I have had lower back pain for a long time and the treatments I have tried aren’t helping. I want to try a chiropractor but I’ve heard bad things about them. Should I try anyway?

Only you can decide whether to see a chiropractor to help you with your lower back pain. However, if you do want to see one, you want to be sure you are seeing a licensed professional and that your particular back problem is one that will not be made worse by spinal manipulation.

Patients who have certain back problems are generally not considered to be good candidates for spinal manipulation. They include people with: cancer, an infection, spondyloarthritis, some neurological (nerve) disorders, fever, unrelenting night pain or pain at rest, pain with below knee numbness or weakness, leg weakness, loss of bowel or bladder control, direct trauma to the back, or unexplained weight loss.

The chiropractor should give you a thorough examination, including x-rays, before attempting any manipulation. If you feel comfortable with chiropractic and you don’t have a physical reason why you should not have it, then it is your decision as to whether to go with it.