Chronic pain is a pervasive issue that affects millions of people worldwide, significantly impacting quality of life and overall functionality. Chiropractic care, known for its holistic approach to dealing with pain and discomfort, offers a potential solution.
In this article, we explore the effectiveness of chiropractic treatments in managing various chronic pain conditions.
Chronic pain can be defined as pain that persists for longer than three months (Chronic Pain). It can be either continuous or intermittent, and it can range from mildly irritating to debilitating. Chronic pain can also affect any part of the body, and it can sometimes simultaneously affect multiple parts of the body.
To help manage chronic pain, sufferers should understand the underlying causes of their condition (VIDEO).
Unlike acute pain, which is a normal sensation triggered in the nervous system to alert you to possible injury, chronic pain often persists without any clear cause (and often long after any original injury has healed).
Hence, chronic pain should be considered a health condition in its own right (Chronic Pain Syndrome). Health care researchers now believe that chronic pain is caused by sensitisation of the nervous system (Chronic Or Persistent Musculoskeletal Pain).
Inflamed tissues and irritated nerves are two common triggers for chronic pain. Chronic inflammation can cause pain long after any superficial injury has healed. Irritation can be caused by even minor pressure on nerves, and it induces a feeling of pain in the part of the body innervated by that nerve.
Inflamed tissues and tense muscles can both cause this pressure.
Misaligned spinal vertebrae can also put pressure on nerves. These misalignments (known as subluxations in the chiropractic field) press on the nerves as they exit the spinal cord. For this reason, subluxations can be responsible for chronic pain.
Based on data from the best available published studies, chronic pain will affect 30%–50% of the population of the UK. This figure is likely to increase with the ageing population (Chronic Pain In The UK).
Chronic pain can affect people of all ages (Chronic Pain). The factors that can increase your risk of developing chronic pain include:
To date, a number of very different conditions have been shown to be responsible for chronic pain (Conditions Associated With Chronic Pain).
Because chronic pain typically has a significant impact on a sufferer’s quality of life, it is associated with several negative outcomes, including impairment of function, inability to perform everyday activities, job loss, and depression (Chronic Pain In Adults 2017).
Globally, chronic pain is one of the foremost causes of disability. Indeed, lower back pain and neck pain are the leading causes of disability, and other chronic pain conditions also feature prominently in any list.
Chiropractors are trained to diagnose and treat a wide range of chronic pain conditions that affect various parts of the body. Here are some of the common types of chronic pain that can benefit from chiropractic care.
Injuries to the nervous system can cause chronic pain due to nerve damage or pressure on the nerves. Chiropractic care can help alleviate this pain by adjusting the spine and reducing the pressure on nerves.
Conditions like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson’s disease often involve chronic pain due to muscular rigidity and nerve damage. Chiropractors can assist in managing the musculoskeletal aspects of these disorders.
Chronic pain often stems from issues with the musculoskeletal system, including joints, muscles, bones, and connective tissues. Chiropractic adjustments and manipulations are particularly effective in treating these conditions.
Chiropractors can also treat chronic pain related to various other health conditions:
Sports Injuries: Ongoing pain from sports injuries like sprains, strains, and tears can be managed effectively through chiropractic care.
Neck Pain: Chronic neck pain, whether from poor posture, injury, or other causes, can be alleviated with spinal adjustments and other chiropractic techniques.
Back Pain: One of the most common chronic pain conditions treated in chiropractic offices, back pain can often be reduced significantly with regular care.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS): Chiropractic adjustments can help manage the wrist and hand pain associated with CTS.
Fibromyalgia: Characterised by widespread muscle pain and fatigue, fibromyalgia symptoms can be improved with targeted chiropractic care.
This is a cornerstone of chiropractic treatment. Adjustments are used to realign the spine and other joints, which can reduce pressure on the nervous system and improve the body’s natural healing abilities.
Chiropractors often work with patients to correct postural issues that may be contributing to chronic pain. Improved posture can relieve stress on the body and reduce ongoing pain.
Exercise and physical therapy (including chiropractic care) are highly recommended for managing chronic pain (Ways To Manage Chronic Pain). Customised exercise programs can strengthen the muscles around painful joints and improve overall flexibility and mobility.
These changes make everyday activities (walking, climbing stairs, and getting into and out of bed) much easier. Typically, recommended exercises are graded so as not to discourage activity in chronic pain sufferers (VIDEO).
Many people with chronic pain rely heavily on over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers. Although medication can occasionally be useful, it is not a cure for chronic pain. Moreover, many of these medications have unwanted side effects.
The use of pain medications should be minimised as the health costs (side-effects include causing pain!) often outweigh the benefits. Indeed, the NHS has a campaign to minimise the use of pain medication for chronic pain (Pain Killers Don’t Exist).
Chiropractic care can reduce or even eliminate the need for these medications by addressing the root cause of pain.
Chiropractic care can be more cost-effective compared to other treatments such as surgery or long-term pharmaceutical treatments. If chiropractic treatment is adopted early enough, the need for surgery may be avoided in less serious cases.
Depending on the type of injury suffered, insurance providers may cover your visits to the chiropractor.
Unlike surgery, chiropractic adjustments are non-invasive and pose minimal risk of complications or recovery time.
Chiropractic care can help restore range of motion by realigning the joints and reducing pain. In doing so, it also reduces the likelihood of re-injury.
By reducing pain and discomfort, chiropractic care can help lower stress levels, contributing to overall well-being.
Chiropractors can indeed help with chronic pain. Through various techniques such as spinal adjustments, posture correction, and targeted exercises, chiropractors address the underlying causes of chronic pain.
The benefits of choosing chiropractic care include not only a reduction in pain but also an enhanced quality of life through improved mobility and reduced reliance on medications.
Whether you are dealing with neuromuscular disorders, musculoskeletal issues, or other chronic pain conditions, chiropractic care offers a viable, effective treatment option.
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