What to Expect from Your Plan of Care
Thumbs Up to Relief
Many people go to a chiropractor because they are in pain. In this first phase of care, the main goal is to reduce your symptoms. Sometimes this will require daily visits, or two to three visits per week for a time. Pain interferes with rehabilitative exercise programs so initially it is a priority.
Most people are under the assumption that if they don’t feel any pain that there is nothing wrong with them – that they are healthy. Unfortunately, pain is a very poor indicator of health. In fact, pain and other symptoms frequently only appear after a disease or other condition has become advanced and you are unable to further compensate. The gradual degradation of tissues such as tendons or discs can take many years before they become painful and can be difficult to rehabilitate at that point.
For example, consider a cavity in your tooth. Does it hurt when it first develops or only after it has become serious? How about heart disease? Regardless of whether you are talking about cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stress or problems with the spine, pain is usually the last thing to appear. When you begin chiropractic care, pain is also the first symptom to disappear, even though much of the underlying condition remains.
Most chiropractors regard the elimination of symptoms as the easiest part of a persons care. If all that the chiropractor does is to reduce the pain and stop there, the chances of the condition recurring are much greater. In order to prevent a rapid recurrence of symptoms, it is necessary to continue receiving care and persevering with your home exercises even after your symptoms are gone.
During the correction / restorative phase of your care,
you will not have to receive adjustments as often as you did during the first phase of care and, depending on your particular circumstances, you may begin doing exercises and stretches either at the office or at home to help accelerate your healing and prevent re-occurrence of the pain. Research has demonstrated that the probability of a return of low back pain within the next year can be lowered from 85% to 35% when patients follow their spinal stabilization exercises.
Do not be discouraged if you have mild flare-ups in your symptoms on occasion. This is normal. Flare-ups are common during this phase because your body has not fully stabilized and strengthened.
Depending on the severity of your injury or condition and how long you have been suffering from it, this phase of your care may last anywhere from 2 to 6 months and occasionally over a year. Your visits may be very infrequent during this time but it does take time to strengthen and remodel.
Preventative maintenance is The Key to Healthy Living.
Once your body has fully recovered, like many of our patients you may choose routine chiropractic care to help maintain good function, and keep your body in optimal condition. Just like continuing an exercise program and eating well in order to sustain the benefits of exercise and proper diet, patients continue chiropractic care to ensure the health of their musculoskeletal system.
When you make routine chiropractic care a part of your lifestyle, you may avoid many of the aches and pains that so many people suffer through. It makes sense that your joints will last longer if they are functioning properly and you will be able to engage in more of the activities you love.
Most patients find a frequency of return that works best to keep them feeling well somewhere between once every 2 to 8 weeks.
Most people are under the assumption that if they don’t feel any pain that there is nothing wrong with them – that they are healthy. Unfortunately, pain is a very poor indicator of health. In fact, pain and other symptoms frequently only appear after a disease or other condition has become advanced and you are unable to further compensate. The gradual degradation of tissues such as tendons or discs can take many years before they become painful and can be difficult to rehabilitate at that point.
For example, consider a cavity in your tooth. Does it hurt when it first develops or only after it has become serious? How about heart disease? Regardless of whether you are talking about cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stress or problems with the spine, pain is usually the last thing to appear. When you begin chiropractic care, pain is also the first symptom to disappear, even though much of the underlying condition remains.
Most chiropractors regard the elimination of symptoms as the easiest part of a persons care. If all that the chiropractor does is to reduce the pain and stop there, the chances of the condition recurring are much greater. In order to prevent a rapid recurrence of symptoms, it is necessary to continue receiving care and persevering with your home exercises even after your symptoms are gone.
During the correction / restorative phase of your care,
you will not have to receive adjustments as often as you did during the first phase of care and, depending on your particular circumstances, you may begin doing exercises and stretches either at the office or at home to help accelerate your healing and prevent re-occurrence of the pain. Research has demonstrated that the probability of a return of low back pain within the next year can be lowered from 85% to 35% when patients follow their spinal stabilization exercises.
Do not be discouraged if you have mild flare-ups in your symptoms on occasion. This is normal. Flare-ups are common during this phase because your body has not fully stabilized and strengthened.
Depending on the severity of your injury or condition and how long you have been suffering from it, this phase of your care may last anywhere from 2 to 6 months and occasionally over a year. Your visits may be very infrequent during this time but it does take time to strengthen and remodel.
Preventative maintenance is The Key to Healthy Living.
Once your body has fully recovered, like many of our patients you may choose routine chiropractic care to help maintain good function, and keep your body in optimal condition. Just like continuing an exercise program and eating well in order to sustain the benefits of exercise and proper diet, patients continue chiropractic care to ensure the health of their musculoskeletal system.
When you make routine chiropractic care a part of your lifestyle, you may avoid many of the aches and pains that so many people suffer through. It makes sense that your joints will last longer if they are functioning properly and you will be able to engage in more of the activities you love.
Most patients find a frequency of return that works best to keep them feeling well somewhere between once every 2 to 8 weeks.