Chiropractic care is all about a renewed quality of life. In addition to being a drug-free, surgery-free option for those suffering from various ailments, it is also an excellent way to reach health goals, based on the proper alignment of the spinal column. Since the spinal cord is protected by the spinal column, having a qualified chiropractor focus on the health of your spine is imperative to your body’s overall wellness.
The more people learn about the benefits of chiropractic care, the more popular it has become. While most people know that chiropractors make spinal adjustments, there are some practices that offer much more. Some chiropractic offices provide acupuncture, massage therapy, and even nutrition counseling. You may know that chiropractors can help with lower back problems, headaches, neck pain, arthritis and joint pain but they can also assist someone suffering from ear infections, bowel irregularity, and high blood pressure. Since chiropractors primarily work with the musculoskeletal system which effects the entire body, their manual treatments of adjustments and soft tissue manipulation can benefit not only the nervous system, but a person’s overall wellbeing. By focusing on the body’s natural ability to heal itself without the use of surgery or narcotics, chiropractic care, used alone or in conjunction with a regular physician’s care, can greatly increase a person’s recovery time.
If you have never seen a chiropractor, you may not be sure what to expect at your first appointment. Generally, you will meet with a doctor to discuss your ailment or discomfort. This also gives you an opportunity to discuss the doctor’s philosophy, expertise and experience. You can also discuss your medical history, your expectations and your desired outcome from your treatments. The doctor will generally order x-rays to examine your spine, and then also perform a physical examination (while you are dressed) to determine your range of motion, joint movement and to check your posture. You will find that chiropractic care can aid those who have been through a physical trauma, as well as athletes and expectant mothers. Chiropractic care is beneficial for all ages, from infants to the elderly! It can used to cure anxiety treatments, like the one from Renewed Freedom Center or Addiction Helper, but without having to take medications.
Seeing a chiropractor isn’t just about “cracking your back”; it’s about safely and properly adjusting your spine and enhancing your ability to move freely. Chiropractic care influences the entire body since our nervous systems control our every move. Many chiropractors offer additional services to enhance your experience, including deep tissue massage and physical therapy, based upon what you need and what will help you the best. If you play a sport or you were in a car accident, you may experience a vertebra misalignment or possibly you suffer from sciatica or poor posture. Regardless, a spinal adjustment and various complementary services can help to alleviate the discomfort you may be experiencing.
Did you know just sitting at your desk all day can be damaging to your spine? For many of us, sitting at a desk all day working on a computer is commonplace. Then, when work is done, we sit and look at cell phones, IPads, laptops and television sets, all from a sitting position. All this sitting isn’t good for our posture and oftentimes results in a “hunched” appearance, putting undo pressure on the neck (even when you’re using a neck support pillow) and causing a myriad of problems, including the shifting of organs! When we sit improperly over a period of time, it affects our spine, neck and even our insides, causing a series of problems that can develop over time. A chiropractor can assess your posture and help to give you tips on how to best straighten your spine, and then provide adjustments to get your body back into proper alignment.
While many people choose to see a chiropractor for their back issues, many also try to alleviate tension headaches and migraines with chiropractic care. Even infants with colic and ear infections were found to have responded to chiropractic care to reduce their pain and avoid medication. Adjustments helped in these situations because aligning the spine reduces the pressure on certain nerves in the body, ones that may be causing headaches, earaches or colic in babies. By simply straightening the spine to its proper place, a myriad of aches and ailments can be almost entirely eliminated. Clinical studies are showing the benefits of chiropractic care for patients with high blood pressure, pediatric epileptic seizure sufferers and other neurological disorders and all without the use of pharmaceuticals or surgery.
After an examination and depending on the cause of the pain, your doctor will likely prescribe a course of pain medication. The most commonly prescribed pain medications are opioids and you need to bear in mind that opioid use can be very addictive. The risk of addiction to opioid medication is especially high if you use the drug in any way other than that prescribed by your doctor. This may include combining the use of pain relievers with alcohol or other drugs to enhance its effects. Or using pain relievers at higher doses or more frequently than prescribed by your doctor.
Opioid pain relievers such as Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, or combinations of Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen (Vicodin) or Oxycodone and Acetaminophen (Percocet) are all powerful drugs and are potentially just as dangerous as heroin, PCP, and other illegal drugs when abused.
The greatest dangers of abusing prescription opioid medication are developing a physical dependence (addiction) or suffering an overdose. Physical dependence occurs when your body becomes dependent on the effects of drugs to feel and perform normally. Failure to use the drug after physical dependence occurs will lead to painful and sometimes fatal withdrawal symptoms.
If prescribed opioid medication or other medication for pain, please use them only according to direction and for not longer than prescribed. Stay safe, stay healthy.
Several athletes are strong proponents of chiropractic care because it helps boost the immune system, stretches muscles and ligaments, and increase energy levels. Chiropractors are now common fixtures on professional sports staffs to help them prepare for grueling play. While chiropractic care can be used as a proactive means to avoid injury, it can also help with tendonitis, and sprains. Athletes contend it helps with their range of motion, and reduces inflammation and pain. Many famous athletes from football players to boxers to soccer players swear by their chiropractic care and believe it maximizes their athletic performances.
If you decide to see a chiropractor for your care, it is important that you find a doctor who makes you feel comfortable. Ask your friends, family and even your primary care doctor for the names of chiropractic doctors they trust and recommend. Follow up with research to ensure your doctor is in good standing by checking social media and the American Chiropractic Association website. Research the doctor’s education and look for someone who is board certified. You might also want to check to make sure the doctor accepts your insurance.
Chiropractic care is not only beneficial for those who have suffered some type of trauma or have back problems, but it is an effective tool for treating many ailments. Chiropractic care can correct years of damage caused by poor spine alignment due to posture issues or injury. In addition to being helpful for adults, chiropractic care can help everyone else, from infants to seniors. People are embracing chiropractic care not only for its holistic benefits, but also as a proactive way to maintain excellent health.
