Those who are afflicted by chronic pain often feel that they must take prescription drugs just to make it through the day. Medications can certainly provide temporary relief, but they serve only to block the pain while the real issue goes ignored. However, chiropractic treatment can treat the problem that is actually causing the pain while providing drug-free pain alleviation for many conditions.
Drug-based treatment of pain often has problematic side effects and the possibility of addiction to prescription medications. Even over-the-counter medications can cause damage to the liver or kidneys when taken frequently, as is often the case when people are self-medicating their chronic problems. Blocking the ache of an injury or other problem with medication can actually cause you to injure yourself further without knowing it. Furthermore, drugs can lose their effectiveness over time, leaving the patient with few options for relief. In many cases, opting for chiropractic care instead of drugs can be a safer, more effective solution to pain in both the short and long term.
Chiropractic manipulation has been used for centuries to treat a wide variety of conditions. It is the practice of using manual adjustment to properly align spinal vertebrae. Its earliest documented use dates back to ancient Greece and Egypt. Today, chiropractors must be licensed by the state, and have extensive schooling. Many chiropractors use advanced technology such as x-rays to facilitate diagnosis of vertebral alignment and other problems. Medicare and private insurance often cover many of these procedures.
Believing that the body is very good at regulating and healing itself is central to chiropractic practice. Sometimes, however, a disruption in the flow of nerve impulses can cause problems in the body’s ability to detect issues and repair them. These disruptions can be caused by the spine being out of alignment as well as muscle tightness or slipped or herniated discs. Spinal manipulation is intended to correct or improve subluxation, or alignment, of vertebral joints. This helps to restore the flow of impulses. Adjustments can often provide immediate pain relief without the use of drugs, and it also can decrease stress and muscle tension while enhancing muscle strength and range of motion.
Recent developments in chiropractic treatment have made spinal manipulation more effective, more comfortable and even safer than ever before. Depending on the diagnosis, a practitioner may choose to manually adjust the vertebral column as well as hip and shoulder joints. Treatments may involve manipulations done with the aid of tables, weights, and other instruments. Active Release Techniques use a type of massage therapy to treat issues with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Modern chiropractors may employ hundreds of different methods.
Encompassing far more than just spinal adjustment, many chiropractic physicians offer a variety of holistic, drug-free treatments that work together to promote good health. These methods not only relieve pain, but prevent it in the future. Massage therapy, acupuncture, foot orthotics, and flexion-distraction techniques for issues with discs between vertebrae are just a few of the on-site treatments that some chiropractors offer.
Chiropractors often also are great helps in identifying the sources of your pain. They usually recommend corrective exercises that can be performed at home to counteract these problems. This can prevent future pain. Many offer lifestyle and nutritional advice to increase your body’s ability to heal itself.
So before you pop another pill for that ache, consider the benefits of chiropractic treatment. Chiropractors work with you to determine the source of the problem and offer relief in the short term as well as solutions in the long term to alleviate and prevent pain, improving your overall health and your quality of life.
Have you thought about chiropractic treatment for your chronic pain? If you live in the Chicago area, check out the services of Chiropractic Care, featuring an experienced Board Certified Chiropractic Physician, Chiropractic Orthopedist, Acupuncturist, and Cox flexion-distraction practitioner and instructor who has been in private practice for over 20 years. Powered by SEO 2.0 Services
