Chronic neck and spine pain can be debilitating and disrupting, even to the most basic daily functions. From missing sleep to missing work, problems stemming from pain are quick to compound. When unchecked or unmitigated, a sharp drop in quality of life is sure to follow. As a result, many patients suffering from chronic pain find themselves looking for any solution available, no matter how drastic, to address their physical discomfort.
When consulting with general physicians about neck pain, the prospect of surgery may find its way into the conversation. For slipped or herniated cervical discs, it’s almost invariably an option on the table.
Surgical remedies to neck pain, however, often result in even more pain for the unsuspecting patient. They’re invasive, uncomfortable, and often heal improperly. Additionally, spinal surgeries frequently require patients to remain off their feet for months on end, bringing about many of the same quality of life concerns in the short-term.
For many patients, visiting a qualified chiropractic care provider, like Ideal Spine Health Center in Boise, ID, may be the best and least invasive way to address chronic neck pain. At least, before turning to a drastic option like spine surgery.
Benefits and risks of surgery
The root causes of chronic neck pain eventually result in the development of further symptoms. These issues can be as diverse as referred pain, gastrointestinal ailments, and even numbness or paralysis of the extremities. It’s no wonder many physicians jump to surgery as a viable solution.
The fact is, neck surgeries are relatively safe and can have marked benefits for patients suffering from more severe spinal ailments. They do, however, also have a track record of actually increasing the pain patients experience. Further, like any surgery, unless executed with precision and perfection, the risk of complications is ever-present.
If you are considering a surgical option for your chronic neck pain, you must analyze the symptoms you’re experiencing and weigh them with the risks of going under the knife. While surgical solutions to your pain may be able to help you overcome pain and restore your cervical spine’s integrity, undergoing neck surgery can often feel like it accomplishes nothing in the short term.
If the discomfort caused by your neck pain is your primary reason for exploring a surgical solution, you may want to consider less invasive care. Because surgeries can actually increase your pain level, they should only be thought of as a last resort for patients dealing with ongoing pain and cervical spine discomfort.
Alternatives to surgery
If you’re worried about the possible side effects of obtaining a surgical solution for your chronic pain, you may be wondering what alternative options exist. For patients experiencing consistent spine-related discomfort, chiropractic represents the opposite end of the spectrum.
Chiropractors utilize an extensive knowledge of the spine to execute a holistic healthcare approach that treats not only the symptoms of chronic neck and back pain, but their root causes. By moving adjusting cervical discs and vertebrae, chiropractic practitioners are able to provide relief to pinched nerves and other areas affected by spinal misalignment. Not only does this have the potential to alleviate ongoing pain, it may also stave off the laundry list of conditions that may follow untreated cervical conditions.
Chiropractic care can be implemented in conjunction with other non-surgical pain treatments, like massage and heat therapy. Best of all – because it’s non-invasive – it’s doesn’t come with the recovery and immobility period of neck surgery.
Living better without going under the knife
Ideal Spine Health Center prides itself on providing residents of Boise, ID with dependable chiropractic approaches to chronic neck and back pain. We offer holistic, non-invasive care to each and every one of our patients through a personalized Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) approach. Our qualified practitioners are intent on helping you increase your quality of life and break free from the bonds of chronic pain, no matter what form it takes.
Schedule a free consultation today to begin the process of reclaiming your independence and regaining a pain-free life.
Chiropractic BioPhysics, or CBP, is one of the most scientific, researched, and results-oriented corrective care techniques. CBP-trained chiropractors aim to realign the spine back to health, eliminating nerve interference and addressing the source of pain, fatigue, and disease. As with all chiropractic care, CBP is gentle, painless, and non-invasive.