If you are suffering from back pain, you should speak with our Baltimore, MD back pain doctor. Statistics show that only about one-third of spinal surgeries are considered “successful,” so a large percentage of people with back and neck pain undergo painful surgery with extended recovery and rehabilitation time, only to discover they aren’t any better off than they were before.

In light of that consideration, maintenance and preventative care for your spine make good sense. Conservative therapies like comprehensive chiropractic care from Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic can aid your recovery with minimal risk and at a much lower cost than a surgical procedure. Chiropractic care may keep you out of the surgeon’s office in the first place. Reach out to us today to book an appointment and learn how our team can help.

The Ins And Outs Of A Chiropractic Visit

An initial visit chiropractic visit with a back pain doctor covers a lot of ground. You may experience an initial spinal adjustment to evaluate spinal health. There may also be a complete review of your medical history and a discussion of your goals for chiropractic care, which may include avoiding surgery.

Chiropractic care can help:

Relieve back and neck pain
Align and adjust the body to prevent further problems or injuries
Relieve extremity-related pains
Improve mobility, flexibility, and range of motion issues
Maintain long-term health and wellness through comprehensive care
Care for adults, teens, toddlers, and even babies

After your first chiropractic visit, a comprehensive treatment protocol is put into effect. That program may often include many layers, as the back pain doctor sometimes has to help solve several problems at once.

Along with the immediate back neck or other extremity-related pain, considerations including stress and tension causing tightening of muscles, extra body weight adding an additional burden to the spine and skeletal system, and compensation for any work, school, or sports-related repetitive movements may all need to be addressed.

Recommendations for a healthy, clean diet, exercises for strength, conditioning, and relieving tension, and postural adjustments, and reconditioning and retraining repetitive movement processes may all come into play.

Chiropractic Care Can Be Highly Effective, Yet Gentle

If you have avoided finding chiropractic treatment because you’re worried that it might hurt more than your pain, you may be surprised to know that pain treatment and management at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic can be highly effective while still being gentle.

Organizing and addressing all the pieces at play in your personal circumstances is part of our Baltimore, MD back pain doctor’s natural process. To learn more about how we can orchestrate a workable plan for you, one that hopefully helps you steer clear of the surgeon, make an appointment and find out more.

Clinical Research Proves Chiropractic Maintenance Can Prevent Pain

The study, first published in September 2018, evaluated the use of maintenance chiropractic treatment as a preventative application for people with frequent low back pain. Researchers determined that patients receiving regular chiropractic manipulative therapy from a Baltimore, MD back pain doctor before experiencing low back pain symptoms can significantly minimize the time they spend in pain. In fact, patients with chronic or frequent low back pain who received proactive chiropractic maintenance care suffered 14 days, or two weeks, less painful days in one year.

Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy for Maintenance

Chiropractic manipulation is a process of realigning the bones in the spinal column through adjustments to the vertebrae. Manipulative adjustments are non-invasive techniques done by a trusted back pain doctor in Baltimore, MD that work to correct the posture and positioning of the spine so the proper function of the body can be restored.

It is common for degenerative changes in the spine (degenerative disc disease) to cause chronic or recurrent back pain over time. Preventative chiropractic care can stop suffering from disc degeneration from ever developing and keep it from producing a full-blown disabling event.

Many people only schedule visits to a back pain doctor Baltimore, MD trusts when they are in pain or need care after an accident or injury. But preventative care is just as significant as acute care, especially in a long-term total wellness plan.

Total Wellness Planning

There are numerous other benefits to chiropractic care. Many patients report better sleep quality following adjustments. Plus, many people see improvements in their digestive health, including increased bowel regularity. Research shows that regular chiropractic care done by a Baltimore, Maryland back pain doctor can benefit the immune system function, boosting the body’s ability to fend off coughs and colds. Another studied benefit of routine chiropractic care is reduced anxiety, as chiropractic adjustments can help calm the body’s response to stress.

The Benefits Of Seeing A Chiropractor

Chiropractic Treatment Can Boost Your Immunity

A Baltimore, Maryland back pain doctor knows that chiropractic care that starts in your back can help with the other systems in your body. The healthier an immune system is, the better it can fight off bacteria and viruses with minimal intervention from medical treatment or antibiotics. However, if there is any misalignment in your spine, your immune system can become compromised. This is because the nervous system controls the cells of the body, tissues, and organs, which are a part of the immune system. A chiropractic doctor can realign your spine and free up the immune system. As a result, you may find yourself healthier and less susceptible to illnesses.

Your Digestion May Be Improved

The nerves that run through the spine, also control the functioning of your stomach and digestion. If the vertebrate centered around these nerves are misaligned, these nerves might send signals to produce more acidity resulting in gas, heartburn, and acid reflux. Our Maryland back pain doctor can adjust the thoracic spine, thereby, reducing digestive problems.

You May Feel More Energy

Chiropractic treatments can increase your energy levels in two ways. One, tension around the spine can be released; thus, freeing nerves that have been compressed or hindered. Two, the pain that you may be feeling around your neck and spine will likely cause you to feel tired, grouchy, or run down. A chiropractic adjustment can alleviate this pressure and encourage your body to function the way in which it is intended to.

Your Breathing May Improve

Compression in the spine can cause compression around the diaphragm and lung area. As a back pain doctor Baltimore, Maryland residents trust might explain to you, a misalignment in the thoracic or mid-cervical areas of the spine can cause lung abnormalities such as asthma. By correcting the subluxations, any inflammation in the lung area can be reduced while at the same time increasing your lungs’ capacity.

Chiropractic Treatment Can Help with Pregnancy

During pregnancy, a woman’s body changes so much that the functioning of the nervous system can be greatly altered. Ligaments around the pelvic area will loosen up towards the end of the third trimester so as to enable childbirth. At the same time, the weight a woman will gain can cause instability and pressure on the spinal regions. It is possible for a pregnant woman to receive chiropractic treatment. The benefits are vast and include a healthier pregnancy, smoother childbirth, and less back pain after the birth of the child.

There are many reasons to receive treatment from a chiropractor. If you are feeling chronic pain or tension in your back, consulting our back pain specialists at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic may be a good idea.

Regular chiropractic care may improve your overall quality of life. When chiropractic adjustments are combined with advice and recommendations from a Baltimore, Maryland back pain doctor to help you develop healthier habits and live a better life, you have a comprehensive plan for long-term health and wellbeing.

Many back pain doctors can help you take a more active role in your overall health and wellness. Everyone’s health journey is different, though. Additionally, since health concerns are different among individuals, an approach should be customized to fit your specific needs. Many chiropractors will educate you about all the options available to you if that is a goal you have of treatment.

Staying active and having routine chiropractic adjustments can lead to the healthier, happier life you deserve. So, you don’t have to wait for a painful “flare-up” to take you out of commission and interfere with your active lifestyle. Evidence now proves that you can prevent disabling episodes of low back pain with regular chiropractic maintenance treatments. Be proactive about your health and schedule a chiropractic visit with us at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic before another bout of pain occurs.

Five Myths About Back Pain Busted

You Must Sit Up Straight: While you shouldn’t slouch all the time, you shouldn’t sit up rigidly stiff all the time, either. Your back is meant to move. Shift your position once in a while. Try sitting on an exercise ball or kneeling chair instead of your regular desk chair. Your back pain doctor in Baltimore, MD, might suggest considering trying a standing desk.
Pain Is Always Caused by Injury: There are two types of pain: acute and chronic. Acute pain is usually due to an injury of some sort. Surgery, dental work, labor and delivery and broken bones can all cause acute pain. Acute pain typically doesn’t last more than six months. Chronic pain, on the other hand, can be injury- or illness-related, but it can also stem from no discernible cause. Some chronic pain conditions are hard to diagnose, such as fibromyalgia or back pain. It’s far too often that the patient says, “It hurts right there,” and the doctor’s best diagnosis is “It hurts right there.” Our back pain doctor in Baltimore may be able to begin treatment without having a specific diagnosis beyond “back pain.”
Skinny Automatically Means Pain-Free: It’s easy to assume everyone with low back pain is overweight. After all, carrying extra pounds leads to more pressure on your joints and spinal column. However, not all people with low back pain are overweight. Some are normal weight, or even thin. Bad genes, a sedentary lifestyle, a previous spinal injury and a vegetarian diet low in B12, sulfur or cholesterol can all be contributory to low back pain in people who are underweight or normal weight.
Exercise Is Horrible For Back Pain: Exercise is wonderful for back pain. A proper workout with a warm-up session, some good stretching and a cool-down session can do wonders for back pain. You can build all your core muscles, including those in your back, to help alleviate back pain. Your Baltimore back pain doctor may have recommendations for what exercises would be best for you.
Back Pain Is Just Part Of Getting Older: Back pain is preventable, even in older people. There may be aches and pains associated with getting older, but a solid exercise routine that improves your strength, stamina and flexibility can help you avoid them. You can add low-impact exercise to your regimen through tai chi, Pilates or yoga to improve your mobility.

Baltimore Back Pain Infographic

Baltimore Back Pain Statistics

Chronic back pain can be more common than most people realize. According to recent statistics released by the CDC in analyzing data from the 2016 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), an estimated 20.4% of adults (50.0 million) in the United States suffered from chronic pain and 8.0% (19.6 million) suffer from high-impact chronic pain. Specifically, the study showed that high-risk groups for chronic pain include older adults, previously employed adults, women, adults living in poverty, and rural residents.

The CDC notes that chronic pain is emerging as a health concern on its own and that it poses many negative consequences both to those suffering from chronic pain, their families, and society at large. In particular, they attribute chronic pain to mental and physical conditions as well as high healthcare costs and lost productivity in the workplace and personal life of those living with chronic pain. In this study, chronic pain was defined as “pain on most days or every day in the past six months,” and high-impact chronic pain was defined as “chronic pain that limited life or work activities on most days or every day during the past six months.”

Understanding if you are suffering from or at risk of chronic pain is a crucial step in seeking the treatment and relief that you need. Our experienced Maryland back pain doctor is here to help you understand your pain and how we can help you find relief in both the short-term and long-term from this pain.

Baltimore Back Pain Doctor FAQs

Back pain can affect people of all ages and activity levels. It can come on suddenly after an injury or develop slowly from posture habits or daily strain. Fortunately, your Baltimore back pain doctor can help. At Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic, we help patients find relief through chiropractic care, physical therapy, and more. Below are some common questions people ask about back pain and recovery. Read on for answers, and get in touch today to schedule an appointment with a spine care physician from our team.

What’s The Best Sleeping Position For Back Pain?

The best sleeping position is usually one that keeps the spine in a neutral, supported posture. For many people, lying on the back with a pillow under the knees or on the side with a pillow between the knees helps reduce pressure on the lower back. A mattress that’s firm enough to support the natural curve of the spine also helps. Sleeping on the stomach is not ideal, as it can strain the neck and lower back over time.

Can Back Pain Cause Leg Numbness?

Yes, back pain can sometimes cause numbness or tingling in the legs. This usually happens when a nerve in the lower spine is irritated or compressed, such as with a herniated disc or spinal stenosis. However, if you notice numbness, weakness, or pain that spreads to your legs or feet, it’s important to get evaluated to determine the cause.

Is Walking Good For Lower Back Pain?

In most cases, walking is one of the best low-impact activities for people with back pain. It helps improve circulation, strengthens muscles that support the spine, and promotes flexibility. Regular movement also helps prevent stiffness that often makes back pain worse. However, if walking increases your pain or causes new symptoms, it’s best to take a break and consult with your back pain specialist for guidance on safe exercises.

Is Back Pain Normal With Aging?

Mild back discomfort can become more common with age due to changes in muscles, joints, and discs. These structures naturally lose strength and flexibility over time, which can make them more sensitive to strain. That said, constant or severe pain is not something you should accept as a normal part of aging. As your Baltimore back pain doctor can explain, many age-related causes of back pain can be managed with proper care, posture support, and regular exercise.

How Long Does Back Pain Usually Last?

The duration of back pain depends on the cause. Minor muscle strains often improve within a few days to a couple of weeks with rest and gentle stretching. Chronic pain caused by disc problems, arthritis, or posture issues may last longer but can often be reduced with targeted treatment and consistent care. Seeking help from your back pain treatment provider can prevent the pain from becoming persistent and harder to manage.

Baltimore Back Pain Glossary

As a law firm supporting individuals dealing with back pain, we understand how important it is to clarify medical terminology that may arise in personal injury or workers’ compensation cases. Below, we define key terms associated with back pain treatment and chiropractic care in Baltimore, Maryland, as provided by Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic. These terms are relevant for clients seeking to address the medical and legal aspects of their cases.

Chiropractic Manipulation

Chiropractic manipulation involves manual adjustments of the spine to realign vertebrae, alleviate pain, and restore function. This non-invasive technique is commonly used to treat conditions like chronic back pain, sciatica, and spinal misalignments. For example, a patient experiencing lower back pain after a car accident may undergo chiropractic manipulation to reduce inflammation and improve mobility.

In legal cases, detailed records of chiropractic manipulation can support claims for necessary medical expenses and validate ongoing treatment needs, particularly in scenarios involving workplace injuries or auto accidents.

Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease refers to the gradual breakdown of intervertebral discs in the spine, often causing chronic pain, stiffness, or limited mobility. This condition is a frequent cause of back pain in aging populations but can also be exacerbated by physical trauma or repetitive strain.

When pursuing compensation for injuries that worsen pre-existing conditions like degenerative disc disease, comprehensive medical documentation and expert opinions are essential. This ensures that the impact of the injury on the individual’s overall health is accurately represented in legal proceedings.

Nerve Root Compression

Nerve root compression occurs when spinal nerves are compressed or pinched, leading to pain, tingling, or weakness in the back and extremities. A common cause is a herniated disc, where the disc material presses against nearby nerves. Symptoms may include shooting pain that radiates down the legs or arms, depending on the location of the compression.

This condition often plays a central role in personal injury claims, as victims may experience long-term impairments. Diagnostic imaging, such as MRIs, and treatment records from providers like Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic are critical in substantiating the severity of nerve root compression.

Lumbar Sprain And Strain

A lumbar sprain involves ligament damage in the lower back, while a lumbar strain affects muscles or tendons. Both conditions are common in work-related injuries, car accidents, or incidents involving heavy lifting. Symptoms include localized pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion.

Legal claims for lumbar sprains and strains often include evidence of medical treatment, physical therapy, and chiropractic adjustments. These records help establish the extent of the injury and the financial impact of the required recovery process.

Spinal Misalignment

Spinal misalignment, also referred to as subluxation, occurs when vertebrae deviate from their normal position, disrupting the spine’s functionality and causing pain or discomfort. Chiropractic care focuses on correcting misalignments to restore proper posture, alleviate nerve pressure, and improve overall wellness.

In personal injury cases, demonstrating the presence of spinal misalignment through imaging studies and chiropractic evaluations is crucial. These findings can support claims for both acute care and preventative treatments aimed at avoiding further complications.

Contact Our Baltimore Back Pain Doctor Today

We’re here to help you move better, feel stronger, and get back to doing the things you enjoy most. If you’ve been struggling with recurring or persistent back pain, contact Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic today. We offer chiropractic care, physical therapy, and more – and we’re also available for walk-in appointments. Get in touch with our office to get started with a Baltimore back pain doctor who cares.

Client Review

“I love this place. They helped me get back to 100% in no time. And the receptionist Ms. Laura is the best. So if you have a bump or bruise you need straighten out, I highly recommend these guys.”
– Lamont J.

Back Pain Doctor Baltimore MD