Chiropractic Treatment For Pain
Overview
Chiropractic treatment involves hands-on-spinal manipulation to properly align the body’s musculoskeletal structure. The practice focuses on the connection between the structure of the skeleton and the function of the body as a whole.
Your spine is made up of 24 vertebrae, and it’s this that permits motion and movement whilst also protecting the central nervous system. For this reason, chiropractic care starts from the premise that the key to a healthy and active body is a properly functioning spine.
Of the 22 million Americans who visit chiropractors annually, 35% do so for back pain relief, although there are many other reasons you may choose this treatment option. Many patients find that it works as a preventative measure, decreasing the likelihood of requiring surgery following an injury or accident.
It can be used as a sole treatment, or in conjunction with other pain relief methods.
Who is it for?
Chiropractic treatment is commonly used to assist with muscle, joint, bone or ligament complaints. Common symptoms or conditions that can be helped using this pain relief therapy include:
- Lower back pain
- Leg pain
- Shoulder pain
- Slipped discs
- Sciatica
- Fibromyalgia
- Joint discomfort
- Tennis elbow
- Frozen shoulder
- Osteoarthritis
- Whiplash
What does the treatment involve?
When meeting with your practitioner for the first time, they will take a thorough medical history and ascertain the reasons for your visit. This will include an examination of the affected area.
One of our highly qualified chiropractors will then use his or her hands to manipulate your bones, muscles or joints, with a special interest in the movement of your spine.
Our practise also offers Spinal Decompression Therapy which works by gently stretching the spinal column. This procedure alleviates pressure from the spinal disks, which are gel-like cushions, causing them to retract and relieve the surrounding nerves.
Your practitioner may recommend the use of a TENS machine or Electrical Stimulation to assist in recovery. These devices typically reduce pain levels by 50%-70%.
A TENS machine is a device that transmits electrical pulses in order to stimulate the nerves and promote natural pain relief. It is a popular and widely used method with well documented results in targeting localized pain.
Electrical Stimulation is an effective procedure involving a pad that is placed against the skin. Once the pads are in place, a machine emits electrical currents into the problematic area which delivers a pleasant sensation, blocking the pain receptors and providing instant relief.
You can either be sitting or laying down depending on your condition and preferences. There may also be a need to use soft tissue massage to provide additional muscle relief.
The chiropractic treatment itself should not be painful, although this can vary depending on the nature of the injury or condition. However, if you do experience discomfort, you should inform your practitioner immediately.
A common side effect of spinal manipulation can be a popping sensation or sound within your joints. It is believed that this is caused by gas bubbles in the fluids that envelop your joints and is not something you need to worry about.
Follow-up appointments may be arranged, with gentle exercises prescribed to practice at home on your own.
Following your first session, you may feel slightly tired as your body adjusts. After a few days, you should notice an improvement in your overall pain levels.
What are the benefits?
The main benefit of chiropractic care is the pain relief it offers. If you suffer with a stress or tension disorder, you will find that your body is more relaxed.
Lower back pain is often dramatically improved following one or more chiropractic sessions, with The American College of Physicians recommending that spinal manipulation is an effective treatment option if lower back pain does not improve with self care. A study conducted by the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics showed that 53% of patients with lower back pain reported more manageable pain levels following chiropractic care, in comparison to 13% who were under the care of a family physician.
Whiplash is a very common injury that is usually caused by automobile accidents. If you’ve recently been in a car accident and are suffering with a stiff neck, lack of movement in the neck, headaches or tenderness, you will discover that a session with a chiropractic practitioner can notably correct the problem. This route is also more cost effective. It has been shown that patients who seek out chiropractic care from the offset spend 40% less on their overall healthcare bill than patients who use non-chiropractic treatments.
The need for surgery is also significantly reduced when incorporating chiropractic care into your treatment plan, so it is recommended you visit a chiropractor as soon as you can following a trauma or injury.
Additionally, a chiropractor can advise you on how to maintain your own pain management through a series of exercises, positions and dietary guidance. When committed to in this way, chiropractic care can deliver long term benefits for people with chronic pain conditions.
Call us today to find out more about our chiropractic service.