A recent NY Times published article discussed one woman’s journey through the chronic pain maze where people in the medical field are often clueless as to why you hurt or who can best help you. Often, the simplest path to relief is by visiting a chiropractor who takes a primary care approach to why you hurt and is holistic in their approach to taking your history and understanding how to best help you. You can read the article below Chronic Pain Is a Hidden Epidemic. It’s Time for a Revolution. The best way to prevent chronic pain is to diagnose and treat the cause early. Often, patients who visit us for chronic pain have been in pain for months or years. Most medical approaches include medication, tests, injections, and therapies that have little or no evidence of long-term efficacy. The body is a mechanical organism and often, it is improper movement, more than anything else responsible for pain. In my book, Cheating Mother Nature, what you need to know to beat chronic pain, I discuss body mechanics, symmetry, and how it integrate. We all adapt. Poor adaptation over the years often results in the pain that we experience. Most people understand where they hurt, but they need a healthcare provider to help them understand why they hurt. Simply, we need a body mechanic. Chiropractors are body mechanics who improve mobility and function. The better function reduces pain. Chronic malfunction reduces movement and destroys joints and the quality of life. Why visit a chiropractor first for pain? Science may help you understand the mechanisms behind pain, but a functional exam will show you the cause. Science can help you develop a new medication to block pain but improving movement will reduce pain naturally, and eliminate the need for unnecessary tests since the exam will show you why the pain exists. Chiropractic is the most scientific approach using a safe approach to wellness, movement, and function. The approach is safe, effective and often, patients experience fast relief of pain after suffering for months or years. What to expect during your first chiropractic visit After taking your blood pressure, we take a thorough history and exam. X-rays may be taken depending on the history, patient’s chronicity, and function. Foot orthotics may be given to level the hips which can often result in marked relief of neck and back pain. A recommended follow-up visit. What methods do chiropractors use? Manipulation of the spine and extremities which improves how joints move and function. Myofascial release to the soft tissues improves mobility before a spinal or extremity manipulation. Exercises to improve function. A treatment plan to relieve pain first and improve the dysfunction causing the pain. Patients are often surprised to find out that their pain and the actual cause of the pain are in different parts of the body. This is why it is so important to be thorough and evaluate the whole person and take a detailed history. If you do this when an injury occurs, you can prevent chronic pain which is often more difficult, timely, and costly to treat. Avoid medication that causes chronicity and think chiropractic first. Chiropractors keep pain relief simple. Need relief now? Book online today.