Why You Should Try Chiropractic Treatment

You will experience pain at some point in our lives, no matter how healthy your body may be. When pain strikes, it can linger for several days. It is often minor and can be treated with over-the-counter pain medication. However, pain can be debilitating. Its impact goes beyond just physical – it can have a profound effect on you mentally and emotionally.

There are two types of pain that can affect our body:

• Acute Pain – This type of pain usually up to six weeks. It is the body’s way to protect itself from inflammation and injury.

• Chronic Pain – Pain that lasts for more than three months is considered chronic. Chronic pain can be debilitating, affecting your ability to function properly. The most common type of chronic pain is musculoskeletal pain, such as lower back pain or severe arthritis.

Chronic pain can interfere with every aspect of your life. When you are in pain, it prevents you from doing the activities you enjoyed. It also affects your appetite and sleep. The unpleasant sensation travels through your nervous system. When left untreated, pain can get you depressed, anxious, and irritable. Pain can be stressful. Stress can cause muscle tension, causing the pain to flare up. When you feel stressed, you lose interest in the things and activities you enjoyed. Pain can affect your relationship with your friends, family, and the people around you.

Why Pain Medications May Not Be the Solution

Pain medications are a valuable tool for physicians and patients suffering from acute or chronic pain. They help relieve pain and discomfort, but like other drugs, pain medications come with minor and serious side effects.

Let us take a look at the different over-the-counter painkillers and how they can impact your health:

• Aspirin – A type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that helps control pain. However, long-term use of aspirin can cause simple indigestion, stomach ulcers, and kidney damage. Also, never give aspirin to children to avoid the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a life-threatening condition that affects the liver and brain.

• Acetaminophen – Acetaminophen can be commonly found in cold and sinus medicines. Unlike aspirin, it does not cause abdominal or digestive issues. However, taking this medicine with alcohol can result in liver damage.

• Ibuprofen – Prolonged use of ibuprofen has the same effects as aspirin. This NSAID pain killer can cause stomach and kidney issues. Unlike aspirin, ibuprofen is a fast-acting drug that leaves your body faster, reducing the risk of side-effects.

When taking pain relievers, make sure to follow the doctor’s instructions about how they should be taken. There are other ways you can effectively manage your pain without the risk of side-effects.

How Chiropractic Treatment Can Help

If you are looking for a risk-free treatment for pain, try chiropractic treatment. Like OTC pain medications, chiropractic care helps relieve pain and provides comfort to patients living with conditions such as arthritis, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, headaches, neck pain, and shoulder pain. Spinal manipulation performed by chiropractors helps the body heal naturally.

Licensed chiropractors use hands-on spinal adjustments or manipulation to properly align the musculoskeletal structure of the body. This increases the body’s ability to heal itself without medication or surgery. Traumatic events, including falling and repetitive stress like prolonged sitting, can result in tissue injury in the joint. Manipulation restores mobility by healing the injured joint tissues.

Whether it is acute or chronic pain, chiropractic care is a great pain relief alternative for joints, bones, muscles, and connective tissues (cartilage, ligaments, and tendons). In some instances, chiropractic care is used in conjunction with traditional medical treatment to allow the body to recuperate quickly.

Here are a few reasons why you should choose chiropractic treatment instead of OTC painkillers:

• It treats the pain at its source – Pain mask the pain, which provides the patient with short-term relief. However, this does not address the problem. As soon as its effects start to wear off, pain is more likely to return. With chiropractic care, it treats the source of pain, providing long-term or permanent relief from pain.

• It’s proven safe – Chiropractic techniques help stimulate the body to heal naturally. No medication is given to manage the pain, making it safe for patients of all ages. Children, elders, and nursing mothers can find relief through this natural treatment.

Prolonged use of pain relievers can have significant effects on our health, including stomach and kidney problems. Some medications interact with others. Although healthcare professionals prescribe them for pain relief, pain medications can be risky.

• It’s highly cost-effective – Pain pills are not only risky but also costly. The cost of painkiller use could add up over time, despite having insurance to cover the cost. Your chiropractor will provide you with some helpful at-home techniques to help you to manage the pain without medication.
• It’s consistent in effect – Since prolonged use of medication can lead to drug tolerance, patients may require a higher dosage to achieve the same effect. With chiropractic treatment, the opposite can actually be true; as your body recovers naturally, the intensity of your therapy may actually decrease with time.
• It can be used preventatively – Spinal manipulation, along with lifestyle changes, stretches, and exercise, can effectively prevent future health problems such as herniated lumbar discs or sciatica.

Chiropractic Care Does More Than Just Treat Pain

There are numerous reasons why you should try chiropractic care. Regardless of the reason, chiropractic care is a natural, drug-free treatment that comes with amazing benefits. It does not simply treat pain; it also tremendously boosts the quality of your life.

Let us look at a few of the additional health issues that can be successfully treated with chiropractic care:

• Fatigue – When pain strikes, our body can experience tiredness and fatigue. However, chiropractic care boosts the body’s ability to fight the pain. Patients report feeling invigorated after the treatment.

• Poor quality of sleep – Chronic pain patients find it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. Not getting enough sleep can result in different health issues. Treating the body with chiropractic therapy does not only help relieve the pain, but it also improves your sleep quality. Thus, reducing the risk of other symptoms caused by lack of sleep.

• Stress – Today’s fast-paced world can make us feel stressed. Stress originates in the mind and can manifest physically in the body. Although stress does not cause pain, seeking chiropractic treatment can effectively minimize stress. Just like a spa treatment, chiropractic therapy can make you feel invigorated physically, emotionally, and mentally.

The next time you consider indulging yourself, give chiropractic therapy a try. Regular chiropractic care can help you feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and in excellent health.

If you are interested in natural health care treatment to relieve pain and improve your quality of life, call the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centres (PARC) of Ontario at (905) 579-9938 to book an appointment with our chiropractor in Oshawa.

Our chiropractors work hand-in-hand with our registered massage therapist to give you quick results and positive experience in our safe and natural environment.