Certain injuries aren’t responsive to traditional medical treatments. This is especially true of musculoskeletal injuries such as those that are sustained by tripping and falling, being in a car accident, or getting hurt while on the job. If you’ve been dealing with chronic or recurring pain and have not been able to attain any lasting improvements from pain medications, you’re not alone. In many instances, the key to resolving a stubborn issue lies in doing more than merely muting its symptoms.
For instance, taking pain relievers for back or neck pain might alleviate your discomfort temporarily, but these products are not designed to actually improve the physical conditions that cause discomfort. When people find themselves dealing with persistent discomfort, chiropractors can often provide therapies, recommendations, and other forms of support that both expedite healing and prevent problems from recurring. One of the main reasons why chiropractic medicine is so effective at treating problems that other forms of medical care cannot is the fact that it’s designed to target pain at its source.
When back pain is caused by misaligned vertebrae, displaced discs, or nerve compression, hands-on techniques can be used to restore alignment, alleviate tension and stress, and improve balance and mobility. It’s additionally important to note that bolstering and improving the health of the spine can be beneficial for the entire body including those systems and functions that govern and assist natural healing processes. Given that the spine is the highway by which essential brain to nerve communication occurs, resolving alignment issues that inhibit or delay this communication can actually speed up your return to overall wellness.
How to Know if Chiropractic Care Is What You Need
There are countless reasons why a person might choose to work with a chiropractor. A chiropractor can help people:
- Improve their balance and range of movement
- Become less reliant on prescribed or over-the-counter pain medications
- Avoid invasive surgeries
- Shorten their recovery times after impact events
- Achieve marked general health gains
Although most consumers are well-familiar with the idea of receiving chiropractic adjustments after auto accidents, few know that these same services can be beneficial for many common problems that do not appear to be directly related to the spine. Chiropractors can alleviate wrist pain or carpal tunnel syndrome, recurring headaches, migraine headaches, insomnia, and mood swings.
In some instances, correcting spinal subluxations or areas of misalignment can even resolve chemical and hormonal imbalances, improve the overall efficacy of the immune system, clear up skin rashes and other skin disorders, and alleviate anxiety and depression among other things. One of the best times to consult with a chiropractic is when conventional medical remedies have failed. This might be after you’ve grown tired of using pain medications for their short-term benefits, or when the lifestyle changes that a doctor has suggested aren’t producing noticeable results. Because chiropractors take an in-depth look at the spine, its alignment, and its affect on all other musculoskeletal structures, they are often able to accurately identify issues that are either overlooked or misdiagnosed in other treatment environments.
Given their specialized understanding of the musculoskeletal system and its components, they can additionally identify connections and relationships that other providers might not. For example, for some people, extraordinary pain in the lower back is little more than the result of stressed and overly tight hamstrings. Another benefit of chiropractic care is that it takes a hands-on approach to proactively resolving problems, rather than muting their symptoms or using bed rest to allow for the gradual and often prolonged healing that occurs when the spine is improperly aligned.
Chiropractors can use ultrasound therapy to instantly reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain, as well massage or hot and cold therapy to loosen sore muscles up, facilitate better movement, and expedite blood flow to the affected area. For people who are seeking both rapid and long-lasting relief, chiropractic services are often the best mediums for reaching their goals. If your chronic pain has led to a recommendation for invasive surgery, consulting with a chiropractor ahead of treatment is important. This is an effective way to learn whether there are less invasive and lower-risk alternatives that might be possible to pursue.
Keep in mind, however, that there are some issues that cannot be resolved through chiropractic care. When back pain is caused by malignant growths on the spine, when the spine has sustained considerable and potentially permanent damages, and when serious congenital health issues exist, chiropractic services may be able to provide support in stress management, pain relief, and other services for improving overall life quality.
However, in these and other instances, they may be best provided in conjunction with other forms of treatment. If you’re suffering from a recurring or chronic health issue and are desperate to get long-lasting relief, we can help. Get in touch with us today by calling 205-637-1363 to set up a consultation appointment.
