The 5 Signs That Tell You It’s Time to See a Chiropractor
You may already have a pretty good idea of whether or not an ache or pain is a problem that needs to be addressed. Then again, there may be some complaints you thought were minor, when in reality, they may be signs of a problem that should be taken seriously.
What signs would a chiropractor use to determine what the problem is, or if it is a problem? Every chiropractor has different answers to these questions but at Vert Chiropractic our philosophy is simple - we focus on the immediate issues at hand and only treat what needs to be treated as we work towards finding the core root of the problem area. We believe in treating the cause, not just the symptoms, as well as giving you the tools to prevent future injury.
So how do you know that it’s time to seek help?
Pain
This is the most obvious sign it’s time to see a chiropractor and is the driver for the majority of our patients to start their visits. Pain is caused by receptors throughout the body responding to something that is inflamed or impeded along the chain of your body’s function - meaning pain is an effect of the problem. When you’re able to tell us directly where you feel pain, we focus on what is located at that segment of the body, which nerves correlate to that section, and can move forward in our exam to determine what other complications may be contributing to your pain.
Swelling
Swelling is usually one of the more ignored symptoms. I had a patient present with lower back pain, and as I was checking her spine, I mentioned the swelling in her lower back. She replied that she “knew she felt swollen in that area, but was currently on a diet”. Simple problem: swelling isn't fat -- it’s a protective reaction of the body, filled with fluids to guard the body from injuring a problem even further. After correcting both the symptom and the issue, we were able to adjust the segment that was giving her the problems, the pain disappeared, and the swelling with it. That's the “magic” of chiropractic care.
Redness
Not to be punny, but this is a big red sign saying that you may have an immediate problem. You know how when you get even a tiny paper cut, redness will form around the edges of the cut? This is your body working to heal the problem. We had a female patient come in and say that her neck had been hurting for months and no one could tell her why. She’d been working to rub and stretch the area for months, which led to even more misalignment and inflammation. Sure enough, I spotted a large red area she couldn’t see on her own. After a thorough exam and a few quick visits, she was finally pain free.
Areas that are Hot to the Touch
When there’s something wrong in the body, early in the injury phase, the brain sends its own signal for healing to begin. First comes heat, then comes inflammation. The heat will eventually go away, but this is also when the condition can change from acute to chronic. Have you ever noticed that when you’ve sprained an ankle it feels hot? It’s the body telling itself the injury should be stabilized by now. BUT, it may or may not be re-aligned in the correct spot. The next time something like this happens, give us a call so we can determine if you’re back in alignment, and help you get back up and running more quickly after an injury.
Loss of Function
While this one also sounds obvious, we’ve found it’s frequently a symptom that goes unnoticed by the average person. Here’s what happens: an injury occurs, the body is going to avoid using it as much as it can, and will compensate by incorporating other parts of your body to help do the function that has been lost. Remember the last blister you had from a new pair of shoes? Your body probably told you not to use it the way you normally would -- by signaling a shooting pain to that foot with every step. You then may try altering the way you walk by lightly stepping, or using the side of the foot as a base to walk on, which then causes dysfunction in the foot. What was initially a simple blister has turned into improper walking mechanics, and the same thing happens in the spine. When your vertebra is out of place, your body will avoid using it as much as it can. What originally started as a crick in the neck can quickly turn into constant neck pain, decreased range of motion, headaches, arm pain, the list goes on. What I do as a chiropractor is perform a thorough examination, determine if part of your spine has lost its function, and treat you as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Although the 5 major signs of problems are the same, we know the same problem presents itself differently in each patient. Therefore, each patient needs a customized treatment plan to work with their body, their injury and fits their lifestyle. Once we find the cause of the problem, we are able to confer with the patient to find the best treatment plan for them, begin performing care and results will soon follow. Because of our treatment philosophy, we’re able to treat your needs more efficiently resulting in a treatment plan that fits both your lifestyle and your budget.
If you are experiencing one of these 5 signs, it’s probably time to see a chiropractor. Located in Greenville, South Carolina, Vert Chiropractic specializes in thorough and affordable chiropractic aimed at getting you back to full function as quickly as possible - saving you money in the process. We’re here to help, and want to see you living life at your highest functionality. To schedule your chiropractic consultation, give us a call at 864.251.5725 or head to VertChiro.com to book online.