Most people go to a chiropractor when they are experiencing pain. In this first phase of care, the objective to reduce your symptoms as quickly as possible. This may require daily visits, or only a couple visits per week for a time.
In general most people assume they are healthy if there is no pain, and there is nothing wrong with them. Contrary to belief, pain is a very poor indicator of health. Frequently pain and other symptoms only manifest themselves after a condition or disease has advanced.
Imagine, going to a dentist and finding out you have a cavity. That cavity didn’t just form that morning, in most cases if the patient was going to the dentist for routine cleanings that cavity is pain free, but nevertheless. On the other hand another patient might have only found the cavity when they had a tooth ache. With the spine it’s a similar scenario, pain is usually the last thing to appear. When you begin chiropractic care, pain is also the first symptom to disappear, even though much of the underlying condition remains.
Occasionally the elimination of symptoms is the easiest part of a person’s care. If all that the chiropractor does is to reduce the pain and stop there, the likelihood of the condition recurring is much greater. In order to prevent the recurrence of symptoms, it is commonly necessary to continue receiving care even though your symptoms are gone.
During the corrective phase of your care, you will not receive treatments as often as you did during the first phase of care and, depending on your particular circumstances, this may include beginning doing exercises and stretches either at the center or at home to help accelerate your healing.
Do not be discouraged if you have mild flare-ups in your symptoms on occasion. 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 may 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 well in order to sustain the benefits of exercise and proper diet, it is necessary to continue chiropractic care to ensure the health of your musculoskeletal system.
When you make routine chiropractic care a part of your lifestyle, you avoid many of the aches and pains that so many people suffer through, your joints will last longer and you will be able to engage in more of the activities you love.