A Better Approach to Treating Chronic Pain

We recently received a five-star review from a police officer who came to us because he had been dealing with so much pain for so long that it became unbearable. Here’s what he said about his experience at Natural Healthcare Center:

“I’m extremely grateful for the staff who got me back to 100%. After about 20 years of pain, this is the best I’ve felt in as long as I can remember. Not only are they professional, but they’re also personable. The office operates like a well-oiled machine. I can’t thank the crew enough!”

This type of review means the world to me. He didn’t provide details about his pain or the treatment he received, and neither will I out of respect for his privacy. 

But he got me thinking about the kind of pain people deal with every day. The kind of pain so many people accept as normal. The kind of pain that requires a truly personalized plan to address.

Ignoring Chronic Pain as “Normal”

Most people have experienced pain related to some form of trauma, from a mild ankle sprain to a broken wrist to a serious back injury from a car accident. Action is taken immediately to treat that pain.

But we accept chronic pain as normal. The dull pain that’s always there, or nagging pain that’s not quite debilitating but too noticeable to ignore. 

Achiness. Stiffness. Tightness. Soreness. Heaviness. Burning. 

These types of pain might be felt when you wake up in the morning or during certain activities. They make everyday life more difficult. They affect mobility. They sap your energy. They make you feel tired.

But you don’t do anything about chronic pain. 

“It’s just normal wear and tear.”

“It’s just a reality of getting older.”

“It’s not that bad. I have more important things to worry about.

“I’ll feel better after Advil and a hot shower.”

The challenge with chronic pain is that there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for every type. But the healthcare establishment basically treats them all the same, with medication-based pain management.

Anti-inflammatories, or steroids. Prescription pain medication, like opioids. Muscle relaxers. Injections. Over-the-counter pain medication. And if none of that works, surgery is recommended.

We know because we end up seeing people facing the same dilemma.

When they get so frustrated with endless prescriptions and minimal improvement, or they want to avoid surgery, they walk through our doors at Natural Healthcare Center.

A Personalized Pain Plan and Solution

The first step is always a thorough examination and investigative work to identify the source and causes of pain, the type of pain, and how the pain is affecting your quality of life. We ask about your diet. We discuss your level of exercise. We may recommend diagnostic testing and blood testing so we can see what’s going on below the surface.

This exam may include basic function tests. Bending over and touching your toes. A full squat. A lunge. Turning your head 180 degrees from side to side. Touching your left shoulder blade with your right hand.

If you can do all these things with no pain while maintaining proper balance, that’s a good start. But most people fail these tests, which is the first sign of dysfunction that causes chronic pain.

Once we complete an examination and analyze the data, we identify what type of manual therapies are best suited to treat the pain, like chiropractic, physical therapy, occupational therapy, massage therapy, and acupuncture. We may recommend personalized dietary protocols to reduce inflammation and restore proper body composition.

We’ve also begun educating patients about peptides. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that serve as the building blocks of proteins. They can help repair tissue and regulate inflammation, targeting the root cause instead of masking symptoms.

Although we don’t prescribe peptides at Natural Healthcare Center, they’re emerging as a viable treatment option, which is why you’ll be hearing about peptides at my upcoming public speaking engagements.

We can recommend surgeons as an absolute last resort, but this is rarely necessary. In fact, I’ve had patients tearfully thank me because they were told surgery was the only option and we were able to treat their pain conservatively.

Why an Integrated Approach to the Treatment of Chronic Pain Works

Let’s bring this back to the police officer who came to us and finally felt better after 20 years in pain. The work we do at Natural Healthcare Center doesn’t fit into a single perfect box.

We don’t operate like the highly specialized traditional healthcare model. We’re not just looking at pain in a certain area of your body in isolation. Every aspect of your life needs to be examined in order to rebuild, rebalance, and turn off that pain receptor in the brain. That’s why the Pyramid of Health exists.

We look at everything across your body’s interconnected systems to find sources of dysfunction and imbalance. This includes physical function, genetics, stress levels, diet, digestion, where that food comes from, and more.

We were able to help this person because he made the decision that enough was enough. He decided pain was not normal. He knew there had to be a better way than an endless cycle of prescription medication. He opened his mind to an integrated approach to care. 

That’s the point I want to drive home. We know the Natural Healthcare Center model works because it’s completely evidence based, and we’ve seen it work. But it’s up to you to stop accepting a life of chronic pain. 

You need to say, “I want to feel better, function better, and live longer.” My team and I are ready to help you get there.