Many people go to a chiropractor because they are in pain. In this first phase of care, the main goal is to reduce symptoms. Sometimes this will require daily visits, or two to three visits a week for a while. Most people assume that, if they don’t feel any pain, there is nothing wrong with them, that they are healthy. Unfortunately, pain is a very poor indicator of health. In fact, pain and other symptoms often only appear after a disease or other condition has progressed.
For example, consider a cavity in your tooth – does it hurt when it first develops or only after it has become severe? What about heart disease? Regardless of whether you are talking about cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stress or problems with the spine, pain is usually the last thing to show up. When you start chiropractic care, pain is also the first symptom to go away, although much of the underlying condition remains.
Most chiropractors consider the elimination of symptoms to be the easiest part of a person’s care. If all the chiropractor does is reduce the pain and stop there, the chances of the condition returning are much greater. To prevent a rapid recurrence of symptoms, it is necessary to continue to receive care, even if your symptoms have disappeared.
During the correction/restoration phase of your care, you will not have to receive adjustments as often as you did during the first phase of care and, depending on your particular circumstances, you may begin to do exercises and stretches either at the centre or at home to help speed your healing.
Don’t be discouraged if you occasionally have mild flare-ups in your symptoms. This is normal. Flare-ups are bound to occur during this phase because your body has not fully healed. Depending on the severity of your injury or condition and how long you have been suffering from it, this phase of your care can last anywhere from a few months to a couple of years.
Once your body has fully healed, routine chiropractic care can help ensure that your physical problems do not return and keep your body in optimal condition. Just like continuing an exercise program and eating right to maintain the benefits of exercise and proper diet, continued chiropractic care is necessary to ensure the health of your musculoskeletal system.
When you make routine chiropractic care part of your lifestyle, you avoid many of the aches and pains that so many people suffer, your joints will last longer, and you will be able to participate in more of the activities you love.
