Ask the Chiropractor: Can Chiropractic Help Alleviate Pain and Side Effects from Cancer Treatment?

by Oasis Wellness Partners on April 30, 2019      

As chiropractic doctors, we are trained to help people improve their immune system and manage pain. This includes practice members who are fighting cancer. “An estimated 1 out of 3 to 2 out of 3 people with cancer experience pain, from the cancer itself or the associated treatment and tests.”[1]

The level and kind of pain experienced depends on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer and the practice member’s pain threshold. Typically, cancer pain stems from nerve damage, tumors or damage resulting from an advanced stage of cancer. Procedures, chemotherapy, radiation testing and surgeries can cause pain.

Often, the pain associated with cancer can be undertreated, and according to the Mayo Clinic, experts believe that there are many factors that contribute to this: Doctors may be reluctant to ask about pain, patients may be reluctant to speak up, or there is a fear of addiction or side effects; most often, pain is managed through strong opioid-based medications[2], which we all know can be very dangerous.

Chiropractic Care and Alternative Treatments for Cancer Pain

Currently, some commonly used alternative treatments for cancer pain and treatment side effects include acupuncture, biofeedback (which helps to control certain body functions, such as breathing and heart rate, allowing the person to relax and cope with pain), massage, meditation and hypnosis. Many of these treatments are now offered at major cancer treatment facilities. Acupuncture is the most commonly used alterative to Western medicine and studies have shown that it helps to alleviate pain and nausea. Experts from Harvard Medical School also believe that some of these complimentary or alternative treatments help to decrease stress and anxiety, which can positively affect the patient’s pain threshold.[3]

Another commonly used and effective alternative to solely managing pain through medication is chiropractic care. Harvard Medical Researchers recommend chiropractic care to help reduce stress, increase mobility, flexibility, strength and function, and improve overall well-being.[4] Spinal manipulation, called a chiropractic adjustment, is a gentle, non-invasive and drug-free approach to correcting musculoskeletal issues and restoring nerve function.

Chiropractic is Preventative Healthcare

Chiropractic care is also an excellent source for preventative and proactive-based healthcare. Centered on healthy lifestyle practices and the correction and maintenance of an optimally functioning nervous system, chiropractic care offers patients the support necessary to live a life in health and well-being. Call us at Chiropractic Family Wellness Center today to discuss living a healthy life in wellness at our Scarborough office (207) 883-5549.

[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/treating-pain-overview/art-20208633

[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/treating-pain-overview/art-20208633

[3] https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/chiropractic-care-for-pain-relief

[4] https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/chiropractic-care-for-pain-relief

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