Many people seek chiropractic care to relieve painful musculoskeletal conditions including
- Whiplash
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Spinal misalignment
Did you know that chiropractors can also treat the following autoimmune diseases?
Lupus
With lupus, the body’s immune system attacks itself and can cause inflammation leading to sensitive internal organs, muscles and joints. Misalignment of the spine can strain affected body systems that contribute to inflammatory pain. By eliminating this strain, chiropractic adjustments can reduce some causes of inflammation. Therapeutic massage and the chiropractic use of vitamins to aid the growth of healthy connective tissue can combat muscle pain and spasms.
Multiple Sclerosis
This disease can affect a person’s gait, resulting in various muscle strains in the legs and hips. Nerve and muscle spasms can make it difficult for patients to control body movements and create pain and stiffness. Although manipulation treatment is not ideal for MS patients, due to the presence of spinal lesions, gentle massage and vitamin supplements might loosen tight muscles and improve poor balance from which MS patients typically suffer. Chiropractic care does not change the course of the disease, but it can sometimes relieve the discomfort of symptoms resulting from nervous system inflammation.
Sjogren’s Disease
The manifestations of this disease are extensive. While chiropractic care may not impact the discomfort of organ and glandular symptoms, it can relieve the pain of inflammatory arthritis that is a common symptom in patients. Numbness, tingling and tightness in the arms and legs are peripheral neuropathy symptoms relating to the disease. The application of electromagnetic, regenerative, infrared light and massage therapies that can improve nerve function and alleviate some of the many uncomfortable sensations that characterize this disease.
Crohn’s Disease
Although this autoimmune disease’s symptoms are restricted to the digestive system, it is possible to reduce the pain of intestinal inflammation by manipulating the vertebrae located near the adrenal glands, according to a 2002 study published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Although this disease can create inflammation of the internal organs, it most commonly manifests as an inflammatory condition of the joints. A chiropractor should take great care to avoid over-manipulating the spinal vertebrae, which may be weak due to the side-effect of common drug interventions. Instead, treatment should focus on massaging weakened muscles and increasing their strength, which can indirectly relieve pain.
Autoimmune diseases are life-long conditions for which there are no cures. With careful consideration, it may be possible to benefit from the palliative effects of chiropractic treatment from an experienced chiropractor.