Chiropractic Neurology – A Comprehensive Approach to Treating Chronic Pain 

Chronic pain is one of the leading health concerns in our country. It causes increased medical costs for patients, burdens on families, and decreases workplace productivity.

A chiropractic functional neurologist evaluates and treats the nervous system. Physical symptoms often result from a dysfunctional nervous system. This noninvasive approach provides a holistic treatment.

Evaluation

Chiropractic Neurologists are highly trained to understand the anatomy and function of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. This helps them identify the underlying cause of dysfunction and imbalance in the nervous system. These doctors also use medication-free and non-surgical treatment methods to correct these problems.

Unlike medical neurologists that prescribe pharmaceuticals to stimulate chemical receptors and minimize symptoms, a functional chiropractor will improve the balance of the nervous system through neurological rehabilitation. This may include re-education exercises, cognitive therapy, chiropractic adjustments, and stimulation of the sensory systems like balance or vision.

Diagnosis

Chiropractic Neurology is a subspecialty of chiropractic that is focused on brain and nervous system disorders. Unlike medical neurologists, who often treat a specific symptom or disease, a Functional Neurology Doctor from a reputable clinic such as Integrated Health Systems will address the underlying mechanisms that create your symptoms and provide treatment to restore balance in your nervous system.

The diagnosis begins with a thorough patient examination, including medical history, physical exam, and neurological examination. Then, a Functional Neurology doctor will use diagnostic tests such as MRIs and CT scans to determine the source of your symptoms.

Then, a Functional Neurology Doctor will restore balance to the nervous system by using various non-pharmaceutical techniques to promote healing and improve the quality of life for patients with chronic pain syndromes. These include migraines, headaches, dizziness and balance disorders, tremors, tics and dystonias, spinal disorders, concussions, and traumatic brain injuries. This is accomplished by reestablishing the connections between healthy nerve cells and improving the processing of signals in the brain and nervous system.

Treatment

Unlike medical neurologists with standard “cookbook” protocols they use with various pathologies, Chiropractic Neurologists are patient-focused and adjust their treatment methods to the uniqueness of each patient. This approach helps to avoid overexciting or stimulating areas of the nervous system that may already be overly stressed.

The treatment focuses on stimulating physical receptors in the spine, muscles, and balance systems (eyes and ears) to enhance the brain’s processing of sensory information often skewed by disease and injury. Many patients find relief from conditions such as headaches and migraines, vertigo and imbalance, tremors, numbness and tingling, and chronic pain syndromes when traditional treatments fail to provide adequate results.

Chiropractic functional neurology is a postdoctoral training program that requires three years of class work and residency, followed by examinations to receive a Diplomate from the Chiropractic Neurology Board. This board also oversees the subspecialty colleges of child developmental disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and electrodiagnostic, as well as conducting yearly exams to re-certify practitioners to ensure consistently high standards of practice.

Prevention

A Chiropractic Neurology practitioner can find ways to drive neuroplasticity in specific brain areas to improve your health challenges. This is done through various techniques designed to address your symptoms’ root cause(s) rather than just masking them with medication.

The nervous system influences everything from movement and posture to sensation, balance and coordination, pain, blood pressure, organ function, vision, hearing, smell, and taste. This is done by sending information via the muscular-skeletal system to the brain and central nervous system.

Medical neurologists often look for a pathology (tumor, infection, genetic disorder, etc.) by ordering tests such as MRIs and CT scans and then prescribing pharmaceuticals to stimulate chemical receptors in the body that minimize the symptomatic presentation. Sometimes these medications create unwanted side effects and can be harmful in the long run. A Chiropractic Functional Neurology doctor can help bridge the gap between this high-intervention approach and the natural focus of chiropractic care.