12 Ways to Tell That It Is Time to See a Chiropractor
If you are dealing with Back Pain, you may think that it is not serious enough to see a chiropractor about it.
However, it could be.
It is important to seek medical attention as soon as you can in order to prevent permanent pain or damage to your body.
In this blog, we highlight 12 signs of back pain that tell you it is time to visit your local back pain doctor.
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There are many sources of pain and dysfunction in the back, and if one of the muscles or joints is injured or inflamed, it can create pain that may be difficult to treat.
The spine is made up of 24 bones that are connected to muscles and ligaments that create the spinal column. This gives the body its form, function, and also holds and protects the spinal cord.
If the spine becomes injured, it can cause chronic back pain.
Some symptoms of back pain will scream at you to see a Chiropractor for treatment.
If you are ever in doubt about the severity and symptoms of pain that you are experiencing, it is always important to see a Chiropractor immediately for a proper diagnosis and treatment options.
Below, we highlight twelve signs that signal an immediate visit to the chiropractor's office.
12 Signs You Need to See a Chiropractor for Back Pain
- Your back pain began because of a sudden trauma, like a car accident or slip and fall.
- Your pain persists.
- You are experiencing severe pain at night.
- You have weakness in your legs.
- Constant pain that is getting worse.
- You are experiencing abdominal pain that accompanies back pain.
- Numbness in the inner thighs or buttock.
- Tingling in the legs.
- You are having bowel problems.
- Problems with balance.
- Fever along with back pain.
- When you bend or flex the back, the pain becomes worse.
It is vital for you to know what type of pain is common for you and what type of pain is abnormal.
If your everyday aches and pains become more intense, it may be time to visit a Chiropractor Near You.
Back pain should not keep you from living your normal everyday life or stop you from doing the activities that you enjoy.
Recognizing signs early on will help you to take a proactive step towards your spine health.
How Does a Chiropractor Help Relieve Back Pain?
When you see a chiropractor for your back pain, they will complete a thorough examination to diagnose the specific cause of your pain.
Once a diagnosis has been made, the chiropractor will be able to put together a specialized treatment plan that will effectively treat your back pain conditions.
The chiropractor may utilize a combination of spinal adjustments, manual therapies, and therapeutic exercises to help you heal quickly and optimally.
Some of the spinal manipulation techniques may include:
- Flexion-Distraction Technique is a gentle, hands-on manipulation that involves a pumping action on the intervertebral disc instead of direct force.
- Instrument-Assisted Manipulation uses a hand-held instrument to allow the chiropractor to apply force without thrusting into the spine.
- Specific Spinal Manipulation helps restore joint movement using a gentle thrusting technique.
With these techniques and therapies, our chiropractors are able to restore mobility to the joints and help to relieve back pain symptoms.
The goal of your chiropractor is to not only treat your back pain but the person as a whole.
We might educate you on nutrition, stress management, and lifestyle goals in addition to treating your back pain.
With chiropractic care, you will also learn how to prevent your back pain from getting worse as well as how to prevent back pain in the future.
Other Ailments Your Chiropractor Can Treat
There are roughly 77,000 chiropractors in the United States who are required to pass a series of four national board exams and be state licensed.
Roughly another 3,000 chiropractors work in academic and management roles.
With these numbers in mind, it should come as no surprise that chiropractic care has come to be seen as a respected and highly effective form of treatment for a number of physical ailments.
But that doesn't mean it's easy to determine when it's time to see a chiropractor.
Here are just a few ailments that your chiropractor can treat.
Muscle/Joint Pain
As one of the major symptoms of musculoskeletal misalignment, this sign should never be ignored.
Don't just continue to take painkillers and do your best to tough it out. You need to take care of your body.
Visit a chiropractic clinic that can provide the best chiropractic care and make sure your musculoskeletal system is properly aligned.
Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people miss work. In fact, back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections.
Still, far too many people just ignore their lower back pain until it becomes nearly impossible to bear.
Take some time to prioritize your pain relief and visit a chiropractor who can diagnose and solve the problem efficiently and effectively.
Many people ignore lower back pain until it's too late. Don't make that same mistake.
Stiffness
If you find that your body is stiffer than usual or you aren't able to demonstrate your usual range of motion and flexibility, you'll definitely benefit from seeing a chiropractor. The chiropractic adjustments these professionals are trained to provide can help you to regain your full range of motion and positively contribute to optimal body function.
Headaches
Finally, headaches have a wide range of causes, but they're often caused by musculoskeletal misalignments.
Making a trip to the chiropractor to receive treatment may reveal some insightful information regarding both the cause and solution of your headaches.
Ultimately, more than a million chiropractic adjustments are given every day, all over the world.
Knowing how to identify these signs is the key to getting the quality chiropractic care you deserve and living your best life.
Don't hesitate to visit a chiropractic care center like the Arrowhead Clinics to hear about your treatment options.
Pinched Nerve
A pinched nerve can occur anywhere along the spine (cervical spine = neck, thoracic spine = upper to mid-back, lumbar spine = lower back) and any joint throughout the body.
Chiropractic care for a pinched nerve includes re-aligning the spine to get you back to optimal health.
There are so many stress factors that take place that can cause a pinched nerve, and chiropractors specialize in reducing that stress to treat pinched nerves as well as prevent them.
Limited Range of Motion
If you notice that your arms and legs are not as flexible as they used to be, or if your neck won’t turn as far in one direction or the other, this is a good indication that you need to see your chiropractor.
A lack of overall flexibility is also a good reason to see your chiropractor.
Chiropractic adjustments realign the bones and joints, relieving pain and increasing the body’s range of motion.
Having normal range of motion helps the body to function optimally.
Sharp, Shooting Pain in Your Legs
If you are experiencing a sharp, shooting pain in your legs, or tingling and weakness, this could be a sign that you are suffering from a pinched nerve or slipped disc.
A trained chiropractor can diagnose the cause of the pain in your leg and perform a spinal adjustment to alleviate the unwanted pressure that is being placed on the nerve and causing you pain.
You’re an Active Person
If you have an active lifestyle and spend time working out or playing sports, your body is subjected to additional strain and pressure.
The added stress can cause the spine to become misaligned. After spending time engaging in these activities, the body can become prone to pinched nerves, slipped discs, or other alignment problems.
If you make it a point to see a chiropractic doctor on a regular basis, it helps to keep your body functioning at its prime so you can continue to live the active lifestyle that you love.
You Want to Live a More Health-Conscious Life
If you want to live a more health-conscious life, or just want to be more aware of how to best take care of your body, your chiropractor is an excellent source of information.
Your chiropractor can provide you with exercise routines, nutritional guidance, and specific techniques to help relieve stress.
All of this, along with spinal adjustments, will help to improve your physical and emotional well-being.
Choosing the Best Chiropractor for Your Needs
If you begin to notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms of back pain, or you're suffering from many other ailments, it is important for your health to contact a Chiropractic Doctor as soon as possible.
The Chiropractors at Arrowhead Clinics have over 40 years of experience treating symptoms of back pain conditions and injuries.
Whether you are suffering from back pain, neck pain, lower back pain, a pinched nerve, headaches, stiffness, or muscle or joint pain, chiropractic care can help you find relief.
Our doctors will complete a physical exam as well as go through your past medical history in order to best diagnose and treat your back pain.
We may also need to take an X-Ray or MRI to help pinpoint the exact cause of your pain condition.
With our years of experience and training, we can provide you with an exceptional level of chiropractic care.
With many specialty tools at our disposal, along with a team that is highly skilled, we have a fantastic chance of helping you recover from your back pain.
If you are suffering from back pain, do not wait to contact an experienced Chiropractor for pain relief treatment.
The Doctors at Arrowhead Clinic offer a free consultation to see how we can best assist with your recovery.
Click on the banner below to speak with our Chiropractors to see how we can best assist with your Back Pain treatment.
Next Blog: Common Symptoms Caused by Injuries of the Lumbar Spine