Chiropractors

In chiropractic we also say, "Pain is the last thing to show up, and the first thing to go." When there are problems in the spine and nervous system, pain is frequently the last symptom to show up, especially if the damage is caused not by trauma (like a car accident) but by improper functioning of a particular joint or vertebra. For example, if you have a back problem related to some kind of misalignment or slight shift in the spine, the first thing you notice may not be pain but a slight restriction in your normal movement. You feel a little stiff, or you can't touch your toes anymore, or your neck doesn't move from side to side quite so easily. The normal, optimal functioning of your spine or neck has been compromised, but you may or may not experience any pain until the condition gets a lot worse.

If you have a repeated abnormal functioningusing your shoulder to hold the phone by your ear, for example, or sitting at the computer with your wrists held at an uncomfortable angle, or holding your head in an abnormal position for long periods of time because the computer screen is off to the right, down too low, or up too highover time the joint malfunction causes continued microdamage to the joint. This can go on for a long time before pain occurs, and by then you've got permanent damage to tissue.

In another circumstance, perhaps you do have a fall or an accident that causes pain, and you take care of it with analgesics, ice, and massage. Once the pain goes away, you stop treatment. But the accident has also caused a loss of functioning in the affected area. By treating only the pain, you are not restoring normal function.

Pain also is usually the first symptom to disappear when someone begins chiropractic treatment; and that's unfortunate. Why unfortunate? Pain often disappears long before the underlying condition is healed and normal functioning is restored to the body. That's one of the reasons most chiropractors prescribe a course of treatment that goes on even after patients have no more pain, because chiropractic is focused on correcting the malfunctioning that created the pain in the first place. The chiropractor wants to restore you to health and optimal function, not just take away your pain.

Think of optimal functioning and extreme pain as being at opposite ends of a continuum, like this:

0% 30% 40% 100%
Function Function Function Function
Extreme Noticeable No Optimal
pain pain pain functioning

Depending on your particular condition or damage, you may have only 40 percent function and still be without pain. Pain may not occur until your level of function drops below 30 percent, and that's when you go to see your chiropractor. The chiropractor helps you get to 45 percent functioning, and you no longer have any pain. But are you functioning at an optimal level? No. What's more important, how small is your margin of error at 45 percent? You can lose only 15 percent of functioning before you experience pain again. On the other hand, if you continue care and get to 85 or 90 or 100 percent functioning, you can handle a lot more physiological stress without pain because your margin is so much greater. Chiropractic's approach to treating pain without treating pain is much more sane and sensible than the conventional medical approach. Yes, chiropractic is absolutely interested in helping patients with their pain, but rather than treating the symptom called pain, they treat the cause by restoring optimal functioning.

Chiropractic restores function, and pain relief is the logical consequence. And wouldn't you like both pain relief and optimal functioning, without having to resort to drugs or surgery?