|
Weber Family Chiropractic - Weekly Health
Tip May 16, 2022 |
Dear patient and
friend,
In the journals I
read I often come across new developments in the science of chiropractic. However, people like you never become aware
of these important ideas since the media reports so little of it.
Therefore I’ve taken
yet upon myself to keep you informed of crucial breakthroughs because I know
how important they can be to you, your family and friends. As your doctor, I believe it’s
part of my sacred trust. So for your
information and consideration, here are these unique and revolutionary
developments.
PAIN
is a significant problem in our society, and the way too many of us deal with
it, either by taking medication to temporarily relieve the pain or ignoring the
pain altogether, foolishly hoping it will go away, is an even bigger problem,
contributing to long-term disability and reduced quality of life. Here are a
few important pieces to the puzzle that can help you deal with pain now and
prevent future episodes - chronic pain- from ruining your life.
How do you feel at this
very moment? You can do a
easy self-check just by moving your neck, shoulders, arms and legs around. Do
you have any aches and pains anywhere? If your response is, "Don't most
people have pain somewhere in their body?" or "Doesn't pain come with
old age?" keep in mind that while that's true, it doesn't mean you have to
accept it. And remember, pain isn't just physical. The emotional stress it
creates can be as hard on you as the pain itself. Let's talk about ways you can
find relief from your physical pain, which will undoubtedly lighten your
emotional load at the same time.
Pain
Defined
Pain is
defined as an unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized
discomfort to sheer agony. Pain has physical and emotional components. The
physical part of pain results from nerves being stimulated. Pain may be
confined to a specific area, as in an injury, or it can be spread throughout
the body. Around the world, millions of people live with pain in some form or
another, involving many different body parts, on a daily basis.
One of the most
interesting things about pain is how each human being deals with it. Some learn
to live with pain. Others can't stand to feel even an ounce of it. The most
common types of pain include arthritis, lower back, bone/joint pain, muscle
pain and fibromyalgia (widespread pain, tenderness and fatigue in muscles,
tendons and ligaments). Back pain is the most frequent cause of limited activities
for people younger than 45 years old.
Acute
vs. Chronic Pain
Acute
pain is a normal sensation triggered in the nervous system to
alert you to possible injury and the need to take care of yourself. This type
of pain comes on quickly and can be severe, but it lasts a relatively short
period of time. In general, acute pain is in response to an event that happens
to the body. It may be a result of surgery or an accident.
Chronic
pain is different. Chronic pain tends to stay around or progress
over longer periods of time. Pain signals keep firing in the nervous system for
weeks, months or even years. Oftentimes, chronic pain is resistant to
traditional medical treatments. The emotional component of pain often comes
into play in a chronic situation.
The
Consequences of Pain
The loss of productivity
and daily activity due to pain is substantial. Americans spend at least $50
billion per year on back pain, and that's just for the more easily identified
costs. Pain has a negative impact on an individual's quality of life. It
diminishes one's ability to concentrate, do their job, exercise, socialize, perform daily tasks and sleep. Over time, this can lead to
depression, isolation and loss of self-esteem. Researchers have found that
depression is the most frequent psychological reaction to chronic pain.
If you hurt an area of
your body and do not restore proper, healthy movement patterns, you will end up
with problems later down the road. I can't tell you how many patients I have
seen who got in car accidents and hurt their neck and back, but waited to get
treatment and used pain as the indicator for how they feel. Eventually, the
pain went down or even away, but they were often left with problems in their
bones and joints.
Common
Causes and Sources of Chronic Pain
An initial injury like a
trauma, fracture, sprain/strain, or serious infection may be the cause of the
chronic pain. There could also be an ongoing cause like arthritis, cancer, an
ear infection or injuries that never healed properly.
Some people even suffer chronic pain in the
absence of any past injury or evidence of body damage. Many chronic pain
conditions affect older adults. Common chronic pain complaints include
headache, low back pain, cancer pain, arthritis pain, neurogenic pain (pain
resulting from damage to the peripheral nerves or to the central nervous system
itself), and psychogenic pain (pain not due to past disease or injury or any
visible sign of damage inside or outside the nervous system).
Quite simply, pain can
come from anywhere in the body. The source can be the neck, shoulders, low
back, hips and everywhere else. Many times, the location of the pain depends on
how the injury happened. Perhaps someone injured their shoulder while throwing
a ball. Maybe someone sprained their ankle while running. How about the person
who falls down the stairs and hurts multiple parts of their body
simultaneously?
Solving
the Chronic Pain Puzzle
Pain is a complex
puzzle. For certain cases, it takes complex solutions to help solve that
puzzle. In some cases, the individual's pain is so debilitating that it requires
the use of X-rays or other special imaging to visualize the problem that is
occurring in the spine or extremities. It may be appropriate to use any of the
following: Chiropractic, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, nutritional
supplementation, massage/bodywork, yoga and psychological therapy. In some
cases, it may even require over-the-counter or prescription medication
(although the goal is to avoid relying on these because of the potential side
effects). But there are definitely things you can do that can help you prevent
and treat chronic pain. Let's explore these strategies that, as you might have
guessed, are all related to one another.
1. Posture: You
have probably been told at different times of your life about the importance of
good posture. "Sit up straight" or "don't slouch" are
probably familiar phrases to you. Proper posture is difficult to attain, so
don't stress yourself out about it. When you are sitting, put a rolled-up towel
or sweatshirt in the small of your back. Sit all the way back to the rear of
the chair so you feel the support in your back. When you stand, stand against
the wall or a post so you can maintain erect posture. It is important to
strengthen your core muscles, the muscles along the spine. Yoga, Pilates or a
specific workout program with weights will help you achieve this. You may want
to find a personal trainer to help you focus on specific exercises to help you
achieve your goals.
2.
Balance: As you develop strength, you begin to develop balance. Many of
the positions utilized in yoga, Pilates and weight training work specifically
on balance. Would you believe that your feet also have a lot to do to do
with balance? The three arches you have in your feet must all be supported in
order for the rest of your body to have good support as well. If one or more of
the arches is flat, it can significantly affect the stress to your joints and
your ability to exercise efficiently. Ask your chiropractor about analyzing
your feet to see if you need arch supports.
3.
Spinal Load and Stability: Understanding how to exercise
or perform any type of sporting activity is crucial to your health. How many
people do you know who lift weights incorrectly? On a daily basis, I see
patients who have hurt themselves with physical activity. By being careful and
doing your exercises properly, you can reduce the amount of spinal load
(stress) and instability you create for your body. I cannot tell you how
important it is to make sure your feet and all of the joints above them are
healthy and moving properly. When your joints move well, you can perform
activities optimally and with minimal stress on your body.
4.
Alignment: Exercising makes your muscles stronger, which also helps maintain structural and bony alignment. Chiropractic care is
hopefully a regular part of your life. Visits to your chiropractor at a
frequency you both find appropriate will help you maintain your alignment.
Keep in mind that pain
may be indicative of a serious underlying condition. Always talk to your doctor
about any pain you are experiencing, particularly if it does not go away or
worsens with time.
Dr. Scott Weber
Weber Family
Chiropractic
217.243.5438
P.S. Have you tried Bio-Freeze yet??? If not, ask us for a FREE sample on your next
visit.
I first sought
chiropractic care for both neck and back problems. I had these problems for years and they were
at the high end of the severity scale.
It was hard to turn my neck without pain. I previously had tried Tylenol
but was not getting the results I wanted. A friend recommended chiropractic
care to me and I had a very good first impression of Dr. Weber and his staff.
My results have been very beneficial to my overall health.
Geraldine C.
Jacksonville
I first sought
chiropractic care because of back pain and pain into my left buttock that was
occurring 24/7. I had tried biofreeze, magnetic belts and other remedies with little
effect. Unfortunately, chiropractic was my last resort. I should have tired it sooner. I have had a very good experience with
chiropractic care as my symptoms are managed with periodic care. I would suggest anyone suffering with pain give
Dr. Weber try… he is good and he can suggest stretching that will prolong
treatments. Count me in as a regular
chiropractic patient.
Ed M.
Jacksonville