Can Chiropractors Relieve Musculoskeletal Chest Pain?
Chest pain is a very common presentation for people to go to emergency room and seek for medical care. According the cause of chest pain, it is categorized into musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal in origin. Musculoskeletal conditions that cause chest pain are more common and the prevalence ranges from 20.6% to 46.6%. Physical therapies such as chiropractic care can relieve musculoskeletal chest pain. Therefore, it is crucial to exclude non-musculoskeletal causes of chest pain that require to urgent referral for intervention such as ischemic heart diseases pulmonary embolism.
Non-musculoskeletal causes – Chiropractor Near Me
Accurate diagnosis of organic causes of chest pain is imperative for proper intervention. Some non-musculoskeletal causes such as ischemic heart diseases and pulmonary infarction are life threatening, which should not overlook.
Cardiovascular Disorders
People with cardiovascular disorders such as angina and heart attack can experience anterior chest pain with radiating to the back, neck, shoulder, arms and jaw. The pain is described as squeezing, heaviness, pressure or tightness in the chest. Shortness of breath and increased blood pressure are always associated with chest pain. Emotion and physical activities can trigger and worsen chest pain.
Pulmonary Disorders
Pleuritis or called pleurisy, is the inflammation of the pleurae that are two thin layers covering the outside of the lungs and the inside of the chest wall. People with pleurisy feel sharp chest pain when breathing, coughing or sneezing. Holding breaths can temporally alleviate or stop the chest pain. The common causes of pleuritis are bacterial infection, viral infection, pulmonary embolism and pneumothorax.
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is caused by the reflux of excessive stomach acid, and digestive enzyme and bile from duodenum into the oesophagus. Heartburn, a burning sensation in the chest or feeling acidic food contents in the throat or mouth that result in a sore throat or sour liquid in the mouth are the common symptoms. Lying down or trying to sleep after eating tends to worsen the symptoms. Coughing and choking can occur during sleeping.
Musculoskeletal problems – Chiropractor Near Me
5 – 20% of patients with acute chest pain admitted to chest pain clinics are non-organic disorders. Musculoskeletal chest pain is normally originated from the musculoskeletal system (the thoracic spine, sternum, ribs and back muscles). Due to subluxation or misalignment of your joint, inflammation accompanying pain can occur in the affected joints and the surrounding tissues and nerves.
Chiropractic manipulation (called manipulative therapy or chiropractic adjustment) can correct spinal misalignment. Inflammation and chest will be reduced due to the decompression of the affected joints, tissues and nerves. of joint subluxation. In order to achieve a better prognosis, soft tissue work, ultrasound, shockwave, dry needling, cupping and so on are utilized with spinal manipulation.
Intercostal Neuralgia
Intercostal neuralgia is neuropathic pain along the intercostal nerves. Patients with intercostal neuralgia may feel the nerve pain in their ribs, chest or even upper abdominal wall area when affecting level is below T7. The nature of the pain is sharp, stabbing burning and pins and needles and numbness can occur.
Irritation, inflammation and compression of intercostal nerves lead to intercostal neuralgia. Post-thoracic surgical intervention (43%) wall and viral infection (28%) are the common causes of this condition. The rest of the cases are idiopathic (uncertain or unknown origin) or neoplastic (tumors).
Rib joint pain (also known as costovertebral pain) is characterized by sharp pain or stabbing pain in the mid back and can radiate the pain to the anterior chest wall. The common cause of rib joint pain is the misalignment or subluxation in the costovertebral joint. Coughing, deep breaths, neck and torso movements can aggravate the rib pain.
The conditions above are not the full list that can cause chest pain. The anatomical structures in the chest wall including bones and soft tissues can cause chest wall pain. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact chest pain generator. You should not do self diagnose and should consult your general practitioner or allied health professional. Accurate diagnosis and individualized treatment plan will be made based on your presentation and condition. Medications or other treatment methods should not be used by yourself before the diagnosis confirmation.
Chiropractic Clinic Serves Suburbs – Chiropractor Near Me
Kings Park NSW 2148
Kings Langley NSW 2147
Blacktown NSW 2148
Quakers Hill NSW 2763
Stanhope Gardens NSW 2768
Rooty Hill NSW 2766
Seven Hills NSW 2147
Kellyville NSW 2155
Marsden Park NSW 2765
Schofields NSW 2762
The Ponds NSW 2769
Rouse Hill NSW 2155
Castle Hill NSW 2154
Baulkham Hills NSW 2153