Neuropathic Pain Relief with Chiropractic Care – New Evidence from Epigenetics

Neuropathic Pain Relief with Chiropractic Care – New Evidence from Epigenetics

About the Author

Dr Julian Simpson is an Australian chiropractor with over 15 years of experience in musculoskeletal healthcare and rehabilitation.

He is a Board Member of the Chiropractic Australia Research Foundation and has reviewed and written more than 800 evidence-based health articles focused on spinal health, rehabilitation, sports injuries and conservative care approaches.

His treatment focus includes:

• Chiropractic adjustments

• Sports chiropractic

• Massage therapy

• Shockwave therapy

• Laser therapy

• Non-surgical spinal decompression

Dr Simpson provides patient care through Healthwise Chiropractic, serving communities including Sunbury, Melton, Diggers Rest and surrounding regions.

Chiropractic-style manipulation therapy may help relieve neuropathic pain by reducing inflammation and even influencing how pain-related genes are expressed. New research shows it works through an epigenetic pathway (m6A RNA methylation) that boosts anti-inflammatory signals and suppresses pain pathways in the nervous system.

🟨 WHAT THIS STUDY FOUND (IN PLAIN ENGLISH)

This study looked at nerve pain (neuropathic pain) and found:

• Manipulation therapy reduced pain sensitivity

• It lowered inflammation (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α)

• It improved nerve function at a molecular level

• It changed how genes behave via epigenetic regulation

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👉 In simple terms: Manual therapy didn’t just “feel good” — it changed how the nervous system processes pain.

🧠 THE BIG IDEA: EPIGENETICS & PAIN

The key mechanism here is m6A RNA methylation, a type of epigenetic change.

• Epigenetics = how genes are turned on or off

• m6A = a chemical “tag” on RNA that controls gene activity

What happens in neuropathic pain:

• Protective genes ↓ (like SOCS1)

• Inflammatory pathways ↑ (like TLR4)

• Pain becomes chronic and amplified

What manipulation therapy does:

• Restores normal gene signalling

• Reduces inflammation at a cellular level

• Helps “reset” pain pathways

• 
  

🔬 THE KEY PATHWAY (SIMPLIFIED)

Without treatment:

• ↓ METTL3 → ↓ m6A methylation

• ↓ SOCS1 (anti-inflammatory protein)

• ↑ TLR4 pathway → ↑ inflammation → ↑ pain

With manipulation therapy:

• ↑ METTL3 → restores m6A

• ↑ SOCS1

• ↓ TLR4 activation

• ↓ inflammation → ↓ pain

👉 This is called the SOCS1 / TLR4 epigenetic loop

💥 WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT

Most pain treatments:

• Mask symptoms (painkillers)

• Come with side effects (dependency, fatigue, GI issues)

• 
  

This research suggests manual therapy:

• Targets the cause (neuroinflammation)

• Works at a cellular and genetic level

• Has no pharmaceutical side effects

🏥 WHAT THIS MEANS FOR CHIROPRACTIC PATIENTS

For patients with:

• Sciatica

• Nerve pain

• Disc injuries

• Chronic low back pain

• Post-surgical nerve irritation

👉 This supports that chiropractic care may:

• Reduce nerve irritation

• Calm the nervous system

• Improve long-term outcomes (not just short-term relief)

  
  

🟫 FINAL TAKEAWAY

This study adds to a growing body of evidence that:

👉 Manual therapy is not just mechanical — it’s neurological and biochemical

It may:

• Reduce inflammation

• Regulate pain pathways

• Influence gene expression

That’s a much stronger story than “we realign your spine.”

👉 Book online here:

Reviewed by Dr Julian Simpson, Chiropractor at Health Wise Chiropractic, Sunbury 21 Powellet Street, Sunbury & 131 Wembley Avenue, Strathtulloh

reference

Wu L, Wang X, Yang P, Wang X, Zheng Y, Tang Y, Zheng H, Ning P, Tang H. Manipulation therapy alleviates neuropathic pain via the SOCS1 m⁶A epigenetic loop. Korean J Pain. 2026 Apr 1;39(2):191-206. doi: 10.3344/kjp.25124. Epub 2026 Mar 17. PMID: 41840717; PMCID: PMC13058937.