Types of Pain

Joint Pain
Your joints contain thousands of pain nerve endings that respond to both abnormal mechanical stress and to the chemicals created by the resulting inflammation. Joint fixations can be reduced by chiropractic adjustments, which reduces the mechanical stress and offers immediate relief and pain reduction.

Muscle Pain
Muscles are “chemical factories” which produce “waste chemicals.” Muscles contain chemically sensitive nerve endings that generate pain nerve impulses. When muscle spasms occur, acids build up and cause inflammation and pain in the muscle. If muscle stretch receptors become sensitized from these chemicals, they can cause referred pains to other locations, known as trigger points. This type of pain can be addressed with neuromuscular therapy, which allows the muscles to flush out the waste acids and relax again without pain.

Disc Pain
Discs are specialized ligaments that connect to the vertebra and allow flexibility of the spinal column. When the disc is stressed mechanically, the nucleus can leak or herniate, causing inflammation and pain. By the time pain is felt, the disc has been degenerating for many years. The herniated nucleus can inflame the nerves leading to other areas of the body. It can also trigger a severe immune system response which is not responsive to medication. Patients with this condition often experience pain relief through chiropractic treatment using Cox® technique.

Referred Pain
Pain may be felt in a location far away from the injured area. The brain has many nerve pathways and cannot recognize every muscle and ligament as separate and distinct. For example, your brain does not see your shoulder blade as an individual body part, but as part of your arm. Consequently, arm pain is created by the brain when the shoulder blade muscles are injured or overused. Joint ligaments in the neck can refer pain symptoms to the upper back, shoulder and arm. Pain symptoms must be properly diagnosed by a specialist who can determine the actual source of the pain. Only then can the pain be treated at its source using the appropriate method.

If you experience any of these types of pain, call Dunn Wellness Center at (904) 249-1551 for an appointment.