Chiropractic care is a means to diagnose and treat problems that affect the joints, bones, ligaments, muscles, and nerves of the body. A practitioner who provides this form of treatment is known as a chiropractor.
The basis of chiropractic care is known as spinal manipulation, which involves hands-on adjustment of the spine. However, there are other forms of treatment that these specialists use.
What Occurs During a Visit to The Chiropractor in Pensacola?
The first consultation usually lasts 30-60 minutes and the chiropractor will inquire about your treatment goals as well as your medical history. You will be asked about your:
-Current health issues
-Past illnesses and injuries
-Lifestyle
-Any medications you are taking
–Diet
-Sleeping habits
-Use of drugs, alcohol, etc.
At this stage, you should tell the chiropractor any physical issues you may have that make it hard to do some things. Ideally, tell them if you are experiencing any tingling, weakness, numbness and other nerve issues.
After inquiring about your health, the chiropractor will conduct a physical exam. This includes testing your spinal mobility. They may ideally do other tests like taking x-rays and checking your blood pressure. These tests search for issues that may be adding to your back pain.
In most cases treatment starts at the second visit:
– You will be asked to lie on a special table, where the spinal manipulations are conducted.
-Hands-on adjustment is the most common treatment, especially for back pain relief, and it’s done by moving a joint in the spine to the end of its range, and then doing a light thrust. This treatment realigns the bones of the spine to make the straighter.
-The chiropractor may ideally do other treatments to give you back pain relief such as massage.
Some individuals are a bit stiff, achy and tired for several days after the treatment and that’s because the body is still adjusting to the new manipulation. However, you should not feel any pain from the adjustment.
For Back Pain Relief, How Many Treatments are Required?
More than one session is usually needed for back pain relief. These treatments usually last for a few weeks and the chiropractor may recommend 2 short sessions per week at first. These tend to last between 10-20 minutes each. Once you begin improving, they may be just once a week. How effective the treatment will be is based on the goals discussed during the initial session for your back pain relief.
What Are The Conditions Best Treated By a Chiropractor?
These doctors are best for treating:
- Flare-ups of long-term back pain
- Subacute back pain, or back pain that has lasted for at most 3 months
- Neck pain
However, you should not have chiropractic treatment in parts that are affected by:
- Severe arthritis
- Severe osteoporosis
- Bone tumors or fractures
- Joint or bone infections
Neck manipulation may ideally cause strokes or damage the blood vessels, but this is very rare. It’s ideally rare that this kind of treatment may worsen your condition. The screening done initially is meant to see whether you might be at risk of these issues. Otherwise, chiropractic care for back pain relief is very safe.