Every one of us has suffered from pain at some point in our lives. For example, we feel sharp pain when we get a paper cut, dull/aching pain after a workout, and tingling pain when we bump our funny bone. However, all of these common examples of pain are normal. Once the issue that has caused the pain has been resolved, we no longer feel the pain in question.
This is not the case when it comes to CRPS. CRPS is a devastating diagnosis that causes physical and mental anguish for patients. In this article, we will take a closer look at CRPS and demonstrate how chiropractic care can help patients suffering from this condition.
What is CRPS?
CRPS refers to a closely related group of conditions that cause chronic pain. For instance, you may hear the term causalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), or other names used to denote CRPS.
Unfortunately, we don’t have a deep understanding of this condition. Because CRPS is relatively rare, we have very little data to draw from in order to develop therapies to treat the disorder.
Complicating the matter further is the fact that many physicians and healthcare providers have accused patients with CRPS of making up their symptoms. Because of this, these patients often never receive proper diagnoses nor proper treatment.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help with CRPS
In this section, we’ll review three ways in which chiropractic treatments can ease the symptoms of CRPS. Chiropractors have many tools at their disposal. However, one of the best treatments they offer is spinal adjustment. With just a small amount of pressure applied quickly to a specific area of the spine, patients can experience significant relief.
Chiropractic Effect on CRPS #1: Improved Nerve Function
Earlier, we indicated that we have a dearth of knowledge related to CRPS. While this is true, there are some basic pain science principles that we can apply to this ailment.
First and foremost, we know that our nerves are responsible for interpreting pain in our bodies. Therefore, every time we feel pain, the nervous system is involved to some degree.
Within our nervous system, the spinal cord and brain are two of the most important structures. Specifically, the brain acts as a control center, where all decisions and interpretations regarding pain occur. The spine, for its part, can be thought of as a major highway through which signals are sent to and from the brain.
Because of this, when the spine is out of alignment, the nerve signals related to pain can be misinterpreted.
Therefore, chiropractic treatments improve the structure of the spine, allowing for better nerve function and communication between brain and body.
Chiropractic Effect on CRPS #2: Decreased Pain
Above all else, chiropractic treatments are particularly remarkable for their ability to decrease pain. With just a quick chiropractic session, many patients will experience almost instantaneous relief of symptoms, which can last for many hours after the fact.
With repeated sessions, chiropractic patients will often demonstrate significant long-term effects with regard to pain control.
Chiropractic Effect on CRPS #3: Improved Range of Motion
Often, patients with CRPS will suffer from stiffness and decreased range of motion.
Unfortunately, stiff muscles can make the symptoms of CRPS worse than they usually are. Therefore, chiropractors can help these patients improve their motion and subsequently decrease their pain.
Are you or someone you love suffering from CRPS? Chiropractic care could be a viable treatment option for you. Our expert team at Awaken Chiropractic, your Parker chiropractors, is ready to help. Book your appointment today!
