Using pain medication over an extended period of time can mask symptoms and may prevent effective healing. Chiropractic care offers natural pain relief and can help address underlying musculoskeletal issues, reducing the need for long-term pain medication use. Learn more about the benefits of chiropractic care for pain management.

Have you ever asked yourself: “Why am I not getting better?”

The answer may be because you are on pain medication. 

In many cases, patients with chronic pain visit a chiropractor because they are not getting better using traditional medicine methods. 

The good news is that Dr. Llaird Likens can help you even if you’ve been on medication for your pain for a while. 

In order to feel better, we must understand that pain medications can keep you from getting better for three reasons:

• Certain pain medications can slow the healing process 
• Pain medications treat the symptom of pain, not the cause of pain
• Pain medication can mask the actual problem, allowing it to get worse 

How pain medications can slow the healing process

Did you know your body uses inflammation in the healing process? Yes, inflammation is part of the body’s first aid kit. Inflammation is the process of the body expanding the blood capillaries in order to increase the blood flow which circulates important immune system cells like antibodies, proteins and other fluids straight to the injury. This swelling at the site of the injury also protects the damaged tissues as they heal. 

Unfortunately, most pain medications are anti-inflammatory. That means they may mask the pain or make you feel better in the moment, but they can delay the chances and the process of healing your injury all together.

Why pain medications are not the answer for long-term pain relief

If the pain medication is masking the actual pain, you can see how it can be nearly impossible to actually solve the problem causing the pain. If you do not heal the problem causing the pain today, you’re certainly unable to stop the pain that comes tomorrow.

How pain medications may be leading to more pain

When pain medications block the symptom of pain, you may not feel when your injury becomes worse. You might move or stretch in a way that aggravates the problem causing your pain, making it worse. Overtime, your injury can compound into something terrible because you have never dealt with whatever is causing it in the first place.

Additionally, as an injury or source of pain goes untreated, it can have domino effects in related or nearby muscles, bones and joints causing even more pain.

Fortunately, chiropractic care is a great option when you’re feeling pain, particularly when it comes to muscle, bone or joint pain. Chiropractors are a great option for patients on pain medication because of two reasons:

• They are uniquely suited to discover the root of the pain
• Their remedies and solutions are non-invasive and do not require medication or surgery

Why you should see a chiropractor if you’re on pain medication

If you’ve been on pain medication for quite some time but not feeling any better, you should consider seeing a chiropractor. Chiropractors look for the root cause of pain in order to prescribe treatment options.

Many times chronic muscle or joint pain is caused by a misalignment in the spine. That misalignment can have a number of domino effects that cause imbalance, pain and stress on your body. In fact, Dr. Likens can often tell exactly where you’re feeling pain by your posture. 

When you come in to see Dr. Likens, you’ll have a full exam and he will root out the cause of your pain and also explain what is going on with your body to you. Many patients find this to be quite the relief because it may be the first time someone has truly understood how and why they are suffering.

Let your body heal naturally

By finding the root cause of your pain, a chiropractor is able to eventually stop the pain at the source and patients will often wean themselves off of pain medication altogether. Only by stopping the source of pain can you potentially end the pain altogether. 

After finding the root cause of your problem, Dr. Likens has a variety of therapies he can apply to treat your particular injury or problem area. Those treatments can include manual manipulation, massage, acupuncture, strength exercises, stretches and more. Patients often receive a combination of these treatment types as part of their overall wellness plan.

Sometimes these treatments last for a few weeks or months and sometimes they need to be applied over a lifetime. Because the treatments are natural and non-invasive, many patients choose them over a life sentence to pain medication.

If you have been taking pain medications but have not seen your health or injury improve, give Dr. Llaird Likens a call. Dr. Likens has been treating residents and visitors of Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Midway or Mary Esthe for 18 years and looks forward to the opportunity to help you feel better.

Discover how chiropractic care can help military veterans with service-connected injuries. Learn about the benefits veterans can expect from chiropractic care. 

Military veterans are a big part of the Northwest Florida family and being able to serve them is important to us, especially since we know our treatment can help without being invasive.

In this post we will cover:

• Why Veterans Need Chiropractic Care
• How Veterans Can Get Their Life Back With Chiropractic Care
• How Chiropractic Care For Veterans Is Non-Invasive and Why it’s Important

And don’t forget, Dr. Llaird Likens is a VA Provider so if you need help, he is ready to serve you.

Why Veterans Need Chiropractic Care

A report released by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in 2017 announced that more than 62 percent of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn veterans who sought health care from the VA over a 14-year period were treated for musculoskeletal ailments.

That demonstrated the need for chiropractic care to be covered by the VA. 

Back and neck pain coupled with spinal issues are some of the most common veteran disabilities. Other common conditions include migraines, knee pain and PTSD. Dr. Llaird Likens treats these problems. In fact, he specializes in them. 

Veterans also need chiropractic care because it addresses underlying issues causing pain. Rather than treating symptoms of pain, Dr. Llaird Likens aims for the source and uses every available tool to bring healing and relief to veterans.

Veterans Can Get Their Life Back

Many veterans are suffering from chronic pain and discomfort. Chiropractic care can improve the quality of life for a veteran so that they can improve their mental state, focus, mood and even recall. Chiropractic treatment for veterans can also improve their mobility and allow them to return to their favorite leisure activities without pain. 

In Northwest Florida, our veterans love to fish and hang out at the beach and we want them to get back to enjoying those things without pain. 

Chiropractic Care For Veterans Is Non-Invasive

Veterans have been poked and prodded since the day they showed up to boot camp. At Navarre Chiropractic Center, we’re proud to offer gentle, non-invasive treatments that allow veterans to heal without surgery or medication, both of which have risks.

In fact, chiropractic care is associated with the decreased use of opioids by veterans for chronic pain according to the VA.

Veterans Can Maintain Long Term Health

The disabilities veterans suffer can feel like a lifelong sentence. Chiropractic care can help with long-term pain management as well as helping the veteran to implement lifestyle changes that improve overall health. Treatment will also help the veteran maintain mobility as time goes on.

People also ask: 

Will the VA pay for me to see a chiropractor?

Yes! Your benefits as a veteran now include chiropractic care as part of the standard Medical Benefits Package for eligible veterans. Dr. Llaird Likens has partnered with the VA to provide chiropractic care to veterans as part of the Care in the Community program.

How many chiropractic visits does VA allow in a year?

The typical referral for veteran chiropractic care is 12 visits over a period of 90 days. From there, additional authorizations can be received. Please call our office if you have any questions so we can help you get started and feel better.

If you are a veteran experiencing back pain, neck pain, knee pain, spinal issues, migraines or PTSD and you live in Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Midway or Mary Esther please call us! Dr. Llaird Likens completed the process to become a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Provider for chiropractic care because veterans deserve outstanding care and we want to serve them. 

 “Discover why chiropractic care is an essential component of the recovery process after an auto accident. Learn about the benefits of chiropractic care and how it can help you get back to your daily activities.”

At least 1,100 car accidents happen every day in Florida. If you’ve been in an auto accident, chiropractic care is a must as you start your recovery. While you may have visible injuries, there might be more going on underneath the surface. This is especially true if you start to feel neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain and headaches. Sometimes you’ll feel pain immediately and other times it might slowly start to build in the hours, days and weeks afterward.

Dr. Llaird Likens has been treating injuries from auto accidents for 18 years and he holds the Whiplash and Brain Traumatology Certification from Southern California University of Health. His patients have seen many benefits of chiropractic care for managing pain after a car accident. Those benefits include reducing inflammation, increasing mobility and range of motion, preventing further damage from scar-tissue and providing a non-invasive treatment option.

Chiropractic care reduces inflammation

Whiplash and other car accident injuries cause inflammation. Inflammation is part of the body’s healing process. Unfortunately, it can be painful. Inflammation after a car accident can present in many ways, including back pain, neck pain as well as muscle stiffness and soreness. The chiropractic treatment for victims of auto injuries can signal to your body to reduce the production of its inflammatory cytokines which will help reduce pain and soreness. 

Chiropractic care increases mobility 

After a car accident, you might find your range of motion and mobility limited. Adjustments by your local chiropractor can help mobilize the spine so you can move more freely. 

“Dr Likens is very personable, caring, and extremely knowledgeable in the fields of Chiropractic Care and Acupuncture. I have achieved quite a bit more range of motion in my neck and back along with an increased level of pain management due to an extensive treatment plan provided by Dr Likens,” said former client M.W.

Scar tissue that builds up after an injury can limit your range of motion and mobility. Your treatment with Dr. Likens can help break it up and allow your body to heal properly. That’s good news because that means you’ll be able to get back to your normal daily activities.

Chiropractic care is non-invasive 

Chiropractic care can help you recover without surgery or medication.

You might assume that if you have back pain or spasms after a car accident you will require back surgery before you can find relief. However, a visit to Dr. Likens can align your spine which will in turn take pressure off the nerves causing you pain. The adjustments will have a ripple effect and allow your body the relief it needs in order to heal naturally. 

If you’ve been given medication or muscle relaxers for any auto accident injuries, they may be masking the underlying cause. Becoming dependent on medication can also be an underlying fear patients in pain have. In fact, misuse of prescription painkillers was the second highest illicit substance in 2022. Chiropractic care allows you to find relief naturally without medication so there is no possibility of becoming dependent. 

Chiropractic care can also help you find relief if you’re already on medication.

In fact, our former client, Bryan Tena, was highly addicted to pain medications after a car accident in 2012. After receiving chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture from Dr. Likens, Bryan has been medication free since 2014! 

Dr. Llaird Likens has been serving Northwest Florida including Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Midway, Mary Esther for 18 years and has helped hundreds of victims of car accidents. He offers affordable self-pay options.

Whiplash is a common injury associated with auto accidents. Learn how to identify the symptoms of whiplash, how it’s treated, and what to expect during recovery.

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about Whiplash including:

• Symptoms associated with whiplash
• Best treatment options for whiplash
• What to expect as you recover from whiplash

Read on so you or your loved one can feel healthy again after being affected by whiplash.

Symptoms Associated With Whiplash

The most common symptoms associated with whiplash are:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Headaches, typically stemming from the base of the skull
• Shoulder pain and stiffness
• Muscle pain and stiffness
• Reduced range of motion in the neck
• Tingling in or numbness in your arms or hands

These symptoms should be examined immediately. Other symptoms can include blurred vision, fatigue, loss of sleep, irritability and concentration problems.

Best Treatment Options For Whiplash

If you’re driving down Highway 98 (affectionately named “Nascar 98”) in Northwest Florida including Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Midway, Mary Esther there’s a chance you might find yourself in an auto accident and suffering from whiplash. 

Your treatment plan will be based on your injuries and whiplash-related pain. Dr. Llaird Likens earned the Whiplash and Brain Traumatology Certification from Southern California University and will be able to help you in a variety of ways. The two primary ways are manipulation and muscle relaxation.

Manipulation

Dr. Llaird Likens specializes in manipulation as a chiropractic treatment for whiplash. Dr. Likens will gently move the affected joint back into alignment and the correct position. This can provide immediate relief but can also help with any other injuries that might have been aggravated by the car accident such as herniated or bulging discs. 

Muscle relaxation/stimulation

Muscle relaxation/stimulation is the primary method used to help you find relief after suffering from whiplash. Muscle stimulation includes gentle stretches to the affected muscles. This technique helps to trigger the nervous system to release tension and restore range of motion. 

What To Expect As You Recover From Whiplash

Any car accident is traumatizing, but most patients with lower grade whiplash will feel better within a few days or weeks. More severe cases can take several weeks up to months to heal. 

This is why it is important to see a chiropractor after an auto accident. They are uniquely able to recognize underlying issues and identify true underlying sources of pain and aggravation so that you can completely heal. The pressure that misalignment or even scar tissue can cause can be relieved with chiropractic treatment and allow the body to heal itself.

As you heal from whiplash injuries, you need to make sure you rest, avoid strenuous activity. However, your treatment plan will likely include light exercise like walking or stretching in order to restore full mobility. 

Other People Ask:

How do you know if you have whiplash?

The biggest indicators of whiplash will be reduced range of motion in the neck and pain that worsens when you move the neck. It’s best to see your chiropractor if you’ve been in a car accident.

How long does it take to recover from whiplash?

Recovery can be as little as a few days or weeks for mild cases of whiplash. More severe cases will take several weeks or months to recover fully. 

H3: Is chiropractic care for whiplash covered by insurance?

In Florida, you have 14 days to seek medical care for injuries due to a car accident in order to be able to claim expenses under your personal injury auto insurance claim. This is why it’s important to immediately seek care from your chiropractor. 

Dr. Llaird Likens also offers self-pay options in the event you do not have insurance to cover your whiplash injuries.

If you are experiencing pain from whiplash and you live in Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Midway or Mary Esther Dr. Llaird Likens is ready and available to schedule an appointment for you. He’s been treating whiplash injuries for 18 years and looks forward to the opportunity to help you feel better.