Chiropractic Care to Reduce Chronic Inflammation

 

Suffering from chronic inflammation? Dr. Jay McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Nitro, WV, offers natural and lasting relief through customized treatment plans.

 

Chronic Inflammation and How Chiropractic Care Can Help

Inflammation is a natural immune response to something going wrong within the body. In many cases, it goes away pretty quickly, but it’s considered chronic when it lasts for weeks or even years.

What causes inflammation to occur? And how can a chiropractor help? Dr. McClanahan and the team at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Nitro, WV, share the answers below.

 

Understanding Inflammation

Your body is equipped with many natural processes to keep you healthy, safe, and free from injuries. When it detects certain stimuli, it works to remove them and prevent infection by sending white blood cells to the area.

This process happens in response to many things, including insect bites and splinters. However, it can also happen in response to:

• Injuries, including misalignment, herniated discs, strains, sprains, and more
• Certain foods
• Stress
• Arthritis
• Poor sleeping
• Smoking

 

How Can a Chiropractor Help?

Chiropractors can be invaluable in treating inflammation, beginning with determining the underlying source. When you are unaware of what is causing your symptoms, it can be difficult to find relief. Chiropractors can assess your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, musculoskeletal system, and more to find the source.

Once located, your chiropractor can develop a personalized care plan to help you achieve relief. Some techniques can include the following.

• Adjustments: Adjustments shift misaligned bones back into place. This can help relieve pressure on the bones, joints, soft tissues, and other musculoskeletal components, as well as improve nerve function. They can also help heal any underlying injuries.
• Dietary changes: You can both fight inflammation and cause it, depending on what you eat. A chiropractor can recommend the best foods for your specific needs.
• Exercises: Being active helps improve blood flow, which can naturally relieve inflamed areas.
• Soft tissue techniques: Massage therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, and electrical muscle stimulation can all help relieve tension and other restrictions that are impeding proper blood flow. Massage therapy can also help with lymphatic drainage, which is beneficial when dealing with chronically inflamed areas.

 

Discover firsthand how chiropractic care can relieve chronic inflammation by visiting Dr. McClanahan and the team at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV. Call (304) 776-1520 to schedule an appointment today.

What is a Dislocation?

At the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, we use non-surgical, non-addictive therapies to help people recover from musculoskeletal injuries. Among the most common of those injuries is a subluxation, which is the partial dislocation of a joint. But what are dislocations, anyway? We thought it would be helpful for our patients if we gave a brief description of how this injury is defined, and why chiropractic treatment is effective for it.

 

A joint is the place where two or more bones connect to each other. When those bones get separated or knocked out of place, they’ve been dislocated. This could happen because of an acute injury, or it could be due to the long-term weakening of their connective tissue. But once the bones are out of place, they are likely to rub against and irritate nearby tissues, resulting in inflammation. Dislocations are often painful and they prevent the bones from going through their full range of motion or bearing weight efficiently.

 

An x-ray can be used to determine whether injured joints are merely dislocated, or if the bones are fractured. If a doctor deems it safe, they will adjust the dislocated bones back into place, relieving pressure on the soft tissues. At our office, we also provide several treatments for reducing inflammation, including therapeutic massages and electric muscle stimulation. Although healing joints may need to be immobilized or allowed to rest in the short-term, preventing a relapse will ultimately require the surrounding muscles to be strengthened through exercise, and to be trained to be more flexible and resilient to injuries.

 

Dr. Jay McClanahan is the owner and chiropractor of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center. Our office is located in Nitro, WV. To schedule an appointment with Dr. McClanahan visit our website or call 304-776-1520.