Experiencing pain is a necessary part of being human as it serves the vital function of eliciting avoidance. The nervous system triggers a sensation of pain to let you know that something is wrong and to stop you from doing something that might cause a severe injury. Your body intelligently alerts you to the fact that you need to stop, rest, modify or wait. It is imperative that this process is respected and that our conscious brains foolishly attempt to ignore the messages being received. So, what then should we do about pain?

PAIN MANAGEMENT VS. PAIN RELIEF

When it comes to dealing with pain, there are two main approaches: pain management and pain relief.

Pain management typically involves a more comprehensive and long-term strategy to address the root cause of the pain, while pain relief focuses on alleviating the immediate symptoms. Many people turn to medication for pain relief, but this can sometimes just mask the pain without addressing the underlying issue. On the other hand, pain management techniques such as chiropractic care aim to not only relieve pain but also improve overall function and prevent future episodes of pain.

BENEFITS OF CHIROPRACTIC CARE

Chiropractic care offers a natural and non-invasive approach to managing pain and improving overall health.

Chiropractors are trained to identify and treat the root cause of pain, rather than just masking the symptoms with medication. Through various chiropractic techniques, such as spinal adjustments, mobilisations, and soft tissue therapies, chiropractors can help alleviate pain and tension in the body.

Regular chiropractic adjustments have been shown to have long-term benefits for conditions such as low back pain, chronic back pain, joint pain, and more.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, seeking chiropractic care may be a beneficial alternative to traditional medical care for some types of pain. Chiropractors work closely with patients to develop personalised treatment plans that target the specific type of pain they are experiencing. A doctor of chiropractic can help patients understand the benefits of chiropractic care and how it can help relieve pain and improve overall health. Rather than just popping pills for temporary relief, patients may find that chiropractic care offers long-term benefits.

CHRONIC PAIN AND TENSION

For those suffering from chronic pain and tension, chiropractic care can help address the underlying issues that are causing discomfort.

Instead of simply masking the pain with medication, a chiropractor may use a combination of spinal adjustments, stretches, and exercises to help patients find lasting relief. By targeting the source of the pain and tension, chiropractic care can help improve mobility, reduce inflammation, and promote healing in the body.

Unfortunately many people look first to analgesics (pain killers).

While severe pain obviously needs to be managed and relief given if possible, popping a pill for a less significant concern could cause more harm than good. It is important to remember that pain killers don’t correct or cure the cause of the pain.

They simply block off the pain signal to your brain so that you no longer receive or interpret that pain message. This can be dangerous as it may draw you in to a false sense of security about your current physical state and allow you to do further damage.

Often people will take pain medication to allow them to continue a physical activity that their body is desperate to avoid. This can lead to severe damage and chronic conditions that may have been avoided had they listened to their body’s signals earlier on.

THE SIDE AFFECTS OF PAIN MEDICATION

Another very serious concern about taking pain medication is the amount of unpleasant and often dangerous side effects.

Medication always has a negative impact on your system, so it pays to weigh up the pros and cons before taking any type of medication. Being fully informed allows you to make the best possible decision and determine what is best for your body at that moment.While there is most definitely a time when medication is both necessary and helpful, it is not particularly valuable when used to simply to block pain signals so you can continue doing something that is obviously aggravating your body.There’s really not a lot of point in taking pain medication if you don’t plan on doing anything else differently. If you have broken your leg you wouldn’t try and weight bear on it would you? No! Because that would cause you a lot of pain which is exactly what it should do! Your body is protecting your leg from bearing weight to ensure that you rest and allow your body to heal the fracture correctly. Clever stuff!

WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

So, what should you do when your body is struggling and needs some time out to recover?Be patient! Healing takes time but allowing your body the break it needs to heal is the sensible choice. Of course, if your pain continues to persist or increases make sure you see your regular health practitioner to ensure it doesn’t require any further investigation. Often your body just needs to slow down; while at other times it may require you to modify a daily habit or lifestyle choice e.g. drink more water, get more sleep, or reduce a repetitive action. Give your body the TLC it is asking for and you’ll be back on track in no time!

CONSULTING YOUR CHIROPRACTOR

Your local chiropractor is here to help!

If you’re struggling with pain management, consider booking an appointment with us, Centenary Chiropractic Centre, your local chiropractor for Camira and surrounding areas. Give us a call on 07 3381 0440 or book online here: www.centenarychiro.com.au