Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is defined as ongoing pain that lasts for at least three months or longer. The neck and lower back areas are most commonly associated with chronic pain. Chronic pain is highly unpleasant and uncomfortable and can be debilitating to the point that it prevents you from enjoying and performing normal daily activities such as driving, playing a sport or playing with your children. Chiropractic care can help reduce and eliminate your chronic pain using techniques that treat the root cause of your pain and that help you experience a better quality of life.

Chiropractic treatment reduces chronic pain by manipulating your joints and soft tissues to restore balance and mobility throughout the body. Spinal manipulation and chiropractic adjustments help relieve muscle soreness, reduce inflammation, treat pinched nerves, and heal damaged tissue that may be driving your chronic pain. Other chiropractic treatments for chronic pain include postural correction, manual therapies, ergonomic training, and exercise.

Causes of chronic pain that may be treated using chiropractic care include:

• Headaches and migraines
• Herniated discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Whiplash
• Sciatica
• Kyphosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Spondylosis
• Joint pain due to arthritis
• Sports-related injuries

Did you know?

Lower back pain is the most common type of pain experienced by Americans, followed by headaches and migraines. Pain for these conditions can be safely and effectively treated using chiropractic care.

Smoking is linked to worsen chronic pain in those who suffer from back pain, neck pain, and fibromyalgia. Smoking and nicotine can decrease blood flow and circulation and prolong the body’s healing process, which can interfere with your recovery from conditions causing chronic pain.

Opioids are a medication commonly used to treat chronic pain, but long-term use of opioids can worsen chronic pain by increasing your pain sensitivity level. Opioids also carry a high risk of dependence and addiction. However, chiropractic care does not increase pain sensitivity and carries no risk for addiction, so you can recover fully without having to worry about these adverse effects.

Frequently Asked Questions about Chronic Pain

What are the benefits of chiropractic care for chronic pain?

Chiropractic treatments non-invasive, and allow your body to heal without the need for surgery or medication. Chiropractic care helps boost circulation and spurs the body’s production of natural painkillers known as endorphins to help reduce chronic pain.

Are chiropractic adjustments painful?

No, chiropractic care provided by a well-trained chiropractic physician should not be painful. However, you may experience slight to no discomfort as your doctor works on muscles and other soft tissues that are tight and inflexible due to tension and other underlying problems causing chronic pain.

How soon will my chronic pain go away with chiropractic care?

As it is true with all chronic health issues, you must have a course of therapy to see a huge change in your condition, however, you shall expect to experience a noticeable decrease in pain after your first treatment session. The length of your chronic pain treatment is dependent on the severity of both your pain level and the underlying health problem being treated.

Is there anything I can do to relieve chronic back pain on my own?

Get plenty of sleep, practice good posture, and modify your diet and nutrition to accelerate healing from chronic back pain. Your chiropractor can work with you on improving your posture and nutrition, and show you exercises and stretches that may help relieve your chronic pain. Give us a call and learn more.