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dChiropractic and Pain Relief
By Dr. Rick Hall Published: 10/05/2008
Chiropractic was designed with a much greater purpose than pain relief; to improve the function of the spine and nervous system by locating and correcting vertebral subluxations.
Subluxations are injuries to the spinal joints that cause the spine to function less than optimally, and more importantly, cause impairment to the nervous system. Since the nervous system CONTROLS AND COORDINATES every structure and function in the human body, it’s wise to keep it free from interference. That’s chiropractic’s big job. Interference in the nervous system is like a dimmer switch on a light bulb; some of the energy is blocked and so the bulb is lit, but dimmed. When the spinal nerves are irritated from subluxation, the result is a dimmed heart, or kidney, or liver, or thyroid. That’s certainly bigger than neck pain or back pain, isn’t it?
Subluxations explain why some people have weak stomachs, while others have weak lungs, bowels, or immune systems. Sometimes subluxations simply manifest as a diminished energy, sluggishness, and lethargy. When the nervous system is diminished, anything can go wrong with the body and mind.
By the time one has back or neck pain, barring a sudden injury, you can be sure there’s been a problem in the spine for months or years. Dr. B.J. Palmer, the developer of chiropractic, said, “Get the BIG IDEA, and all else follows. Correct and improve the spine and nervous system with chiropractic care, and the positive changes in your body and mind are profound. And as a bonus, pain usually goes away, easily and naturally.
I appreciate the fact that people want to be rid of pain, but please understand that the nature and purpose of the chiropractic adjustment is to correct vertebral subluxation to improve the integrity of the spine, and more importantly, the nervous system. Improving the function of the spine and nervous system improves the connection between the brain and all parts of the body. The nervous system is PRIMARY! Paramount. Supreme. Numero uno. Top dog. The big cheese. It runs the show. It controls and coordinates EVERY structure and function in the human body.
To be happier and healthier throughout our lives, we need our nervous systems working their very best. Of course I want your pain to go away, but that’s not my job. My job is MUCH bigger than that. If you’re in a serious accident, and blood is shooting out of an artery in your neck, do you want the EMT or surgeon to focus on your back pain? Of course not. In order to save your life, the bleeding must be stopped.
Vertebral subluxation (common spinal injuries that have healed wrong) will weaken and diminish your health and life and slowly kill you. I’m sorry to be so blunt, and I prefer not to use fear as a motivating factor, but subluxations and their devastating effects are very real. These little changes in your spine have a HUGE impact on your ability to function day to day. Too many people place chiropractic in the medical/band-aid/quick relief model, and I need to be strong to teach the real meaning and power behind chiropractic.
Unfortunately, the chiropractic profession has positioned itself as “back-pain” specialists over the past 50 years, and although it does help a lot of people get out of pain, this has only made it more difficult for those of us in chiropractic that adhere to its bigger principle; subluxation correction to improve function. Improve function, and pain usually recedes, very naturally. Chiropractic is about function.
So, instead of thinking, How can I get rid of my pain?, think of how to improve the function of your body/mind. This way, like the Steinway Grand Piano, you are using chiropractic for its real and higher purpose.