There are many reasons why someone may choose to consult a licensed and experienced chiropractor, but the main motivation is to relieve pain. Pain that originates in the back or neck may be caused by circumstances such as:
- Auto accident (whiplash)
- Sports injury
- Heavy lifting
- Work related injury
After an injury on the job or on the road, many people turn to chiropractic care. This may be the first time a person has decided to try an alternative treatment approach. This type of scenario is especially true for individuals who wish to avoid using excesses prescription pain medication, surgery, or other forms of invasive treatment options.
How Can a Chiropractor Help With Pain?
Each patient receives a unique and specialized approach to their care. It begins with a consultation to discuss the injury, location, duration, and characteristics of the pain they are experiencing.
Next the chiropractor will examine the patient by touching and/or moving the afflicted area while discussing how and where the pain occurs. This physical exam may involve more questions about the patient’s common health practices, diet, or lifestyle that may affect their ability to heal.
Once the patient’s injuries have been assessed the chiropractor can pinpoint the muscles, tendons, bones, or vertebrae that need attention. The treatment may include gently adjusting the neck or spine, massage, and/or physical therapy to stretch, strengthen and otherwise allow the injury to heal properly. There may also be advisement on making some diet or lifestyle adjustments to help improve the chances of a total recovery.
The chiropractor will repeat the same process again at the next visit - asking questions, touching, moving, and aligning the injured area or assisting in physical therapy. The length of treatment is as unique as each patient and each pain.
What Other Ways Can Chiropractic Care Help?
Although pain from an unexpected injury is the most common reason, there are many other ways a chiropractor can help alleviate pain and discomfort or help manage chronic conditions.- Arthritis
- Back Pain
- Bunions
- Chronic ear infections (children)
- Colic or acid reflux (infants)
- Headache Pain
- Heel spurs
- Insomnia
- Neck Pain
- Nervous System Dysfunction
- Sciatica
- Thyroid management
- Vertigo
- Weakened immune system
The basis of chiropractics is that the health of the whole body centers on the health of the spine. The spine affects all the systems of the body, but more especially the nervous system. The well-being of the neck and spine help regulate balance, mobility, immune response, and digestion as well. Essentially, if the spine is not set in an optimal position then it can’t relay messages to and from the brain and subsequently to and from the body. A cohesive and synergistic rhythm of relayed messages throughout the body via the spine will result in an overall healthy individual.
How does chiropractic care help give me pain relief?
Chiropractors use manual manipulation to relax muscles, ease pinched nerves, loosen tight tendons, and realign the neck and spine.For example, a child who repeatedly suffers from middle ear infections which do not go away with antibiotic use may benefit greatly from a visit to the chiropractor. When the ear canal is unable to drain it can cause fluid to build up in the inner ear and can easily become infected. A chiropractor may gently manipulate the vertebrae at the base of the skull. This will align the child’s neck properly, allowing the ears to drain as they should and eliminating the need for surgery or anymore rounds of antibiotics.
This same approach may be taken for someone whose immune system is weakened or compromised. Just like the child’s ears that couldn’t drain properly, if the spine is misaligned the attached nerves can’t signal the nervous system to respond properly. This can stress the nervous system, weakening immune organs like the lymph nodes. Having a chiropractic adjustment to properly position the spine signals the other systems of the body to function properly.
There are many ways that an experienced chiropractor like Dr. Ryan Bosley and Dr. Lew Wheelwright from Chiropractic Health Center of Ogden can improve or eliminate pain and discomfort. Whether that pain is from a chronic or troublesome condition, or just a pain in the neck, their experienced and caring team can help set it straight.