Chiropractic care is often used as a treatment option for chronic pain. There are various chiropractic care options utilized to manage chronic pain as a result of a back or neck pain.
Two Types of Pain
There are two broad categories of pain. These include chronic pain and intractable pain.
- Intractable Pain – The term intractable pain first was first used during the World War II. This term was used to refer to constant pain that often required medications to relieve. Today, this type of pain is treated with powerful medications and sometimes surgery.
- Chronic pain – Chronic pain is a persistent pain that is unresponsive to the normal pain management techniques. It is sometimes treated by chiropractors where non-surgical treatments are used. These include spinal manipulation. Chiropractic care for managing chronic pain is mainly aimed at addressing the symptoms and easing the pain. Individuals with lower back paincan also have persistent daily discomfort.
How a Chiropractor Manages Pain
Before you can embark on chiropractic treatment to relieve chronic pain, it’s always important to know what’s causing the pain. To diagnose your pain, Dr. Overton will conduct an exam as well as other tests and x-rays, if necessary. Afterwards, he will develop a treatment plan which may include manual therapies, spinal manipulation and therapeutic exercises.
Some of the spinal conditions that Dr. Overton can help to treat include:
Degenerative Disc Disease
The main goal of chiropractic care when treating DDD is to reduce inflammation and improve spinal motion, both of which help to improve joint mechanics. There are several types of spinal manipulation that may be used to treat DDD and these include flexion-distraction technique, specific spinal manipulation and instrument-assisted manipulation. Manual therapy is also used to treat the symptoms of degenerative disc disease.
Kyphosis
This condition is characterized by a hump-like back and is caused by poor posture. Chiropractic techniques are often used to teach better posture, and this may help reduce the hump. Even though it may not be caused by poor posture, chiropractic care for this condition can reduce chronic pain, address inflammation, improve spinal health and treat inter-vertebral discs.
Spondylosis
Also known as spinal arthritis, spondylosis can be treated with chiropractic care. Techniques applied during treatment include spinal manipulation and manual therapy.
Herniated Disc
Like other spinal conditions, a chiropractor will contact physical exams, tests and occasionally X-rays in order to diagnose your condition. Questions that may be asked to ascertain your condition:
– Is there a loss of sensation in your arms or legs?
– Have your muscles lost strength, or have you witnessed any signs of muscle wasting?
– How intact are your reflexes?
Treatment of the condition may include chiropractic adjustment, manual therapy and/or therapeutic exercise.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a condition caused by injuries to the neck as a result of rapid back and forth movement of the neck. This may be caused by trauma such as a car accident. It results in restricted movement of the neck as well as short-term pain.
Sciatica
This is usually caused by compression of the sciatic nerve. Disorders that can lead to pain of the sciatic nerve include herniated discs, lumbar spine subluxations and neuropathy. Piriformis syndrome is also a common cause of sciatica. Pain of the sciatica nerve is often described as similar to electric shocks.
Spondylolisthesis
The main objective of chiropractic care for spondylolisthesis is to address spinal joints below and above the vertebra. Consequently, the treatment helps to improve on spinal mechanics, posture and alignment. It’s important to cooperate with your chiropractor to diagnose your condition, and develop a good treatment plan. Addressing your pain effectively will increase the efficiency of your daily activities.
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Other Treatable Conditions: Shoulder Pain