Treatment for Chronic Pain
Treatment for Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is generally recognized as any pain that persists longer than normal healing time. Pain is generally considered chronic when it lasts longer than three to six months. Whereas acute pain is defined as a normal sensation that alerts us to possible injury in the body.
The Head & Neck junction can change the way your brain controls your MUSCLES and interprets PAIN.
Chronic Pain, Recurring Injuries and Fibromyalgia can significantly respond to brain-based care.
Generalized Chronic Pain can be caused by changes in the way the brain controls the muscles in the body, and interprets pain. Changes in the Head & Neck junction can interfere with proper signalling between the brain and body, resulting in chronic pain and recurring injuries. These often show up in multiple areas throughout the body, and can often affect one side of the body more than the other.
Recurring Injuries are injuries to any location on the body that previously sustained the same injury. Sports injuries can often be recurrent with subsequent injuries being influenced by the first one. Most recurring injuries are actually worse than the initial injury and could have a severe impact on the health and future of the injured. When sustaining an injury, it is best to receive immediate medical attention in order to minimize the likelihood of recurring injury.
Some of the subsequent ailments that can develop with recurring injuries include sciatica, chronic lower back pain, disc herniations and fibromyalgia.
Chronic Lower Back Pain is pain lasting more than 3 months. The lumbar spine, or low back, is a remarkably well-engineered structure of interconnecting bones, joints, nerves, ligaments, and muscles all working together to provide support, strength, and flexibility. However, this complex structure also leaves the low back susceptible to injury and pain when the muscles are imbalanced between the right and left sides of the body.
Chronic Sciatica is not a medical diagnosis in and of itself but it is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. It is characterized by pain in the buttock or leg, tingling or numbness in the leg or foot, and weakness in the leg or foot. Common lower back problems that can cause sciatica symptoms include a lumbar herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, or spinal stenosis.
Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals.
A Brain-Based For Chronic Pain
Interference at the Head & Neck can affect how your brain controls your muscles and interprets pain.
The upper 1/3 of your neck is incredibly mobile and complex compared to the rest of your spine. It has major influence relating to brain communication, as it functions similar to a relay station. Your postural muscles are all controlled by an area of your brain nestled right at the base of your skull as well.
When you have any type of injury, even if it’s a minor fall or accident form years ago, it can cause damage to the ligaments (the ‘glue’) that support your neck alignment. If this occurs, your head and neck can become slightly misaligned, which sets off a cascade of problems:
- When your head and neck are imbalanced, you have a righting reflex that keeps your eyes level to the horizon. The rest of the body will torque and twist to keep your eyes as level as possible.
- Muscles become chronically imbalanced because the inflammation and irritation near the brainstem can interfere with the information signalling between your brain and body.
- These imbalances can cause chronic pain – from chronic back pain to knee or foot pain. They also are the reason many people suffer from recurring injuries or recurring pain. If the body isn’t functioning properly, small movements can cause big problems.
A specific exam from our Chiropractors can tell you if you have a misalignment affecting your chronic pain. Our specialized care for chronic pain will
- improve muscle balance throughout your entire body
- improve everyday biomechanics during activities as simple as walking
- assist in preventing injuries and further damage caused from imbalances
