At NPHC we look at pain from a multifaceted approach.
We work to uncover the root cause of your pain. We will delve into various aspects of your life that may be causing or contributing to your pain. Whether it is a physical injury, musculoskeletal imbalance, physiological disturbance, mental/emotional or social aspects, or other disease processes such as arthritis, neuropathy, visceral origin, or inflammatory conditions, we strive to address the cause of your condition instead of simply masking symptoms.
Once the root cause of your pain is identified we begin to incorporate treatments that are directly focused on both the root cause and the current manifestation of pain. This may include treatments focused on correcting physical imbalances through manual therapy and targeted therapeutic exercise/stretching, or correcting postural imbalances. We also focus on decreasing inflammation that often occurs along with pain, and support healthy musculoskeletal and nervous systems through nutrition, botanical medicine, supplementation, and lifestyle changes.
A main focus of nearly all pain management at NPHC is education on what pain is and what it isn’t, as well as understanding how you personally orient and adapt to the pain you feel. With that in mind, the treatment will also include addressing your mental/emotional and intellectual orientation to how you experience pain.
At NPHC we acknowledge that the mind and body are not separate entities but in fact directly influence each other in nearly all aspects of life. Specifically, that physical pain can manifest from psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, depression, as well as deeper conditions like bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, PTSD, panic disorders and phobias, behavioral or substance addiction, and others. We provide a unique approach where our patients are able to be seen in the mental health focus or physical health focused side of our clinic. If the root cause of your pain is determined to manifest from mental/emotional imbalances, you will be encouraged to work collaboratively with Dr. Stefanie to incorporate Naturopathic Psychiatry, Mind-Body Medicine, Biofeedback, Mindfulness meditation & movement, as well as individualized lab testing for nutritional, neurotransmitter, hormone or other deficiencies/imbalances or even genetic influences that may contribute. This approach also works in the opposite direction where our patients being treated for mental health conditions may have physical pain manifestations and can be seen by our pain management specialist, Dr Mark.
While our focus is on naturopathic techniques, whether you are experiencing acute or chronic pain, we first address any immediate or urgent causes in which it is necessary to seek higher force interventions to mitigate permanent, severe, or life threatening conditions that may be present. As Naturopathic Doctors we are trained in identifying “red flag” conditions that require emergency/urgent care, or an urgent referral to a specialist for further evaluation/treatment. We also work within conventional standards for required imaging such as X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, etc. and will direct you to those services as necessary. Additionally, relevant orthopedic testing along with strength, stability, and range of motion testing is used to rule in or out specific musculoskeletal injuries. Once we have determined you are safe and in a stable enough condition to receive in-office care, we begin your individualized, appropriate treatment.