Whether your pain is acute or chronic, it’s important not to delay in treating it. Natural, effective treatments at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic help to alleviate your discomfort and keep acute pain from becoming chronic.

How do I Know if My Pain is Acute or Chronic?

Acute pain happens suddenly, in response to events such as injury, illness, surgery, or childbirth, and usually lasts less than six weeks.  As the condition heals, you’ll typically continue to feel better until you’re entirely recovered.

But sometimes the pain doesn’t end. Chronic pain sets up shop in your body and drags on. Pain is considered chronic if you’re still suffering after three to six months.

Although acute pain is more common, chronic pain takes a big toll on our nation’s health and economic system. According to the CDC, about 20% of the adult population is affected by chronic pain.

How Acute Pain Can Become Chronic

With chronic pain, the body may not have healed properly in the acute phase, and inflammation has set in. Your nervous system continues to carry pain signals even when there seems to be no reason for the pain.  Or you may have a health condition that causes chronic pain.

Prompt and complete treatment can help to prevent acute pain from becoming chronic.

Common Causes of Chronic Pain

A variety of health conditions may cause chronic pain, such as:

• Back and neck pain
• Arthritis
• Headache
• Nerve pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Cancer
• Multiple sclerosis
• Diabetes
• Poor posture

Collateral Damage from Chronic Pain 

When your pain is chronic, it can become a disease in itself. The stress of your pain may cause psychological problems and other symptoms, including:

• Lethargy
• Decreased mobility
• Muscle tension
• Poor posture
• Increased or decreased appetite
• Depression or anger
• Anxiety about resuming your daily activities

People with chronic pain can be vulnerable to reliance on pain medications, which not only can become addictive, but may mask pain, making it harder to treat.

Chiropractic Treatments for Your Acute or Chronic Pain

Chiropractors provide relief for many types of acute or chronic pain, including neck and back pain, headaches, and much more.

A properly aligned spine and good posture are essential to good nervous system performance, healing, and pain relief. When you’re in pain, it’s hard to move properly. You may hunch your shoulders and move in other ways that create imbalances in your body, worsening symptoms.

Your chiropractic care begins with a complete physical exam to assess the cause of your pain and create your customized care plan. Spinal adjustments and other therapies help to correct the alignment of your spine, improve your mobility and boost your body’s ability to heal itself.

Noninvasive chiropractic treatments promote healing for your whole body without the use of medication, so you can get on with living your healthiest life.

Schedule Your Free Consultation at our Broken Arrow Office

Our friendly team is ready to help you live pain-free today. Call Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic at 918-940-4630.

The post Be Proactive in Treating Your Acute or Chronic Pain first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Opioid drugs rank among the most commonly prescribed medications in the U.S. military. A 2014 study determined that over 40% of the U.S. infantry reported chronic pain (pain lasting at least 3 months) after deployment, and 15% reported opioid use in the month prior to the survey. Soldiers report greater rates of both chronic pain and opioid use after a combat deployment than does the civilian population. The astronomical rates of chronic pain and medicinal relief triggers rampant misuse of opioid pain medication, producing a significant health concern for military personnel. Prescription drug abuse spiked for military personnel at levels much higher than the civilian population over the past several years. Military servicemen and woman deserve a better approach to dealing with chronic pain and other serious health challenges than the ingestion of harmful and highly addictive opioids.

Chiropractic care represents one of the most effective interventions to address the cause of structural pain. Scientific research proves that Chiropractic care reduces the necessity of opioid drugs and lowers the rates and volume of addiction. More awareness and access to Chiropractic care proves vital to the health and future of the dedicated men and women in the military.

New research evaluated the results of Chiropractic care on veterans who used opioids. Over 14,000 veterans experienced at least one Chiropractic adjustment during the study. Some who received Chiropractic care also took opioids concurrently. One-third of veterans receiving Chiropractic services also held an opioid prescription. Results determined that those who received Chiropractic care reduced their intake of opioids after their first visit. The study suggested that regular Chiropractic care offered a treatment option which replaced opioid therapy for chronic pain conditions. The landmark study served as one of many evidentiary pools of data that reflected the benefits of Chiropractic care for both military personnel and civilians determined to find an alternate solution to opioid use for pain.

Study results combined with previous data and literature suggest that expanding access to Chiropractic care should be a key consideration for the Veterans Affairs. The latest evidence works congruently with the national initiative aimed to increase the use of research-based non-drug treatments for chronic pain. Chiropractic care serves as the most popular and effective non-drug intervention available to help people suffering from chronic pain. The men and women who sacrifice to keep America safe deserve a health care option which fights for them when they conclude their service to others.

The post Veterans Need Chiropractic – A Safe and Sane Solution to the Opioid Epidemic in the Military first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.