Many people think a chiropractor is only necessary after an injury; however, this article will help you see there may be a variety of reasons to call your chiropractor to schedule an appointment.
When to See a Chiropractor
The most obvious reason would be after an injury that has caused some neck or back pain or significant discomfort, possibly due to a misaligned spine. In addition, there may be pain you’re suffering from an unknown condition that needs to be diagnosed by a chiropractor.
Some symptoms that may indicate it’s time to see your chiropractor include :
- Loss of flexibility
- Frequent headaches
- Digestive issues
- Looking for alternatives to pain killers
- Other joint and muscle pain
- High blood pressure – chiropractic visits may be a great way to relieve stress
- Not being able to sleep well – this may be due to a misaligned spine
- Tingling and/or shooting pains in your legs – this could be a pinched nerve.
- Uneven wear on your shoes – indicating your spine is misaligned
This does not mean you have to wait until you are experiencing some pain or discomfort to call. Just as we do routine doctor and dentist visits to prevent or foresee any major problems, we should be doing the same with the chiropractor.
How Often Will You need to go in For Adjustments
This answer will depend on a personalized treatment plan provided by your chiropractor after assessment.
When you are just starting a new treatment plan, it’s common to have adjustments 3 to 4 times a week for the first two weeks. Then, as your body begins to heal, that number could drop to 2 to 3 times a week. Once the pain has been relieved, it is important to maintain ongoing sessions once every 2 to 3 weeks until, eventually, it may go down to once every 2 or 3 months.
Be aware that if you have been putting off chiropractic care because you have been feeling better after a few sessions, the pain may start to return, and essentially you will have to start over.
What to Expect at a Chiropractic Visit
Don’t expect it to be painful but do expect to feel relief once treatment begins, maybe even after the initial visit. Here’s what you can expect starting from that first visit.
- A thorough chiropractic exam– this may need to include x-rays if the chiropractor feels it is necessary
- An initial treatment– this is will be personalized based on your injuries or discomfort and your medical goals
- Take-home advice– this may include exercises to complete at home or what to avoid to prevent further injury
The initial visit will take the longest as your medical history will be collected and taken into consideration, usually making the consultation from 30-45 minutes. The follow-up visits will be much shorter, lasting about 10-20 minutes.
Hopefully, this article has answered your questions, and you are ready to make an appointment with a chiropractor to help relieve or prevent any pain and help you live your healthiest, pain-free life.