Following a fender bender, you start to experience severe neck pain. Perhaps it makes turning your head difficult, but it certainly hinders your ability to work and live life to the fullest. You need help, but before you blindly select a random doctor, you have a choice in front of you.
Should you work with a health provider who will give you a band-aid fix, or should you visit a chiropractor with a more holistic approach to health? What’s the difference, and what kind of effect can this have on your care? Keep reading to find out!
What Is Holistic Health?
Sometimes in Western medicine, doctors can become so focused on one area or a set of symptoms that they lose sight of the underlying problem and its context within the body. In the example of neck pain, medical doctors may prescribe pain medications, which can become expensive and addictive over time. Plus, this treatment doesn’t actually address the problem itself, which means symptoms may return again and again. In some cases, these doctors recommend surgery, which takes months or even years to recover from.
A holistic approach to health, on the other hand, looks not only at the cause of the issue but also at the entire body. For example, instead of merely treating the symptom of neck pain, a holistic provider like a chiropractor will identify where the pain is coming from (e.g., bad posture, odd sleeping position, whiplash) and treat the neck as well as the shoulders and upper back. Spinal adjustments ensure that the bone vertebrae are properly positioned; soft tissues like muscles, ligaments, and tendons are relaxed; and inflammation is kept to a minimum for optimal healing.
Importance of the Spine for Holistic Health
When it comes to the nervous system, your spine houses one of the major components for the entire body. This complex spinal column is set up to maintain a delicate balance, and even a tiny bulging disc or a strained ligament can cause significant pain in the neck, back, and extremities. When you take care of your nervous system with an expert, you have much more freedom to do many more activities in life!
In other words, when the spine is “out of whack” or off kilter, it can keep you from doing what you need and want to do.
Why You Should Work with a Chiropractor
In general, chiropractors take a more holistic approach to patients’ health. They always address the cause of your pain, not just the symptoms, and they consider more systems in your body, fighting your pain on multiple fronts. As a result, they present a more long-term solution without resorting to drugs or more invasive treatments.
In the end, although traditional medical providers are no doubt valuable in many circumstances, there are many situations where they may not have the best approach. Consider meeting with a chiropractor for neck pain, back pain, limited range of motion, stiffness, accident injuries, and much more so that you can get the kind of care you deserve.
About the Author
Commonly called Dr. Z, Dr. Zinovy Chukhman finds great satisfaction in helping patients overcome problems through holistic care. He is certified in all four parts of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners rehabilitation certification. He has treated patients from Garland, Richardson, Dallas, Plano, and surrounding communities, including professional and amateur athletes. If you would like to schedule an appointment with him, you may contact AlignRight Chiropractic online here.
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