Pain Relief

PAIN RELIEF
Chronic pain is, without a doubt, one of the most debilitating symptoms that a person can have. The Holistic Resource Center offers a number of excellent pain-relieving therapies including splint and braces for carpal tunnel.


Acupuncture
This ancient Chinese healing technique has been proven to be effective in numerous studies for the relief of pain.   "It is proposed that acupuncture produces its effects through regulating the nervous system, thus aiding the activity of pain-killing biochemicals such as endorphins and immune system cells at specific sites in the body. In addition, studies have shown that acupuncture may alter brain chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones and, thus, affecting the parts of the central nervous system related to sensation and involuntary body functions, such as immune reactions and processes that regulate a person's blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature."

 
Chiropractic Techniques 
"Chiropractors focus on dysfunctions that can result from irregularities of spinal structure or movement. Hands-on procedures are usually preferred by most chiropractors to determine structural and functional problems. Manipulation is used to promote normal bodily function thus correcting or preventing these structural deviations. Chiropractic "adjustment" refers to a variety of manual mechanical interventions. 

Manipulation is movement of short amplitude that moves the joint safely beyond where a patient's muscles could move the joint by themselves.

Mobilization referes to movements administered by the clinician that serve to increase overall range of motion. The best available scientific evidence for chiropractic concerns acute back pain, chronic neck pain, and tension headaches. Some of this evidence is fairly convincing. It is generally stronger than the evidence for conventional physical therapy techniques.The greatest strength of chiropractic is in treatment of neuro- musculoskeletal conditions such as sprain or strain-type injuries of the back and adjacent structures. Their strongest suit is low back conditions. This is followed by neck, head, and arm problems, especially migraine headaches, tension headaches, stiff necks, and torticollis. The next strongest area would be extra spinal conditions such as problems in the knees, wrists, elbows, ankles, and other joints.For low back pain, research has helped make it possible to predict fairly reliably which individuals will benefit. For conditions with more vague complaints or with visceral manifestation like gastritis, asthma, or allergies, the predictability of benefit is lower, although there is much anecdotal evidence that these conditions too can benefit. Acupuncture and/or movement therapies can be combined with chiropractic manipulation for an amplified effect.  Animal studies showed that spinal manipulation can produce a number of physical responses, such as decreased blood pressure and renal and adrenal nerve activity. It may also enhance immune function by increasing metabolic rates of certain white blood cells and increasing other substances that play a role in immune regulation and inflammation. These studies also show that spinal adjustment can reduce levels of inflammatory Prostaglandins and possibly increase levels of beta-endorphins, the natural painkillers in the body." [Holistic Online.com]  Chiropractors helps you maintain a properly functioning nervous system. They work to align body and mind, and in the process, allow you to feel your best. Unfortunately, many people define being healthy as the absence of pain or symptoms. Chiropractors, however, can show you how it feels to be truly healthy, and help their patients feel the natural energy and wellness we all have inside us. You can find our spine doctors in Utah who specializes in therapy, pain relief and muscle treatment. Free Motion Therapy The "Free Motion Master" equipment was invented by Cory Kind, who works at our facility, and serves as a gentle and very effective approach to resolving many kinds of physical disabilites and dysfunctions, especially back pain. Cory has used this equipment in conjunction with a series of gentle stretching and relaxing motions to relieve back and other pains, even in those who have had poor results after back surgery. The "Free Motion Master" is a trapeze-like device that suspends from a door frame or ceiling joist and allows for a whole variety of gentle stretching exercises.  Frequency Specific Microcurrent This device generates specific micro-current frequencies that have been shown to relieve pain.  The electrical currents used  by this device are not sufficient to be noticed by the client, however the microcurrents work on several levels to relieve pain, often quite dramatically.  Variable Frequency Microcurrent "The Space Healer" is a Russian invention, originally designed for use by Cosmonauts, and now available for general use. It is a remarkable, small, hand-held device that produces an adjustable intensity, variable frequency sweep that relieves pain, especially muscle-associated pain, often in just minutes.  This device, like the frequency-specific microcurrent device, also simulates healing. Low-level Lasers There are a number of different classes of medical lasers. High power lasers are used for cutting, coagulating or evaporating tissues. Low power (low level, low intensity, bio-stumulating) lasers, on the other hand, do not damage tissue, in fact they enhance healing and stimulate cell function. They are often combined with light emitting diodes that emit healing wavelengths of light. The FDA considers these healing lasers to be "non-significant risk devices." Low-level lasers do not produce burning heat, as do surgical lasers, instead they stimulate photochemical reactions in the cells that promote the production of energy molecules (ATP). This "leads to normalization of cell function, pain relief and healing. The effect of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is especially striking in areas of the body where cells are under stress It sometimes borders on the miraculous. " (Dr. Zeischegg, MS, D.C.) According to Dr. Zeischegg, who is currently conducting research in low-level laser therapy at his California clinic "there are more than 50 positive double-blind low level laser therapy research studies that indicate that  low-level laser therapy is beneficial for many conditions", including: Chronic pain including post-herpetic neuralgia. Tendonitis, osteoarthritis Sports injuries, wounds and burns Painful trigger points Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Tennis elbow Acne and eczema Fibromylagia, lymphedema,M migraine headaches For a list of the double-blind studies supporting the benefits and uses of low-level laser therapy go to www.drz.org/asp/cp/studies.htm Therapy sessions with the microcurrent devices and the low level lasers are brief, and generally less than 15 minutes in length. Stem Cell Treatment This technique offers a viable source of replacement cells to treat ailments. Currently, a very few stem cells treatments  have been proven safe and effective.  Kaufman Technique This revolutionary  “Pain Neutralization Technique” was the brainchild of Dr. Stephen Kaufman, a Denver-based chiropractor. (2693 South Niagara St. (near Yale and Monaco); Denver, CO. 80224; (800) 774-5078).  This technique offers almost miraculous results in an amazingly short period of time, usually just minutes.  The conditions often amenable to this treatment include many kinds of headaches, back pain, migraines, sciatica, and even chronic fatigue states, TMJ pains and dizziness  The technique utilizes normal muscle reflexes to generate almost instant healing. Most muscles in the body perform an action (i.e., a movement), which is opposed by another muscle, which generates the opposite action.  For example, when the biceps muscle, which flexes the forearm, contracts, the opposing muscle, the triceps, which extends the forearm, must relax and vice versa. The nervous system automatically relaxes the opposing muscle by reflex action. A muscle that is in pain or that has “trigger points” is in a state of contraction. These “trigger points” can generate pains locally or even some distance away from the tender spot.              What Dr. Kaufman has discovered is that by pressing on the trigger point and then stimulating the opposing muscle, he is able to “fool” the brain into thinking the opposing muscle is contracting and this causes the trigger point muscle to relax which eliminates the trigger point pain within minutes.  The pain generated by the trigger point will then resolve, sometimes immediately and sometimes over a day or so. Often only one manipulation is necessary to achieve good results. However, repeat visits are sometimes necessary to achieve the desired degree of pain relief. Hypnotherapy This technique has also been shown to help reduce pain.