Sometimes, pain is temporary – like when you pull a muscle at the gym that takes a couple days to heal or when you develop a piercing headache after a long day at work. Other times, pain is more persistent. Perhaps that pain in your lower back just isn’t going away and twinges when you move certain ways. Maybe your neck continues to throb long after you twist it or those agonizing headaches prevent you from completing your day-to-day activities several times a month. You know your body and understand the difference between fleeting pain and more persistent pain, but where can you go for relief? Here are four reasons you should see a chiropractor the next time you need to alleviate pain.

Chiropractic Healing Doesn’t Require Surgery or Drugs

If your back is still hurting after that overly competitive flag football game last week and ibuprofen just isn’t cutting it, you may be frustrated. The reality is that sometimes over-the-counter medications offer temporary relief at best, but you may be reasonably leery of prescription drugs and surgical options. That’s when a chiropractor can help. Chiropractors specialize in non-invasive methods to treat pain, such as spinal manipulations and precision realignments. That means you can potentially avoid the pain and bother of surgery and heavier medications.

Chiropractors Find the Source of Pain

Chiropractors don’t just focus on treating pain; rather, they seek to isolate the root cause and then eliminate it. Instead of merely giving you a way to numb the pain temporarily through medications, chiropractors search out the underlying cause of your pain through physical examinations, diagnostic imaging, or lab tests. By using tests to scientifically and accurately locate the root of your suffering, a chiropractor can work to eliminate the pain. With this approach, you can waste less time masking your pain and return to your regular lifestyle.

Seeing a Chiropractor Can Save You Money

Trying out numerous medications while attempting to reduce your pain level isn’t just frustrating, it is also expensive. Seeing a chiropractor, on the other hand, can help you greatly reduce your pharmaceutical costs. A 2012 Fox News article reports that research from the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics finds using a combination of health care methods, including chiropractic services, results in a 51.8 percent reduction in pharmaceutical fees. Using a combined approach also leads to a 43 percent drop in hospital admissions. That’s money you can put toward your other bills or hobbies rather than treatments that may not permanently alleviate your suffering.

Chiropractors Can Help You Prevent Further Injury

Some sources of pain are related to isolated incidents, such as accident injuries. Others, however, are part of a long-standing pattern. Perhaps you are experiencing neck or lower-back pain because of posture issues. Chiropractors can help you prevent further injuries by making you more aware of your body positioning and providing recommended exercises to strengthen key muscles. With their assistance, you can obtain knowledge that will decrease your risk of reoccurring injuries and pain so you can move forward with your life.