Pain & Injury Treatment
The North Portland Wellness Center specializes in treating injuries as well and acute & chronic pain. Each patient’s unique case is assessed and treated utilizing an optimal combination of acupuncture, chiropractic and massage therapy that best suites their needs.
The underlying causes of acute pain, chronic pain and injuries often involve complex, sometimes long-term imbalances. The most effective treatment protocol will address both the symptom and the underlying cause of the pathology. Holistic care addresses such issues by identifying the source of a presenting imbalance, looking for possible compensatory patterns and then correcting identified imbalances in the spine, muscles, meridians and joints. By identifying and correcting these imbalances, your practitioner will help you recover from your injury more quickly and help you prevent future injuries.
Stages of Holistic Care
It’s important to understand the stages of care because they differ from the classic Western model, which typically focuses on and treats the symptom. Because holistic care also addresses the root cause of a condition, resolving the issue can take more time than treating it with medication or surgery. Depending on a number of factors, some conditions may resolve in just a few visits, while other conditions may take more time to correct. The following is a brief summary of the three major phases of care.
Relief Care (Palliative Care)
Many patients seek the care of an acupuncturist, chiropractor or massage therapist for pain relief. In the first phase of care, the main objective is to eliminate or reduce the patients discomfort and stabilize the condition in the shortest amount of time. During this phase, progress is often rapid. The frequency of visits at this stage of care is typically higher but varies considerably depending upon the patient’s specific condition. How long it takes to experience relief varies on a case by case basis. Relief sometimes occurs in as little as one treatment however multiple treatments over the course of a week to a month is more typical. If a patient is not responding to care during this phase, they may be referred to another health care provider.
Rehabilitative Care (Corrective/Rehab Care)
Once the patient’s condition has stabilized, they enter the second phase of care where the objective is to correct any underlying injury or cause of discomfort, strengthen the muscles, and improve neuro-musculoskeletal function. The frequency of office visits in this stage of care is typically less than during relief care and reduced over time – treatment once a week is common. Care may be supplemented by rehabilitation exercises, nutrition, and modification of daily habits.
Wellness Care
Once the symptom has been relieved, the underlying cause of the discomfort corrected, and balance restored to optimize neuro-musculoskeletal functioning, the patient then “graduates” to the wellness phase. This phase is designed to maintain improved health, and encourage balanced, healthy functionality of the tissue with the intention of stabilizing the system and minimizing chances of re-injury. A personal wellness program is designed for incorporation into everyday life, thereby promoting vitality, endurance and the ability to enjoy life at its fullest.
