Chiropractic care is a form of treatment that is a complementary therapy. Some doctors recommend chiropractic care for people who are suffering from chronic pain. Here is a quick overview of chiropractic care, its benefits, and who can make use of it.
1. What is a Chiropractor?
A Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) is a doctor who takes care of people of all ages, and with a range of different health conditions, by using manipulations and adjustments of the spine to help with musculoskeletal injuries. These adjustments can help to relieve pain and discomfort, and improve symptoms of numerous conditions, including ones that do not seem at first glance to be related to the site of the adjustment.
2. Do you need a referral to see a chiropractor?
In most cases, you do not need to get a referral to see a chiropractor if you are paying the fees yourself. However, if you want to claim on health insurance then you may need to fulfil specific referal requirements for that purpose. Talk to your insurance company first.
3. Is chiropractic treatment safe?
Chiropractic treatments are drug free, and are widely considered to be the safest and most non-invasive treatment that is available for general muscular ailments. As long as you are an otherwise healthy person and are not suffering from osteoporosis or heamophillia (where adjustments may put you at risk), the risk of adverse effects from a chiropractic adjustment is minimal. Some people do experience a little soreness or stiffness following the adjustment, but this passes within a day. There is a very, very small risk of injury from high-velocity manipulations of the upper neck, but the risk is about three in 100,000, and not all chiropractors use that kind of adjustment vprocleaningagency.com.
4. What can be treated using adjustments?
Some people find that chiropractic adjustments help them with headaches and neck pain. Other conditions that chiropractors can help with include muscle tension and range of motion issues. It can also help to alleviate back pain that was caused by bad posture.
5. Chiropractics vs Drugs
A lot of the treatments that chiropractics offer are to treat conditions that are usually managed with NSAIDs such as ibuprofen. Given that NSAIDs can be harmful if taken long term, chiropractic care is a good alternative. Most chiropractors offer exercise and lifestyle advice in addition to their adjustments and use of mattress for adjustable base beds, so you will be able to work towards managing your condition in a drug free way – or even cure it completely.
6. When should I see a chiropractor?
If you are thinking of seeing a chiropractor, make sure you have a proper diagnosis for your condition first. Chiropractors are highly trained but they are not like traditional doctors and they will not diagnose the same range of conditions as a traditional doctor would. If you have new, unexplained symptoms (such as pain that is not obviously related to a traumatic event, or severe headaches when you have never had headaches like that before) you should see a doctor to rule out serious underlying conditions before getting treatment for the pain itself.
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