When your lower back seizes up after a long day at the office, shuttling kids to local schools, or sitting through a commute on Wadsworth Boulevard, what’s the first thing you reach for? If your answer was a bottle of muscle relaxers, you’re not alone.
But here’s the key: pain relief and fixing the problem are not the same thing.
At The Disc Chiropractic, we’ve helped hundreds of residents from Lakewood,CO get lasting relief without relying on medications.
Let’s break down how muscle relaxers work, what chiropractic adjustments do, and what research says when you compare the two.
What Chiropractic Adjustments Actually Do
A 2017 review in the Journal of the American Medical Association examined spinal adjustments for adults with acute low back pain lasting six weeks or less. Researchers analyzed 26 clinical trials and found:
- Spinal manipulation led to an average 10-point improvement on a 100-point pain scale, compared to other interventions.
- Patients experienced improved mobility, less stiffness, and more ability to perform daily activities without constant pain.
In other words, chiropractic care doesn’t just mask symptoms—it addresses the underlying structural issues in your spine.
What Muscle Relaxers Do (and Don’t Do)
Muscle relaxers like Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) or Robaxin (methocarbamol) are often prescribed for lower back pain. They work by blocking nerve signals that trigger muscle spasms, effectively sedating tense muscles.
But here’s the catch: they don’t correct the root cause—misaligned vertebrae, compressed nerves, or joint inflammation continue to irritate your back.
Side effects can include:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Brain fog
- Potential dependency with long-term use
Muscle relaxers may help you feel better temporarily, but the pain often returns once the medication wears off.
What the Research Says
A clinical trial published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics directly compared chiropractic adjustments to muscle relaxers in 192 adults with subacute low back pain (lasting 2–6 weeks).
Results:
- Chiropractic patients scored better on the Global Impression of Severity scale, a measure of overall improvement.
- Pain, disability, and depression scores improved across all participants, but only the chiropractic group showed statistically superior outcomes for both pain and physician-rated progress.
This aligns perfectly with what we see in Lakewood: adjustments do more than temporarily dull pain—they address the underlying spinal dysfunction causing it.
Why Chiropractic Care Works in Lakewood
Back pain in Lakewood isn’t just an office problem—it affects commuters, tradespeople, parents, and students alike. Whether you’re:
- Sitting long hours at corporate offices on Wadsworth Boulevard
- Lifting and moving on construction or warehouse jobs
- Managing long commutes to Denver or Golden
- Balancing family life with house chores and kids’ sports
…your spine is under constant stress. Chiropractic adjustments restore motion, reduce nerve pressure, and correct misalignments, helping your back heal properly.
Unlike muscle relaxers, which only dull the sensation of pain, chiropractic care provides lasting results that let you move, work, and play without recurring discomfort.
Final Thoughts
If back pain keeps returning despite medication, it’s time to treat the root cause, not just the symptoms. At The Disc Chiropractic, we specialize in evidence-based, non-invasive treatments to fix what’s really going on in your spine.
Call us today at 720-573-4910 to schedule your appointment and start living without back pain.
FAQs About Chiropractic Care in Lakewood, CO
What did research say about chiropractic vs. muscle relaxers?
A 192-patient trial found chiropractic adjustments were more effective than muscle relaxers and placebo in reducing pain and improving clinical outcomes.
Does chiropractic care actually fix back pain or just make you feel better temporarily?
Chiropractic care addresses the root cause of pain. A 2017 JAMA review showed spinal manipulation led to meaningful improvements in pain and mobility.
Are there risks with chiropractic care for back pain?
The same review found no serious adverse events. Mild soreness or stiffness may occur, similar to a workout, but most patients recover quickly.