Chronic Pain

When people think about chiropractors, they often imagine being twisted and turned in weird positions while hearing cracking or popping noises. While that may happen during a chiropractic adjustment, there is such a deeper meaning behind these treatments than people may realize. Chiropractics is a holistic approach to wellness that can help people who struggle with injuries, chronic pain, and more.

Is a chiropractor a doctor?

A chiropractor is a healthcare professional that is focused on treating disorders of the neuromuscular system, specifically through the use of spinal manipulations and other joints. Chiropractors are doctors who treat their patients with a holistic approach. These therapies can promote both mental and physical health. Instead of working against traditional medicine, chiropractors can work with a patient’s primary physician as a component of their treatment.

The one difference you may notice between your chiropractor and primary physician is that your chiropractor believes in the body’s natural ability to heal itself. This means they look at treatment options that will be most impactful with the minimal use of surgery or prescription medication.

What are the treatment philosophies of chiropractors?

Chiropractors often approach their work with the mindset of offering drug-free and hands-on care. Rarely does a chiropractor actually prescribe medication, if at all. If a patient is currently on medication which helps alleviate their symptoms, a chiropractor is likely to recommend continuing that medication as prescribed and perhaps being able to decrease it if chiropractic treatments are helping target the root of the problem. However, this must only be done with guidance from a medical professional.

Chiropractors typically believe that the human body has its own internal healing mechanism. When a misalignment occurs, it can cause energy and blood flow to get stagnant. And even further, other areas of the body may compensate as a way to accommodate an injury. By correcting these misalignments, the body can return to proper flow, releasing nutrients and helpful properties naturally-occurring in the body to help heal itself.

Can chiropractors help with pain management?

For helping alleviate chronic pain, a chiropractor will first look to see if there are misalignments of the spine. As a chiropractor may explain, perhaps there was a mild injury or misalignment that occurred, which led to chronic pain of that area over time.

For instance, someone who was in a minor car accident may still have a small case of whiplash as a result. If the neck vertebrae were shoved out of alignment from the impact, it could have caused some stiffness and mild aches. If that person doesn’t get the problem fixed and months or years go by, that misalignment can eventually cause a chronic pain issue. Many patients report being able to at least decrease their dependency on pain medication after receiving routine chiropractic adjustments.

If you are interested in receiving chiropractic care, look no further. A chiropractor in Laurel, MD, is ready to help, all you have to do is call!

Thank you to AmeriWell Clinics for their insight into some important facts about chiropractic care.