25.3 million adult Americans suffer every day from pain. Chances are, you’re one of them.
Whether the pain’s in your head, back, legs, or feet, it can be bad enough that it’s detrimental to your everyday life.
But how can you tell if it’ll get better on its own? Or if you need to see a medical professional?
In this article, we’ll tell you 8 signs of when to go to a chiropractor.
1. You Get Frequent Headaches
You may think it’s weird to go to a chiropractor for headaches—don’t they deal with the musculoskeletal system, particularly, the spine?
Think about it though: your brain sits in your skull, which is attached to your spine, so they do have some expertise in this area.
While headaches may result from things like dehydration, or malnutrition, it’s possible that instead, they have to do with your spine alignment. Your neck or spine might be misaligned, which can lead to your annoying headaches.
A chiropractor can realign your spine and improve the blood flow to your brain, which can alleviate the intensity and frequency of your headaches.
2. You Have Pain in Your Joints and/or Muscles
You may get aches and pains in your joints and/or muscles from time to time. We all sleep badly sometimes, which can cause pain during our waking hours.
But when your aches and pains are constant, you might take some aspirin to tide yourself over. However, this isn’t a long-term solution at all. Not only does is it just a temporary solution, but you may be doing harm to your liver by taking aspiring so frequently.
No matter where your pain’s located in your body, a chiropractor can pinpoint where it’s coming from. Then, they can do the proper spinal adjustments to ensure you get better blood flow to your joints and muscles.
3. You Have Pain Shooting Down Your Leg(s)
Do you get shooting pains down your leg(s)? Or do your legs feel tingly? Then you might have a pinched nerve or a slipped disc.
Either way, it’s a sciatica problem and you need a professional to take a look at it. Not only can they give you a spinal adjustment, but they can also provide you with the proper physiotherapy needed to treat your issue.
4. You Have Limited Range of Motion
Perhaps you tossed and turned badly in the night, and now your neck is extremely stiff. Or maybe you turned too quickly and now your back is stiff.
You can try icing the affected area and taking NSAIDs to see if it helps, but sometimes, you need the touch of a chiropractor. This is especially true if you don’t see any improvement within a few days.
A chiropractor can provide both physical therapy and treatments that’ll not only get rid of your pain, but also restore your range of motion and make the affected area stronger. That way, you’ll reduce your chances of reinjuring it in the future.
5. You’ve Been in a Car Accident Recently
If you’ve been in a car accident recently, then initially, you might feel fine. But after a few days, whiplash can manifest and you may be in unbearable pain. Also, you might be suffering from some bumps and bruises from the collision.
An expert chiropractor can assess your condition and give you an adjustment to relieve you of your pain. All without exacerbating your current injuries.
6. Your Shoes Are Wearing out Unevenly
Your shoes will naturally wear out as time goes on. In general, they should wear out equally if your spine’s aligned correctly.
However, if you notice one side wear out quicker than the other, you may have a misaligned spine. Not only will this cause mismatched shoes, but it may also cause some other aches and pains in your body.
Again, a chiropractor can realign your spine so you get more even wear on your shoes. They can also recommend custom orthotics to keep your spine stronger and healthier.
7. You Suffer From Chronic Back Pain
Your spine has an extremely important job. It supports your entire body and may suffer from pain due to your lifestyle. For instance, you may spend hours on your feet at work, or you may slouch over your desk at your computer.
Either way, your back carries most of your weight, and if you don’t have the correct posture, it can really suffer as a result. Take a load off of it by getting an adjustment. This is a much preferable alternative to things like surgery and strong pain medications.
8. You Get Sinus Congestion
This one is also a weird reason to go to a chiropractor. You’d think you should go to an ENT, seeing as they specialize in the ears, nose, and throat.
However, a chiropractor can do an upper cervical adjustment. This can get rid of any tension that’s on your brain stem. As a result, your throat can relax and your sinuses will drain more effectively.
If you feel like you could benefit from chiropractic care, this link will tell you more.
Know When to Go to a Chiropractor
By knowing when to go to a chiropractor, you won’t be in as much pain, nor will it be for long. Plus, it’ll help you take care of your body better, since you’ll nip any issues in the bud before they become more serious.
So if you notice any of the above signs, don’t wait. Be proactive about your health and seek a professional chiropractor to get your body in check!
For more articles on health, please check out our other blog posts.