Extremity pain is one of the most common pain complaints. With overuse, wear and tear, and the daily stress that people endure, it’s no wonder that the difficulties of modern life are manifesting themselves in our arms and legs.
Causes of Lower Extremity Pain
Your lower extremities—including the legs, feet, and ankles—are controlled by nerves beginning in the lower back and spine. Pain in these areas can be caused by wrong form or position of the body—in which case, it will eventually resolve when the position is changed—or the pain may be episodic. In the latter case, the pain usually results from a trauma or mechanical stress.
Aside from injury, leg and ankle pain may also be caused by arthritis or infection. Foot pain can also result from disease.
Causes of Upper Extremity Pain
One’s upper extremities—arms, wrists, shoulders, neck—can be injured not only through overuse but also due to daily wear-and-tear. The shoulders and wrists, in particular, are very commonly affected, and the type and occurrence of pain may vary depending on the kind of injury.
The rule of thumb is that the more repeatedly an activity is done using the same body part, the higher the risk for getting injured. This is why athletes are usually told to train not only in their primary sports, but also in other sports without using the same body part. A marathoner, for example, could cross train with cycling or weightlifting activities when he’s not running, which keeps him active without threatening the health of his extremities.
Treatment of Extremity Pain
The treatment for extremity pain varies depending upon the cause and the body part which had been injured. Medications are usually prescribed by physicians for pain relief, as well as anti-inflammatory medicines and anti-coagulants.
For some people, however, taking drugs is out of the question. If they have a high tolerance for pain, they can usually bear extremity pain without the use of painkillers. First aid strategies like applying ice can help reduce suffering.
For longer term pain relief, and to ensure that the body is in top shape to do daily activities, some people choose to have regular chiropractic care. Chiropraxy is not a treatment per se, but a strategy utilizing the body’s alignment to maximize its ability to heal itself and function better.
Chiropractic treatment offers natural healing, so there’s no side effects, and no risk for addiction. A chiropractor, who is a trained and licensed medical professional, is an expert at soft tissue injuries, and is especially effective when it comes to extremity pain.
Chiropractic care is increasingly being used not only to treat pain in the upper and lower extremities, but in other conditions as well, such as migraine headaches and back pain. It has become the top alternative medicine in the US, as people are beginning to realize the value of having regular chiropractic care as part of a healthy and pain-free life.
