Managing pain and inflammation usually takes more than one thing. In our office we think about it as a combined approach: chiropractic care for how the spine moves and functions, and two nutrition basics, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, that many people are short on. Here is how each piece fits, and what the research does and does not say.
1. Chiropractic adjustments
Chiropractic care focuses on how the spine moves and how the nervous system is functioning. When joints are stiff or moving poorly, the tissue around them can become irritated and sore. Adjustments may help ease tension and improve mobility for many patients, and better movement is a foundation for staying active.
- Inflammation markers. A 2021 review in Frontiers in Pain Research looked at small studies measuring immune and inflammatory markers after spinal manipulation. Some reported short-term changes. The studies are small and the authors call for larger trials, so we treat this as interesting, not settled.
- Pain and function. Systematic reviews of spinal manipulation for low back pain generally find it comparable to other conservative options, with a low risk of side effects. That is the strongest part of the evidence base, and it is why adjustments are the first piece of our approach.
2. Vitamin D
Vitamin D, often called the sunshine vitamin, is involved in bone and muscle health and in how the immune system behaves. Low levels are common in Idaho winters. Research has linked low vitamin D to some chronic pain conditions, although it is not clear how much supplementing helps people who are not deficient.
- What we suggest. Ask your medical doctor to check your level before supplementing. If you are low, correcting it is cheap and simple, and it supports the bones and muscles we are working on.
3. Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish, flaxseed and supplements, are part of how the body produces and resolves inflammation. There is reasonable evidence that omega-3 supplementation modestly reduces joint pain and stiffness in some people with inflammatory arthritis, and it is also studied for heart and brain health.
- What we suggest. Two servings of fatty fish a week, or a quality supplement. Talk to your doctor before starting one, especially if you take a blood thinner.
Putting it together
None of these three replaces the others, and none of them replaces the care you get from your medical doctor. Never stop or change a prescribed medication without speaking to the doctor who prescribed it. What the combination can do is give your body better conditions to recover in: joints that move well, and the nutrients the tissue needs. If pain or inflammation has been hanging around, book an exam and we will look at what is driving it for you.
This is general information, not medical advice. Individual results vary. Book an exam for a diagnosis specific to you, and never stop a prescribed medication without speaking to the doctor who prescribed it.