Things Chiropractors Can Help With
Most people assume that chiropractors are good only for neck and back pain. And while they do treat a lot of that, there’s plenty else they can do. Chiropractic medicine focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems and how they affect the rest of the body. “Many people don’t know that most chiropractors have postgraduate training and board certification in areas such as pediatrics, clinical nutrition, neurology, orthopedics, physical rehabilitation, sports/athletic injury, and acupuncture,”
That said, while chiropractors can help with a variety of symptoms and problems, there are many things best left to the MDs. “Medical doctors are better at treating acute emergencies, infections, chronic diseases, fractures, injuries that require surgeries, tumors, and broken bones,” says
This is, of course, the cornerstone of what many chiropractors do. “Chiropractors are able to do a manipulation to the sacroiliac joint—which links the pelvis to the lowest part of the spine—to relieve backpain,” says. Some chiropractors are certified in the Active Release Technique, which removes scar tissue from muscles and relievespain. “A combination of ART and spinal manipulation is a great option for relieving lower-back pain,” says
Pregnancy pain
Aches and pains go hand-in-hand with pregnancy, and often, improper pelvic alignment is to blame for lower-back pain and sciatica—the top reasons pregnant women see a chiropractor (see more treatments for sciatic nerve pain here). “The options expecting mothers have to alleviatepain are extremely limited. Many treatments, such as pain medications or surgery, have the potential to affect the fetus, so pregnant women often turn to chiropractic care,” says
Digestive issues
The nerves in the thoracic (chest and abdominal) region of the spine are linked with digestion. One study published in the journal International Surgery looked at a group of 27 people who had chronic abdominal painand found that 66% of them showed evidence of a thoracic disc herniation—a problem in the area between the spinal bones. And two-thirds of those patients who did have a herniated disc had been previously diagnosed with IBS.
Reasons to Fire your Chiropractor!
I am entering my ninth year as a licensed chiropractic physician. I don’t know everything, which is why they call it practice but I have heard and seen quite a bit. If there is one thing I have learned, it is to stay in my lane as a chiropractor. (Which by the way does not only apply to chiropractors.) For my practice this means conservatively treating neck pain, low back pain and headaches. That is not all we do but it is what we do best. With that said, there is a lot of information out there about chiropractors, mostly good but some bad. As a consumer, I am sure it is difficult to discern between fact and fiction.
It is not uncommon to have skeptics walk into our office. I’ve had many new patients come to me and say, “I’ve been to a chiropractor before but it didn’t really work.” Or, “I went but they wanted me to sign up for a year-long treatment plan.” Or my favorite, “I went to a chiropractor but they never adjusted me.” These types of circumstances can give chiropractic a bad reputation. I like to tell patients that finding the right chiropractor is kind of like shopping for a car
Long Term Treatment Plans. If your chiropractor tries to sign you up for a care plan costing thousands of dollars, that lasts several months and tells you as long as you are properly “aligned” the body will take care of itself, please find a new one. Even worse, if he/she does this all before your first treatment and seeing how you respond to care, please fire them and find a new one. Your treatment, in most instances, should be dictated by how you respond to care.
Think Twice Before Coming Back for a Second Visit. If your chiropractor doesn’t treat you on your first visit because they need time to read over your x-ray and develop a “specific” treatment plan for you, please fire them…… they are lying. They are lying. Sorry, I want to make sure you don’t misunderstand me, they are lying. Chiropractors are well trained coming out of school to examine, diagnose, treat, and read x-rays. Except for instances where all of the information isn’t available, such as needing a recent MRI report or a previous physician’s records, your chiropractor should be able to provide you with some relief on your initial visit. What they are doing is called a “second day report of findings.” It’s a marketing strategy used to try to build up the importance of treatment and extort more money out of the patient.
Tunnel Vision. If your chiropractor is only fixated on adjusting your spine and not combining the adjustment part with crucial muscle treatment and management guidance, fire them and find a new one. The audible “pop” is only one piece of the pie. A valuable chiropractor in most cases will combine manipulating the spine with addressing the involved muscles and provide you with self-management strategies. These strategies could include strengthening exercises, stretches or lifestyle modifications to improve the long term outlook of your present condition. The adjustment is pretty awesome, but it does not cure everything.
Beware of Pill Pushers. If you go in for pain but all your chiropractor does is try to sell you a bunch of supplements and never actually assesses your posture or recommends exercises to help you self-manage your condition, fire them and find a new doctor. One shouldn’t discount the importance of diet and in some cases supplementation, but buyer beware if your new chiropractor is more concerned about up-selling you on pills than physically treating your condition.
Free X-Rays are a Scam. Do not go to or accept care from a chiropractor who is offering free x-rays. It will cost you much more low back pain time and money in the end. This tactic is often used to point out insignificant subtle details about a patient’s spine to scare them into needing thousands of dollars of unnecessary treatment. X-rays are necessary, when they are medically necessary. This conclusion is reached following a thorough history and discussion with the patient along with a proper physical examination.
What Patients Say
“I came in for low-back pain that was affecting every aspect of my life. I was in a lot of pain! Since being under chiropractic care, the pain has almost totally been eliminated! When I started having the pain, chiropractic was the first thing I tried because I saw how helpful it was for my wife and kids. I am able to do all of the things I used to do again without any pain.
Dr. B developed a program just for me, and I’m happy to say that, three months later, I am pain free. If you’ve been thinking about seeing a chiropractor but aren’t quite sure if that’s the best route for you, I highly recommend visiting with Dr. B and her team. I had never visited a chiropractor before, either, but knowing what I know now, Dr. B will be my first stop for any needs I have going forward.”
“I started chiropractic care due to pain in my upper back and neck that limited me in every aspect of life. I was in pain at work and when I was driving, and working out was extremely limited. I was also only sleeping 4 to 6 hours a night due to the pain. I tried everything to get rid of the pain: medicine, dry needling, biweekly massage and even physical therapy. The results were temporary, the pain was never alleviated more than a few hours, and the knots in my muscles never went away.
My results from chiropractic care have been life changing! By improving my alignment with adjustments and doing other recommend therapies, I no longer have ‘softball’-sized knots in my muscles. Also, my movements are no longer limited, and I am no longer in constant pain. I never knew my back and neck could feel this way. It truly has improved my life!
It is rare to meet a doctor and support team that are as knowledgeable and skilled as they are kind and supportive, and that is what you’ll find at Complete Chiropractic. I feel blessed to be a patient here and would recommend anyone and everyone to come see Dr. B and the Complete team.”
How to Get the Most Out of Your Chiropractic Adjustment
People seek chiropractic care for many reasons. Whether you have sustained an injury from a car accident or participating in sports, deal with chronic pain or just feel like your body has gotten out of alignment, chiropractic care may be ideal for you.
Chiropractic adjustments can provide natural pain relief for a variety of conditions such as:
Back Pain
Neck Pain
Shoulder Pain
Knee Pain
Sciatica
Subluxation
Headaches and Migraines
and many more
Once you have opted for chiropractic care to remedy your pain and you find that the relief your adjustments give you are so good, you may find yourself asking: how do I make this last? While every day activities may be working against you to undo the effects of your adjustments, there are things that you can do to get the most out of them.
Stick to the plan: Your doctor will help you develop a treatment plan and its important to stick to it. You didn’t develop joint and spine issues over night and your treatment wont fix it over night either. So keeping up with the plan and regular adjustments are crucial to healing.
Drink water: Water helps remove toxins in the body and keeps joints lubricated.
Sleep right: Sleeping on your side or back with a pillow between your knees will keep the spine in its proper alignment.
What Your Chiropractor Wants You to Know
When it comes to getting help for pain or injury, there is A LOT of information and mis-information floating around, and sometimes it’s hard to know what is true and what isn’t. What we DO know is that chiropractic care is becoming more and more sought after for those looking for natural pain relief without the use of prescription drugs or invasive surgeries.
Preparing for Your First Visit with a Chiropractor
Deciding to see a chiropractor is a great first step towards wellness. Now that you’re on your way to a healthy lifestyle, here are the next steps to prepare for your first chiropractic appointment.
Schedule your appointment as soon as possible, but be sure to choose a time when you’re not rushed and will be able to spend some extra minutes filling out first visit paperwork. Also, keep in mind that your first visit will probably run longer than later visits because of the need to bring your chiropractor up to date on your symptoms and medical history.
The most important thing you can do to prepare is to record any symptoms you’ve been experiencing. Detail the symptom type – pain, numbness, stiffness, etc. Also, make notes on severity and if the symptom is associated with any certain activity or position, like sitting or lying down. Furthermore, note the times of day when your symptoms seem to be the most severe and at their mildest. Be certain to bring all your notes along to your appointment.
It’s also vital to jot down any questions you may have for your chiropractor. This is crucial since it’s easy to forget things in a new situation. Examples of good things to ask are questions about your chiropractor’s training and experience, if your chiropractor has encountered your symptoms before among other patients, payment arrangements, and details of your treatment plan. Also, don’t ever hesitate to ask questions if you’re not clear about a problem or instruction. Your continued health is the result of a partnership between you and your chiropractor. Open communication and clarity are vital for this collaboration to work well.
Furthermore, honesty is critical. Don’t ever downplay your symptoms or any bad habits you might have. Accurate information is necessary for your chiropractor to devise an appropriate treatment plan. Being less than forthcoming will only hinder your chiropractor’s ability to help you. Chiropractors are concerned with promoting good health, not judging or ridiculing you