According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common type of pain includes lower back pain, neck pain, severe headaches, or migraines.
Do you experience one of these types of pain?
If you do, you are not alone. According to the statistics released by the National Institute of Health, more than 76 million Americans live with chronic pain. It also states that over 60 percent of adults, who have pain, live with it for over a year.
Pain has been identified as a common reason why people visit physicians in developed countries of the world. Pain is prevalent in all medical conditions, and it usually negatively impacts an individual's quality of life and general functioning . Chiropractic treatment has been proven to reduce low back pain's intensity and discomfort.
In this article, we are going to explore how seeing a chiropractor can be beneficial for treating pain, it's effectiveness; as well as, it's benefits and potential side effects. If you are wondering how many sessions you will need, or what it will cost, we have you covered there, as well.
Why See a Chiropractor for Pain?
Identifying the cause of the pain can be difficult, but chiropractors are highly trained in assessing and diagnosing musculoskeletal disorders that can help identify the origins of pain. Most pain is caused by many underlying conditions, such as, spinal stenosis (this is the narrowing of the spinal canal that may cause nerve compression), osteoarthritis (a form of joint pain and inflammation).
Chiropractors are trained to diagnose and assess the extent of musculoskeletal disorders and suggest a personalized treatment plan that may involve: spinal manipulation or mobilization, ultrasound, traction, or any other therapies that will help eradicate your pain. This may also include exercises to strengthen your body muscles and spine, as well as, tweaking your lifestyle.
Chiropractors will assess and identify potential sources of pain. Depending on what triggers the pain, chiropractic treatment will address the underlying causes, such as, muscular tension or joint dysfunction. Additionally, your chiropractor may provide nutritional advice to help eradicate symptoms or reduce the frequency of your pain.
Many people suffering from pain also suffer from other comorbid conditions. Studies have established the link between pain and insomnia and depression or mood disorders . In this case, you might require co-management from a team of healthcare professionals to address your needs. Chiropractors will partner with your physician to effectively eliminate your pain and it's associated comorbidities.
Benefits and Risks of Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care uses many techniques, such as, spinal manipulation, which is considered safe and effective, to treat pain. Whether acute pain, which is a more common form of pain, or chronic pain, which lasts more than six weeks, chiropractic care will help you get better.
Studies have shown that chiropractic care can treat:
-
Neck pain
-
Back pain
-
Fibromyalgia
-
Osteoarthritis
-
And many more
This can be achieved by applying targeted, moderate pressure and/or deep tissue massage.
There are three different conditions where chiropractic care may not always be the best choice of a holistic and natural treatment:
-
Inflammatory arthritis
-
Spinal cord compression
-
Osteoporosis
-
Blood-thinning medications
Additionally, people with a history of cancer should first be cleared by their medical doctor before using chiropractic care.
Treatments will be based on the diagnosis of your pain. When seeing a chiropractor for a pain-related condition, it is important to inform your chiropractor about a few different things, including:
-
Medical history
-
Present medical conditions
-
Traumatic life and bodily events
-
Surgical history
-
Current medications
-
Lifestyle factors
-
Any other holistic and natural treatments being used
Is Chiropractic Care Effective for Pain Management?
Yes!
Chiropractic care benefits individuals who are living with pain, including but not limited to conditions, such as, fibromyalgia, arthritis, headaches, neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and many more.
Through spinal manipulation and the manipulations of the extremities, chiropractors trigger your body's ability to self-heal. This procedure does not mask the symptoms; instead, it combats oxidative stress caused by free radicals and stimulates the DNA repair on a cellular level.
The American College of Physicians in 2007 highlighted the numerous benefits of chiropractic care. In many studies, patients, who received chiropractic care for 12 weeks or longer, felt an improvement in pain, compared to those who did not. It was also found that chiropractic care is as effective as traditional prescription medications. Studies are still ongoing to explore if the effectiveness of chiropractic manipulation is dependent on the length and frequency of treatments.
What Will Chiropractic Care Cost for Pain Management?
The average price per session in the country is $35-$250.The overall cost of your chiropractic treatment for treating and managing pain levels will depend on the number of sessions that you go to, and how frequently you go to an adjustment. For more information, read: How Much Does Chiropractic Therapy Cost?
References
Breivik, H., Borchgrevink, P.C., Allen, S.M., Rosseland, L.A., Romundstad, L., Hals, E.K., Kvarstein, G., Stubhaug, A. (July 2008). "Assessment of pain". British Journal of Anaesthesia. 101 (1): 17-24. doi:10.1093/bja/aen103. PMID 18487245. Retrieved May 16, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18487245
Treede R. D. (2018). The International Association for the Study of Pain definition of pain: as valid in 2018 as in 1979, but in need of regularly updated footnotes. Pain reports, 3(2), e643. doi:10.1097/PR9.0000000000000643. Retrieved May 16, 2019, from https://journals.lww.com/painrpts/Fulltext/2018/04000/The_International_Association_for_the_Study_of.2.aspx
Salehi, A., Hashemi, N., Imanieh, M. H., & Saber, M. (2015). Chiropractic: Is it Efficient in Treatment of Diseases? Review of Systematic Reviews. International journal of community-based nursing and midwifery, 3(4), 244-254. Retrieved May 16, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4591574/
Manga, P., Angus, D. E., & Swan, W. R. (1993). Effective management of low back pain: it's time to accept the evidence. The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 37(4), 221-229. Retrieved May 16, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2485083/
