Trigger Point Theory
Trigger Point Theory
Trigger Point Theory
Practical Application of the Nobel Prize Nominated Gate Theory of Pain in the Chiropractic Practice.
c.2008 Stephen Kaufman, D.C. www.painneutralization.com
Note: the following procedures are not for pain management only. In many cases the underlying cause of chronic pain is eliminated, as well as the pain, and healing of chronic syndromes occurs. Most chiropractors deal with patients in chronic pain on a daily basis. Surveys of many audiences show that over 75% of D.C.s themselves suffer from chronic pain! Using the techniques in this paper, many doctors attending training classes have gotten long lasting relief from pain syndromes lasting for decades. At a recent seminar one doctor got relief after 30 years of constant back pain; another had instant restoration of full shoulder movement without pain, after 36 years of being unable to move his arm more than 20
2. Type A Beta fibers are larger and faster- they convey non painful stimuli such as touch, light pressure, etc. This is known as epicritic sensation. 3. If the larger, faster type A touch fibers are stimulated properly by specific, unique stimuli, they can inhibit the smaller, slower type C pain fibers. The net result, under the right circumstance: no pain! 4. Pain impulses thus pass through a spinal gate: if the gate is OPEN, pain signals pass through to the brain. If there are inhibitory impulses (e.g. from touch fibers), the gate is closed and pain is not felt. The gate theory explained why massage, acupuncture, hypnosis, and TENs units could sometimes overpower and turn off pain sensations. Rubbing your elbow when it hurts can temporarily make you not feel the pain. However, the effect is so minimal and short lived that it's not actually therapy; it's just an observation. We've developed a clinical use for this observation.
only resolves pain but has even been found to reduce inflammation in sinus problems, ear infections, etc. 4. Gently stimulating the soft tissue above spinal nerve roots in a specific fashion often causes instant erasure of related pain, as described previously in The American Chiropractor 4. In our experience, in almost all cases one of these techniques will erase the tenderness of a painful area within seconds. About 40% of the time the correction will be long lasting after one treatment. Most patients after several treatments will no longer have tenderness in the trigger area. Most patients will also have a marked reduction or elimination of their symptoms, even if they had them for many years. Thus this practical application of the Gate Theory of Pain is not just for pain management but also reduces inflammation and restores normal function. For more information, please see www.painneutralization.com, or call Dr. Stephen Kaufman, D.C. in Denver at 800-774-5078, or 303-756-9567. References 1. Dickenson, A.H. Gate control theory of pain stands the test of time. Br J Anaesth. 2002 Jun;88(6):755-7. 2. Dillard JN, Knapp S. Complementary and alternative pain therapy in the emergency department. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2005 May;23(2):529-49. 3. Kaufman, Stephen, D.C. "Can Pain Be Turned Off Instantly By Using Neuromuscular Reflexes?" The American Chiropractor, 7/07. 4. Kaufman, Stephen, D.C. "How to Use Spinal Nerves to Turn Off Pain Instantly! " The American Chiropractor, 9/08. 5. Koltzenburg M, Wall PD, McMahon SB. Does the right side know what the left is doing? Trends Neurosci. 1999 Mar;22(3):122-7. 6. Melzack R, Wall PD. Acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Postgrad Med J. 1984 Dec;60(710):893-6. 7. Melzack R, Wall PD. Evolution of pain theories. Int Anesthesiol Clin. 1970 Spring; 8(1): 3-34. 8. Melzack R.. From the gate to the neuromatrix. Pain. 1999 Aug;Suppl 6:S1216 9. Melzack, R., Wall, P. "Pain mechanisms: A new theory" Science, 150:171-9, 1965. 10. Rowen, Robert. M.D. "Chronic Pain Relief in Just 20 Seconds." Second Opinion Newsletter, June, 2008. 11. Rowen, Robert. M.D. "Permanently Eliminate Pain in Minutes." Second Opinion Newsletter July, 2006 12. Stanton-Hicks M, Salamon J.Stimulation of the central and peripheral nervous system for the control of pain. J Clin Neurophysiol. 1997 Jan;14(1):46-62 13. Wall, Patrick (Editor), Melzack, Ronald (editor). Textbook of Pain. Churchill, Livingstone. 2005. 14. Wall, Patrick. Pain: The Science of Suffering. Columbia University Press. 2002 3