Q: I get neck pain and shoulder soreness monthly and am getting tired of it. It makes me dizzy, gives me headaches, and hurts. I have been told I need to stop eating the over the counter anti-inflammatories because it is hurting my liver. So what am I supposed to do, just suffer? What does a chiropractor do that is so different? Should I try it?
A: Once someone has seen the benefit of going to a Doctor of Chiropractor for back treatment, it is easy to understand the importance of going to this healthcare provider for treatment of other parts of the body such as the neck and shoulders.
Chiropractors use diagnostic indicators to differentiate types of neck conditions. Information obtained from these measurements and the results of cervical adjustments will help the doctor of chiropractic increase awareness of the care required to the patient. For example, neck pain is often associated with postural stress that results in muscular tension and inflammation. The discomfort can be caused by sitting at a computer for long periods of time or performing repetitive tasks such as assembly line work. Similarly, chiropractic can determine what is causing ongoing or occasional shoulder pain.
The difference in this approach versus what you are used to doing is how the different type of doctor looks at and tries to help with the problem in your neck or elsewhere in your body. Likely, you are used to relying on a drug (a chemical treatment) to relieve a mechanical problem of your neck and shoulder. This is ok if you are only looking to dull pain temporarily, do not have to worry about side effects, and do not care if you fix the problem right then. A chiropractor learns as much as he can about your problem through X-ray and examination and relies on the skills of his hands (a mechanical treatment) to correct a mechanical problem of your spine, or body in general, and create better function so that not only is pain lowered or removed altogether, but the problem may never come back.
Doctors of Chiropractic offer a unique and effective hands-on approach to a wide range of cervical problems. They manipulate or apply precise and gentle therapy to return motion to restricted spinal joints and improve the overall mechanics of the spine. Seek out a chiropractor and try this approach. Maybe you will be part of the 80-plus percent of chiropractic patients who report a “very satisfied” rating for the treatment and profession. Note that all chiropractors are not the same and it is important to do some homework of asking for a referral from current patients and “interview” some of the DC’s before deciding.
My office and providers voluntarily offer community health talks free of charge to those in the Morgantown area. Each speaker is a representative of The Foundation for Wellness Professionals.
We can be reached at 304-225-9355 for questions regarding this community health service, if your organization is interested in wellness speakers.
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