Resolving Back Problems Once and For All

Did you fall off a ladder while doing Christmas decorating? Maybe you slid down the icy front stairs of your house and ended up flat on your back. No matter the scenario, if you have hurt your back, you must be miserable. From giving yourself time to heal to contacting a chiropractor, here are some ideas that might help you to recover more quickly.

Take It Easy 

If you were able to get up and walk away from the area where you fell, you may have decided that you don't have any broken bones. Consider taking it easy for a few days. That will probably be hard for you to do since you might have a list a mile long of after-Christmas jobs that need to be done. Consider resting in front of the television set or with a new book you've been wanting to read. 

Think of using an ice pack on the area of your back that hurts the most. It might be helpful for you to take some over-the-counter pain medication. Talk to the pharmacist to see which medications are the strongest. Don't just be a couch potato, though. While you take time to rest, also take time to do some walking. Of course, don't overdo it.

See a Chiropractor 

After you have taken it easy for a couple of days, assess whether you are getting better or whether your back still hurts like the dickens. It might be time for you to see a chiropractor. Have you ever been to a chiropractor before? He or she will more than likely want every detail of how you hurt yourself. X-rays may be taken to make sure that there are no broken bones or even tiny fractures that are a part of the problem.

Your first visit will more than likely include manipulation done by the chiropractor. If you've never been to a chiropractor in the past, you might be surprised at some of the adjustments. Don't think it's weird if the chiropractor even gets on the table to do the adjustments. He or she has the training and the experience to adjust your body in a way that won't cause permanent damage. Besides the adjustments, you may receive electronic treatment. The chiropractor, or an assistant, will place little electrodes on the area that needs attention, and then you'll feel something that reminds you of a tiny shock. Don't worry. Those little shocks are a part of your treatment and will be administered very safely.

For more information about dealing with back pain, contact a chiropractor.