Common Issues That Can Become Chronic:

• mechanical neck pain

• tendinopathies/tendon issues 

• low back pain

• disc herniations/slipped discs

• knee pain 

• shoulder pain

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There are some common reasons why an issue or injury can become chronic. First, if an area or region is being overloaded consistently due to compensation or suboptimal mechanics, the area will never have sufficient time to recover. Second, when an area of the body has constantly been sending/receiving a pain signal for enough time, our brain and pain system can become more efficient and creating that pain response. This can lower the threshold for the 'pain alarm' to activate in the body which may lead someone to believe they are in danger or harming themselves even when that is not necessarily the case.  Another reason an injury can become chronic can stem from de-conditioning of the injured or painful area. When something hurts, we tend to protect it or use it differently, which can slowly decrease strength and muscle activation of the area. This can, over time, impact, how you use that area and how tolerant it is to being loaded and worked. 

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Treatment Approach:

The MOST important part of treatment in this case, is understanding the situation and the reasons behind why you're feeling what you're feeling. Knowledge is power. Treatment may also include:

• pain science education

• progressive exposure to challenging stimuli

• electro- or contemporary acupuncture

• joint manipulation or mobilization

• muscle release

• exercise prescription

• ergonomic advice

• sport-specific training/rehab

• mobility programming

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FAQ:

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Can a chiropractor help treat chronic pain?

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A chiropractor in Canada is well equipped to provide non-invasive strategies for managing chronic pain. There are different ways chiropractors practice in Canada though. It's important to work with someone who is following evidence-informed treatment strategies, which should include things like education, exercise prescription, activity modification and forms of manual therapy.

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Should I stop exercising with an injury?

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Great question. It can depend. It is important to get screened by a relevant health professional first but generally, for most injuries, continuing to stay active and modifying exercise is encouraged. 

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How many visits will I need?

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This can depend on a few variables like, severity, history of injuries, level of activity, overall health status, and structures involved. Generally, when creating a treatment plan, we meet more frequently in the beginning (once-twice a week) and taper as progress is seen to a point where we may be checking in periodically for maintenance/tune-ups/exercise progression. ​​​​