From throbbing aches to muscle tension, it’s often easy to tell when something’s wrong with your body. Pain and other common sensations are the body’s way of throwing up a red flag—but it’s not always clear what we should do about vague or complex concerns. Sometimes, the surprising answer is this: visit a chiropractor!
According to the American Chiropractic Association, an estimated 35 million people see a chiropractor each year, and for a wide range of conditions beyond common back pain.
If you’ve been wondering “When should I see a chiropractor, and what can a chiropractor help with, anyway?” we’ve got you covered. Here are a few telltale signs you could use chiropractic care.
You Have Chronic Back Pain
One of the most obvious signs you could use a chiropractor is chronic back pain. According to the CDC, somewhere between 11-40% of US adults experience this type of pain, which makes it one of the most common reasons for seeking medical care.
The mechanisms in our spines and backs are complex, and there are many things that can throw them out of alignment. However, a few of the most common culprits include one or more of the following:
- A sedentary lifestyle, often paired with long work hours at a desk
- Improper lifting habits
- Repetitive movements with poor form
- Poor posture
- A muscle or joint sprain
Note that you don’t need to reach out for chiropractic care if you experience muscle pain that recedes on its own in a few days or weeks. However, if your pain has lasted for six months or more, or if it has grown worse despite efforts at recuperation, you should seek professional care.
Your Migraines or Headaches Are Excruciating
If you’ve ever had a terrible migraine in the middle of a workday, you know how debilitating it can be. Headaches affect your mood and productivity, and they can cause stress and anxiety when they happen on a frequent basis.
You might be surprised to know that in spite of the various factors involved in most migraines, the root cause is often spinal and neck issues. Inflammation in the upper spine, poor spinal alignment, and tension or stiffness in the neck can cause recurring headaches. Unfortunately, this means the headaches often won’t disappear with a little over-the-counter pain medication.
Though neck exercises to relieve tension may help, a chiropractor can work out a plan that alleviates the headache-causing tension. What’s more, a chiropractor can also help you identify simple changes you can make to your diet and posture. These changes can lessen your risk for headaches while improving your overall health.
You’ve Experienced Unusual Numbness or Tingling Sensations
It’s not uncommon to feel a bout of numbness after a limb has “fallen asleep.” Known as paresthesia, this sensation sometimes feels akin to pins and needles. These sensations often happen in the extremities, and though they’re uncomfortable or annoying, they should go away on their own.
However, persistent tingling and numbness can be a sign of a range of conditions. One common culprit is a nerve issue, which can occur from a herniated disk or from other spinal conditions like arthritis or spinal stenosis. It can also be related to migraines, carpal tunnel syndrome, or other conditions.
If this sensation happens in the back, neck, or shoulders—especially if it lasts more than five minutes—you should consider reaching out to a chiropractor for an assessment.
You Have Ongoing Joint and Muscle Pain
Many of us simply reach for a bottle of painkillers when we experience minor aches and pains. When these issues stem from a pulled muscle or a sprain, this is often enough to reduce the pain we feel.
However, when those acute aches and pains become chronic issues, seeking expert advice can help you figure out the underlying cause. Poor musculoskeletal alignment can be a cause of joint and muscle pain, but spinal manipulations can help relieve the pain and tension.
Chiropractic adjustments can also improve blood flow and nerve conductivity around the joints and muscles in question for the long-term. This helps keep the muscles and joints more limber, which can help you avoid future pain.
Your Range of Motion Is Limited
As we age, it’s not unusual to notice that we aren’t as flexible as we used to be. However, if your range of motion is limited enough to cause concern or issues in your daily life, a chiropractor can help.
Common examples include difficulty turning your head, reaching over your shoulder to put on a seat belt, or bending down. These issues can also be linked to past accidents or injuries, as well as ongoing tension in the spine, joints, or muscles.
With chiropractic adjustments, a professional can realign your joints and muscles to relieve tension. This, in turn, increases your body’s range of motion, which helps improve overall bodily function.
You’ve Experienced an Injury
Whether you’ve had a bad fall, been in a car accident, or pulled your back picking something up, your first instinct is probably to rest and recover. In most cases, the acute pain from an injury will heal itself in time. However, others may find that a small injury can cascade into a spectrum of health issues that continue for years.
An experienced chiropractor can help diagnose the root cause of your pain, allowing them to treat any underlying causes that may prohibit normal function. In addition, chiropractic evaluations can even uncover further issues you may not be aware of, which often happens in the case of major car accidents.
Visit Our Lexington Chiropractor Today
If you’re struggling with any of the conditions mentioned above, you don’t have to live with the pain. Not understanding the root causes of your pain can lead to stress and anxiety—but you don’t have to troubleshoot your treatment alone.
Our Lexington chiropractic clinic can help you find the root causes of your health issues. We can also work to develop a specific treatment plan to relieve pain and improve function. We’re passionate about helping patients recover from pain and discomfort, so schedule an appointment today to learn how a chiropractor can help!