If you or someone you love has been living with a chronic pain condition, you understand that daily, persistent discomfort can quite literally take over your life. This kind of pain can have a tremendous impact on everyday activities, interpersonal relations and overall emotional disposition of the sufferer.
Here are just a few of the life impacts that may be experienced by those living with chronic pain:
- Typical daily activities are often diminished in order to avoid making the pain worse.
- Regular routines are disrupted as the pain sufferer struggles to adapt to new ways of performing daily tasks.
- Overall lifestyle begins to be affected by these disruptions; daily life may become more sedentary due to energy loss, social relationships begin to suffer and emotional strain or isolation may intensify.
Because of these changes, pain sufferers may experience depression, anxiety, anger, stress and other mental disorders, which may in turn further intensify pain symptoms.
While some pain sufferers give in to living with chronic pain as “the new normal”, it really doesn’t have to be that way. By acknowledging these pain-related issues and actively working to avoid or overcome them, it’s possible to break free from chronic pain.
Here are a few ways you can help to minimize the lifestyle impacts of chronic pain:
Try to get some form of daily exercise
Even if your pain condition prevents you from performing certain physical activities, it’s worth a discussion with your chiropractor to understand which exercises are safe for your unique pain condition.Movement not only helps to keep your body more flexible, but the natural endorphins from exercise will also help to elevate your mood.
Reduce stress
Stress can contribute to a significant increase in chronic pain symptoms. Reducing stress will benefit not only your physical condition, but also your emotional outlook and mental capacity to cope with your pain.There are numerous ways to diminish stress, such as deep breathing, meditation or other beneficial exercise. Find what works for you and do and commit to doing it consistently.
Eat a healthy diet
Diet can have a substantial impact on physical and mental well-being. The right foods can help to heal the body, ease pain, and improve overall disposition.
Break the habit(s)
Alcohol and cigarettes can worsen chronic pain and disrupt important sleep patterns. To help control and better cope with your pain, cut back — or better yet, stop drinking and/or smoking altogether.
Do more of what you love
Refuse to let chronic pain take deprive you of the things you love to do. Whether it’s a favorite hobby, connecting with people whose company you enjoy, or whatever it is that brings you happiness, try your best to continue these activities, physical condition permitting. Setting goals, making plans, staying busy and connected with others are all activities that can help to distract you from your discomforts.
Seek Guidance from a Skilled Chiropractic Professional
Besides the suggested strategies listed above, consulting with a qualified chiropractic care specialist is a crucial step towards liberating yourself from the constraints of chronic pain. Chiropractic professionals are experts in neuro-musculoskeletal health and can provide a holistic approach to manage and potentially alleviate your chronic pain.
When you engage with a chiropractor, they start with an in-depth assessment of your pain conditions. This involves a thorough review of your medical history, a physical examination, and potentially diagnostic tests to understand the root causes of your pain. By obtaining a comprehensive view of your health, they can accurately diagnose your specific pain condition(s).
Once your pain conditions are diagnosed, your chiropractor will develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs. This plan may include a combination of chiropractic adjustments, therapeutic exercises, nutritional advice, and lifestyle modifications. The goal is to address not only the symptoms of your pain but also the underlying issues that contribute to it.
Chiropractic adjustments, a cornerstone of chiropractic care, involve carefully directed and controlled pressure to restore spinal function, improve nervous system function, and alleviate pain. These treatments can be adapted to suit each individual’s comfort level and specific health conditions.
Your chiropractor will also guide you in adopting beneficial lifestyle changes that support your overall health and wellbeing. This could include recommendations for physical activities that are safe and therapeutic for your condition, nutritional advice to promote healing and ease pain, stress management techniques to help cope with the emotional aspects of chronic pain, and strategies to improve sleep and overall quality of life.
Moreover, chiropractors are committed to patient education. They will empower you with knowledge about your condition, the recommended treatments, and the ways you can proactively manage your health. Understanding your pain condition and the means to manage it can give you a sense of control and optimism in your journey towards pain relief.
In conclusion, a chiropractor is not just a healthcare provider but also a partner in health. They work alongside you to understand your unique pain situation and recommend the right combination of chiropractic care and lifestyle changes. This partnership aims to help you regain control over your life and break free from the cycle of chronic pain.
Has Chronic Pain Taken Over Your Life?
If you find that chronic pain has taken the driver’s seat in your life, especially in the Chelmsford, MA area, it’s time to seek professional assistance. Dr. Mark Chiungos is a licensed Chiropractor and can provide the help you need.
Dr. Chiungos is not just a chiropractor, but a dedicated partner in your journey towards pain relief. He understands that each patient’s pain is unique, and so the approach to treatment should be as well. He offers personalized care, taking the time to understand your concerns, symptoms, and health history in depth. This involves a thorough assessment and a thoughtful conversation about your experiences and expectations.
Having a conversation with Dr. Chiungos means being heard, understood, and reassured. He believes in empowering his patients with knowledge about their condition, possible treatments, and self-care practices. By walking you through the potential causes of your pain, the intricacies of chiropractic care, and how it can help your situation, he equips you with the information you need to make informed decisions about your health.
Post-evaluation, Dr. Chiungos will collaborate with you to create a customized treatment plan. This could involve a range of interventions – from chiropractic adjustments, laser, Spinal Decompression, physical therapy exercises, to nutritional advice and lifestyle changes. The goal is to not only alleviate your immediate discomfort but to also tackle the root cause of the pain, preventing its recurrence in the future.
In the end, the partnership with Dr. Chiungos aims to not only treat your pain but also transform your life. By employing the most effective treatment options, the ambition is to restore your mobility, reduce your pain, and enhance your overall quality of life.
Don’t let chronic pain be the constant in your life. To begin your journey towards a pain-free life, schedule a consultation with Dr. Mark Chiungos at A Chiropractic Wellness Place in Chelmsford, MA. Make your appointment today by calling (978) 376-8190. It’s your first step towards reclaiming control over your life from chronic pain.
FAQ
Chiropractic
Most insurance policies offer some chiropractic coverage. Dr. Chiungos works with Blue Cross-Blue Shield, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, Tufts Health Plan, Unicare/GIC, and Medicare. See the No Surprises Act for more information.
Absolutely. Chiropractic as a profession is more than 100 years old. We follow industry guidelines during our new patient induction process to minimize risk and maximize benefit. Chiropractic malpractice insurance is considered by many to be the least costly professional insurance in the healthcare industry because chiropractic is generally considered a safe, manual therapy.
It depends on your mechanism of injury and your current state of health. You might start feeling better as soon as your adjustment is finished. You might need to go home and ice (Dr. Chiungos will advise you). If your injury is serious, it may take several visits. But your healing has begun from the first adjustment. Your personal care plan is designed to take you from where you are today to your best possible outcome. Dr. Chiungos will keep you updated on your progress at each visit.
SpineMED®
Decompression treatment is not currently covered by health insurance. If Dr. Chiungos believes this is an integral part of your treatment plan, he will discuss all costs and potential discounts before the start of care. You will receive informed consent.
Spinal Disc Decompression with the SpineMED® Table has shown to be safe and generally without major side effects or complications once abnormal conditions have been ruled out. The process is so safe and comfortable, it’s not uncommon for patients to fall asleep!
- Patients under 12 years old
- If you had spinal surgery that involved clips, mesh or fusion
- If you have fractures, tumors or infections
- If you have osteoporosis or spondylolisthesis where there’s been a fracture or non-union defect in the spine, where that segment that we want to traction is unstable
Damaged intervertebral discs seldom heal as the discs are constantly under pressure from muscular spasm—during normal activities, and even while sleeping! SpineMED is designed to reduce the pressure in the discs, promoting the influx of vital fluids, nutrients and oxygen back into the discs to assist the body’s natural rebuilding process. This process may speed up the natural repair and could eventually heal damaged spinal discs.
Sessions are typically 30 minutes long. It could take 15 to 25 sessions or more to see some relief from your discomfort. That’s variable based on your status and the condition we’re treating. Ideally, the sessions are performed daily with rest on the weekend.
Aspen Laser
Laser treatment, as used in chiropractic offices, is not currently covered by health insurance. If Dr. Chiungos believes this is an integral part of your treatment plan, he will discuss all costs and potential discounts before the start of care.
Laser therapy has been in use for over thirty years with almost no side effects reported. Aspen Laser is FDA-registered and passes all safety compliance requirements. The treatments are not painful; in fact, laser is warm and comfortable to your skin. Dr. Chiungos will check in with you regularly to make sure the temperature feels right, and you can always speak up if it starts to feel too warm. The main safety concern is for the eyes, which is why Dr. Chiungos will provide protective glasses for both patient and doctor at each session.
Laser is effective on most parts of the body; however, there are times when laser is not appropriate:
- during pregnancy
- within twelve months of cancer treatments
- during the use of photo-sensitizing medications
- over recent steroid injections (seven days)
- over growth plates or reproductive glands
- over tattoos or skin infections
Laser therapy promotes energy production supporting cellular repair, increased blood flow, increased red blood cell oxygen-carrying capacity, and decrease of inflammation. When used in conjunction with traditional chiropractic, laser can reduce pain and healing time, and promote a deeper, more complete healing to the area of concern.
Sessions typically last 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the treatment area. They generally start longer and reduce in length as you heal. Most acute conditions require only 10 – 12 treatment sessions. If you have a chronic condition, you may need 12 – 20 treatments and one or two follow-up sessions every month. The amount and frequency of treatments are determined through assessment of your condition combined with Dr. Chiungos’s experience treating patients with laser. You will likely start to feel better after your first 5 sessions.
