Did you know that one of the main reasons people seek medical assistance is because they are experiencing chronic pain? While pain is a natural response to illness or injury, it can also signal the onset of a chronic condition that impacts daily activities. Pain is a complex phenomenon involving cognitive, sensory, and emotional components.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 3 in every 5 adults experience some form of chronic pain. Pain acts as a protective mechanism, alerting the body to injury or tissue damage. This is why many people turn to chiropractic care. This blog will explore the science behind pain and the role chiropractic care plays in modifying pain signals.
Table of Contents
Different Types of Pain
Pain is a complex phenomenon, and people have different experiences with its effects. While some people are able to tolerate pain with ease, others find it difficult to cope with, causing them to seek medical interventions. The various types of pain that you may experience include:
Acute Pain
Acute pain refers to sharp but short-lived pain that disappears after some time. It usually occurs suddenly due to a medical procedure, illness, or injury.
Chronic Pain
Also referred to as long-term pain, chronic pain usually lasts longer and may affect you for months or multiple years. This form of pain is mainly caused by certain conditions, including cancer, chronic migraine, arthritis, and fibromyalgia. Chronic pain could also occur after an injury, and the pain may linger long after the injury is healed.
Neuropathic Pain
Also known as nerve pain, neuropathic pain is associated with a damaged nervous system and mostly manifests as tingling, shooting, or burning sensations. Causes of neuropathic pain include thyroid-related challenges, vitamin B deficiency, spinal arthritis, and facial nerve problems.
Nociceptive Pain
Nociceptive pain is physical pain caused by tissue injury or damage. It may be triggered by injuries such as fractures, burns, cuts, and bruises. In other cases, nociceptive pain is caused by medical conditions such as osteoporosis, arthritis, and irritable bowel disease (IBD). Depending on the main causes, it may be chronic or acute, and it usually feels sharp, throbbing, or achy.
Functional Pain
This type of pain doesn’t necessarily have accompanying inflammation or physical damage. In these instances, the brain is not able to process pain signals normally. Typical examples of functional pain include irritable bowel syndrome, chest pain, jaw pain, and fibromyalgia.
Inflammatory Pain
Often characterized by symptoms such as swelling, heat, redness, or hyper-sensitivity, inflammatory pain occurs when your immunity system is activated in response to an infection or injury. Examples of inflammatory pain include tissue injuries, rheumatoid arthritis, and throat infections.
The Role of Chiropractic Care on Pain Signals
Chiropractic care revolves around the natural ability of your body to heal itself through a proper alignment of the musculoskeletal system and the spine. In most cases, misalignment of the spine leads to reduced mobility, pain, and other health issues.
For such reasons, a chiropractor seeks to correct any misalignment on your spine through chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractic adjustments can alter pain signals using different mechanisms that impact the central nervous and peripheral systems. Below is a detailed discussion of how chiropractic care can alter pain signals.
Spinal Manipulation and Adjustment
Chiropractors use spinal manipulation and adjustment either with their hands or a small instrument. To restore mobility, chiropractors apply controlled force to joints that have been restricted in movement due to tissue damage or injuries.
Chiropractic care alters pain signals through joint alignment or adjustment. If your spine’s vertebrae are misaligned, it affects your nerves and causes you pain. The best chiropractor in NYC may use spinal manipulation therapy to improve your body’s range of motion and adjust the joints that are restricted. An adjustment on misaligned joints seeks to reduce the pressure on your nerves and ultimately alleviate pain.
Release of Endorphins
Did you know that making regular visits to your chiropractor may help you to release endorphins? Endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers that you can experience to their full potential through chiropractic adjustments.
There is no doubt that pain interferes with your body’s mobility and capacity to perform daily activities. The best chiropractor in NYC will be able to help you release endorphins or the “feel-good” hormones through chiropractic adjustments. Once released, these endorphins link with the pain receptors in your brain to lower your perception of pain.
Central Nervous System Modulation
Typically, pain occurs as a result of an infection, injury, or trauma in any part of your body. Your body’s nerve endings send a painful stimulus to the brain and the spinal cord.
The Pain Gate Theory is an approach that has been widely used to explain the impact of chiropractic treatment on pain. According to this theory, pain signals sent to the brain can either be restricted or let through. In this case, if the “gate” is open, pain signals will be relayed to the brain, and you will perceive the pain.
On the contrary, a closed “gate” means that you will not feel pain as no signals will be sent. Through chiropractic adjustment, a chiropractor may help you close the “gate” that transmits pain signals to the brain.
Additionally, chiropractic techniques may also activate descending inhibitory pathways in your central nervous system. As a result, your body will suppress the transfer of chronic pain signals to your brain, easing the discomforts associated with chronic pain.
Reduction of Nervous Irritability
One way chiropractic care alters pain signals is by improving nerve function. During visits to a chiropractor, spinal realignment is performed to enhance nerve function. When nerves are not irritated or compressed, pain signals will not be flagged by the brain.
Additionally, chiropractic adjustments help reduce inflammation, which often results from spinal misalignment. By addressing these misalignments, chiropractors can alleviate inflammation, pain, and nerve irritation. Chiropractors can correct this misalignment through chiropractic techniques.
The best chiropractor ensures that they use gentle spinal manipulation methods to relieve pressure off your spinal discs. Consequently, you will enjoy benefits such as reduced nerve irritation and inflammation.
Improvement of Lymphatic Drainage and Blood Flow
Chiropractic care can alter pain signals by improving lymphatic drainage and enhancing blood circulation. After evaluating you, a chiropractor employs techniques to enhance lymphatic drainage, which helps remove waste products and inflammatory substances from your tissues, leading to reduced inflammation and pain. Additionally, chiropractic adjustments improve blood circulation, ensuring that your body delivers adequate nutrients and oxygen to the tissues. This enhanced blood flow contributes to reduced pain, promotes healing, and supports overall wellness.
Access Pain-Free Living Today!
Over the years, chiropractic care has proven effective in altering pain signals. This is possible through mechanisms such as the release of endorphins, central nervous system modulation, reduction of nervous irritability, and spinal manipulation and adjustment. If you are suffering from conditions such as neck pain, sciatica, headaches, arthritis, or sports injuries, chiropractor in NYC can allow you to enjoy relief using chiropractic adjustment. Access a pain-free and healthy life today!
