If you have chronic pain related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a chiropractor can help you. Let’s deep dive into how chronic pain and PTSD are linked, as well as what you can do to help relieve the tension.
What is PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)?
PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health disorder triggered by either seeing or experiencing a terrifying event. Commonly observed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder are nightmares, flashbacks, negative thoughts, severe anxiety, and overwhelming thoughts about that particular event.
How Does PTSD Cause Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is one of the lesser-known symptoms of PTSD that is mainly triggered by the overwhelming stress experienced by the patient. When you're stressed, your muscles, especially those in your head, neck, shoulder, and back, tend to get tense. Tight muscles can also trigger frequent migraines and tension headaches.
Muscles that are too tight may pull the vertebrae in your spine out of alignment, causing pain behind your neck, back, and other regions of your body.
Another thing to note is that stress and anxiety can also cause diarrhea and abdominal pain. When you're stressed, your body produces the stress hormone cortisol in higher amounts which can irritate the lining of your digestive tract, causing abdominal pain.
How Can Chiropractic Practices Help Alleviate Chronic Pain Due to PTSD?
If you are someone who has PTSD, a chiropractor can help ease your pain. Here are some of the common treatment methods practiced by chiropractors:
- Correction of Spinal Misalignments
A chiropractor uses spinal manipulation to realign your spine. This is usually done by giving quick thrusts to your spine with bare hands or a small activator device. While you will feel better after your initial treatment, it’s strongly advised to return for additional ones to obtain the full benefit.
- Massages
Once your chiropractor aligns your spine correctly, your tendons and muscles will become looser too. This will decrease muscle pain and spasms. Massages can also be a part of the treatment that eases muscle tension and increases the levels of happy hormones in our body (serotonin and endorphins), that act as natural painkillers.
Benefits of Chiropractic Treatment for PTSD
Chiropractic treatment increases the flexibility of your joints and makes it easier to move them. Chronic stress is a leading cause of pain and inflammation throughout your body. It’s also known to be linked to Alzheimer's disease, stroke, depression, and heart attacks. Fortunately, chiropractic treatments can help minimize stress.
If you are looking for a chiropractic practice near you to cope with your post-traumatic disorder pain, Active Chiropractic & Laser Center can help. Call us today to talk to our expert chiropractors or to schedule an appointment.
