Managing Chronic Pain Through Chiropractic Techniques
- Dr. James Cain
- Apr 7
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
If you're searching for chiropractic techniques for chronic pain, chances are you've been hurting for a while. Maybe you’ve been told to just live with it. Maybe you've tried medications, injections, or even surgery—and you're still waking up in pain. You're tired of being dismissed or handed another prescription. You're not alone—and you're not out of options.
Why This Topic Matters
Chronic pain is one of the most common reasons people seek care, yet it's still one of the most misunderstood conditions in medicine today.
What is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is pain that lasts more than three months, often long after the initial injury or cause has resolved. It disrupts daily life—affecting work, relationships, hobbies, and your overall well-being (Hopkins Medicine¹, NHS Inform², BMJ³, PMC⁴).
Common Causes
Chronic pain may stem from conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, or nerve damage—or it may have no clear origin at all (Hopkins Medicine¹, Canada Public Health⁷, UPMC⁸).
Types of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain can be categorized based on its source:
Nociceptive Pain – related to tissue damage (UPMC⁸)
Neuropathic Pain – from nerve injury or dysfunction (NCBI⁹)
Psychogenic Pain – influenced by emotional or psychological factors (Cleveland Clinic¹⁰)
Other Symptoms
People living with chronic pain often experience:
Fatigue
Sleep disturbances
Mood changes (like anxiety or depression)
Sensitivity to touch
Decreased mobility and joint stiffness
Cognitive challenges like brain fog (MedlinePlus⁶, IASP¹¹)
How Widespread Is It?
According to the CDC, over 51 million U.S. adults live with chronic pain—more than 1 in 5. Nearly 17 million experience “high-impact” chronic pain that limits daily life. Stress, sedentary lifestyles, aging populations, and overreliance on quick fixes all contribute to the rise of this public health crisis.
Why Standard Treatments Often Don’t Work
Most conventional approaches only focus on managing symptoms—not correcting the root cause. Here's why many people continue to suffer:
Medications
Offer short-term relief
Can lead to dependency (especially opioids)
Long-term NSAID use may cause kidney, liver, or heart complications
Injections
Temporarily reduce inflammation
Do not address spinal misalignments or muscle imbalances
Surgery
Invasive and irreversible
Carries risks with no guaranteed success
Chiropractic Techniques for Chronic Pain
Chiropractors are trained to identify the underlying neuromusculoskeletal dysfunctions that fuel chronic pain. Rather than covering symptoms, chiropractic care works to correct imbalances and restore your body’s ability to heal.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Realigns the spine to reduce nerve interference
Relieves joint and muscle tension
Improves posture, mobility, and flexibility
Stimulates natural healing processes
Helps reduce dependency on medication
What the Research Shows
A 2020 study published in The Spine Journal found that patients receiving chiropractic care for chronic low back pain reported:
Higher satisfaction
Better outcomes
Fewer adverse effects compared to those receiving standard medical care (The Spine Journal¹², NLM¹³, ChiroUp¹⁴, PubMed¹⁵).
Study Highlights
Satisfaction: Chiropractic patients were nearly 3x more likely to report being "very satisfied" with their care (ChiroUp¹⁴)
Pain Relief: 56% reported improvement vs. only 13% of standard care patients (The Spine Journal¹²)
Fewer Complications: Fewer side effects were reported among chiropractic patients (ChiroUp¹⁴)
How Chiropractic Changed Rachel’s Life
Rachel, a 38-year-old mom of three, had been living with daily back pain for over seven years. It started after her last pregnancy and slowly worsened until even standing at the sink to do dishes sent pain shooting down her legs. She had tried everything—pain meds, physical therapy, cortisone shots—but nothing gave her lasting relief.
What broke her wasn’t just the physical pain. It was the moment she realized she couldn’t pick up her toddler without wincing.
A friend told her to try chiropractic care. Skeptical but desperate, she scheduled an appointment.
During her evaluation, the chiropractor discovered misalignments in her lower spine and pelvis, combined with poor posture and instability in her core. Her care plan included gentle spinal adjustments, movement retraining, and simple at-home stretches—nothing invasive or overwhelming.
Just four weeks in, Rachel caught herself smiling in the grocery store parking lot—not because the pain was gone, but because she hadn’t noticed it during the entire shopping trip. For the first time in years, she wasn’t constantly thinking about her back.
By eight weeks, she was sleeping through the night, taking walks with her kids, and finally feeling like herself again.
Pain may have been a part of Rachel’s story, but it no longer defined her.
What to Expect (And Is It Safe?)
Yes—chiropractic care is safe when performed by a licensed professional. At our office, we make sure your care is not only effective, but also comfortable and empowering.
Your first visit includes:
A detailed consultation and health history
Posture, spinal, and movement assessments
X-rays if needed
A personalized care plan based on your unique needs
Options for gentle or low-force techniques
Many people say they wish they had started sooner. If you're on the fence, let’s start with a simple conversation. We'll walk you through everything.
Golden Nugget: A Supplement That Works
Looking for something to support your healing at home? Turmeric (specifically curcumin) is backed by research for its role in reducing inflammation and joint pain.
A 2016 study in Pain Medicine found that curcumin significantly reduced chronic pain symptoms in people with inflammatory conditions.
Blocks inflammatory enzymes (like COX-2)
Acts as a powerful antioxidant
Safe for long-term use (especially when combined with piperine for absorption)
Pro tip: Always check with your doctor if you’re on blood thinners. We recommend Gaia
Ready to Feel Better?
You don’t have to keep living this way. Pain might be your current chapter, but it doesn't have to be your final one. Chiropractic care offers a safe, natural path toward real, lasting relief.
Ready to take the next step? We’d love to walk with you on your journey to better health.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.
Citation List
Information in this article was compiled from trusted medical sources, including Hopkins Medicine¹ for an overview of chronic pain, including its definition and common causes. NHS Inform² and BMJ³ offered clinical insight on chronic pain duration and management. Public health perspectives and burden-related data were sourced from PubMed Central (PMC)⁴. Impact on lifestyle and mental well-being were supported by Acell Orthopedics⁵ and MedlinePlus⁶. Underlying causes were discussed in detail by Canada Public Health⁷ and UPMC⁸. Pain classifications were provided by NCBI⁹ and the Cleveland Clinic¹⁰. Additional symptoms such as fatigue and cognitive effects were confirmed by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)¹¹.
Research on chiropractic care effectiveness was sourced from The Spine Journal (via PMC)¹², the National Library of Medicine (NLM)¹³, the ChiroUp Clinical Outcomes & Practice Summary (COPS)¹⁴, and a PubMed-indexed study comparing outcomes¹⁵ between chiropractic and standard care for low back pain.
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