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If you've ever pulled a muscle in your back, or put a rib out of place, you'll know how irritating and painful it can be. But did you know that, if left untreated, a back injury can cause permanent damage?

Often, when someone pulls a muscle or injures their back in some way, they will go to the drugstore or the doctor and pick up some medication. Now, there may not be anything wrong with taking medication to help numb the pain, but medication on its own will not fix the problem. That's why, on the back of the bottle, it will say, 'Take no more than 4 or 6 pills in a 24-hour period'; because the pharmaceutical company knows the medication will wear off and you will need to take more! The best thing to do when you have injured your back is to make an appointment with a chiropractor.

Many people are intimidated by chiropractors because they don't know what chiropractors do. Chiropractors are back doctors: they have studied everything there is to know about your back, and they will be able to give you the best advice and treatment for back injuries. There are various treatments a chiropractor may give you, including adjusting your back by applying pressure, using acupuncture or laser acupuncture, and applying heat or cold to the injured area.

The next time you injure your back, by pulling a muscle for example, think about what damage that injury might do if you cover it up with medication. The irritated area will cause muscles surrounding it to tighten and to work harder to make up for the injury. Over time, this can cause damage to a larger part of your back, putting you in more pain than you were in before.

Take the time to look up the phone number of a local chiropractor, either in the phone book or on the Internet. Or, ask one of your friends to recommend a chiropractor. After you have attended your first appointment, you will realize how helpful the chiropractor is, and how he or she will take the time to discuss your situation personally and design the best healing plan for you. It's worth it to make this effort; you will save yourself pain and will give your back the care it needs.