Many people may experience occasional pain after a long day of gardening, after a session of intense exercise or even after a long day of shopping at the mall. But when the pain remains for longer than 3 to 6 months, interrupts your daily life or doesn't improve after a period of time, you may be experiencing what's known as chronic pain. The most common types of chronic pain in the body may include lower back pain, post-surgical pain, arthritic pain, pain from neuropathy, migraine pain and pain due to cancer. While the first inclination is to visit your family doctor, who may attempt to lessen the symptoms of pain with prescription medication, seeking the assistance of a Chiropractor who can offer a variety of nonsurgical therapies can be a much safer and effective alternative. Read on to learn more about the ways chiropractic care can address chronic pain and restore your overall health.
How Can a Chiropractor Address Chronic Pain?
A Chiropractor can conduct as assessment via testing and a physical examination in order to properly determine the root cause of your chronic pain. Findings from testing and exams can aid in discovering the cause of pain that may be attributed to dysfunction in the joints, tension caused by muscle or nerve pain or misalignment of the spine known as subluxation. Here are just a few of the methods used in chiropractic care to alleviate chronic pain.
Acupuncture — this ancient Chinese practice is used to correct imbalances in the body via the use of extremely thin needles strategically placed on certain parts of the body. Numerous studies have proven this method to be an effective choice for chronic pain relief.
Muscle Stimulation — this method is commonly used to address chronic pain due to strains or muscle spasms using small electrical impulses that are effective at reducing swelling and chronic pain — all without the use of drugs.
Intersegmental Traction — used a relaxation therapy, this method uses mild stretching of the ligaments and muscles in order to restore circulation, mobility and increases spinal elasticity.
If you find you are not getting sufficient sleep, or becoming less active because of chronic pain, visit a reputable Chiropractor today who can create an individualized plan of care and help to restore your vitality and lifestyle.