Chronic pain in the form of headaches, back and neck pain, joint pain and abdominal pain affects an estimated 100 million Americans, or one out of three of us. But despite huge increases in medical interventions – such as MRIs, CT scans, medications, procedures -- for the treatment of chronic pain, the rate of improvement has not changed in the past 25 years.
Modern brain science is showing that there are significant differences in the brain structure of people who suffer from chronic pain compared to those who do not. Even years after an injury, chronic pain signals can remain active in the nervous system. Studies show that fear, anger, worry and focus on pain can produce a cycle of pain in the body.
Thankfully, there are powerful non-drug techniques suffers of chronic pain can use to combat negative emotions and help mitigate pain. These include:
- Reframing, which focuses on recognizing unhelpful thoughts and swapping them out with constructive or adaptive thoughts. Reframing involves changing your viewpoint to give it a more positive or constructive meaning. Example: instead of focusing on what is not working, reframe the situation to ask “What is helping.”
- Self-efficacy, which is confidence in our ability to achieve intended results. Believing that you will be successful is vitally important. Higher levels of self-efficacy are associated with lower levels of pain and disability.
- Self-management, which revolves around the patient taking responsibility for managing their pain. This provides a sense of self-control, apart from relying on your doctors, which can be very helpful in managing pain.
- Upper cervical chiropractic care. The research, which includes MRIs before and after treatment, show the change that occur in cerebral spinal fluid and blood flow. When the spine is not aligned, particularly C1 and C2, mis-alignment can decrease CSP and blood flow to and from the brain causing multiple symptoms and problems.
Relieve Chronic Pain Without Drugs
BrainTap Technology and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) can be used to help relax the body and retrain thinking. For more information and to schedule a free consultation, call 480-325-6977 with one of the Board Certified Atlas Orthogonal upper cervical Doctors at the Valley’s premier Wellness Center, Foresight Chiropractic. The Doctors have been serving the community for over 18 years with very precise and gentle care. Call today and take your life back!
