When to See a Chiropractor: 5 Signs To Look For

Sick of headaches and back pain? Put down the Tylenol!

Here are 5 signs that let you know when to see a chiropractor.   Each year, millions of people visit chiropractors for various injuries and ailments. In fact, it’s estimated that chiropractors treat over 27 million American patients each year. In fact, chiropractors can help you improve your overall health, but most people fail to notice obvious signs that a chiropractic visit is necessary. Here are 5 signs that you may need to see a chiropractor.  

1. You Were Recently Involved in an Accident

In the U.S., over 3 million people are injured each year from car accidents. Being involved in an accident—even a minor one—can wreak havoc on your body. In addition to cuts, scrapes, bruises, concussions, and whiplash, your joints can become misaligned. Physical therapy is a common treatment plan, but chiropractic care can achieve greater benefits in less time. That’s right: chiropractors are great at treating car accident injuries! In fact, there are many chiropractors out there who specialize in car accidents, which means you’ll be able to get a personalized treatment plan from a seasoned expert. If you’ve recently been involved in a crash in Florida, be sure to schedule an appointment with a chiropractor as soon as possible following your accident.  

2. You’re Experiencing Chronic Back Pain

Chronic back pain affects over 16 million American adults. That’s 8 percent of the adult population! If you’ve been living with back pain for some time, it’s very easy to accept it as your “new normal.” But back pain isn’t normal. Pain is the body’s way of signaling to you that something is wrong. Ignoring back pain is just like ignoring the check engine light on your dashboard. Just because you refuse to acknowledge the problem doesn’t mean it isn’t there! Lower back pain is one of the most common ailments treated at Oviedo Chiropractic. In many cases, a patient’s pain is due to a misalignment of the spine and other joints and a simple readjustment can relieve a great deal of back pain almost instantly.  

3. You Have Limited Range of Motion

A limited range of motion in one or more joints is a good indication that you may have an undiagnosed—and therefore untreated—injury. If you find it difficult to move your arms, legs, back, or another part of your body, this could indicate a muscle sprain or joint misalignment that is best treated by a chiropractor. Chiropractic care uses spinal manipulation and medical massage to allow your body to heal on its own, restoring your range of motion. Increasing your flexibility isn’t just an indication that you have healed from an injury, it’s vital at preventing injuries in the future.  

4. You’re Suffering from Headaches

Headaches can be caused by a number of different things, including dehydration, oxygen deprivation, or malnutrition. Headaches may also signify that there’s a misalignment in your spine or neck. The occasional headache probably isn’t cause for alarm, but if you are experiencing frequent, consistent headaches, there’s a good chance that the solution requires more than a couple of Advil or Motrin. Headaches caused by a misalignment of the vertebrae cannot be effectively or definitively treated with pain medications. (In fact, the side effects from drugs can often be worse than the headaches themselves!) But once the joints have been brought back into alignment, most patients consider their headaches sufficiently treated after only a few visits. If you suspect that misalignment is the issue, then it’s time to schedule an appointment with a chiropractor. A chiropractor can help alleviate headache symptoms as well as perform techniques that will increase the flow of oxygen to your brain.  

5. You Sit All Day at Your Job

13.3 percent of Americans work at a desk in front of computer screen. At first glance, they don’t seem taxing, but sedentary jobs put employees at higher risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease…not to mention the harm they do to your joints. Most people don’t think that sitting all day would leave them feeling sore, but the truth is, our bodies are made to be in motion. Being hunched over a keyboard all day compresses the spine, putting stress on the discs between your vertebrae. You may also experience poor posture and weakened muscles. Seeing a chiropractor can help mitigate some of the negative effects that come with sedentary work. Spinal adjustments and flexion-distraction can help “plump up” compressed discs, restore range of motion, and decrease pain. In the meantime, read our tips for creating an ergonomic workspace.  

Know When to See a Chiropractor

These 5 signs are good indications that you could benefit from a visit to a chiropractor, but this is by no means an exhaustive list. In fact, some of our patients are surprised by what the x-ray reveals at their initial visit. At Oviedo Chiropractic, we help patients with a variety of conditions…more than we have time to list here! If you are experiencing numbness, tingling, weakness, headaches, soreness, or pain, schedule an appointment with Oviedo Chiropractic to start your journey on the road to healing. Our office is open 6 days a week; we look forward to seeing you soon!