Seeing a chiropractor may help reduce pain and improve your quality of life. Pain can keep you from enjoying your work, family and activities, and it can make it difficult to sleep or get active. It can also cause emotional stress that may be hard to deal with, which can aggravate the physical pain. By addressing the underlying causes of your pain, chiropractic can alleviate symptoms and help you manage pain without medications.
Medications are effective for many types of pain, but they can have serious side effects, especially when used long-term. Prescription painkillers can also be addictive if they are misused. Moreover, over-the-counter pain relievers can become less effective if you use them regularly. In addition, these drugs can have harmful interactions with other medications that you may take, so it is important to find ways to manage your pain without medication.
Chronic pain is often a combination of factors, such as poor posture and joint wear and tear. These can lead to achy, stiff joints and muscles. Over time, the body is unable to heal itself, which can make your pain worse.
A chiropractor can help treat a wide range of health conditions, including back pain, neck pain and headaches. They can diagnose the cause of your pain and recommend a treatment plan based on your needs and goals. They can provide therapies such as massage therapy, heat or cold packs and electrical stimulation. Depending on your condition, they can also use spinal manipulations to ease the tension in your muscles and joints.
There are a variety of drug-free approaches to managing pain, such as diet changes, exercise, relaxation techniques and counseling. These strategies can be beneficial for those who have difficulty with the cost or availability of medication. However, it is important to talk to your doctor before increasing the amount of medication you take.
When you visit an Atlanta family chiropractor for pain management, they will ask you about the type of pain you are experiencing, where it is located and how intense it is. They will also want to know if it is constant or comes and goes. They can also use tests such as bloodwork and imaging tests, like X-rays and an MRI to find out what’s causing your pain.
Chiropractors can use several methods of spinal manipulation to ease your pain, such as the diversified adjustment technique. During this, the chiropractor places you in different positions so they can manipulate each area of the spine. You may hear popping or cracking noises during this procedure, but it is normal and similar to the sound of cracking your knuckles.
Other forms of pain management include acupuncture, biofeedback and acupressure. These alternative therapies can also be helpful for those who cannot afford medication or have a drug interaction problem. By combining these lifestyle changes with the use of a chiropractor, you can reduce your pain and increase your ability to participate in the activities that you love.