Whether you’re suffering from chronic back pain or experiencing regular migraines with no apparent cause, chiropractic therapy could be right for you. Chiropractors treat a wide range of physical ailments, including back pain, decreased joint mobility, neck pain, and headaches—and a chiropractor like Dr. DeAnn Adams of Paradox Chiropractic may be able to alleviate your pain. However, though chiropractic therapy is extremely powerful in and of itself, it can have even stronger effects and greater benefits when it is combined with other types of therapy or even some medicinal approaches. If you’re interested in returning to optimal health and performance at an accelerated pace, you could benefit from attacking your treatment options head-on from multiple angles. Here are a few of the additional treatment options your chiropractor may recommend:
1. Exercise and Increased Activity Though activity and exercise may exacerbate some types of pain, they can also help to restore mobility and improve your overall wellness when performed in conjunction with regular chiropractic treatment. Your chiropractor may recommend particular types of exercise or regular activity in order to prevent further injury or to improve your general health. Find out what fitness programs are available to you before getting started.
2. Relaxation Techniques and Massage Pain is a common manifestation of stress and tension for many patients, so your chiropractic therapy may also include relaxation techniques like meditation or massage. Therapeutic massage as prescribed by your chiropractor may focus on the areas of your pain in particular or may be directed across your whole body as a way to relax and rejuvenate your joints and muscles. Meditation, on the other hand, can help to quiet your mind and relieve physical tension caused by stress and chronic pain.
3. Physical Therapy (as pictured above) Many chiropractic patients also receive physical therapy to complement the work done by their chiropractors. Physical therapy is especially beneficial to patients who have suffered injuries or who suffer from chronic pain, as it targets the surrounding tissues of the vertebra or joint dysfunction to address the particular source of your pain directly. Ask your chiropractor if physical therapy could help to accelerate the results you see from chiropractic treatment.
4. Heat and Ice Treatments Your chiropractor may also recommend using heat or ice to alleviate some of your pain and to treat injuries—however, it’s important to be sure you’re using the right one. Many patients treat heat and ice interchangeably, but they actually have very distinct purposes and benefits. Ice is generally used in the case of an injury, as it can help to calm swollen and inflamed tissues. Heat is typically intended for use on muscles because it eases the pain of muscle spasms and tissue knots.
5. Weight Loss or Dietary Counseling Some patients may also need to see a physician or counselor to help them lose weight or improve their diets. Carrying excess weight can put additional strain on your body and may contribute to your overall pain. Though chiropractic therapy can help with many of these issues, pain and discomfort may return shortly if the cause is not addressed.
To find out more about what types of other therapies and medication can accelerate the effectiveness of your chiropractic therapy, contact Dr. DeAnn Adams at paradoxchiropractic@gmail.com or 320-632-6757. Dr. D. will help you connect with a medical doctor if you don’t have one so that you can discuss your options.