People may refer to them as back doctors or bone crackers, but neither term is 100% accurate. A chiropractor is not a doctor, per se. They are doctors of chiropractic, which is a physician-level certification, but they do not hold an MD. Instead, chiropractors are more in line with holistic practitioners and physical therapists. However, the amount of schooling and experience they must gain before being permitted to take the certification exam and get licensed is at the least equivalent to other medical professionals. Regardless, a chiropractor has a unique approach to your health and well-being. These professionals believe that there is a balance between the musculoskeletal and nervous systems that requires maintenance to promote optimum health, and the core of that balance is the spinal column. Therefore, when you suffer from a chronic condition, like lower back pain or headaches, a chiropractor will investigate spinal alignment, and to fix your problem, they will probably suggest a series of spinal manipulations over several weeks, months or years. While these treatments can provide benefits, many people are anxious about the initial treatment and don’t understand what to expect.
Spinal Manipulation
After your initial assessment, a chiropractor may discuss your treatment options and plan for your first spinal manipulation. That phrase alone may scare you because you know how valuable and fragile your spine is, so the thought of someone manipulating it doesn’t sound pleasant. While the phrasing is both accurate and unfortunate, spinal manipulation is a controlled and precise procedure, and your chiropractor has tremendous experience with the practice because the state wouldn’t have licensed them otherwise. That being said, it pays to prepare yourself for the quick, gentle movements and the possibility of a popping noise. While possibly terrifying, the sound is natural and has nothing to do with bones breaking or cracking. The sound is actually a result of air being released from the fluid surrounding your joints.
Compounding Treatments
Many people go to a doctor of chiropractic once and decide it’s not for them. Unfortunately, one visit is typically not enough to experience the benefits of treatment. While some may forego a second visit because they were sore after the first, chiropractic therapy depends on the theory of compounding visits. For patients who suffer from long-term, chronic pain, it is unrealistic to expect one visit to realign your spine and cure your issue. Give chiropractic treatment the time needed to make a real difference in your life.
If you are suffering from a chronic condition and are curious if chiropractic therapy is right for you, then contact a local doctor of chiropractic to get an assessment and discuss your options. Don’t continue to suffer because you are afraid of the process.
Resources:
Wikipedia, Chiropractic Care
