Pinched nerves are a typical part of low back pain, and one common treatment sought out for this is a spinal injection. Some people do find relief at varying degrees from this. It is important, however, to understand that research is beginning to show that this is not always the best option, and it definitely shouldn’t be the first line of defense. There are a few very important reasons for this, which is what we will be discussing today, along with what better options there are.
First, oftentimes steroid injections don’t provide consistent, long-lasting results. Why might this be? I’d like you to imagine what a “pinched” nerve may look like. Now ask yourself: how is an injection going to ‘un-‘pinch that nerve? The answer is that it won’t. Injections work by stopping nerve endings in an area from feeling pain, which means that your pinched nerve is still there, you just can’t feel it.
You see, a pinch nerve is typically caused when spinal discs or inflamed structures around the nerve put pressure on it. This pressure can’t usually be relieved by an injection but can be relieved by restoring proper motion to spinal joints, which is exactly how Chiropractic works. Need convincing? Here’s what recent research has shown us:
- Spinal injections are ineffective at relieving low back pain, with one study showing patients receive up to 14% relief from their symptoms
- Chiropractic was found to provide up to 60% relief from symptoms in patients with low back pain
- In a paper published by the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapies (JMPT) Chiropractic was shown to offer superior benefits for those suffering from a herniated disc when compared to an injection
- Over time, reliance on steroids for pain damages your bones
Evidence is clear that if you have low back pain, your first order of business should be conservative care such as Chiropractic, not an injection.
At Better Chiropractic, we offer evidence-based care that will get you better faster than even most other chiropractors by including other proven therapies such as stretches and exercise that strengthen muscles, improve posture, and ultimately empower you to be in charge of your own health! It’s what makes us your Premier Gilbert Chiropractic Clinic.
If you have low back pain, neck pain, or you have ever considered or received a spinal injection for pain (whether it worked or not) call us today to see what we can do to help you Feel, Live, and Perform Better!
