Mount Pleasant Magazine March/April 2020

63 www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.ILoveMountPleasant.com | www.BestofMP.com feature T he American Chiropractic Association reported that low back pain afflicts 31 million Americans at any given time. It’s one of the most common reasons to miss work with one-half of all working Americans admitting to having back pain symptoms each year. ACA also reported that back pain is the single leading cause of disability. And, it’s obviously the most common reason to see a chiropractor. “There’s acute and chronic low back pain,” Dr. Matthew Murrin of Chiropractic USA said. “Acute pain can be attributed to a single instance, something that caused immediate pain. Chronic means it has been painful for a long period of time and it comes and goes. It potentially came from an old injury like from a sport or trauma. Any number of things can flare it up. Perhaps it’s a work position, whether sitting for periods of time, or lifting something at home, turning the wrong way or even reaching for something and it exacerbates the old injury.” Dr. Murrin said that frequency and the length of time are important factors when distinguishing chronic pain versus acute pain. When something hurts, the pain receptor signals the brain that something’s wrong. Chiropractors will not only treat the painful issue, but they’ll also get to the root of the problem so that the pain eventually dissipates for good. “You take the pressure off the nerve and you will remove the pain. How wonderful will it be for the patient to start feeling better?” he said, noting that when the pain is removed, other health issues will in turn improve. “I’ll do an exam, find out what started this problem and then we’ll do a consultation and take an X-ray,” Dr. Murrin said. When he determines the root of the problem — which could include a pinched nerve, disc bulge or a misalignment of two or more vertebrate — he’ll then come up with a care plan, for which treatment varies depending on severity. Dr. Murrin believes in practicing with the least invasive to most invasive approach — chiropractic first, meds second and surgery last. He will recommend stretches, exercises, ice or heat, etc. “A lot of people jump to muscle relaxers or painkillers, yet all they are doing is temporarily masking the problem. It doesn’t fix anything,” Dr. Murrin explained. “Often the pain/injury comes back. If the hard bone is pushing on a soft nerve, no pill will fix that right. It just numbs it. And with the opioid crisis we have in the United States, the less non-necessary meds, the better.” Once the pain has dissipated, he advises that his patients improve their strength to keep the pain at bay. “Being strong and flexible are key factors,” he said. The plank pose is a great way to increase strength throughout the core. Chiropractic care can improve conditions such as digestive issues, migraines, ear infections, infertility, sleep issues, stress and even colic in babies. “That is why I love chiropractic so much. It is amazing how it is all interconnected,” Dr. Murrin said. BY THERESA STRATFORD Visit chiropracticusasc.com or call 843-881-0046 for more information. Getting to the Root of the Problem Chiropractic USA around town