You Don't Have to Live With Back Pain
Don't Fall for These 5 Back Pain Relief Mistakes
Discover 5 common mistakes that back pain sufferers frequently make. Make sure that you do not make the same mistakes!
At Vitality Integrative Wellness, we offer non-invasive treatments for chronic back pain that are often effective when everything else has come up short.
Live the Life You Want, Without Back Pain
The life-altering impact of chronic knee pain affects roughly one out of four people. For most of these individuals, their condition developed slowly, causing mild discomfort while walking. However, with time, knee conditions can develop into debilitating pain that stops you from doing the things you love.
You don't have to be one of them.
If you want to stop back pain for good, you have to go beyond treating the symptoms. At Vitality, we help you get to the root cause of your pain and treat it.
Start Here: Discover What Back Pain Is and What Causes It
Back pain is characterized by discomfort or pain in the upper, middle, or lower back area— but let's go a little deeper.
Get to Know Your Back
The cervical is the upper part of the spine, your neck, and is made up of seven vertebrae (bones). The thoracic is the center portion of the spine, consisting of 12 vertebrae. The lower portion of the spine is called the lumbar spine. It is usually made up of five vertebrae; however, some people may have six lumbar vertebrae. The lower back has five lumbar discs and one sacral disc. Surrounding and connecting to your spine is a whole host of nerves, muscles, tissues, tendons, and ligaments that can all be impacted by illness and lifestyle habits. The lower back is the most injured part of the body.
What's Causing Your Back Pain?
A whole host of problems could cause your back pain. We have patients come to us with all sorts of conditions, ranging from muscle strains and injuries to poor posture, herniated discs, or even underlying medical conditions such as arthritis or osteoporosis. Knowing the underlying cause of back pain is extremely important to developing a treatment plan that actually works to alleviate symptoms. We can help you figure out why you're in pain, no matter your age or how long you've been in pain, and help you take your next steps to pain-free living.
Discover more about back pain and your treatment options below.
Meet Your Pain Relief Team
Our pain relief professionals here at Vitality Integrative Wellness are passionate about helping you find long-lasting solutions to complicated health problems. Led by licensed medical providers and licensed chiropractors, we work as a team. We don't just look at one aspect of your pain -- we evaluate the whole body to diagnose the root of the problem. Taking this approach, our highly-trained staff of healthcare providers can expedite your body's recovery - which means you can enjoy an improved quality of life.
Customizing treatment to your specific needs is an integral part of our healthcare philosophy. During your initial visit, we will meet with you to review your medical history and conduct a comprehensive evaluation. Once we have identified the source of your pain, we can develop a plan for effective and long-term relief. Whether you suffer from back pain, knee pain, sciatica, or neuropathy, we’ll work together to find a real solution and help you live your best life, pain-free.
A Real Solution Calls for an Integrative Approach
At Vitality Integrative Wellness, we treat back pain by taking a close look at what we like to call "the big three": muscle, nerve, and bone. It's the only way to uncover the root cause of your pain and know the best way to treat it. This approach is what makes functional medicine different from traditional medicine. Instead of focusing on the symptoms or pain management, we're treating the root cause of your pain. Here are some of our treatment options for back pain:
Spinal Decompression
Relieve the pain and pressure all while increasing blood circulation in the spine and promoting healing — all with little to no recovery time or powerful pain medications.
Spinal decompression is great for:
- Herniated Discs
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Spinal Stenosis
- Pinched Nerves
- Facet Syndrome
Regenerative Medicine
Reverse destructive inflammation with natural cells that heal and repair damaged joints.
Regenerative medicine is great for:
- Peripheral neuropathy (numbness, tingling, or burning of the legs and feet)
- Ligament or tendon tears
- Cartilage degeneration or damage
- Bursitis Tendonitis
- Knee pain or knee arthritis
Chiropractic Care
Realigning the body, restoring joint function, and improving overall biomechanics are all things that chiropractic care focuses on when treating chronic pain. to no recovery time or powerful pain medications.
Chiropractic care is great for:
- Degenerative disc disease
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Neck Pain
- Arthritis pain
- Back pain and spinal conditions
- Tendonitis
- Musculoskeletal Pain
Massage Therapy
Therapeutic massage techniques can help alleviate chronic pain by targeting the muscles and connective tissue with applied pressure. One of our professional massage therapists will work with you to help you unwind, loosen up your muscles, enhance circulation, and provide relief from discomfort.
Massage therapy is great for:
- Deep Knots / Muscle Spasms
- Subacute / Chronic Lower Back Pain
- Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)
- Stress / Anxiety
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Scar Tissue
Cold Laser Therapy
Stimulate the cells of damaged tissue to reduce inflammation and pain, improve nerve function and vascular activity, and promote healing.
Cold Laser is Great for:
- Pain
- Swelling
Why Choose Vitality?
Through a combination of regenerative and integrative medicine and with the help of state-of-the-art technology and treatments, we help get our patients back to living full and active lives.
Uncover the Root Cause of Your Pain
Traditional back pain treatment methods often focus on symptoms. We take a different approach. Our team of integrative experts will identify the root cause of your pain such as injury, illness, and lifestyle factors. This helps us decide which combination of treatments is most appropriate for your condition
Holistic and Personalized Strategies
We believe in taking a holistic approach to treating your chronic back pain. We'll help you discover what's causing your pain and create a multidisciplinary plan that tackles your back pain from all angles. Using a combination of treatments allows us to target the exact point of your pain and promote self-healing.
Long-term health and wellness:
Temecula back pain relief is closer than you thought. By looking at the whole picture, we use a combination of treatments to help you achieve sustainable results that last.
Our integrative practice combines the best back pain treatments in Temecula to get you back on your feet, pain-free.
The most common causes of back pain stem from either an inflammatory condition, mechanical back pain, or neuropathy conditions. During your intake consultation, we'll ask you several questions to take us to the root of your problem. We'll follow up with comprehensive testing. Once we've completed our evaluation and testing, our integrated team of medical specialists will review your case and design a treatment plan to relieve your pain.
Mechanical Back Pain
Mechanical back injuries can affect any of the bones, spinal ligaments, intervertebral discs, connections between the bone and spine, the spinal cord itself, nerves, or muscles surrounding or attaching to the spine. We find that combining integrative and regenerative medicine is the most effective strategy to relieve mechanical back pain, all while helping you recover mobility without causing further damage.
Learn More About Mechanical Back Pain
Mechanical back pain is typically caused by poor posture, muscle imbalances, or injury from lifting or twisting. People usually describe it as a dull ache that only worsens with movement or activity. We may suggest several therapies for your mechanical back pain, including regenerative medicine, spinal decompression, rehabilitation exercises, and alternative therapies.
Surgical intervention is rarely needed for this type of back pain and can be better managed with functional medicine. We find most of our patients experience drastically lowered pain levels, and all without having to undergo risky surgery.
Inflammatory Back Pain
Most inflammatory back conditions are commonly assumed to be caused by arthritis, but that's not always the case. Other causes of inflammatory back pain include muscle or ligament strain or bulging or ruptured discs. Our holistic approach to inflammatory back conditions treats pain and keeps it away.
Learn More About Inflammatory Back Pain:
Inflammatory back pain is usually associated with conditions like arthritis.
The best way to distinguish inflammatory back pain from mechanical back pain is that inflammatory back pain is often accompanied by morning stiffness that improves with movement.
In contrast, mechanical back pain tends to worsen with activity. Additionally, inflammatory back pain may accompany other symptoms such as fatigue, fever, and weight loss. To get an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment plan, it's important to talk to a back pain specialist.
Neuropathic Back Pain
Neuropathic pain occurs when a nerve is compressed or irritated in the spine. We find that using a combination of integrative practices to treat nerve conditions, including functional medicine and alternative treatments like massage therapy, can provide relief for nerve-related back pain.
Learn More About Neuroprathic Back Pain
Neuropathic pain occurs when there is compression or irritation of a nerve in the spine, causing shooting or burning pain that radiates down the affected nerve pathway. Herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or sciatica are just a few conditions that can cause this kind of pain.
It's worth noting that neuropathic pain can also be a result of mechanical back pain or inflammatory back injury. When you experience a mechanical back injury like a herniated disc, it may impact the nerves and result in radiating pain down the leg, known as sciatica. Spinal stenosis is another type of mechanical back injury that occurs when the spinal canal narrows. It creates pressure on the nerves and triggers shooting pain in the back and legs whenever standing or walking for extended periods.
The Hidden Dangers of Conventional Back Pain Treatments
Learn More About Conventional Treatment & Their Risks
Traditional treatments for chronic back pain, like anti-inflammatory drugs or cortisone injections, are only a temporary fix. Not to mention, traditional treatments come with the risk of some pretty severe side effects, like:
Reoccurring Pain
Continual pain following back surgery affects about 40 percent of patients, which is a very frustrating and discouraging statistic. Many people who receive lumbar epidural steroid injections report that the pain subsides for only a short time before returning.
Inefficient Drug Reliance
Patients who have back surgery or other treatments may develop a long-term reliance on pain drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like corticosteroid injections for the back, which can negatively impact organ function. While these treatments may provide temporary relief, they come with their fair share of risks and dangers. Additionally, most of these treatments are only a band-aid. The effects don’t last because they don’t treat the root cause
Worsened Condition
While many people get relief from back surgery, 21% say they regret their decision. Surgery may also destabilize the spine, making you susceptible to other problems. Even if you skip surgery and decide on pain management, you could still worsen your condition. Pain medications do not cure the underlying issue; you're still at risk of aggravating your condition by being too active.
Our Approach to Well-Being
At Vitality Integrative Wellness, we are committed to your well-being, and this commitment extends beyond traditional back pain treatments. We'll help you find a treatment plan that leaves you feeling better and doesn't have a lot of damaging side effects.
Visit our back pain specialists in Temecula, CA.
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3546123/
https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2018/03/22/too-many-back-pain-patients-receiving-the-wrong-care.html
"I have no recent injuries. Why am I in pain?"
It's not uncommon for people to visit our back pain specialist Temecula, CA, clinic experiencing new pain as a result of an injury they sustained some twenty years ago.
Certain conditions tend to manifest symptoms years after the initial injury. Unfortunately, that long-ago impact on your spine could have caused weakened muscles and damage that eventually developed into the pain you're feeling today. This is why we ask about all of your previous injuries during your intake consultations, regardless of how long ago they occurred.
That said, it is also very possible you're experiencing back pain without injury.
Explore Non-Injury Related Causes of Back Pain
There could be several reasons you are experiencing pain despite having no recent injuries. The pain may be due to an underlying medical condition, nerve damage, or a result of overuse. Our back pain temecula specialist can help you determine the exact cause of your pain and explore appropriate treatment options.
Causes of non-injury back pain include:
Underlying Medical Conditions
There are a whole host of medical conditions that can lead to seemingly unexplainable pain. Arthritis is a major offender, with 21.2 % of all adults in America presenting with some form of arthritis in their back. Other causes include fibromyalgia and Myofascial pain syndrome.
Nerve damage
Injury is not the only thing that can result in nerve damage. Other causes of nerve damage include certain medical conditions such as diabetes or autoimmune diseases. Damage to nerves can also happen when they are squished or trapped, like in carpal tunnel syndrome.
Symptoms of nerve damage can vary depending on the location and severity of the damage but may include pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. Treatment for nerve damage typically involves addressing the underlying cause and may include medication, physical therapy, or, in some cases, surgery.
Overuse
If your job or hobby requires constant bending, lifting, and other repetitive straining of specific muscles, joints, or your back in general, it could be the reason you're in pain. Overuse of certain muscles and joints can lead to inflammation and damage to the surrounding nerves, resulting in symptoms such as pain, tingling, and weakness. This can occur in occupations such as construction or desk jobs where repetitive motions are common. Taking breaks, practicing proper ergonomics, and using protective equipment to prevent overuse injuries and minimize the risk of nerve damage are important.
Poor posture and Muscle Imbalances
Over 31 million Americans have bad posture. When you combine modern-day habits like slouching over a phone or laptop with more sedentary lifestyles, you have the perfect recipe for chronic back pain. People can also have bad posture while doing physical work. Carrying heavy equipment can force your body into unalignment.
When the spine is out of alignment, it can cause a whole host of problems:
- It can cause muscle imbalances, which cause them to become weak and fatigued.
- Over time, muscle imbalances can cause pain and discomfort.
- It can put excess strain on ligaments and joints in the back.
- It can compress nerves in the spinal column, radiating pain throughout the body.
Psychological Stress
Stress can cause back pain through a complex interaction between the mind and body. When we experience stress, our muscles become tense and tight, leading to muscle imbalances and discomfort. Additionally, stress can disrupt sleep patterns and cause poor posture, both of which can contribute to back pain. Furthermore, stress can also amplify our perception of pain, making it feel more intense than it actually is.
Habits and Lifestyle
Did you know that 1 in 5 people worldwide aren't physically active enough to maintain a healthy back and body? Not staying active can cause issues like bad posture, muscle imbalances, and other problems that may lead to long-term pain. Certain lifestyle factors, such as being overweight or leading a sedentary lifestyle, can also contribute to the development of chronic back pain.
Our back pain temecula specialist can help you determine the exact cause of your pain and explore appropriate treatment options. One treatment that could be particularly helpful for your non-injury-related back pain is Chiropractic care.
A Combination of Treatments Makes All The Difference
No matter what has led to your chronic back pain, it's important to ensure that your back pain specialist is focused on more than just managing the pain, but also focuses on treating the underlying condition. That means you'll need more than one approach to treatment that covers not only pain management but also strengthens your body's ability to heal itself and supports you in rehabilitation. A simple NSAID shot can't do that, but a combination of treatments can.
"Why did back surgery fail me?"
We've found that reoccurring pain from failed back surgery is a common reason people seek out alternative options like our back pain Temecula clinic. They're at the end of their rope. They've tried everything, and nothing brings them the relief they desperately seek. If you feel back surgery has failed you, come visit our back pain specialist in Temecula, CA. We will assist you in determining a minimally invasive therapy that won't impact the integrity of your spine or cause more pain.
Read More: Unpacking Your Failed Surgery
How can back surgery cause the development of chronic pain?
Surgery can cause a whole host of problems that leave you feeling like it was almost pointless to have it in the first place. We hear many post-surgery complaints that stem from scar tissue to leaving surgery with a different pain than you went in with. All of these cases are incredibly frustrating for back surgery recipients because, for many of them, they go into the procedure thinking it's the only one they'll have to have, and far too often, that's just not the case.
Misdiagnosis and the Wrong Treatment
New investigations on chronic pain therapies discovered that "as much as one-third of health care providers prescribe out-of-date and ineffective forms of treatment for their patients." Doctors aren't recommending new, more effective therapies they learned in medical school thirty years ago. There are a lot of studies that back up the idea that regenerative therapies can help people with chronic pain, but doctors aren't pushing their patients to try them. They're being told they need risky back surgery over and over again. Sadly, when a person is misdiagnosed or recommended aggressive treatments, such as back surgery, the consequences may only lead to more pain.
Decreased Stability in the Spine
Changes in the spinal alignment or stability after surgery can contribute to increased pain by putting strain on the muscles and joints surrounding the surgical site. In some cases, the surgical procedure may require spinal fusion or removing damaged parts of the spinal disc (discectomy). Any back surgery, especially discectomy and spinal fusion, has the potential to affect the stability and mobility of the spine. Most patients will deal with permanent stiffness after the procedure.
Post-Surgery Nerve Damage
One possible explanation is that the surgery itself may damage nerves, leading to persistent pain. This can occur if the surgeon accidentally cuts, nicks, or compresses a nerve during the procedure. Additionally, the retraction devices, tissue manipulation, and surgical tools for the procedure can injure nerves, interfering with their normal function and leading the brain to misinterpret pain signals. In some cases, the nerve damage may be temporary and resolve on its own, but in others, it may be permanent, resulting in chronic pain.
Scarring Post-Procedure
Internal scarring can occur when tissues or organs heal together abnormally, creating adhesions that can pull or press painfully on nerves and tissues. Scar tissue itself won't hurt but can cause ongoing pain and discomfort following a surgical procedure.
You Have More Options Than Surgery
We believe patients must have access to well-informed healthcare professionals committed to staying current with the latest research and advancements in treatment options. This way, they can receive the most effective and appropriate care for their condition, minimizing the risk of long-term stiffness and other complications after back surgery.
Get to Know Your Options at Our Temecula Back Pain Clinic:
Regenerative Therapies: Unlike surgery, regenerative medicine offers people suffering from chronic back pain a less-invasive solution that uses the body's natural healing processes to mend and regrow damaged tissue and reduce inflammation. One example of a regenerative therapy for chronic back pain is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. PRP is obtained from the patient's blood and contains growth factors that promote healing and tissue regeneration in the affected area. Another example is tissue allograft therapy; a nutrient-rich injection into the damaged area to stimulate the body's natural healing process and repair the damaged tissues in the spine.
Spinal Decompression: During a spinal decompression session, the patient lies on a specialized table that gently stretches the spine, relieving pressure on the discs and nerves. The decompression promotes increased blood flow and nutrient delivery to the affected area, further aiding in healing and pain relief. Herniated discs or spinal stenosis are just two examples of the many conditions that spinal decompression can help with.
Chiropractic Care: This is a great way to treat chronic back pain because it utilizes non-invasive techniques such as spinal adjustments and manual therapies to improve spinal alignment and relieve pressure on the affected nerves. In addition, chiropractors help restore your proper posture through exercise and stretching techniques to help patients maintain a healthy spine and prevent future pain. This approach targets the symptoms and addresses the underlying causes of back pain, providing long-term relief and improving overall quality of life.
Rehabilitation Care: After undergoing spinal decompression, regenerative medicine, or other treatments, rehabilitation care is essential for the patient's full recovery. This could include exercises and techniques designed to strengthen the muscles supporting the spine, improve flexibility, and promote proper posture. Rehabilitation care also focuses on educating the patient about proper body mechanics and lifestyle modifications to prevent further spine degeneration. Combined with the right treatments, rehabilitation is a powerful approach to improving the overall health of the spine and offering sustainable relief for our patients.
Visit our back pain specialist in Temecula, CA, to find the relief you deserve.
Resources:
Why Educate Yourself?
At Vitality Integrative Wellness, we believe in empowering our clients. Understanding the risks associated with surgical procedures and medications and knowing that you have safe and effective non-invasive options is the first step toward making choices that align with your long-term well-being. Our commitment is not just to help stop your pain but to guide you on a journey to long-term relief.
We define success as one patient at a time, but our goal is always the same: to get you back to living well.
Bob T.
"I’m happy to say I’m very satisfied with the treatments and care I received at Vitality Integrative Wellness for the lower back and neck pain I was experiencing. I had sciatic pain shooting down my leg, limiting movement and making life miserable.
The doctor explained the different treatments available to me. I came in a lot in the first few weeks - three visits per week over a 6-week span. I was pain-free after the first week! .
If you are suffering from back pain it’s worth your time to request a consultation. It’s worth it!"
Stop Suffering. There's a Better Option.
After failed back surgeries, Melanie was running out of hope!
Melanie had horrible back pain. She had been through multiple surgeries to ease the pain, even a fusion. Nothing was helping!
She had run out of hope, until she found her way to Vitality. Regenerative Medicine and Spinal Decompression changed her life.
She completed the program prescribed to her and we couldn't be happier with her results. "I'm completely pain-free now. I'm off all medications. I feel like myself again."
Frequently Asked Questions
-Explore these and other topics in our FAQs below.
What treatment options are available for back pain at Vitality?
What makes Vitality's approach to back pain unique?
How do I know if I need professional treatment for back pain?
- Your back pain might be serious if it's been unrelenting for the past 2 to 6 weeks
- If your pain is keeping you from doing daily activities.
- If the pain is radiating below the knee you should schedule an appointment to see the doctor.
- You have back pain and a fever at the same time.
- Your pain keeps you from sleeping at night
How can I schedule an appointment for back pain treatment?
We’re happy to help you take your first pain-free steps to sustainable chronic back pain management. When you’re ready you can request a consultation here.
How long until I notice the results?
Are results permanent?
Does insurance cover this?
We will be sure to verify your insurance during your consultation. If you do not have insurance coverage, we have several financing options. Depending on the treatment plan created for you, some services may be covered by your insurance and some may not. Before starting care we will let you your out-of-pocket costs.
Schedule a consultation with one of our healthcare professionals now!
Does this sound like the solution for you?
Find Us
Vitality Integrative Wellness
27699 Jefferson Ave Suite 210
Temecula, CA 92590
+1 (951) 225-4419
Ready to discover long-lasting back pain relief?
1. Schedule a Consultation
Schedule a time to meet with our team to assess your current condition.
2. Get Your Customized Care Plan
After we have a comprehensive understanding of your back pain, we will work with you to create a personalized care plan that addresses the root cause of your pain.
3. Start Living Life Again!
Don't just treat the pain; give yourself a new lease on life.
Let's take your first pain-free step together
Complete the form below and make an appointment at Vitality Integrative Medicine for a back pain consultation at your local Temecula back pain relief clinic.
Get Started with Integrative Medicine for Back Pain
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