Personalized care techniques for treating chronic inflammation

Chronic inflammation is a long-term and lasting condition that can plague your patients for weeks, months and even years at a time.

While there’s no cure for chronic inflammation, especially as a symptom of a chronic condition or preexisting issue, you can provide personalized care and treatment techniques that can relieve, mitigate or even prevent pain from chronic inflammation.

This article explores a few strategies for offering patients pain relief through treatment, evaluation and personalized care plans.

Techniques for diagnosing and treating patients’ chronic inflammation

Regularly adjust misaligned vertebrae

Chiropractic adjustments have long been a go-to technique for managing chronic inflammation. Realigning vertebrae can reduce pressure on a patient’s nerves, allowing them to function properly and regulate biomechanics – and as a result, their body will stop production of neuropeptides, which can help reduce inflammation. Additionally, an adjustment can help reduce the production of cytokines, regulating the cells of the immune system and avoiding a buildup that may cause inflammation. Creating a regular adjustment schedule for your patients can help ease pain, mitigate inflammation response and manage chronic inflammation symptoms.

Observe and advise on diet

Certain dietary changes may help your patients manage their inflammation symptoms. Though every patient and their inflammation symptoms are different, avoiding or adding in certain foods could help improve chronic inflammation. Taking a natural approach to curbing inflammation can be a helpful way to mitigate symptoms.

The focus of anti-inflammatory diets usually trends toward avoiding processed foods, trans fats and saturated fats while focusing on the following:

Foods rich in antioxidants, polyphenols, carotenoids and

omega-3 fatty acids (long chain)

Foods low on the glycemic index
Extra virgin olive oil as the main source of fat in the diet

Reduction of refined carbohydrates

One study states, “research suggests a low-inflammatory diet may alleviate” arthritic symptoms and inflammatory systems. Another published study advises to potentially avoid saturated and trans fats, even directly stating, “evidence suggests saturated fatty acids induce inflammation.” One study suggests that “vitamin D is believed to have an immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory action, and its deficiency has been linked with several autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA).” Finally, another study suggests omega-3s play “an important role in the regulation of chronic inflammation” because they are precursors of potent lipid mediators called eicosanoids.

Refer to multidisciplinary practitioners for additional support

One of the best approaches to managing chronic inflammation and the associated symptoms is to provide a comprehensive wellness plan that takes a holistic look at a patient’s needs. While you can provide chiropractic care and some elements of multidisciplinary care, it’s important to take a holistic approach by leaning on other providers and creating an inclusive program that also incorporates a stress management plan.

Every patient’s needs will be different, but this approach could include practitioners like:

Massage therapists
Dietitians
Personal trainers
Acupuncturists
Herbalists
Medical providers

Creating personalized treatment plans for your patients should go beyond physical management. It’s also crucial to look at chronic inflammation as a whole and understand what triggers inflammatory responses. For many patients, excess stress can be a major catalyst for the worsening of chronic inflammation symptoms.

One published study from the National Institutes of Health, reports stress may activate through the sympathetic nervous system to release norepinephrine and neuropeptide Y, the two stress hormones that then further “facilitate the phosphorylation of MAPKs or HMGB1 release, inducing systemic inflammation.”

Final thoughts

As a DC, you know it’s crucial to evaluate how multiple factors, including stress, impact your patients’ chronic inflammation and help them create a plan of regular chiropractic adjustments, dietary changes and other interventions to manage and mitigate any issue that could worsen their condition.