For people who suffer from chronic neurological diseases, living with the symptoms of the disease is difficult enough, but many also find that they are plagued with depression, anxiety and sleep disorders to name a few things. While finding a cure for the disease is the optimal goal, for these patients finding ways to improve the quality of daily life is just as important. Today, there are more ways than ever to help them achieve better well being without drugs.
Neurological diseases and disorders affect the brain, spinal cord, eyes and nerves throughout the body. They can affect one, or several areas of, the nervous system. Some challenges that occur from these conditions include problems with mobility, mental task, basic functions and emotional changes. There are also many invisible symptoms that occur including chronic pain, anxiety and depression.
The leading cause if disability in the world, chronic neurological diseases affect over 1 billion people worldwide. These conditions including Parkinson’s disease, ALS, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and many more, afflict millions of Americans. Although there are treatments for these diseases, unfortunately many patients continue to suffer from the symptoms of the disease as well as adverse reactions to drug therapies or invasive treatments.
Finding that depression is a wide spread consequence of neurological diseases, the National Parkinson’s Foundation launched the Parkinson’s Outcomes Project five years ago to monitor patient care. Their findings showed that indeed, depression is the biggest hurdle that these patients have to overcome, but also that activities such as exercising for more than two and a half hours per week, occupational therapy and speech therapy have been shown to greatly improve a patient’s quality of life.
One alternative for care and treatment of neurological disease lies in the science-based approach of Chiropractic Neurology. Focusing on the brain-nervous system connection, chiropractic neurology seeks to restore the proper function to the nervous system and promote neuroplasticity, or the brains ability to create new connections and strengthen existing connections. The most recent studies and advances in the treatment of neurological disorders support the techniques used by Chiropractic Neurologists. From chronic pain to learning difficulties, balance disorders and even depression, patients are seeing dramatic changes and improvement through care that harnesses the power of the brain’s plasticity.
Many researchers are focusing on developing new technologies and treatments to alleviate the suffering of these patients. As we keep an eye on these developments, and wait for advances in reaching cures, it is good to know that there are options for people that lead to better quality of life and a happier sense of well being.
For more information on Neurological conditions, including support and services, click here to visit the Movement for Hope website. If you or a loved one are suffering from a chronic neurological condition and would like to know how Chiropractic Neurology can help, please contact Dr Marc Ellis and his team at the Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center today for a consolation.