Chiropractic Care for Long-Term Conditions
We typically seek chiropractic treatment following accident or injury. But trained clinicians can help with more than tennis elbow, backache, or workplace ergonomic woes. Dr. Chani Henderson of Family and Sports Chiropractic Clinic helps those with long-term illnesses like lupus and Parkinson’s disease as well.
Just over 8% of Americans seek chiropractic or osteopathic care annually. That’s more than 19 million of us, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Of these, the American Chiropractic Association reports that “three in four people who saw a chiropractor in the last year (77%) described chiropractic care as ‘very effective.’”
Dr. Henderson’s welcoming clinic offers care for “treating the whole patient, not just covering up symptoms…The better you know your body, the healthier you can be. Along with being interested in auto accident injuries, family and sports care, Dr. Henderson has a strong interest in Pediatric care and Women’s health.”
Dealing with illness diagnoses as they arise is, unfortunately, sometimes part of life. Henderson’s whole-patient approach strives to take these in stride. Lupus and Parkinson’s disease have no known cure—so far—but chiropractic manipulation improves overall mobility and pain-free quality of life.
Lupus
The Lupus Foundation of America acknowledges the disease’s innate complexity. “Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body. It is difficult to diagnose, hard to live with, and a challenge to treat. Lupus is a cruel mystery because it is hidden from view and undefined, has a range of symptoms, strikes without warning, and has no known cause and no known cure.”
Their research shows that “5 million people around the world are affected by the disease [and] 16,000 new cases of lupus are reported each year…People with lupus can experience significant symptoms, such as pain, extreme fatigue, hair loss, cognitive issues, and physical impairments that affect every facet of their lives. Many suffer from cardiovascular disease, strokes, disfiguring rashes, and painful joints. For others, there may be no visible symptoms.”
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is more common globally and many of us know someone directly affected by its progression. The Parkinson’s Foundation says that “Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with PD each year [and] more than 10 million people worldwide are living with PD.”
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disorder, according to the Foundation, with a variety of symptoms. “The progression of symptoms is often a bit different from one person to another due to the diversity of the disease. People with PD may experience: tremor, mainly at rest and described as pill-rolling tremor in hands…limb rigidity, [and] gait and balance problems.”
Finding Relief through Chiropractic Care
“With lupus, widespread inflammation is very common,” explains Dr. Henderson. “The adjustments, I have found, help decrease the body-wide pain, improve joint mobility, and can lessen the amount of inflammation. It’s more palliative care, as we’re not going to reverse or cure the lupus, but more trying to keep them in the least amount of pain possible while improving their ability to be active.”
“The same goes with Parkinson, except with that disease they get body-wide uncontrollable muscle tightening and spasms,” she continues. “I have found with those patients that adjustments help ease muscle spasm, improve joint mobility, improve range of motion, and offer some pain relief.”
There is no fixed treatment plan or set duration because “every human body is very different and it makes a huge difference how far along the disease is,” she admits. “If we’re talking about just the symptoms of the disease then it’s more about palliative/symptomatic relief. If they have other musculoskeletal issues outside of the auto-immune disease, then corrective care can be done, depending on the issue.”
Relief is Possible
But even with no cure to date, sometimes simple routine manipulations work wonders. “All of my patients with these diseases get immediate relief with adjustments,” says Henderson. “Improved mobility, a decrease of subjective pain, a decrease of muscle spasm and the ability to do the activities they wish to engage in.”
If you or someone you love shows early warning signs of lupus or Parkinson’s, talk with a primary care doctor to learn more. Whatever the eventual diagnosis, consider adding Dr. Chani Henderson to your dedicated health care team. She can work with you towards a specific goal or to simply ensure a long, mobile life for you and your loved ones. Don’t let lupus or PD stop you in your tracks.
Book an initial consultation or appointment online, at their Vancouver offices, or by calling 360-254-0400. Follow them on Facebook for reviews, tips, tricks, videos, and advice.