exercise. Depending on the exam, other care may include advice on staying active, physical therapy or treatment from your medical doctor. Any plan we recommend is built around your condition and goals.
Is your back pain treatment working?
The clearest measure is usually one everyday activity, like walking to the mailbox or sitting through a meal, with a starting point and a date to recheck it.
Before you start, it's fair to know what improvement would make the trial worth it, what you can work on between visits, and which symptoms mean you should stop and call. Cost through the first reassessment is fair to ask about too. We're happy to talk about fees and insurance on the phone before you book.
If we are not able to help you with your problem or are unable to reduce your pain levels, we will make sure to give you a recommendation to another experienced provider.
Any change to a medicine is the call of whoever prescribed it, not ours, even if you feel better after a visit.
Back pain warning signs
Go to an emergency room right away for new difficulty passing urine, loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the genitals or buttocks, or severe or worsening weakness in both legs. These can be signs of cauda equina syndrome, and the NHS lists them as emergency signs. Don't wait for an appointment with us.
Getting help for back pain in Clarksville
Our back pain guide and sciatica guide go deeper. For anything less urgent, call our office and tell us what your back is keeping you from.
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Follow the evidence
Research, with context.
Selected published sources behind what we've written, each with what it found and what it can't tell us. We give you both halves because no paper can diagnose you or predict how your own care will go.
Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians
Adults with acute, subacute or chronic low-back pain considering noninvasive management.
What it foundThe guideline prioritizes non-drug options for chronic low-back pain, including exercise. Spinal manipulation is one of several options, supported by lower-quality evidence.
What it can't tell usA guideline pulls together existing evidence; it doesn't report a new experiment. It doesn't establish disc realignment, a cure for everyone, or superiority over all other care.
Publication details & citation
Qaseem et al. Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2017. DOI: 10.7326/M16-2367.
Read the publication recordExercise therapy for chronic low back pain
249 trials of exercise therapy in adults with chronic nonspecific low-back pain.
What it foundExercise probably improves pain compared with no treatment, usual care or placebo. Average improvements in function were smaller.
What it can't tell usThe programs, and what they were compared with, varied. The review doesn't point to one best exercise for everyone, and it doesn't apply to a new fracture, an infection or a neurological problem that's getting worse.
Publication details & citation
Hayden et al. Exercise therapy for chronic low back pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2021. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009790.pub2.
Read the publication record
Our editorial policy explains how to read these sources and what our clinical-review labels mean.