Do you see a chiropractor for back pain or a stiff neck? If so, you may be overlooking a valuable resource for other conditions you may have that aren't responding to conventional treatment. Chiropractic treatment is great for sore muscles and stiff joints, but it also has many other uses that patients are often unaware of. Take a look at some common medical conditions that can benefit from chiropractic treatment. You may find a whole new course of treatment for a condition that's been troubling you.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is not only painful and inconvenient, it's expensive. A carpal tunnel syndrome patient will spend about $30,000 in medical bills and lost wages during their lifetime. If you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, you need an affordable and effective way to relieve the pain long-term, and chiropractic care might just be your answer.
Chiropractic care of carpal tunnel syndrome involves manipulation of the affected hand and wrist. The chiropractor may also give you stretching and strengthening exercises to perform at home. This offers patients a treatment option that avoids the use of medications and is less invasive than surgery. It also offers you a chance to take control of your own treatment. Chronic pain can have a profound psychological effect on a patient, causing feelings of powerlessness over your own body. When you work with a chiropractor to relieve the pain through manipulation and exercise, you're taking your power back by reducing your pain through active, constructive means.
Migraines
Migraines are severe and often debilitating headaches characterized by not only intense pain, but also nausea, dizziness, and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines are difficult to understand and treat, in part because the triggers for migraines are different for each sufferer. Some people may be triggered by ingredients in food, like caffeine or MSG. Other migraine patients are triggered by stress, weather conditions, or hormones. And some are triggered by repetitive stress injuries or a joint condition known as TMJ (temporomandibular joint) syndrome.
For this last group of patients, chiropractic care offers a valid solution. Chiropractic adjustment to the head and neck can ease the effects of a repetitive stress injury in that area, reducing the incidence of migraines. TMJ can also be treated by manipulating the area in which the jaw and the skull meet. Finally, chiropractors can relieve current migraine pain through skull massage. Massaging the skull increases blood flow to the area, relieving constricted blood vessels that contribute to the pain and sensitivity of a migraine.
Obesity
Being overweight is a significant medical problem for many Americans. Obesity is a contributing factor to a great number of serious medical conditions, from heart disease and diabetes to respiratory problems and even some cancers. Finding a way to manage and control your weight is essential to maintaining long-term good health.
A chiropractor can help you overcome obesity in several ways. Being familiar with the way that your body works – what causes pain and fatigue as well as what helps it feel better – a chiropractor is in a perfect position to help you come up with an exercise routine that works for you and that you can stick with without feeling excess pain or fatigue.
Chiropractic adjustment can also relieve stress. Regular adjustments can help you feel relaxed and pain-free, which can prevent overeating out of stress or frustration and help keep your energy levels up. Even once you have the weight off, regular chiropractic visits can help you keep feeling your best, which can help you maintain your diet and exercise routine and keep the weight off.
If you're suffering from one of these common conditions and you haven't had much luck with conventional treatments, a local chiropractor may have the solution that you've been looking for.
