Chiro Therapy for Cancer Pain Relief: A Complementary Approach
Main points:
- Pain medications are usually prescribed fro cancer pain relief and you need to take them regularly to maintain steady pain relief.
- Diagnostic procedures like biopsies, contrast scans, and spinal taps, are not pain-free. They can hurt in the moment or leave you aching afterward.
- Chiro therapy is starting to get more attention in cancer treatment as a drug-free way to manage cancer-related pain.
In the Philippines, pain and discomfort among cancer patients is a serious problem that’s often neglected. A study that was published in the Health Research and Development Information Network (HERDIN), the official repository for health and health-related research in the Philippiines, suggests that on average cancer patients only get about 32% relief from their pain even when they’re on medication. Consequently, their sleep suffers, they can’t find mental peace, and their overall quality of life takes a serious hit.
Right now, most cancer pain treatment relies heavily on NSAIDs (common anti-inflammatory painkillers), while stronger opioid medications like morphine are used by less than 1% of patients—way below what medical guidelines say should be happening. This lack of proper treatment shows we desperately need additional options that can actually help close this gap.
The good news is that chiro therapy is starting to get more attention in cancer treatment as a drug-free way to manage cancer-related pain. This article takes a closer look at how the said holistic approach aids in cancer pain relief. Read on.
What is cancer-related pain?
Cancer-related pain is generally any pain and discomfort that comes from the cancer itself, the treatments involved, or the tests performed for diagnosis. It can be acute or chronic, mild or intense. In certain cases, it can shift as you go through treatment and recovery.
Also, pain develops when tumors press against bones, nerves, or organs, or when cancer spreads into bones or other body parts. Surgery, chemo, radiation, and some medications can hurt too, in different ways and different places.
Some people only hurt once in a while. Others live with constant pain that makes it hard to sleep, drains their mood, and gets in the way of normal activities. The good news is that even when cancer can’t be cured, most pain can be brought down to manageable levels with the right combination of treatments.
What causes cancer-related pain?
Pain from cancer doesn’t usually have just one cause. That’s why doctors take time to figure out what’s really going on before they recommend a plan. Knowing where the pain is coming from helps them decide whether you need medication, a procedure, rehab, or something else entirely.
The cancer itself hurts when tumors get big enough to invade or squeeze the tissues around them. That might mean:
- Bone pain if the cancer spreads to the bones.
- Headaches, migraine-like discomfort, or neurological problems if tumors press on your spine or brain.
- Stomach or pelvic discomfort when organs inappropriately become stretched or inflamed.
Treatment, though obviously beneficial, brings some kind of pain as well. For instance, surgery leaves soreness in the incised area. Chemotherapy can give you achy joints, nerve damage, or mouth sores, among others. Radiation treatment may irritate the skin, stiffen tissues, or lead to sudden bursts of pain.
Diagnostic procedures like biopsies, contrast scans, and spinal taps, are not pain-free. They can hurt in the moment or leave you aching afterward. Plus, there may be cases when nerve and tissue damage lingers, causing chronic pain, even after the cancer is already gone or managed.
What are the limitations of pharmacologic pain management?
Pain medications are usually prescribed and you need to take them regularly to maintain steady pain relief; they may be taken in higher doses when breakthrough pain takes place. However, they may not always work as planned. Plus, they come with problems that can sometimes feel as challenging as the pain itself.
Here’s what may happen when you’re under medication:
- Stubborn pain types that resist medication
- Breakthrough pain creates its own problems
- Tolerance builds over time
Stubborn pain types that resist medication:
- Nerve pain is incredibly hard to control with standard pain meds
- Bone pain often doesn’t respond well to pills alone
- You might get some relief but still deal with constant low-level discomfort that never fully goes away
Breakthrough pain creates its own problems:
- Sudden pain spikes blow right through your regular medication schedule
- You’re left hurting and waiting for rescue doses to kick in
- These flares are unpredictable and can happen anytime
Tolerance builds over time:
- Your body adjusts to the medication
- You need higher doses to get the same relief you used to get
- Higher doses usually mean worse side effects
What is chiro therapy in cancer pain management?
When it comes to cancer pain management, patients are often confused to what doctors of chiropractic do. Read on for an explanation of what the said holistic treatment is, and what it’s not.
What doctors of chiropractic do
- Doctors of chiro are extensively trained to diagnose issues that arise in the spine, joints, bones, and muscles.
- They perform hands-on methods that include but are not limited to spinal adjustments, joint mobilization, soft-tissue massages.
- Their primary goal is to manage pain, allow your body parts like shoulder to reach its full range of motion, and improve functional body patterns.
- They offer exercise recommendations and movement guidance together with posture and ergonomic advice.
What doctors of chiropractic don’t do
- Doctors of chiro don’t treat cancer itself.
- They cannot cure cancer.
- They don’t replace chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or any proven cancer treatment.
- They’re not oncologists and don’t pretend to be.
Where chiropractic fits in cancer care
- Chiro therapy is one of several complementary therapies that can work alongside your main cancer treatment
- It’s a complementary treatment that falls in the same category as physical therapy, acupuncture, and the like.
- The focus is on managing side effects and keeping your quality of life as good as possible during treatment.
Finding the right clinic for cancer pain management
Not all chiro therapy clinics are created equal; chiro practitioners should have undergone proper training to ensure that they can work with cancer patients in the most effective, efficient, and safe way possible. Here’s what to look for when looking for one.
Green flags
- Willing to communicate with your medical team.
- Asks extensive questions about diagnosis, medications, treatments, and other medical matters.
- Employs gentle, modified techniques instead of high-intensity adjustments.
- Understands that your form of treatment may change on a whim, based on how your body responds to treatment e.g. chemotherapy, radiation, and the like.
- Honest about what chiro therapy can and can’t do for cancer patients.
Red flags
- Recommends skipping conventional medical treatment and exclusively use chiro therapy for cancer treament.
- Promises that chiro therapy can cure cancer.
- Pressures you into long-term treatment.
- Doesn’t ask about bone or joint health before adjusting.
Read our article on finding the right chiro clinic: Navigating Chiropractic Therapy: A Guide to Clinic Selection
Adding chiro therapy to your cancer treatment plan
Pain management has taken the back seat when it comes to cancer treatment. Consequently, standard options like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), adjuvant medications (e.g. steroids), and opiods are beneficial to many, but fall short for others. This leaves them with ongoing pain, poor sleep, and lower quality of life.
This is where chiro therapy comes. Bear in mind that the said holistic approach shouldn’t be used as a replacement for cancer treatment, but only a complementary treatment for pain management.
Are you or a loved one struggling with cancer-related pain? Don’t let discomfort control your life. At Posture Perfect Chiropractic, we specialize in safe, gentle, and effective chiro care designed to complement your cancer treatment and improve your quality of life.
