Chiropractor
You might consider chiropractic care if you are experiencing joint or musculoskeletal pain, such as headaches, lower back pain, sciatica, or neck pain. An experienced chiropractor can work alongside pain specialists and other physicians to treat your condition, although you can seek chiropractic treatment without being referred by a medical doctor.
What Is Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care is a holistic treatment that doesn’t use drugs, usually centered around your spine. Chiropractors intend to treat the cause of your pain or other issues instead of just dealing with symptoms.
Your spine and central nervous system are closely related, as your spinal cord runs through your spine, and other nerves spread to the rest of your body from the spinal cord. Nerves can be affected if your spine isn’t aligned correctly, which may cause pain and other symptoms such as muscle spasms or tingling, weakness, or numbness. Chiropractors perform adjustments to properly align your spine, relieve pain or other symptoms, and improve your range of motion.
What Can I Expect?
A chiropractor will first assess your condition. This assessment will include questions about your health history and the nature and location of your pain, an examination, and tests if needed. A customized treatment plan will then be developed.
Depending on the severity of your issue, you will probably need to be treated several times for the condition; This can mean several treatments in a week, for several weeks. Your body can get used to your joints and spine being misaligned. Multiple visits allow your body to regain and retain proper alignment over time.
How Do Chiropractic Treatments Work?
Chiropractors use spinal manipulation to treat patients; this refers to quick, firm pressure on a spinal joint, usually performed by the practitioner’s hands or arms. This motion reduces pressure in the joint being treated, which can lessen the pressure placed on nerves and allow the joint to be put into the proper placement.
There are different types of chiropractic treatment. For many of them, the patient will either sit or lie on a special table. Depending on the issue you’re having, you may lie on your back, stomach or side. The table can usually separate and tilt, allowing the practitioner to implement various techniques. The patient should relax as much as possible because tense muscles may lessen the effectiveness of the adjustment.
After a chiropractic adjustment, you may have a headache or feel some soreness in the treated area. These side effects usually don’t last very long.
Do You Have More Questions?
Contact a chiropractor for a personalized assessment of your condition. They can provide more information and answer your questions.