Doctors of chiropractic think of pain as the body’s way of signaling a deeper health concern. They don’t consider pain an isolated problem requiring a drug solution. Like a car’s dashboard warning light, pain alerts you to issues needing attention. The big cover up: what’s wrong with painkillers. Treating pain with medication is like taping over a car’s warning light, you no longer see the warning, but the problem remains and will only further deteriorate without attention. Doctors of chiropractic always investigate why the “warning light” is on- probing for the origin of pain, rather than simply masking symptoms. For many people, migraines and other headaches are chronic pain conditions, leading them to medication as a solution. I urge patients not to be fooled into believing that painkillers can “solve” the problem.
What’s wrong with painkillers? Medication does nothing to correct the underlying instigator of pain. In the addition, pain relievers are loaded with side effects from gastrointestinal erosion to kidney disease. The root of headaches may not be in the head. I find that the root of many headaches sufferers’ pain lies not in the head but in the spine of the neck (cervical spine). Headaches are often an indication of a hidden condition called vertebral subluxations — a long name for a common, clear-cut problem. Vertebral subluxations result from misaligned spinal bones (vertebrae) in the spine. When this disorder affects the spine of the neck (cervical spine), it can spark chronic pain and limited mobility.
People of all ages are susceptible to vertebral subluxations. They can be triggered by simple sources, such as stress, muscle tension or a minor fall or by traumatic injury, such as whiplash or muscle strain. But are vertebral subluxations really connected to headaches? One recent study of more than 5,000 headache sufferers determined that about 40 percent of incidences start in the cervical spine (Wien Med Wochenschr 1994;144:102-8)
Chiropractic care addresses the underlying cause of the headache. Fortunately, there’s good news. Doctors of chiropractic successfully correct vertebral subluxations with safe, gentle and precise maneuvers. These maneuvers, which are called chiropractic adjustments, restore movement and alignment to the dysfunctional vertebrae.
Why Wait? Just as you wouldn’t want to wait for painful cavities to visit the dentist or for vision problems to visit the optometrist, why wait for painful vertebral subluxations to visit the chiropractor? During regular chiropractic checkups, doctors of chiropractic focus on ways to prevent head pain altogether. Have you put off your chiropractic checkup? Schedule an appointment today before the onset of head pain.
For more information, call Dr. Jessica M. Ekengren at 661-254-9400. Her office is located at 23120 Lyons Ave. Ste 21, in Santa Clarita.