For those who have never been to a chiropractor, the thought of having someone pop and crack your joints may sound scary, painful, or overwhelming. However, it doesn’t have to be any of these things. In fact, when carried out by an expert, chiropractic care is completely safe and can leave you feeling better and healthier than you did before your visit. To provide clarity for those unfamiliar with chiropractic care, let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
Do Chiropractic Adjustments Hurt?
This is by far the most frequently asked question regarding chiropractic care. The simple answer is no, chiropractic adjustments don’t hurt. The large majority of adjustments are quick, easy, and relatively painless. However, you may feel some pressure, pops, or tension during an adjustment. These are all natural and part of the process.
Some will feel discomfort for serious adjustments, but it usually only lasts for a fraction of a second. For those that have never had an adjustment before, there may be mild tenderness or soreness after the first time. It’s easiest to think of it like exercising. When you haven’t exercised in a while, the first couple of times back may cause some discomfort. But, overall, chiropractic adjustments don’t hurt and should not be feared.
Are Chiropractic Adjustments Safe?
Not only is chiropractic care considered safe, it’s also deemed one of the safest non-invasive, drug-free treatments available to patients. While adjustments are totally safe, you should only see licensed and experienced chiropractors. If performed by an unlicensed individual, adjustments could cause pain and result in harmful side effects or symptoms.
How Does Chiropractic Care Work?
Chiropractic care works by restoring the body to its original, designed condition. Over time, your body is exposed to various stressors and conditions which deteriorate your joints and cause spinal misalignment. Chiropractic care works by realigning vertebrae and removing interferences. This allows the nervous system to heal and the body to properly function again.
What Causes the “Popping” Sound During an Adjustment?
While the “pop” that is heard during an adjustment may sound and feel like your joints are being pushed around or damaged, it’s actually nothing more than gas filling in vacated space between joints and connective tissue. Chiropractic adjustments don’t affect the bones; only the space between them.
What Kind of Pain Can Chiropractors Treat?
The answer to this question depends on which chiropractor you talk with. Some focus on certain issues, while others are able to deal with a wide range of aches and pains. For the most part, chiropractors treat issues involving neck pain, back pain, headaches, and tension. While chiropractic care is extremely valuable and can help with a number of physical issues, be wary of chiropractors that claim they can fix anything. There are limitations.
Are all Patients Treated the Same?
Chiropractic care is built on the premise of providing individualized treatment for each patient. Because no two patients are the same, no two adjustments should be identical. A good chiropractor will first sit down with the patient to determine what pain or discomfort is being experienced, what the underlying cause is, and how to proceed.
How Many Visits Does it Take to Get Better?
Again, this depends on the individual and the root cause of the pain. For some people, one adjustment is all that’s necessary to alleviate the pain and start feeling better. Others may require multiple visits over long periods of time.
For example, an individual who suffers from neck pain due to sitting at a desk all day may only require one or two visits to alleviate the issue and correct the problem. However, someone suffering from serious whiplash as a result of a car accident may need months of care.
Will I Make a Full Recovery?
The large majority of patients report less pain after having an adjustment. The extent of the relief will depend on how severe the issue is, but things should certainly improve after one or two visits. If nothing else, an adjustment should reduce the likelihood of current symptoms worsening in the near future.
Can Pregnant Women Get Adjustments?
Pregnant women frequently find considerable relief from chiropractic adjustments. Whether it’s the added weight pulling down on the spine or inability to take pain medication, pregnancy can be taxing on a woman’s neck and back. Adjustments are a safe, effective pain relief option. In fact, many obstetricians refer expecting mothers to chiropractors on a regular basis.
Will I Need Chiropractic Care Indefinitely?
Many people are worried that once they start chiropractic care, they won’t be able to stop. This is not true. Chiropractic care is not addictive and you won’t have to schedule adjustments forever. While regular adjustments are important to your ongoing health, you should be able to reduce their frequency after the first couple of visits.
Can’t I Just Adjust Myself?
The answer to this question is a resounding no! Much as you would never let an unlicensed individual adjust your spine, you shouldn’t do it yourself. In fact, it’s fairly impossible to attempt. Self-joint manipulation can be dangerous and counterproductive.
What is Multidisciplinary Chiropractic Care?
Multidisciplinary care merges traditional chiropractic care with physical medicine, naturopathic care, exercise therapy, massage therapy, nutritional counseling, and ongoing patient education. Rather than simply focus on the symptoms, this form of care works to accurately diagnose and reverse the underlying cause of pain.
What Types of Pain Can Graham Rehab Treat?
At Graham Rehab, our multidisciplinary approach allows us to treat more conditions than most chiropractic facilities. We are able to accurately diagnose and treat back pain, neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, disc herniation, wrist pain, elbow pain, knee pain, hip pain, and ankle and foot pain.
How Long Has Graham Rehab Been in Practice?
Graham Rehab was established in 1992. That means we have been in business for more than twenty-two years and counting. Over this period of time, we have established ourselves as one of the preferred choices for wellness in the Seattle area. We have clients from all over and are constantly adding new ones.
For additional information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Graham Rehab today!