How can Chiropractic help with Shingles?
By: Dr Joseph Recchia DC, ATC
According to the CDC, around one million people get shingles each year throughout the United States. One out of every three people throughout the United States will develop shingles, also known as herpes zoster, in their lifetime1. While shingles isn’t deadly, it’s very painful.
What is shingles? This is a disorder that results in a painful, itchy rash. The rash will typically wrap around the torso of the patient, however; rashes and blisters can be found anywhere on the body following a dermatomal pattern. Most commonly, they appear around the torso or neck/head region. Shingles occurs as a result of direct contact with the Varicella-Zoster virus. This virus may sound familiar, as it is the same one that causes chickenpox in children. After being diagnosed with chickenpox and the symptoms have cleared up, the virus lies dormant for years after. The virus hides within the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), a specific part of the nervous system that carries sensory information, such as pain and temperature, from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system. Anatomically, the dorsal root ganglion lies adjacent to the spinal cord and nerve roots.
Once the virus sees an opportunity to strike, in cases such as a decreased immune system due to stress, vertebral misalignment or other diseases, this will cause the aforementioned painful rash. Often, shingles will occur in older individuals with weakened immune systems. There are some risk factors that predispose a person to have a greater likelihood of developing the condition including:
- 50 years or older in age
- Presence of autoimmune disease
- Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Certain drugs and therapeutics
While there are many different ways to treat shingles, chiropractic care offers a medication free way to overcome this debilitating issue. By receiving regular spinal manipulations, patients can keep their immune systems as strong as possible and capable of fending off any viruses that may attack. This is most important for patients with compromised immune systems that are more vulnerable to developing shingles. The spine must be kept healthy to ensure that the immune system has a chance of fighting off the shingles virus or any other viruses. When receiving chiropractic adjustment, nerve root pressure is reduced allowing for better mobility and function. Having the spine aligned and free from interference improves the communication between the central nervous system and the rest of the body. If the central nervous system is able to work optimally, the body will be able to recover from shingles quicker.
At ProClinix, we are committed to keeping our patients as healthy as possible. Whether you’re suffering from shingles, back pain, or any other condition, we would love to help you. We pride ourselves on providing individualized care and a facility where patients can have all of their health needs met.
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