Most people who are looking for alternatives to medication for back pain, neck pain, and headaches choose chiropractic care. Every year 22 million Americans visit chiropractors. 35% of these are looking for treatment for back pain that has developed for a variety of reasons, such as accidents, sports injuries, and muscle strains.
Chiropractic adjustment treats arthritis, headaches, joint pain, lower back pain, sciatica, and stiff muscles. Chiropractic treatment is safe and effective if the chiropractor is licensed and trained. Chiropractic treatment is beneficial, although there may be side effects associated with it, which are rare.
A chiropractor uses hands or a small instrument to apply a controlled or sudden force to a spinal joint during chiropractic treatment. This therapy, also known as spinal manipulation, aims to improve spinal motion and improves the physical performance of the body.
The aim of a chiropractic adjustment is to bring the joints back into appropriate alignment and enable the body to heal naturally, regardless of the specific spinal manipulation technique employed.
Your joints may try to return to the misalignment, especially if they were in that position for a long time, due to the flexibility of the discs.
In general, chiropractic treatment is reliable and secure. The main objectives are to reduce pain, enhance physical function, and ease symptoms. Contact Zenith for quality treatment.
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON PROBLEMS THAT CAN ARISE AFTER A CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENT?
Chiropractic Adjustment Reactions-
Most side effects of spinal adjustments are completely safe. In most cases, they appear soon after therapy and disappear within 24 to 48 hours.
Chiropractic adjustment techniques
- Mild Pain- Mild pain is the most common side effect of chiropractic adjustment. Within the first few hours following treatment, stiff joints or aching muscles, particularly in the treatment area, may develop but they shouldn’t last for more than 24 hours. For quick relief, apply an ice pack to the sore area.
- Neck Pain and Headaches- 10% of reactions in persons who have cervical spine adjustments are acute headaches and neck soreness. The best advice for treating these adverse effects is ice and rest.
- Tiredness- You may feel fatigued or tired after a chiropractic adjustment, which is short-lived. Avoid strenuous activities until your energy levels are back to normal.
- Dizziness- Dizziness or nausea is not common. Less than 5% of patients report these reactions. Drink plenty of water, stick to mild food, and take a rest.
In rare cases, chiropractic treatment may cause:
- Stroke
- Pinched nerve
- Herniated discs in your spine
Side effects are extremely rare, and more likely to occur if you seek medical care from an unlicensed practitioner. According to reports, there are only approximately 1 in 5.85 million chiropractic adjustments that result in a stroke.
Avoid chiropractic care if you have osteoporosis, spine deformities, spine cancer, increased stroke risk, and more serious conditions that may require surgery.
WHAT ARE THE REASONS FOR SIDE EFFECTS?
Adjustments from a chiropractor improve blood flow and reduce stress, which releases toxins from the system. External symptoms of detoxification include headaches, fatigue, sniffles, and a mild fever. You should feel refreshed once the toxins have been completely released, but it can take a day or two.
Chiropractic realignment may activate muscles you haven’t used for years if you’ve visited a chiropractor for subluxation. After these weakened muscles are working again, they may feel sore, similar to when you start a new exercise routine.
Most often old injuries or compressed areas will reawake during a chiropractic adjustment. While this is essential for complete healing to start, it might bring up previous problems relating to the injury.
WHEN SHOULD YOU STOP CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT?
A patient may feel mild discomfort during treatment for the first 24 to 48 hours. Additionally, the chiropractor must cease and reassess the treatment plan right away if the patient has increased discomfort during or after spinal manipulation.
If no improvement is there after 2-4 weeks, it is necessary to look into further diagnoses and/or forms of treatment.
Chiropractic maintenance manipulations may be recommended by some chiropractors to prevent pain from recurring, but there is little evidence in support of this practice.
THINGS TO DO AFTER CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS
- Drink more water – After your adjustment, continue drinking more water than usual for a few days to maintain your body healthy and functioning as it should. Drink water to stay healthy, as dehydration leads to headaches, fatigue, muscle weakness, and more.
- Avoid sitting for long periods. Anything you can do to maintain moving will help the adjustment to stay and stop your body from reverting back into an unhealthy position. Keeping yourself active after chiropractic treatment is a part of the healing process.
- Movement – It is possible for the body to revert back to where it was after it is moved into proper alignment. Following your adjustment, avoid jerky movements, heavy lifting, and other stressful activities to maintain this alignment. Be careful of your movements as your body is still learning how to be in the correct posture.
- Exercises – Your chiropractor can provide you with exercises that will help in strengthening and repairing the damaged area if you are recovering from a specific injury for which you have sought chiropractic care. Through exercise, you can strengthen unbalanced muscles, speed healing, and reduce pain.
- Rest – Get enough sleep. The body repairs and heals itself while we sleep. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, it can be hard for your body to keep this self-repairing process going at the rate that it needs.
- Plan – Your chiropractor will create a treatment strategy that is customized to the unique requirements of your body. Follow the plan seriously.
SIGNS OF A STROKE CAUSED BY CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT
Vertebral artery dissection may develop soon after neck manipulation or may take days or weeks. As per the University of Michigan signs of Vertebral artery dissection stroke are:
- Neck pain or headache
- Trouble swallowing
- Sensory loss
- Difficulty walking
- Weakness on one side of the body
Seek medical treatment if you are experiencing symptoms of chiropractic injury.
CAN A CHIROPRACTOR BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A PATIENT’S INJURY?
Although the chances of chiropractic side effects are low, tragic accidents can and do occur. Liability for chiropractors could be classified as follows:
- Failing to diagnose the medical condition: By failing to diagnose a medical condition, a chiropractor breaches their duty of care to their patients. This could happen if a patient displays symptoms of a serious problem, such as a stroke, and is not referred for the appropriate type of medical care.
- Patient’s Consent – The patient was not informed of the risks and side effects of the treatment.
- Negligence – The chiropractic treatment will result in new injuries or worsen the existing injury.
Chiropractic manipulation can lead to severe injuries with lasting side effects such as paralysis or death.
Most side effects of chiropractic care are completely harmless but if still persist after 48 hours or are severe, seek medical attention. It’s advised to consult with an experienced and licensed chiropractor if you want to receive treatment or just dial 972-210-0033.