Back issues are one of the most common problems people experience daily. As people spend more time sitting down, they get less exercise and end up wrecking their backs. It’s no surprise that 8% of all adults experience some form of chronic back pain.
Finding the right professional is key if you need to find someone to deal with your back issues. Keep reading to learn about the orthopedist vs chiropractor debate to learn when it makes sense to hire each one.
What Is a Chiropractor?
A chiropractor is a health professional who deals with problems with the spine. However, they don’t do this in a traditional sense where they perform operations and prescribe medication. A chiropractor will take a more holistic approach to treatment.
Chiropractors will take x-rays of someone’s spine to see where the problems are. From there, they create a treatment plan that uses physical adjustments to the spin without doing any surgery.
In most cases, this means using their hands to perform adjustments that realign spines over time. A chiropractor patient will see a professional over the course of weeks, months, and years to realign their spine. Chiropractor Dr. David H. Mruz is a great example of this, so decide if you want to hire him.
What Is an Orthopedist?
An orthopedist, like a chiropractor, largely focuses on spinal injuries. However, they usually come into play down the line when injuries are more serious.
You’ll reach out to an orthopedist when you can’t deal with your back issues any other way. You need surgery to repair a serious injury.
An orthopedist will start the process like a chiropractor. However, they’ll devise a surgery plan that will rectify your spine as well as they can.
Differences Between a Chiropractor and Orthopedist
Now that you know what a chiropractor and orthopedist are, let’s look at a few ways they differ.
Treatment Approach
The treatment approach is the biggest difference between a chiropractor and an orthopedist. An orthopedist will focus on surgery to deal with back issues that have progressed too far. On the other hand, a chiropractor will focus on a more natural approach that helps the body heal itself without subjecting a patient to surgery.
Timeline for Treatment
Treatment times can vary a lot between an orthopedist and a chiropractor. You can see a chiropractor for a long time to deal with your spinal issues and resolve them. However, an orthopedist will handle most issues with a single surgery and put you in contact with a physical therapist to get help recovering from surgery.
Point of Contact
The time when you contact a chiropractor may be different than an orthopedist. You may see a chiropractor well before your back issues are more serious. However, many people don’t see an orthopedist until they have serious problems that require surgery.
Orthopedist vs Chiropractor: Now You Can Make Your Decision
Not all back issues are the same, meaning you need to find the right solution to your current issues. Several options available make sense depending on the problem you face.
Now that you know more about the orthopedist vs chiropractor debate, you’re in a better position to make an informed decision. Reach out to a professional today to see how they can help.
Head back to the blog if you’re interested in more tips that will help you make smarter decisions.
