Joint pain in the fingers and toes is a common problem for millions of people, but the causes of that type of pain are varied. While a Birmingham, AL chiropractor can help alleviate some or all of that pain, the effectiveness of each treatment will vary based upon the cause of the pain. For this reason, it’s important to know what type of pain you’re experiencing and how a chiropractor can help you. Once you have a better understanding of this type of physical therapy, you can enjoy the benefits of drug-free pain relief.
When people think of chiropractic care, they most often think of the harsh cracking of the back and similar maneuvers. While these are effective processes, there are many more techniques that a chiropractor can use to alleviate your pain. Some chiropractors know up to 150 different techniques, and each technique is used to address a specific problem. In general, a Birmingham AL chiropractor uses various techniques to make mild adjustments to the muscles, joints, or spine. In addition to choosing a specific technique, they will vary the force or pressure applied to ensure they’re making the desired adjustment. For example, an athlete with an injured back will need a high-intensity adjustment made to the spine, while someone suffering from arthritic pain in the joints of the fingers and toes will only need a minor adjustment with minimal force applied to those joints. Once the procedure is complete in either situation, inflammation and the accompanying pain will subside.
It is important to note that chiropractic care isn’t ideal for everyone. For example, severe swelling around the joints must be alleviated before an individual can undergo chiropractic treatments. To determine if you’re an ideal candidate for chiropractic treatments, you will first be required to submit to diagnostic tests. This will tell your chiropractor where the pain is located and what’s causing it, so he can determine how best to help you. If your chiropractor determines that you can’t be helped with this type of physical therapy, they may offer other forms of treatment that will be safe and effective. Some other options that may be offered to you include:
- Ultrasound
- Electrotherapy
- Cold laser treatments
- Infrared sauna
What Types of Joint Pain Can a Birmingham AL Chiropractor Treat?
One of the most common types of finger joint pain is arthritis, but there are several different types arthritis and each type has to be treated differently. For example, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, while osteoarthritis results from the loss of cartilage around the joints of the fingers and toes. Either condition causes the joints to become misaligned, increasing pain and causing inflammation. Once inflammation is reduced, the chiropractor can use physical manipulations to bring the joints back into alignment. This will alleviate pain and increase range of motion, so the inflammation is less likely to return. Additionally, the chiropractor may teach you some finger exercises to help you keep your joints limber between sessions.
Ganglion cysts are hard lumps that develop on the palms of the hand, making it difficult to make a full fist or grab items, such as a steering wheel or coffee mug. In a short time, the cysts cause the joints in the fingers to go out of alignment, making it more painful to use the hand. As the pain worsens, inflammation will develop, and that will affect your hand’s mobility, or range of motion, that much more. When your chiropractor manipulates the bones in your hand, they force the cyst to pop and drain of fluid. This makes it easier to push the fingers and the rest of the hand back into alignment. Although a cyst can come and go, having it treated by a chiropractor can resolve the problem that much quicker. It also helps to alleviate the pain in the hand caused by the cyst, so you’ll feel better and regain free use of the hand and fingers.
There may be other conditions that cause you to experience pain in the joints of your fingers and toes. Since drugs that relieve pain are highly addictive and produce other adverse side effects, doctors are reluctant to prescribe them. The best alternative is chiropractic care. It’s a natural form of treatment that helps relieve the tension and stress that leads to inflammation, pain, and limited range of motion.
If you are experiencing muscle or joint pain, give us a call at 205-637-1363. Our staff is available to answer your questions and help you set up your first appointment. We can help alleviate your pain, so you’ll move more freely and experience less pain.
