Living with pain after an illness or an injury can be difficult. At best, it can be a nagging problem that frustrates you when you try to go about your daily routine. At worst, pain can be debilitating, interfere with your ability to work or carry on with your responsibilities, and make you miserable.
Most people don't have to live with chronic pain, or can at least find some relief and reduction of symptoms by seeking treatment with a chiropractor or a physical therapist. Which would be best for you? That depends—here are some things to consider.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapists help to rehabilitate people after they suffer from an injury or illness that causes pain and/or debilitation. In some cases, if you have a degenerative disorder or other diseases, physical therapy may be recommended as an intervention for pain or to slow down the condition.
After an initial assessment of the problem, the physical therapist will design a treatment plan that may include strength training, mobility training, stretching, massage, or joint mobilization.
Physical therapy is usually a short-term treatment plan lasting from a few weeks to a few months. Periodically during this treatment period, the therapist will reassess your progress and report to your doctor.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors also treat patients who have suffered from an illness or injury, and they may treat patients with chronic disorders. They also treat healthy people as a part of a comprehensive preventative care effort.
Chiropractors examine the spine for misalignments in the vertebrae, which can lead to a variety of problems. Misalignments of the spine can affect the musculoskeletal system, causing pain and inflammation. Misalignments can also affect the nervous system, impeding the flow of nerve signals between the brain and the body. This can interrupt a wide range of bodily functions.
After an initial assessment, chiropractors make adjustments or apply a variety of methods to help correct the spine to relieve pain, decrease inflammation, and allow the Central Nervous System (CNS) to function optimally.
Which Is Right for You?
There is some overlap between physical therapists and chiropractors. Both offer natural, non-invasive, drug-free treatment options for various conditions and pains.
If you have an injury or illness that impairs your mobility, you may wish to consult a physical therapist.
If you have general pain related to the musculoskeletal system or conditions related to the nervous system, a chiropractor might be best for you. Likewise, if preventative healthcare is your aim, chiropractors are your best alternative.
Of course, you don't have to choose—many people work through injuries and illnesses with both physical therapy and chiropractic care.
How Our Chiropractic Treatment Works
Dr. Gordon Elder of the Blair Chiropractic Clinic in Lubbock, Texas uses the Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic Technique to treat patients. The Blair technique is a specialty utilizing advanced 3D diagnostic imaging tools to apply more precise corrections with low-pressure methods.
Dr. Elder generally treats patients using a three-step model. The first step involves a thorough health screening, which includes 3D imaging scans so that the doctor can get a sense of your unique anatomy and pinpoint any problem areas. The second step involves corrections. State-of-the-art technology allows for a more exact application of adjustments, allowing the doctor to do so with a gentler touch.
The third and final step involves ongoing preventative care. Dr. Elder recommends regular chiropractic check-ups to patients so that problems can be nipped in the bud.
If you're interested in what chiropractic care can do for you, contact Dr. Elder for an appointment. The doctor's areas of coverage include Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and El Paso in Texas, as well as Hobbs in New Mexico.
Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.