Living with an autoimmune disorder comes with its own set of challenges. Managing daily symptoms, exploring treatment options, and trying to maintain a good quality of life can feel overwhelming at times. However, many people with autoimmune conditions are beginning to look beyond traditional medical treatments for extra support, and for some, chiropractic care has become part of that journey.
Autoimmune disorders—like rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis—happen when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. This often leads to inflammation, pain, and other disruptions in the body. While medical care is essential, does chiropractic care have a place in your management plan? Below, we take a closer look!
How Your Nervous System Impacts Your Immune Health
Your nervous system, which is protected by your spine, acts as the body’s communication hub—controlling everything from movement to immune responses.
When the spine is misaligned (a condition chiropractors call subluxation), it can potentially disrupt nerve signals between the brain and the rest of the body, including the immune system. Chiropractic adjustments aim to correct these misalignments, helping to restore proper nerve function and communication.
Your nervous and immune systems are constantly working together, using neurotransmitters, hormones, and other chemical messengers to regulate inflammation. Since inflammation is a major factor in autoimmune disorders, optimizing nervous system function through chiropractic care may help support a more balanced immune response.
While research is still uncovering the full extent of this connection, studies suggest that spinal health plays a role in immune function. For those with autoimmune conditions, maintaining proper spinal alignment might be one more way to support overall well-being and help the body better manage inflammation.
Chiropractic Benefits for Autoimmune Diseases
For many individuals with autoimmune disorders, chiropractic care may offer several potential advantages that complement their standard medical treatment. These include:
Reduced Pain and Discomfort
Pain often accompanies autoimmune conditions, whether from inflammation, joint damage, or muscle tension. Chiropractic adjustments may help reduce pain through several mechanisms, such as:
- Improving joint mobility and function
- Reducing nerve irritation
- Decreasing muscle tension
- Promoting better biomechanical alignment
Stress Relief
Living with a chronic autoimmune disorder can create significant physical and emotional stress. This stress may actually trigger or worsen autoimmune flares in some individuals. Chiropractic adjustments have been associated with reduced stress responses in the body, possibly through effects on the autonomic nervous system.
The relaxation that often follows chiropractic treatment can help break the cycle of stress and symptom exacerbation.
Supports Overall Wellness
Many chiropractors take a holistic approach to health, addressing not only spinal alignment but also offering guidance on nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management—all factors that can significantly impact autoimmune conditions.
This whole-person approach aligns well with the comprehensive management that autoimmune disorders require. By supporting overall wellness, chiropractic care may help you create an internal environment more conducive to healing and symptom management.
Is Chiropractic Care Right for You?
The only way to find out is to give it a try! At the end of the day, living with an autoimmune disorder doesn’t mean you have to accept limitations on your quality of life. By exploring complementary approaches like chiropractic care, you may discover additional tools to help manage your condition and enhance your well-being.
At New Life Chiropractic, your Montrose chiropractor is here to help. Book your appointment today to determine how chiropractic care might fit into your overall wellness regime!
