Anyone who has experienced pain understands that it can be debilitating. Pain can make it challenging to manage everyday tasks and can affect relationships and physical and mental health in many ways. Pain medications were once the norm, but with the rise of the opioid epidemic, it may be wise to take a different approach to pain treatment.
“With chiropractic care we try to address the underlying causes of the pain due to those muscle and skeletal issues and by addressing the cause rather than substitute or mask the symptoms with medications the patients in many/most cases have better results managing their pain,” said Scott Schulz of Great River Spine and Sport in Big Lake. “It also allows them to be more functional and therefore can perform the activities of daily living with more ease.”
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the United States Department of Health and Human Services reveal that as many as one in five people received prescription opioids long-term for noncancer pain in primary care settings in 2016. While opioid use for pain does not always lead to abuse of these medications, opioid addiction has become a widespread problem across North America. These same agencies report that approximately 1,000 people are treated in emergency departments in the United States each day for misuse of prescription opioids. Between 2016 and 2017, opioid poisoning hospitalization rates went up by 8 percent in Canada, resulting in an average of 17 hospitalizations each day.
“There may be a day where (we) will need medicine and/or surgeries,” said Brent Scheideman of Scheideman Chiropractic in Becker. “There is a need for all of that. But, if we can push the needs for medicine and surgeries to later in life by caring for the muscles, bones, joints and organs in our body with chiropractic, physical therapy, nutrition, massage, red light therapy, etc., it would be ideal.”
Chiropractic care may be one avenue to pursue as a viable alternative to pain medications.
“Our office has several physio therapy modalities that we use that can be helpful however our biggest asset here, along with chiropractic care is the physical therapy and massage therapy staff we have.,” says Schulz. “The most beneficial things a patient with some of the chronic issues can do is get care and education in proper stretching and strengthening of the muscles and joints that have been injured or left for years without care. We use a very hands-on approach in our care which we feel gives our patients the best opportunity to use their bodies own innate ability to heal.”
While chiropractic manipulations are most often associated with back and neck pain, there are many different benefits — some of which may surprise those unfamiliar with chiropractic care — for this type of care.
“We are excited to introduce the latest in current techniques to help both repetitive and traumatic injuries,” said Scheideman. “Recently we have added to our office a full body red light sauna and a waterjet powered hydro massage to further compliment our chiropractic, rehab, massage and nutrition plans. These new machines are specific in combatting inflammation and speeding injury recovery.”
• Migraines and headaches: Research shows that spinal manipulation can be an effective way to treat migraines, tension headaches and headaches that begin in the neck. In clinical trials conducted at Macquarie University, 72 percent of migraine sufferers had noticeable or substantial improvement after a period of chiropractic treatment.
• Accident injuries: Chiropractors can assess musculoskeletal anomalies caused by motor vehicle accidents as well as slips and falls. Whiplash is a common issue in car crashes, and this may be addressed by a chiropractor.
• Anxiety and stress: The fight or flight mechanism that is activated when a person experiences stress and anxiety can take its toll on various parts of the body. Because stress involves nerve impulses, chiropractors may be able to work primarily with the spine where these impulses originate to help release tension and nerve irritation. In addition, adjustments can improve blood circulation, which may help signal the brain to turn off its “rally to action” response to stressful situations.
“Our bodies are meant to be finely tuned organisms so that every joint, nerve, organ and system is functioning at its highest ability,” Schulz says. “When our bodies are functioning properly the ability to handle stress and anxiety on the body becomes an easier task.”
Schulz says for this to happen, it requires that his staff help their patients in proper exercise, diet and care to allow their bodies the best opportunity to manage those stressors.
“The human body is extremely complex, yet it is built to take care of itself in every way,” he says. “With chiropractic care we try to unleash the bodies natural ability for that healing.”
Scheideman concurs.
“Anxiety and stress greatly increase muscle spasm, inflammation and and the likelihood of misalignment, but did you know that anxiety is directly associated with gut health?” he says. “Nutrition response testing can help identify specific stressors to your digestive tract and help us develop a plan for well-rounded, whole body nurition.”
• Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is marked by widespread musculoskeletal pain in the joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. It can be combined with temporomandibular
