How Do I Know That I Should See a Chiropractor?

By Martha Michael

Doing what comes naturally is often the answer when responding to health issues that arise. However, it’s not the best solution if your natural tendency is to reach for a pain reliever to mask your symptoms rather than treat the cause of the problem. Making a periodic assessment of your reaction to pain may reveal a penchant for choosing immediate comfort without correcting the root problem. Chiropractic care is a safe, noninvasive treatment option providing you with relief from symptoms as well as an analysis to identify the source of your pain.

Symptoms Are Not Enemies

Physical symptoms are signals, red flags that deserve your attention -- not a warring tribe you either ignore or cover up with pain products. The purpose of a symptom is to provide information about an illness or condition developing within the body. Symptoms sometimes start as cues but evolve into signals, depending on the cause. Whether a patient experiences sharp or dull pain, whether it’s intermittent or continuous, the discomfort of a symptom acts as a guide -- it tells you something is wrong.

An article in Medical News Today discusses the many messages you get from body aches. They may be the result of an injury or signal an underlying medical condition.

There are many types of symptoms resulting from health threats including:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Pain
• Shivering from fever
• Cold or flu symptoms

There are circumstances in which fatigue and muscle stiffness alert you of a serious disease such as fibromyalgia or an autoimmune disorder, but they are typically short-term symptoms which are harmless in origin. However, it is wise to accept the messaging that comes from pain because it is always worthy of attention.

Chiropractors Seek the Cause

Treating lower back pain or an aching neck needs to do more than eliminate pain -- it should also find the root of the problem. If treatment merely masks your painful symptoms, you are either postponing the inevitable or worsening the long-term effects of an underlying condition.

A chiropractic exam involves personal reporting from the patient to amass details about the length and type of symptoms that persist. The doctor’s observations and medical training combined with the patient’s history leads to a diagnosis and prescription for treatment that seeks to correct the cause. This approach leads to early detection of factors leading to pain, which can reduce the span of time between onset of symptoms and completion of the healing process.

Chiropractic care is effective in relieving symptoms for many conditions, including:

• Arthritis
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Migraine headaches
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome

Preventative Chiropractic Care

You do not need to survive a trauma or battle a serious illness to seek the assistance of a chiropractor. Some of the most important work of chiropractic care involves the prevention of health challenges and the reduction of the negative effects of the symptoms.

When you have a regular appointment with your chiropractor, a baseline for your health can be developed over time. That means your chiropractor can more easily detect compromises to your body’s function.

For instance, with a background noting your range of motion, energy level, and other health considerations, red flags will appear when changes occur. There may be symptoms you don’t notice yourself but that require your attention, which a chiropractor can detect. Preventative care provides you with information to manage your health and seek early treatment when necessary.

For example, a patient who has a rigorous fitness program but suffers from chronic calf pain may need guidance regarding proper warm-up exercises. A chiropractor who sees a patient who presents with lower back pain can diagnose a developing coccydynia that requires special seating and other treatment options. If you have numbness or tingling, a chiropractor can determine if it’s a herniated disc.

If your goal is to immediately get back on the treadmill, there are ways to do that. But if you want lasting pain relief and help with a more permanent path to getting healthy, turn to chiropractic care for treatment.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.