Chiropractic Care for Chronic Pain and Headaches

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

I practice pain management on a daily basis. Most people see a chiropractor because they’re in pain. My patients consult me because they have a grabbing painful back that is keeping them up at night or neck and arm pain that won’t go away and is taking over their life. I might see a young woman with debilitating migraines; an athlete suffering from an injured shoulder; or a painter whose livelihood is threatened by the pain of a repetitive stress injury.

Like my medical colleagues, when I have a patient in pain, I try my best to alleviate it as quickly as possible, but there are differences.

As a conservative practitioner who does not treat organic disease, I appreciate the patient who has already been to medical specialists who have ruled out an organic cause-such as cancer or infection — for the patient’s pain. Rather, the pain disorder has been considered “functional”, a disturbance of function rather than disease. Most of my chiropractic practice is in what can be called “functional medicine”.

A spinal adjustment is one form of therapy used to treat restricted spinal mobility and function. The goal is to restore spinal movement and, as a result, improve function and decrease pain. Additional treatments as well, such as ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation and exercises may be beneficial towards the overall treatment goal.

Yours In Health!

Nathan Cokeley