Chiropractic Care for Pain Management
Home » You suffer a muscle strain; maybe you pull your lower back. Where do you go to get help? Some will go to your primary care physician when you are dealing with pain to get a muscle relaxer or pain killer. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Many people believe this is the ONLY way to manage pain, but the reality is that these types of treatment can delay the healing process. What’s more, prescription pain killers come with a risk of developing a dependence on the medication. This is especially true if you are prescribed an opioid drug. Thankfully, there is a much safer, effective, and proven alternative to modern-day medication and doctor visits: chiropractic care. Whether you’ve been struggling with pain for a day or a decade, chiropractic care for pain management can help.
Chiropractic Care for Pain in Chicago
Your Guide to Chiropractic Care for Pain Management
What is Chiropractic Care?
First, let’s break down what chiropractic care entails.
Chiropractic care focuses on the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of disorders related to the musculoskeletal system.
While chiropractic does focus heavily on the spine’s health, it also includes your muscles, connective tissue, and joints.
For those suffering from pain, chiropractic is an ideal alternative to prescription medication and surgery.
Chiropractic should be the first course of action for most conditions and injuries as it can treat symptoms without the need for potentially addictive medication or invasive surgical procedures.
What Conditions Does a Chiropractor Treat?
“Isn’t that the thing where they crack your neck?”
This is usually the first idea that people think about when it comes to chiropractic, but neck adjustments are a small piece of a much larger puzzle.
What’s more, everyone’s course of treatment will differ, so not everyone who comes into a chiropractic office will require a neck adjustment.
Here are the various conditions that chiropractic can treat:
Overall Chiropractic Pain Management
Lower back pain and sciatica are the most common reasons that someone seeks out a chiropractor. Back pain is the number one reported complaint in offices of both doctors and chiropractors.
Studies show that spinal manipulation is more effective than prescription medication for treating lower back pain. [1]
Connected with the back, chiropractic care can also take care of pain in your neck and shoulders. Pain in these areas usually comes from poor posture and sitting at a computer during the day. A course of chiropractic care has been shown to reduce pain in the neck and shoulders. [2]
All Types of Joint Pain
From overuse injuries like Tennis Elbow (Tendinitis) to degenerative diseases such as arthritis, chiropractic care can help relieve all types of joint pain.
Chiropractors see patients primarily for ankle, elbow, knee, and shoulder pain, but all connective tissue pain can be treated in the office.
The course of treatment will vary based on which joint feels the pain and the cause of that pain. Still, chiropractic care options could include massage therapy, physical therapy, or acupuncture. We’ll discuss these treatments in more detail below.
Headaches and Migraines
If you suffer from migraines, there’s a good chance you’ve tried multiple forms of medication. What’s more, you’re probably tired of having to carry that medication with you no matter where you go as a precautionary measure.
Or maybe you suffer from constant headaches that are more frustrating and annoying than excruciating. Either way, you want your freedom back.
Many of the treatment options you’ll find in a chiropractic office help treat headaches and migraines at the source, reducing the frequency and intensity. In some cases, chiropractic eliminates the issue.
Accidents and Injuries
Whether it’s a fall or a car accident, these types of injuries can cause trauma in the neuromuscular system, especially along the spine.
Aside from resolving the inflammation caused by the accident, chiropractic aims to restore the tissue to its healthiest and most functional state. This will ensure you can return to an independent lifestyle without the need for additional assistance from a person or device like a pair of crutches.
Pain During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful experiences a woman can go through, but it also brings some aches and pains from postural distortions.
For example, many women develop pain throughout the body, especially on the neck, shoulders, lower back, and feet.
What’s more, women can also experience constipation, trouble breathing, and tingling or numbness.
Chiropractic care can alleviate the symptoms caused by postural distortions that develop during pregnancy, making those nine months more enjoyable and memorable.
Sports and Athletes
For athletes, chiropractic care can help in three ways:
First, it directly addresses painful symptoms that are happening now. For example, if an athlete is experiencing muscle tightness, massage therapy can help.
Second, it prevents future strains or injuries from occurring. By restoring optimal muscle length-tension relationships, chiropractic care can reduce the risk of strain or postural distortion injuries.
Finally, chiropractic care can promote athletic performance by assisting with tissue recovery.
The First Step: A Chiropractic Assessment
Getting a chiropractic or functional movement assessment is an essential first step in getting better. Here’s what to expect during your first visit:
Every patient is unique, and every patient’s condition is different. Before a chiropractor can provide a treatment plan for you, it will be necessary to understand the symptoms, the cause of those symptoms, and your medical history.
During your first visit, you will speak directly with the chiropractor, and you will go through several standard testing procedures to further determine the location and severity of your symptoms.
Before you leave, you will have a complete treatment program that details what types of services you need along with the frequency of visits.
Matching the Solution to the Problem
Chiropractic care is a generic term that encompasses several proven and effective treatments for pain management.
Adjustments: Chiropractic adjustments focus on manipulating the skeleton to promote natural movement patterns and proper healing.
Radial shockwave therapy: is a non-invasive treatment method that uses high-energy acoustic waves to stimulate healing in the affected area. This therapy is commonly used to treat conditions such as chronic pain, plantar fasciitis, and tendonitis. The shockwaves are delivered through a handheld device that is pressed against the skin. The energy from the shockwaves triggers a series of chemical reactions that promote increased blood flow, the release of growth factors, and the reduction of inflammation and pain. Overall, radial shockwave therapy is an effective and safe treatment option for individuals looking to manage their pain without the use of medication or surgery.
Class IV laser therapy: is a non-invasive treatment method that utilizes a high-powered laser to penetrate deep into the tissue and stimulate healing. This therapy is commonly used to treat conditions such as chronic pain, arthritis, and sports injuries. The laser emits a specific wavelength of light that is absorbed by the cells in the affected area. This absorption triggers a series of chemical reactions that promote increased blood flow, the release of endorphins, and the reduction of inflammation and pain. Overall, class IV laser therapy is an effective and safe treatment option for individuals looking to manage their pain without the use of medication or surgery.
Massage Therapy: A trained therapist will apply different pressure levels to remove adhesions (muscle knots) and restore healthy length-tension relationships.
Electrostimulation: A muscle is stimulated by electrical pulses that force it to contract and release. Electrostimulation is often used alongside massage therapy.
Acupuncture: Very tiny needles are placed at different body points, depending on where the pain is coming from. These needles do not hurt, and they have been shown to release tension, treat inflammation, and support the healing process.
Physical Therapy: This type of therapy focuses on restoring natural movement and bodily strength through a combination of stretches and exercises.
Nutritional Counseling: Healthy food is one of the best forms of medicine. Nutritional counseling helps you understand the importance of nutrition and start making the right choices for healing and health.
Start on the Road to Relief
Not sure if chiropractic is right for your pain or condition? Give us a call at 773-878-7330 to set up a free, no-hassle consultation to see if chiropractic care for pain management is right for you.
References
- Ruddock JK, Sallis H, Ness A, Perry RE. Spinal Manipulation Vs Sham Manipulation for Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Chiropr Med. 2016 Sep;15(3):165-83. doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2016.04.014. Epub 2016 May 25. PMID: 27660593; PMCID: PMC5021904.
- Hurwitz EL, Morgenstern H, Harber P, Kominski GF, Yu F, Adams AH. A randomized trial of chiropractic manipulation and mobilization for patients with neck pain: clinical outcomes from the UCLA neck-pain study. Am J Public Health. 2002;92(10):1634-1641. doi:10.2105/ajph.92.10.1634.
