chronic pain… goodbye

story by | dr. brad feldner

Recurring or chronic pain has many definitions. It can be described as pain lasting longer than three to six months or pain that persists after an injury has healed or a disease is over. Regardless of the definition, living with pain day after day is miserable and too often people focus on managing symptoms rather than finding an underlying reason which may be causing the pain.

You don’t have to live with pain! It is very common to hear people say they have tried various treatment and therapy methods with little to no long-term improvement. This can obviously be very frustrating due to the time, energy and expense they have utilized searching for relief. Many end up feeling they are stuck with the chronic discomfort for the rest of their lives. Who could blame someone for feeling this way?

Well, you have a choice. You can continue with “status quo” or you can say “enough is enough.” A focused rehabilitation program can help you find out what is causing your aches and pains, improve your quality of life, decrease future healthcare expenses and help you focus on longer-term relief.

The truth is if your joints are not moving well, your muscles are not going to function normally. If your muscles are weak and not functioning properly, you will begin to compensate your movement patterns, muscle imbalances will develop and a chronic pain cycle can result. Without a proper evaluation and a customized rehabilitation program, it is likely this individual will continue on a chronic, recurring pain cycle.

If it isn’t working…try something new! A perfect example of another chronic pain cycle can be associated with being overweight. A recent study stated when people are just 10 pounds overweight, it can place up to 30 pounds of extra stress on the larger weight bearing joints of your body such as your knees, hips and lower back. It’s not surprising that I commonly hear patients say, "I want to get some treatment to decrease the current discomfort I am having and I also want to exercise and lose weight, but each time I exercise it aggravates the pain I am experiencing and therefore I cannot exercise or lose weight."

Just treating the aching knee may never end the pain cycle for the individual in this example. The true cause and the corresponding compensation must be addressed. Rehabilitation targets the cause of a problem to assist people who have recurring pain and discomfort due to past injuries, incorrect movement patterns, poor posture, compensation and muscle imbalances. A professional one-on-one rehabilitation exercise program can truly help many people improve their quality of life, decrease discomfort and allow them to save money instead of spending it on future healthcare.

If your current healthcare provider does not focus upon rehabilitation in their clinic, don’t be afraid to step out of the box, get a second opinion/consult and find out if rehabilitation is the right fit for you. The Red River Valley is full of many fantastic healthcare providers and we are all here to assist you with our specialties.

So, now is the time! A customized rehab program can make sure you know exactly when, why and how to exercise in order to strengthen and stabilize your injured and/or recurring areas of discomfort. A joint is only healthy if it is moving and the muscles are functioning...correctly. Would it interest you to find out why your chronic discomfort is persisting? Would you like to know which muscles and joints were tight, tender, restricted, overactive, weak and deconditioned? There is no better time than the present to explore other options and make a change.

Are you ready?

300 45th Street South, Suite #315, Fargo www.puredcrehab.com 701.893.7873

Dr. Brad Feldner

Dr. Brad Feldner has over 18 years of chiropractic experience including 10 years of teaching rehab and exercise around the nation. As of February 2011, he is the only Chiropractor in the State of North Dakota who is currently certified in rehabilitation by the ACRB. He lives in Fargo with his wife of 18 years, Laura and their 7-year-old twins, Alexandra and Dylan.

Contest Winner

Reece

mom and dad: Tara Garland & Ryan Clayton from: fargo, nd birthday: july 18, 2008 my favorite eats… Eggo waffles with syrup. I love when they "pop" from the toaster. I'm not a fan of… Halloween—too scary for me. best toy i have… my hockey stick and puck. I am always saying, "let's play hockey!"

I am most like my… Dad—charming, sweet and very witty. I heart… hockey and animals—especially my pups, Jaden, a Collie cross, and Melvis, a Pug.

contest runner-ups

Michael mom and dad: Sara & Melvin Whitney from: fargo,nd birthday: may 29, 2009

I love to eat…

Papa and Nana's venison sausage, hot dogs, or chicken nuggets.

I heart… anything sports!

I am most like… my Mom when I clean up my toys and like my Dad when I shout at the TV.

Carly mom and dad: Tara & Matthew Fee from: west fargo nd birthday: april 9, 2010

I love to eat… yogurt, macaroni and cheese, and cereal puffs. when i was born… my dad helped delivered me.

I am not a fan of… getting my clothes changed or my mommy fixing my hair.