PAIN THAT IS ALL TOO COMMON

Pain is one of the most common symptoms in healthcare.
​Up to three quarters of people experience neck or low back pain at some point in their life. Pain is so common it is often downplayed. However it is a key signal something is wrong.

Whether it’s a paper cut or a sprained ankle, pain is produced to start the healing process. Part of that process is inflammation. The hallmark signs of inflammation are redness, heat, swelling, pain and loss of function. It is important to note that inflammation is a normal response in the body. The inflammation can be broken not an early phase and a resolution phase. When the resolution phase doesn’t occur, inflammation and pain can become chronic. Long term inflammation is not normal, so when an injury doesn’t heal, pain in prolonged.
​
After an injury to the spine or local muscles, pain and lack of motion are partially as a result of inflammation. The nerves around the injury become over sensitive which increases pain. 

Spinal manipulation alone often works better than pain medication for neck pain and low back pain by reducing local inflammation. After manipulation, motion and blood flow are restored. The body is then able to reduce the local inflammation that often lingers after an injury. Once inflammation is reduced, the sensitive nerves  calm down and the pain can decrease even further. The nerves become less sensitive by working with the pain receptors in the injured area. Pain receptors ‘feel’ for harmful injuries as they occur. They then let the brain know what’s happening so the body can respond as needed. After increasing blood flow, movement, and decreasing inflammation, the site of injury is back on track to heal, 

Strength and stability of the local muscles are critical for healing and prevention of injury. Exercises like the lateral raise, reverse fly, dumbbell shrug, one-arm row, and the upright row, are great exercises to use for neck and mid-back injuries. Good low back exercises include planks, cat/cow stretch, V-ups, rows and body weight squats. Remember that proper form is critical for all exercises. For the best results work with an experienced trainer. 

You may like to also consider other options like massage or dry needling.  These treatments help increase blood flow as well as reduce inflammation and sensitivity of the injured area. A good quality fish oil  or turmeric are both well known for their anti-inflammatory benefits. Limiting inflammatory foods can also make a vast difference in pain. Common inflammatory foods include sugar, refined/processed carbohydrates (anything in a box), conventionally raised meats, corn/soybean oils and trans fats. The right diet and supplements an aid in reducing inflammation throughout the entire body. 

Regardless of which treatment option you choose, remember you don’t have to just put up with the pain. Listen to your body and tell your chiropractor exactly what happening.