Disclaimer… Before implementing new treatments, consult with your primary care physician.
Do you suffer from headaches, neck pain, or lower back pain? Do you slouch when you sit? Maybe you have rolled shoulders or poor posture. How about this one… Do you sleep on your stomach? (I’m guilty of this one)
These conditions or problems can be corrected or improved with proper alignment, stretching, and rehabilitation from a chiropractor.
I’ve had to rely on chiropractic care for the relief of my pain and discomfort for years. My job consists of me sitting at a desk for long hours. I eat lunch at my desk and don’t take frequent breaks. In the past, I didn’t exercise consistently or stretch daily. As you can imagine, I have tight muscles and, at times, unbearable knots in my neck and shoulders.
Recently, I have become more responsible with my care. I prioritize my weekly appointments with my chiropractor. And I’ve taken more of an initiative to follow his recommendations for long-term relief.
Here is a question to ponder.
Can your brain care for your body without nerve signals?
A Pinched Nerve
If you suffer from headaches, neck and shoulder pain, lower back pain, and tight hips, you may have compressed nerves. The nerves in your body are constantly sending signals to your brain. This signal is blocked with a pinched nerve. The brain cannot properly care for that muscle in your body if the message is blocked from that nerve.
A compressed nerve can not move freely or function normally. This obstruction decreases the blood flow to the blood vessels that support the nerve. With the decrease in blood flow to the blood vessels, the nerve is deficient in oxygen and nutrients. This causes:
- numbness
- tingling
- mild pain
- inflammation
- pain and/or discomfort with certain movements.
And if not addressed, long-term nerve compression can lead to nerve damage.
Chiropractic care is a non-invasive method of healing or managing these conditions holistically.
What is Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care believes in the body’s ability to self-heal. A chiropractor cares for a patient’s neuromusculoskeletal system — the bones, nerves, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Through the use of hands-on spinal adjustments and joint realignment, a chiropractor can enable the body to heal itself (if addressed early) without surgery or medication.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic practitioners are an option for managing your health naturally. By removing tension and releasing pressure in the spine, Chiropractors can relieve:
- Headaches
- Lower back pain
- Neck pain
- Osteoarthritis pain
- Fibromyalgia pain
Chiropractors assist with:
- reducing scoliosis symptoms
- reducing the need for pain relievers
- improving your posture
- improving your sleep
- normalize blood pressure
- improving athletic performance
- aiding in stress relief
For me, the essential benefit of a chiropractor is keeping the spine and central nervous system healthy. Think about it. The spine supports your upper body, which includes your organs and the central nervous system. If your spine is misaligned, your central nervous system is not functioning normally. This can cause stress to the body to work harder to meet the demands of the nervous system.
When to NOT seek Chiropractic Care
There are some conditions where you should not receive spinal adjustments. According to mayoclinic.org, you should not seek chiropractic treatment if you have:
- severe osteoporosis
- numbness, tingling, or loss of strength in an arm or leg
- cancer in your spine
- an increased risk of stroke
- a known bone abnormality in the upper neck
With approval from your physician, consider your conditions, weigh your options and find the best solution for your needs.
But before you write off chiropractic care, let me point out more benefits of regular spinal adjustments and joint realignments.
More Great Benefits
- Improved immune function
- Increase in energy
- Better asthma control
- Improved digestion
- Easier breathing
- Improved range of motion
If possible, consider adding chiropractic care to your natural healing routine or as an add-on to your healthy lifestyle.
Do you regularly seek chiropractic care in your life?
Please share in the comments below how it has improved your quality of life.