Those with chronic pain experience many symptoms that are debilitating. Chronic pain often makes it hard to complete daily tasks. Neck pain, back pain, restless leg, migraines, and more can be considered chronic. If you experience chronic pain, seeking the help of a chiropractor can help manage your symptoms and make daily life more manageable. Chiropractic care has become more popular for those wanting non-invasive treatment. Seeking the help of a chiropractor can help individuals avoid surgery, strong medication, or adverse side effects. Learn more in this blog about how chiropractic can be used to treat chronic pain.

When Pain Becomes Chronic

Many illnesses or injuries can lead to pain, but chronic pain is when it starts to affect your work day, school work, driving, or household tasks. Chronic pain can make it hard for individuals to get out of bed, go out, or focus on a task. Those who are at risk for chronic pain often have underlying issues such as:

• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Depression
• IBS
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Emotional Trauma
• Autoimmune Disorders

Reduce Dependence On Medication

Those with chronic pain often take medications to reduce the pain, and inflammation, or mask other symptoms. Seeking chiropractic treatment can help reduce inflammation, thus limiting the need for medication. Some medications are addictive, cause deterioration in the body, or have very negative side effects. While you want to manage your pain, it can be risky to take medication frequently.

Chiropractic treatment focuses on adjusting the spine and reducing inflammation with massage. Chiropractic can limit chronic pain without the need for medication and help you feel better in all aspects. Regular appointments will help manage your pain and have helped many patients stay away from hard pain-relieving medication. 

More Personalized Treatment

The biggest benefit of chiropractic is that chiropractors make more of an effort to create an individualized treatment plan. Many doctors who treat chronic pain will apply the same methods or medication to all their patients. Chiropractic will be customized to your specific needs and what currently bothering you most. Working with a chiropractor usually starts with combing through your health history and a physical examination. This will allow them to get a good overview of your current health and proceed with an individualized treatment plan. 

Common Treatments For Pain

When it comes to treatment for any kind of pain, there are a few methods that may be used to help limit your chronic pain. Some chiropractors will combine multiple methods for more well-rounded care, especially if you experience pain in different parts of your body. Chiropractors will use different methods depending on your pain, age, and past health history. Here are some common treatment types of treatment for chronic pain.

• Joint mobilization: These are gentle movements that help improve the range of motion in different joints. Rhythmic movements are used to break up fluid or inflammation and help improve walking, running, lifting, or bending. 
• Myofascial release: Myofascial release involves applying pressure to tight or knotted muscles, similar to massage, to relieve tension. This method is a more complex method that massage therapists use that will help limit pain without risk of injury or paralization. 
• Hot and cold therapy: Cold treatment is used to reduce inflammation and hot treatments help promote relaxation. Hot treatments can also improve blood flow to muscles or painful areas of the body. Hot and cold treatments that are done correctly can promote new cell growth and faster healing.
• Spinal adjustment: Most chiropractic appointments will focus on aligning the spine. The spine helps connect your brain to the other parts of your body so that you can heal and get all the proper nutrients. Putting joints back in place will reduce pressure on surrounding nerves and muscles.
• Acupuncture: Another holistic treatment that can be done by chiropractors is acupuncture. Putting needles into specific pressure points will relieve pain and promote relaxation. 

Chiropractic Care From Health & Wellness

Our team offers many different treatment methods to help limit chronic pain or the risk of injuries. Health & Wellness has two doctors and multiple staff members to help you have a great experience, no matter what type of pain you experience. Many of our staff members speak English and Spanish to help serve a wide range of clients. Our office is dedicated to helping you heal without the need for surgery or strong medications. Reach out to our Layton office to start your journey to a pain-free life.

Occasional inflammation is a normal and healthy part of your body’s healing process. However, when it becomes a chronic occurrence, inflammation can do more harm than good.

Keep reading to learn more about the role of inflammation in the healing process, how to know when it has crossed the line from helpful to hurtful, and how chiropractic care and cryotherapy can help you find relief.

Your Body’s Healing Mechanism

Inflammation is the body’s naturally occurring response to tissue damage, whether due to illness, injury, or invaders like germs or toxins. When tissue damage occurs, the immune system sends out inflammatory cells, which work to trap germs or toxins and heal injured tissue. 

Symptoms may include swelling, heat, localized pain and tenderness, and flushed skin. For example, an infection like strep can cause inflammation in the throat, while a sprained ankle can cause redness and swelling. 

While occasional inflammation is normal, it’s not always comfortable. However, these mild symptoms aren’t a reason to worry — they indicate that the body is beginning to heal and shouldn’t persist for longer than a few days.

Acute inflammation doesn’t always require treatment. If needed, treatment may include getting plenty of rest, icing the affected area, practicing proper wound care, and taking over-the-counter NSAID medications.

How Much is Too Much?

Inflammation becomes a problem when it’s chronic, causing the body to send inflammatory cells even when there’s no danger. Causes include:

• Chronic stress
• Obesity or low levels of physical activity
• An unbalanced gut microbiome
• Eating certain foods, such as those high in salt or trans fat, fried foods, or refined carbohydrates
• Sleep disruptions
• Tobacco use and alcohol overindulgence
• Exposure to environmental toxins such as air pollution and hazardous waste

Chronic inflammation is also associated with many health conditions, including autoimmune, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases, along with certain types of cancer and mental health conditions.

The symptoms of chronic inflammation are typically more difficult to pinpoint. It can cause belly and chest pain, insomnia, fatigue, joint stiffness, mouth sores, fever, skin rashes, mood disorders, GI issues, weight fluctuations, and frequent infections. These symptoms may come and go, lasting for months or even years.

Finding Relief from Chronic Inflammation

If you have a minor injury that won’t heal or ongoing pain or stiffness in any part of your body, it’s a good indication that you may have chronic inflammation. There are plenty of treatment options out there, from taking supplements like zinc and omega-3 to corticosteroid injections to anti-inflammatory diets. 

However, when it comes to supporting the body’s natural healing processes and ensuring proper overall function, there are two treatments you may not have considered: chiropractic care and cryotherapy. These two treatments, whether in combination or by themselves, can be important components of treatment and help you find long-lasting relief.

The Role of Chiropractic Care

The goal of chiropractic care is to correct misalignments in the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine. By ensuring proper alignment and reducing nervous system interference, chiropractic care promotes proper nerve function, allowing effective communication throughout the body and alleviating inflammation.

Many chiropractors also utilize massage therapy, which can reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, and further enhance the healing processes, which can help you find relief from chronic inflammation. Additionally, chiropractors often give lifestyle guidance, provide nutritional support, and present preventative strategies for managing inflammation, contributing to all-around wellness.

The Role of Cryotherapy

You’ve probably held an ice pack to a bruised shin or a sprained wrist to calm the inflamed area. In fact, cold therapy has been used for thousands of years to speed up recovery and enhance healing. 

Whole-body cryotherapy takes this principle to the next level and involves using liquid nitrogen to cool the air within a chamber to -200 degrees Fahrenheit, where it quickly cools the skin. While this may seem unpleasant, it’s actually much more comfortable than cold water immersion, as the air is dry. Plus, it only takes between 2.5 and 3.5 minutes — much better than sitting in an ice bath for 15 minutes.

The benefits of cryotherapy go beyond calming inflammation. It can also increase energy levels, boost the immune system, speed up recovery after exercise, and improve metabolism. 

Whole-Body Health and Wellness

At the Health and Wellness Clinic, we are dedicated to improving your quality of life and helping you live without pain or discomfort. Whether you’re battling an inflammatory condition, recovering from an injury, or looking to improve your athletic performance, contact us today to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward improving your overall health.