Have you had a back problems in the past, and how did you fix them?

As a Chiropractor and someone who had sciatica at the age of 17, I would highly recommend chiropractic treatment. At the age of 17, I experienced severe burning pain down the back of my right leg and would come home in tears every day. The medical physicians recommended divon and valium, and was told to stop gym class (which made matters worse). I was so drugged up, I remember always falling down a flight of stairs. I can understand why we have such a drug problem in this country. My parent did not know what to do. Thankfully, a good friend took me to his sister's chiropractor where I got relief. Chiropractic looks at function, alignment and movement as well as underlying pathology. Misalignments can cause pressure on nerves which can could pain, muscle spasms, numbness and lack of function. 

I did have a back issue it was my neck, and just like my patients I did chiropractic adjustments and therapy and I continue as I have always done getting adjusted every other week or so 20 years and counting.

I began my journey with a recommendation of a Chiropractor in my community 

Seek good chiropractic care first. Alignment of the spine is paramount to relieving pain.

Thank you for the question. Yes I have had back problems in the past, and continue to have intermittent back problems. What I suggest is chiropractic. I get adjusted on a regular basis, not just when I am in pain. I do it to help with sleep, have more energy, digest better, have better posture, and it helps me emotionally. I am happier and function over all better.

I was very fortunate to have a father that was a chiropractor. He was the first person I would call no matter what I did to myself. He kept my back in line and prevented further damage to it.  A competent Chiropractor would be my first call for any back related problem.

As Sports massage therapist and Myofascial Practitioner my advise to everyone to start with massage therapy treatment for the legs 45 min and 15 for the back followed by Ice pack with compression

I initially injured my L5 disc as a college gymnast. At that time, I first sought a medical solution and had a CAT scan (MRI was not available back then). After being told my options were surgery or bed rest with traction for a long time, I then consulted with a chiropractor as well as a PT. Both did more thorough exams than the orthopedist did and explained their different approaches. I ultimately chose chiropractic and get great results and was able to return to gymnastics without limitations. I have since had numerous exacerbations and continue always seek proper diagnosis first before choosing the appropriate health care; and so far it has always been chiropractic adjustments with chiropractors that have extensive experience with complicated spinal conditions as well as a comprehensive spinal stabilization exercise regimen. I continue to be unlimited in all of my activities. This experience is also why I chose to become a chiropractor! My lumbar problem is not fixable but totally managed with ongoing chiropractic care and my exercise regimen. This is the quality level of care I provide to our patients; Diagnosis first, then prognosis and treatment plan follows.

While I treat many cases like this, back in 2010 I herniated a disc in my back.  i was treated with chiropractic flexion distraction, did a ton of rehab exercises on it and got some relief with acupuncture which I sometimes recommend to patients in a lot of pain.  Flexion distraction works wonders for discs.

Not to be dogmatic, but the evidence shows most back problems are due to mobility and how we move and adapted, hence the recommendations in the annals of internal medicine in 2017 supported this idea but gave little direction for the public or doctors.

Back problems can be caused by the feet, by lifting, by asymmetry, by upper back problems so a thorough holistic evaluation should be done by the practitioner.  Looking at a script and giving protocols of exercises is lazy and hit or miss.  The same is the approach of manipulation to the area of pain.

The best approach is a deep history, thorough evaluation and treatment that is a combination of exercises, manipulation, soft tissue treatments such as myofascial release and active evaluation protocols that are done on every visit to test for the improvement of function. This multifaceted approach will solve the majority of cases. 

Some may need additional testing and referral if they do not improve in 6-9 visits at least 50%.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE!  I was introduced to Chiropractic care after a serious car accident.  After months of doing physical therapy and dumping drugs that were prescribed that made me sick to my stomach, when I finally got to a chiropractor it was miraculous.  I knew that was my calling.  And 27 years later I still love what I do and I get adjusted every week because that keeps me doing what I love!  No drugs, no surgery; we remove the interference in the nervous system so that the body can heal itself.  Chiropractic is truly about health and healing NOT just symptom treatment.