The severity of pain is subjective. Even the slightest amount of pain will, however, affect your enjoyment of life and activities of daily living to an extent. Most people will reach for pain-relieving medications when they experience any amount of pain.
Over 70 million Americans battle with chronic and severe pain and these pain relief medications they rely on have been proven to cause various issues in these people. Infertility, weakened immune systems, depression, drug dependence, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver toxicity, and hormonal imbalances are some of these issues.
A chiropractor in SLC will employ different side effect-free pain management techniques for various types and level of pain. Though most people only associate chiropractic care with musculoskeletal pain, it will suffice for virtually all kinds of pain.
The following are some of the techniques used for pain management in chiropractic medicine.
Chiropractic Manipulations
Spinal manipulations and those involving the extremities are the most common treatment modalities in chiropractic care. Though primarily designed for the realignment of bones, these manipulations will promote the body’s self-healing ability.
They do this by combating the free radicals associated with inflammation and pain and improving the repair of your DNA on a cellular level. These will also alleviate pain in about three months after the start of your treatments.
The manipulations help in pain reduction in those suffering from shoulder, back and neck pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, headaches, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
TENS
Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) uses a small, portable, battery-powered unit for the delivery of muscle stimulation, which can control pain. There are various levels of electrical currents used for pain control.
TENS is generally used for patients who experience acute bouts of severe pain. As such, it might not benefit you much if you suffer from chronic pain.
Therapeutic Exercises
These are used in chiropractic care to avert the formation of scar tissue in an injured area. Other than this, therapeutic exercises will stretch specific muscles and strengthen them thus supporting your body and addressing your pain.
The intensity of exercises your body can safely accommodate differs based on your muscle’s conditions. It is hence advisable to only stick to a chiropractor’s recommended exercise routine.
Lifestyle Modifications and Diet Counseling
The foods you consume and your lifestyle choices have a significant impact on your body’s response to various stimuli. Poor nutrition has for instance been linked to excessive weight gain which might strain your body and lead to pain in multiple joints.
A chiropractor might recommend dietary supplements, a decreased consumption of refined carbohydrates and an increased intake of anti-inflammatory foods. These steps will aid in the reduction and eventual stop of chronic pain. Reduction of excessive alcohol intake, cessation of smoking and improvement of your posture will also promote a pain-free lifestyle.
There are numerous methods used to manage pain without using pain medication. If you are already on pain medication, a chiropractor will adjust your dosages of the drug slowly rather than stop it at once when you begin any of the above pain management therapies.
This tapering down of your dosage will prevent the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms associated with most pain-relieving drugs.