When should I see a chiropractor?

1. If you experience chronic back pain that disrupts your sleep, causes unnecessary discomfort when you are sitting or standing, limits your ability to engage in sports or other activities, limits your ability to enjoy family activities, etc.
2. If you experience back pain after doing yard work, lifting something heavy, engaging in a sports activity, or other activities, first try resting and putting ice on the affected area.  If you are still suffering from back pain after a day or two, make an appointment to make sure you have not done more severe injury to your back and begin the repair process.
3. If you experience sudden and/or extreme back pain that restricts your ability to move or do certain activities, set up an appointment immediately to determine if you have a serious injury.
4. If you have been involved in an automobile accident, even a minor fender bender, make sure to get checked out by Dr. Alexander as soon as possible.  Even a very low-speed accident can result in injury to soft tissues such as ligaments and tendons and throw your spine out of position.  Uncorrected, these injuries can cause long-term problems.

 

Some Common Back Conditions We See And Treat

Find relief from back pain –  See What Our Patients Say

When I began coming to receive chiropractic care, I had constant back pain.  My lower back hurt even more severely after standing for just 30 minus and I’m only 28.  After just a few months of adjustments, the pain and discomfort is almost entirely gone and I can better enjoy things like standing an all day tailgate for a Georgia game. Go Dawgs!.

– Lisa E. // Lawrenceville, Ga.

 

As a patient of Dr. Alexander I can’t say enough for what he has done for me.  Before I came to him I had went to about four different doctors.  I had shots put in my back for the back pain.  I had taken the shots about five different times. 

They didn’t do anything for me. I was taking anything for pain that I could get my hands on without very much relief.  It took me from five to ten minutes just to get out of a chair and sometimes with help getting up.  After a few weeks of Chiropractic care I had very little pain and I can get up without any problems. I would say that I am 90% better than I was and I am still improving. 

The medical doctors said I could have an operation but I had 50-50 percent chance that I might be worse.  Thank goodness for Dr. Alexander.  I can’t say enough good things about him.

– Avie H. // Loganville, Ga

 

When I first came to Dr. Alexander I was in tremendous pain!  My lower back hurt so much that I could hardly sit, walk, or stand!  With the help of ultrasound therapy and Dr. Alexander I was feeling better in no time.  By the fifth visit to the office I could hardly tell I had been hurt. 

Without Dr. Alexander and his assistants I don’t know what I would have done.  I truly believe that without chiropractic help it would have taken twice as much time and money to be healed. Thanks to everyone!

– Felicia K. // Buford, Ga

 

I used to think that there is nothing I can do about my back pain and that it just was something that I would have to learn to live with.  My back pain started with occasional painful muscle spasm and over the years it became pretty much constant.  It caused headaches and stopped me from leading the physically active life I was used to.  My physician recommended that I see a chiropractor.  I have heard versus opinions about chiropractic care from other people and was not sure what to expect.  I was surprised to learn from Dr. Alexander that I showed beginning stages of arthritis in my spine.  I was incredulous.  I thought that only happened to old people.  I am glad that I made that first appointment with Dr. Alexander.  I know that his care made a huge difference in my life.  I can now continue doing the things I love to do without constantly hurting.

– Edita M. // Lawrenceville, Ga.

 

My first visit to Dr. Alexander’s office, I was worried about my future.  Being able to be active with my family and friends has meant so much to me growing up, so, when I hurt my back other doctors said I may not be able to continue the lifestyle that I have enjoyed since I can remember.  That vision of not being active scared me.  So, I went to the good Dr.A and his staff.  After my first visit I truly felt better about my problems.  His passion and kindness won me over and I felt that hope was near.  Now, I have been pain free and stress free.  Within a few weeks all fear was gone and sports was back in mind.  Now, I am planning on finishing my program with Dr. Alexander and starting a new healthy life of being active.  Thanks for the love!

– Floyd P. // Lawrenceville, Ga.

How does chiropractic therapy help relieve back and low back pain?

The first step to relieving back pain is a complete chiropractic / orthopedic exam, often including an x-ray, to pinpoint the cause of your back pain.  Determining the cause is key to setting up a treatment plan.

For simpler, sudden onset back pain, chiropractic  therapy /adjustments to put a vertebra in proper function/ position, short term ice therapy, and stretching/strengthening exercises might be the recommended course of care.

For more complex causes, such as a bulging disc, disc degeneration/arthritis, nerve damage, or congenital issues, additional therapies, along with chiropractic therapy/adjustments, would be part of a recommended treatment plan.

 

What is chiropractic therapy/adjustment, and how do they help?

Chiropractic therapy/adjustments are specific, quick low force pressures applied to the exact spots on the spine to move an out of place vertebrae back to its correct position and movement. Adjustments can be done either manually by hand or with a specially designed adjusting instrument.  Dr. Alexander is highly skilled and experienced at both manual and instrument adjusting using an Activator or Arthrostim instrument.

Returning the vertebrae to their correct position and takes the pressure off surrounding nerves and muscles.  This improves the spinal movement and your body’s overall function.

 

Care plan therapies

 

Ice Therapy (Cryotherapy)

Cryotherapy is designed to help reduce inflammation and provide temporary pain relief.  By cooling the surface of the skin it constricts blood vessels, numbs painful areas, and helps relax muscle spasms. 

 

Spinal Decompression (Lumbar Traction) Cox Flexion/Distraction Technique

Flexion-distraction and decompression therapy is a gentle, non-force procedure performed on a specially designed table, that combined with a hands-on manipulation, stretches and decompresses the spine.  This helps relieve pressure on spinal nerves, improved disc health and increases spinal motion relieving the back and leg pain symptoms of sciatica. This unique approach allows fluids to enter the disc, restoring function and motion to the spine.

 

Low Light Laser Therapy 

Low Light laser therapy delivers specific light energy to damaged cells in order to increase blood flow and stimulate natural physiological activity. This can accelerate the healing of damaged tissues, aides in the reduction of pain and inflammation increasing joint mobility, and promoting a healthy cell metabolism.

 

Ultrasound Therapy 

Ultrasound is a therapeutic treatment using high-frequency sound waves.  Sound vibrations penetrate tissues deep in the body, creating a heat response.  The rise in temperature increases blood flow, relaxes muscle spasms, massages damaged tissues, and speeds the healing process.

 

Intersegmental Traction (Spinalator) 

Intersegmental Traction provides passive motion to the spine for the purpose of stretching spinal joints and increasing mobility.  Since discs have a poor blood supply, they get nutrients from the circulation of fluids surrounding the spinal joints.  Fixations prevent this natural circulation and can lead to disc thinning and degeneration.  Intersegmental traction helps increase and restore necessary elasticity and motion to the spine.

 

Massage

Gentle Swedish to help relax tense muscles to deep tissue massage to therapeutically work out muscle knots and toxin build up in the tissues.