If you’re experiencing pain in your body, especially musculoskeletal pain, you may be thinking it’s time to work with a chiropractor, osteopath or physiotherapist.

Whilst a stiff neck, tight shoulder or back, or painful knee or hip might have you reaching for your phone to book an appointment, how do you know which pain management specialist is right for you?

Let’s explore each of these below to help you make your choice.

What Does A Chiropractor Do?

A chiropractor focuses mainly on treating issues related to joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves and most importantly, the spine.

Their primary form of therapy is to provide corrective manual adjustments to misaligned vertebrae (called a subluxation), which would otherwise negatively influence nerve transmission and consequently the health of the affected tissue.

In doing this, chiropractors work toward optimal alignment of the spine, relieving pain and dysfunction in the process.

Due to working with the spine and nervous system, which instruct all organs and systems, they may also work more broadly than bones, joints and soft tissue; examining the body holistically and working towards its optimum function.

This modality often employs diagnostic devices such as x-rays and scans to gain insight into the health of the spine at baseline and to track treatment progress.

Some chiropractic practitioners will use handheld devices to help with manual adjustments. Appointments with a chiropractor tend to be shorter and therefore more frequent.

How Can An Osteopath Help?

Osteopathy is also a holistic manual therapy, which normally diagnoses, treats and prevents musculoskeletal disorders relating to your bones, muscles, fascia (connective tissues), tendons and ligaments.

However, in this process, they’re interested in the interconnected nature of your body, looking at how other related joints or organs (e.g. shoulder or hip) may be impacting your presenting pain (e.g. knee).

Osteopaths also use spinal and joint manipulation, which is generally more subtle than a chiropractic adjustment, as well as stretching and soft tissue manipulation, as their mainstay treatments.

Additionally, they have extensive training in palpation (feeling with the fingers or hands), able to glean information from physically examining and assessing the problem area/s of your body (rather than requiring medical imaging or observing with sight alone).

Overall, whilst osteopathy assesses and addresses the structural and mechanical issues within your body, it aims to restore the whole body back to state of balance.

What About A Physiotherapist?

A physiotherapist’s primary aim is to treat issues affecting your movement, with the aim to correct or improve a person’s capacity to move and function again. To do this, they largely focus on your main problem area (e.g. neck, back or knee), and create a treatment specific to that area, rather than viewing the whole body.

Within a session, they use hands on therapies such as joint manipulation and massage to address your complaint, but also undertake observations to diagnose and monitor you. They can employ additional therapies such as electrotherapy and hydrotherapy to assist with your specific pain point or lack of movement.

A mainstay facet of physiotherapy is the prescription of exercise regimes to manage and treat your injury when you leave the appointment.

This modality also works in rehabilitation settings to assist optimum movement in people who may be recovering from surgery, or who have a chronic condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological conditions (e.g. stroke, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis) or respiratory issues.

Which Pain Management Specialist Will You Choose?

It’s important to remember that while the information above works to differentiate each of these pain management partners, there are many similarities across each, and each Practitioner offers their own unique skillset. Generally speaking, a chiropractor will look at your presentation from the perspective of your spine and what adjustments it may require, an osteopath will also use manipulation and soft tissue interventions to holistically address your pain, and physiotherapists will focus their treatment avenues more specifically on the area of concern, normally prescribing exercises as a part of your treatment.

If your pain is part of a larger health picture (i.e. relating to a chronic health condition), you may find it beneficial to also speak with a Naturopath. Working alongside your manual therapist, a Naturopath will be able to support the underlying drivers of your situation. In combination, this a truly holistic approach to having you pain-free and feeling more vital, sooner! Click here to find a suitable Healthcare Practitioner in your area.

What About Pain Supplements?

Qualified health practitioners can guide you through natural and nutritional approaches to managing pain and inflammation. Metagenics offers a range of high-quality, effective pain supplements, including PEA (Palmitoylethanolamide) and targeted anti-inflammatory herbal medicines, outlined below.

PEA for Pain

PEA is a compound your body naturally produces to soothe and protect tissues. Recent research highlights its potential to reduce various types of pain, discussed further in this article. Here are 3 PEA-containing products that can be taken to support a range of pain issues:

1. PainX Headache & Migraine with PEA

What is it: A combination of PEA (Palmitoylethanolamide) with Lipisperse (Levagen+) technology, for analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects to manage headaches and migraines

How can it help: When taken at a dose of 600 mg at the start of a migraine, followed by another dose after 2 hours if needed, PEA with Levagen+ can significantly reduce pain and the need for some pain medications to manage headaches and migraines.¹ 

2. PainX PEA +Magnesium Powder

What is it: A raspberry-flavoured powder that combines two powerful ingredients: MagActive Magnesium bisglycinate with PEA (Levagen+). Together, they may ease chronic pain in areas like the jaw, neck, shoulder, and back.

How can it help: Low magnesium can cause muscle tension. When magnesium levels are restored, it boosts blood flow to support muscle repair² while PEA helps reduce pain sensitivity.³ 

3. PEA, Saffron, and Vitamin B1 in PainX Advanced

What is it: Contains high-strength, easily absorbed PEA (Levagen+) combined with saffron and vitamin B1  for mild nerve pain and inflammation. PainX Advanced may be suitable for chronic nerve and muscular pain issues, such as sciatic pain and trapped nerve pain.

How can it help: Both PEA and saffron help with chronic pain by calming inflammation, protecting nerves, reducing pain signals, and lowering hypersensitivity, which means the body doesn’t overreact to pain.¹⁻⁴ 

Anti-Inflammatory Herbs for Acute Pain

What is it: Found within Joint Intensive Care, this unique combination of herbal extracts with natural pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects, including turmeric, Boswellia, white willow, ginger, quercetin, and citrus bioflavonoids.

How can it help: This combination may provide temporary relief of mild joint pain and inflammation associated with such conditions as mild arthritis and osteoarthritis.⁵⁻⁷

Improve Pain Levels Today

Consult your trusted Healthcare Practitioner to see if these pain supplements may be suitable for you, and work with them to create a personalised pain management plan that can help you on your journey to embracing pain-free life.

References:

1. Briskey D, Skinner R, Smith C, Rao A. Effectiveness of Palmitoylethanolamide (Levagen+) Compared to a Placebo for Reducing Pain, Duration, and Medication Use during Migraines in Otherwise Healthy Participants-A Double-Blind Randomised Controlled Study. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2024 Jan 23;17(2):145. doi: 10.3390/ph17020145.
   
2. Tarsitano MG, Quinzi F, Folino K, Greco F, Oranges FP, Cerulli C, Emerenziani GP. Effects of magnesium supplementation on muscle soreness in different type of physical activities: a systematic review. J Transl Med. 2024 Jul 5;22(1):629. doi: 10.1186/s12967-024-05434-x. 
   
3. Lang-Illievich K, Klivinyi C, Lasser C, Brenna CTA, Szilagyi IS, Bornemann-Cimenti H. Palmitoylethanolamide in the Treatment of Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2023 Mar 10;15(6):1350. doi: 10.3390/nu15061350.
   
4. Pourbagher-Shahri AM, Forouzanfar F. Saffron (Crocus sativus) and its constituents for pain management: A review of current evidence. Phytother Res. 2023 Nov;37(11):5041-5057. doi: 10.1002/ptr.7968. 
5. Kizhakkedath R. Clinical evaluation of a formulation containing Curcuma longa and Boswellia serrata extracts in the management of knee osteoarthritis. Mol Med Rep. 2013 Nov;8(5):1542-8. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2013.1661
6. Haghighi M, Khalvat A, Toliat T, Jallaei S. Comparing the effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract and Ibuprofen on patients with osteoarthritis. Arch Iranian Med. 2005;8(4):267-271.
7. Chrubasik S, Eisenberg E, Balan E, Weinberger T, Luzzati R, Conradt C. Treatment of low back pain exacerbations with willow bark extract: a randomized double-blind study. Am J Med. 2000 Jul;109(1):9-14. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9343(00)00442-3