When your back pain starts to flare up, you may not have the ability to get out of bed, much less walk around and function for work. These attacks come on every so often, and when they do, it is crippling. You have a barrage of medicine to take, but it leaves you groggy and foggy long after it stops working. Your doctor recommended physical therapy and massage, but even these treatments are fleeting. Chiropractic adjustment has always sounded intriguing, but you’re scared to give it a shot. While your doctor believes it to be a safe method of relief, you aren’t so sure. Know what to expect for your first appointment and set your mind at ease.
The Basics
An adjustment is a process by which a chiropractor uses hand motions or special medical instruments to apply rapid and sudden force to the spinal column. The process is typically quick, but the purpose is to provide temporary relief for conditions such as:
- Low back pain
- Headaches
- Hip pain
- Neck pain
The procedure is commonly repeated over several visits to help maintain longer-lasting relief of pain.
The Risks
As long as you patronize a chiropractor, a spinal adjustment is safe. Complications in this setting are relatively rare, but there is a chance that some may develop herniated discs or a worsening of a prior back injury. Nerve damage may also occur in the form of compression of the lower spinal column. You are not a candidate for chiropractic adjustment if you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, are at risk for a stroke, have bone deformities in the back or are experiencing tingling and numbness in your extremities. Always fill out the health information assessment honestly to maintain your safety.
The Procedure
When you go in for your first spinal adjustment, you can expect to discuss your condition with the provider. The chiropractor will then have you lie face down on the table. Next, you will be moved into the proper position depending on what area needs treating. Finally, the provider will administer treatment applying pressure and force to the joints. Expect to hear loud cracking and popping noises. These are normal and should not alarm you. If you feel some measure of pain, let the provider know.
After your adjustment is performed, you may feel some soreness, but most people don’t notice anything adverse.
Visiting a neck pain doctor, like one from Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab and Chiropractic, for a spinal adjustment is one measure you can take to relieve pain. This procedure may provide you with some much-needed help in your battle against pain.