In the age of the internet, there’s a lot of readily-accessible information out there about chiropractic care. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation, too, making it easy to get confused about what exactly chiropractic care entails and whether or not it’s right for you. If you want to know the truth about chiropractic care, keep reading to debunk some myths and shed light on the true benefits of chiropractic care.

Myth #1: Chiropractic Care is Painful

With all the videos of chiropractors popping people’s joints and cracking their backs that have been circulating around social media recently, it can be easy to assume that chiropractic care is painful. After all, some of the adjustments can look kind of intense, and the popping noises can be anxiety-inducing.

Despite how it may look, the truth is that chiropractic care actually relieves pain by using gentle, controlled techniques to realign the body’s musculoskeletal system. Any discomfort felt during the process should be minimal and only last for a short time.

Myth #2: Chiropractic Adjustments are Dangerous

One of the most common myths about chiropractic care is that it is dangerous. People love to circulate stories about how chiropractic adjustments can break people’s bones or dislocate their joints. If you’ve never had an adjustment, you might be wary of some of the equipment, tools, and techniques chiropractors use and may have a hard time trusting them to manipulate your body in such a hands-on way.

The truth is that chiropractors undergo rigorous training and education in order to perform safe, effective adjustments for their patients. Because chiropractic treatment is non-invasive and drug-free, it can actually be a safer alternative to other treatment options such as surgery or heavy medication, which can come with complications or negative side effects.

Myth #3: Once You Start, You Can’t Stop

Many people think that once you start receiving chiropractic care, you’ll have to keep going forever in order to achieve long-lasting results. In reality, the frequency and duration of chiropractic treatment depend on many different factors, including the end goals of treatment, the parts of the body affected, the patient’s overall health, and how the body responds to treatment. 

In addition to providing chiropractic adjustments, chiropractors develop an individualized treatment plan that includes nutrition, at-home exercises, stretches, and lifestyle recommendations to empower patients to take control of their health. The ultimate goal of chiropractic care is to improve the patient’s life and provide long-term relief, not create dependency.

Myth #4: Chiropractors Aren’t Real Doctors

You’ve probably heard people talk about how chiropractors are not real doctors. However, just because they don’t practice traditional medicine doesn’t mean that they are not qualified medical professionals with extensive training.

In order to become a chiropractor, one must complete training similar to that of medical doctors, including a four-year doctoral program that covers nutrition, physiology, radiology, anatomy, and more. Like other healthcare providers, chiropractors are licensed and regulated to ensure they provide safe, effective care and meet high standards of quality and professionalism. As long as you choose a chiropractor with the proper training and education, you can be sure that your health is in good, capable hands.

Myth #5: Chiropractic Care is Only for Back Pain

Because chiropractic adjustments often focus on the spine, you may think that chiropractic care is only used to treat back pain. In reality, the scope of this treatment goes far beyond the back and extends to all parts of the body. Chiropractors can address many different musculoskeletal issues, including neck pain, headaches, sciatica, joint pain, sports injuries, and even conditions like fibromyalgia and arthritis. 

Because the spinal cord sends signals to the brain and throughout the body, adjustments in the spine can affect any part of the body. Chiropractors are trained to know exactly how to manipulate the spine to achieve the desired results in other parts of the body, not just the musculoskeletal system. Chiropractic care is known to relieve constipation, improve organ function, aid proper digestion, increase energy, improve quality of sleep, increase flexibility, and regulate heart rate and breathing.

The reality is that chiropractic care affects the whole body, and the ultimate goal of treatment is to improve patients’ lives by improving their overall health and well-being.

Improve Your Health With Care from Elevate Wellness

At Elevate Wellness Chiropractic, all our team members are highly qualified to provide chiropractic care and help improve your quality of life. If you want to discover for yourself the benefits of chiropractic care, schedule an appointment with us today!

Nerve pain, also known as neuropathic pain, happens when your nervous system is malfunctioning, either due to nerve damage or other health conditions. Nerve pain can be difficult to diagnose and treat since there are many possible causes. Luckily, people who suffer from nerve pain can find relief through many different treatment options, including chiropractic care.

What Is Nerve Pain?

The nervous system has two different components: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system includes the brain and the spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system comprises all the nerves that spread throughout the rest of the body and into the extremities.

The nervous system is responsible for sending signals throughout the body. When it’s not working correctly or has sustained damage, nerves send the wrong signals to the brain, causing nerve pain. 

Symptoms

Nerve pain can be spontaneous, meaning it comes without stimulation. It can feel like a shooting, stabbing, or burning pain; numbness, tingling, or a pins-and-needles feeling may also occur. 

Neuropathic pain can also include evoked pain, which is brought on by normally non-painful stimuli including gentle brushing or pressure against the skin. Evoked pain may also mean normally painful stimuli, such as heat or pinpricks, are even more painful.

People with nerve pain may also have trouble sleeping and emotional problems caused by lack of sleep and pain.

Causes

In order to figure out the cause of nerve pain, your healthcare provider will go over your medical history and perform a physical exam in order to find the underlying issue and trace the symptoms.

About 30 percent of all neuropathic pain is caused by diabetes, but there are many other medical conditions and other factors that can cause nerve pain, including:

• Alcoholism
• HIV infection or AIDS
• Disorders affecting the central nervous system including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
• Shingles
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy
• Amputation, which can cause phantom pain
• Spinal nerve inflammation or compression
• Trauma or surgeries with resulting nerve damage
• Nerve compression by tumors

Treatment

When treating nerve pain, the goals are to provide pain relief, maintain functionality, and improve the quality of life for the patient along with treating the underlying disease causing the pain. Usually, multimodal therapy, which includes medications, psychological counseling, physical therapy, and sometimes surgery, is needed to treat nerve pain.

Topical treatments like patches, ointments, or creams that contain capsaicin or lidocaine can relieve nerve pain. Opioid analgesics, however, are less effective in treating neuropathic pain, and their negative effects may prevent long-term use. 

Nerve blocks given by pain specialists can also relieve neuropathic pain. These treatments include the injection of steroids or anesthetics into the affected nerves. 

If nerve pain has not responded to these treatments, spinal cord stimulation, brain stimulation, and peripheral nerve stimulation might help.

Chiropractic Care

Additionally, some causes of nerve pain, including pinched nerves, sciatica, and neuropathy, can be treated with chiropractic care. 

Pinched nerves occur when too much pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding cartilage, bones, tendons, or muscles. With sciatica, the sciatic nerve in the lower back is compressed by a herniated disk or bone spur on the spine. Chiropractic treatment can ease some of the pressure on the nerve, therefore decreasing neuropathic pain.

Prevention

The best way to prevent neuropathic pain is to manage medical conditions that increase your risk of developing it. The details of prevention depend on the specific condition you have, but in general, the following actions help promote nerve health:

• Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Ensure you get enough vitamin B-12 by eating meats, eggs, fish, low-fat dairy products, and fortified cereals. 
• Exercise regularly (with permission from your doctor). At least 30 minutes of exercise three times per week is a good rule of thumb.
• Avoid factors that may cause nerve damage, including smoking, repetitive motions, exposure to toxic chemicals, and excessive alcohol use.

Nerve Pain Treatment at Elevate Wellness

At Elevate Wellness, we provide comprehensive chiropractic care for all kinds of musculoskeletal issues, not just nerve pain. If you have lower back pain, headaches or migraines, neck pain or whiplash, injuries related to an auto accident, or sports injuries, we can help you find relief through a personalized care plan and get you back to normal. 
To schedule an appointment, contact us online or call our office in Bountiful, Utah. We can’t wait to help relieve your pain and improve your quality of life!

In today’s modern world, we spend a lot of time sitting, whether it be in the car, at our desks at work, or in front of the TV at home. Modern technology has made our lives a lot easier and more convenient, but all of that rest can take a toll on a person’s health. However, there is hope for those who suffer from the effects of a sedentary lifestyle in the form of chiropractic care.

Understanding Sedentary Lifestyles

Studies have shown that the average person sits for around eight hours a day. This doesn’t necessarily mean people who live sedentary lifestyles are lazy or unmotivated; often, people’s jobs necessitate long amounts of time spent sitting at a desk or behind the wheel of a car.

Sedentary lifestyles, also known as “sitting disease,” are linked to a number of different health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and unhealthy cholesterol levels. Additionally, sedentary lifestyles can cause musculoskeletal issues, including tight hip flexors, lower back pain, and weak posture.

The Role of Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care aims to improve an individual’s whole-body health through holistic methods and focuses on the relationship between the spine and the nervous system. Chiropractors use adjustments and modulations to correct misalignments in the body resulting from sedentary habits. By correcting these misalignments, chiropractors can relieve pain, restore proper nerve function, and improve overall health.

Addressing Postural Imbalances

Good posture has a number of benefits to overall health. Improving one’s posture reduces back pain and increases one’s confidence and energy levels. On the other hand, those with incorrect posture experience muscle tension, pain, and fatigue.

Individuals who live sedentary lifestyles often have imbalances in their posture. Constantly hunching over a desk, laptop, or phone can result in rounded shoulders, weak core muscles, and forward head posture. Chiropractors have the skills and training necessary to identify and correct these problems, relieving patients’ pain and enhancing the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

Alleviating Back and Neck Pain

Because improper sitting posture can put extra strain on the spine and surrounding muscles, back and neck pain are other common issues among those who live sedentary lives. Chiropractors are able to pinpoint the root cause of this pain and use targeted adjustments to restore proper alignment in the spine.

Promoting Spinal Health

Chiropractic care isn’t just useful for acute incidents. Regular chiropractic adjustments are a good idea for anyone, especially those who live sedentary lifestyles. Maintaining optimal spinal health can prevent serious spinal conditions from developing and decrease the risk of pain and disability.

Complementary Wellness Strategies

In addition to chiropractic care, individuals suffering from the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle may benefit from complementary wellness strategies. Chiropractors can recommend exercises that work in conjunction with chiropractic adjustments to improve patients’ overall quality of life.

These complementary strategies may include exercises to strengthen the core, stretches to improve flexibility and relieve tightness, ergonomic devices for one’s desk, and lifestyle modifications to incorporate more movement into one’s daily routines.

To live a healthier lifestyle, try these simple tips:

• When sitting for long periods of time, take a break and stand every 30 minutes.
• While watching television, playing video games, or using your phone, stand instead of sitting.
• If possible, use a standing desk for work. Additionally, you can place a small treadmill under your desk so you can exercise while you work.

Chiropractic Care from Elevate Wellness

Living a sedentary lifestyle can pose a significant threat to one’s health, wellness, and happiness. However, there are many steps people can take to be proactive about their health and limit these negative effects. Chiropractic care, in conjunction with lifestyle changes, exercises, and stretches, can make a big difference in the lives of individuals who spend a significant amount of time sitting or lying down.

If you’re struggling with postural imbalances, musculoskeletal pain, muscle weakness or tightness, or poor overall health due to a sedentary lifestyle, reach out to the professional team at Elevate Wellness. Our innovative treatments can address these issues and more. We treat patients of all ages who suffer from migraines and headaches, sciatica, whiplash, neuropathy, auto injuries, and sports injuries, empowering them to live more active, pain-free lives and restoring their vitality.

Proactivity is the best strategy when it comes to combating the issues that sedentary lifestyles can cause. Schedule an appointment at Elevate Wellness today before your problems have a chance to escalate. It’s never too late to make positive changes for a healthier future!