Chronic Back Pain

Anatomy of Chronic Pain and Chiropractic Alleviation El Paso, Texas

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Understanding chronic pain and its alleviation requires an understanding of the anatomy of the nervous system. The nerves of the body are the carriers for the nervous system, as it sends messages to and from the brain. It is quite a complex system. The central nervous system consists of the spinal cord and the brain. The peripheral nervous system branches off the spinal cord.  Both the central and peripheral nervous systems can be affected by neuropathic pain, a type of chronic pain caused by nerve malfunction.

 

 

The peripheral nervous system contains 31 pairs of nerve roots that extend from the spinal cord to the rest of the body. There are the feeling nerves/sensory nerves and moving nerves/motor nerves. The chart shows how many pairs of spinal nerves are at each level of the spine.

 

 

Peripheral nervous system

The somatic nervous system is comprised of nerves that connect to the musculoskeletal system’s:

  • Bones
  • Ligaments
  • Tendons
  • Muscles
  • Skin

It’s what helps generate feeling and what generates the feeling of pain.

 

 

The autonomic nervous system controls the involuntary functions of the body.

It makes sure the heart keeps pumping and the digestive system breaks down food correctly without thinking. Damage to any nerves can lead to the development of chronic pain. The nerves are responsible for sending pain messages, and if they get damaged, they can continually send a steady stream of pain messages.

Nociceptors are another important part of the nerve body. Nociceptors are receptors at the nerve endings, which are activated when something happens and triggers a pain message.

 

 

Example: Nociceptors in the finger turn on and send a pain message through the peripheral nerve to the spinal cord, on to the brain when a finger gets smashed in the car door. Before the finger was smashed, the nociceptors were not on because there was nothing to make them respond.

One possible cause of chronic pain could be malfunctioning nociceptors. Even if there is not a direct or root cause, they could be continually sending pain messages. Using the same example of the finger smashed in the car door. The finger heals after the smashing but pain signals are still being sent. The finger’s nociceptor’s nerves could be malfunctioning, which is why they are still sending pain messages. The result is chronic pain.

 

 

Chronic pain symptoms

Chronic pain is pain that does not stop for more than 6 months. Pain is a subjective experience, it is different for everyone and takes on many forms. The pain could be:

  • Aching
  • Burning
  • Constant Soreness
  • Constant Stiffness
  • Electric
  • Sharp
  • Shooting
  • Throbbing
  • Tight

Chronic pain can lead to other problems, specifically social, psychological and emotional. It can:

  • Cause sleeplessness
  • Drain the body’s energy
  • Cause depression
  • Withdraw from activities/friends/family
  • Weaken the immune system because so much energy is spent dealing with the pain

These added conditions feed off each other. Example: Sleeping is impossible when the pain is active, the next day nothing gets done because of the tiredness. As a result of the inactiveness, a loss of self-esteem begins to set in causing withdrawal from family and social life.

Alleviation

To get the best treatment possible, take note of activities, diet, accidents, injuries, etc before the pain began. Depending on the diagnosis, chiropractic care could help. Research studies have shown that two weeks of regular adjustments/manipulation can bring significant improvement.

Physical therapy combined with stretching and strengthening exercises is part of the treatment for chronic pain. Physical therapy could consist of ice, heat, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, ultrasound, and myofascial release. A chiropractor and other pain professionals can help bring alleviation, so you can fully live your life.


 

Chronic Pain Chiropractic


 

NCBI Resources

 

Post Disclaimers

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Anatomy of Chronic Pain and Chiropractic Alleviation El Paso, Texas" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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