Many people, myself included, suffer from chronic back, neck and or shoulder pain. The causes of the pain vary from person to person, of course, but pain can result from auto accidents, slips and falls, sports or dance related injuries, obesity and, of course, stress! There was a time (many years ago now!) when you had just three options for dealing with this pain:
- Learn to live with it or ignore it
- Take medications to mask the symptoms and the pain, whether it be over the counter medications like ibuprofin or prescribed pain medication
- Visit an orthopedic surgeon and have surgery to correct the problem
Of course, there still may be instances where an orthopedic surgeon is still necessary, but more an more people are opting for a much less invasive way to deal with the problem, a Chiropractic Physician (Chiropractor). It seems odd that Chiropractors are still considered alternative or complimentary medical practioners, since they are so mainstream and many insurance companies are now covering all or part of the cost of chiropractic care. They are, nonetheless, still lumped into the alternative category.
If you've never been to a chiropractor, the first step is to find a good one! You should also feel very comfortable with the practioner you choose (just as you should feel with any health care professional)! I found a wonderful article that outlines what to avoid when choosing a chiropractor (and consequently, a good one will do the opposite). You can read the article here. After you've chosen your practioner, what can you expect from a chiropractic adjustment?
Well, as the practioner you are about to see will tell you, there are HUNDREDS of different techniques used in chiropractic medicine, so your visit may be a little different than someone elses. However, this video gives a great overview on what to expect. Enjoy and I'll be back tomorrow with another topic!
