When To Stop Chiropractic Treatment
You’ve heard chiropractors are a lifetime commitment.
Do you know when to stop chiropractic treatment?
It seems like everyone is singing the praises of regular chiropractic adjustments. Unfortunately, there are still a few unhelpful myths floating around that prevent people from seeking care. And one of the biggest ones is that once you start going to the chiropractor, you can never stop.
This is simply not true!
As a professional licensed chiropractor and former educator, I consider it my duty to correct myths and misinformation. In this article, I’m going to discuss when to stop chiropractic treatment and alleviate any concerns you may have.
Why Do Chiropractors Require So Many Visits?
This chiropractic myth is probably still circulating because people are used to immediate relief. You pop a pill, schedule a surgery, and voila, your symptoms are gone.
In my experience, this type of “treatment” is only masking the symptoms, not actually treating an underlying condition. Chiropractic care is unique because it treats the type of conditions that can’t usually be cured overnight.
Think back to your high school anatomy class. When a joint is misaligned, it isn’t just your bones that are in the wrong place, your muscles, tendons, ligaments, and even nerves are rearranged as well. Soft tissues are stretched on one side and contracted on the other. Nerves are pinched. Discs are lopsided.
And the longer they stay in that position, the more accustomed your body is to holding them there.
A chiropractor can shift that joint back into position, but your body will immediately start to drag it right back. And if you never return to the chiropractor, it will stay that way, causing the same problems.
Regular chiropractic adjustments are needed to constantly correct your alignment until your body gets used to its new “normal.” The good news is that chiropractic appointments usually last less than 30 minutes.
When To Stop Chiropractic Treatment
Just like a course of antibiotics, chiropractic treatment needs to be completed in its entirety in order for you to get the full benefits.
If you are receiving chiropractic treatment, you should only stop at the direction of your doctor. Typically, your chiropractor will stop treatment after your injury has healed or your initial goals have been reached and begin a maintenance phase.
Of course, there are always exceptions to every rule. If you aren’t seeing results after several visits or if your pain gets worse, it’s best to stop treatment and seek out a different chiropractor.
Like any professional, some practitioners are better than others. If you don’t get great results from one chiropractor, that doesn’t mean the entire industry is to blame. Visit another office and see if you get better results.
Maintenance Is Important
“If my injury has been healed and I’m no longer in any pain, why do I need to keep coming back to the chiropractor?”
Even when a patient comes to me after a car accident or sports injury, they often have postural issues that contribute to “normal” back pain.
But pain is never normal!
Pain—from headaches to back pain and beyond—is a signal from your body that something isn’t right (much like the “check engine” light on your car). If you are experiencing chronic pain, that is an indication that something is not as it should be.
Remember, your body will become accustomed to its “normal.” If you go back to the same physical activities or bad posture as before, your body will shift back out of alignment and undo all the work your chiropractor did.
Occasional chiropractic adjustments help your body “remember” what proper alignment feels like.
Long-Term Treatment = Long-Term Relief
One of the biggest complaints we hear about chiropractors is that they want you to return 2-3 times a week for the rest of your life.
At Oviedo Chiropractic, our methods are far more convenient for a busy schedule!
Immediately after an injury, we may ask you to come in a few days apart to jumpstart your treatment plan and maximize your pain relief. But after that, treatment generally occurs every week or so until your injury has healed.
Once in the maintenance phase, many patients see us only about once a month.
Of course, you can stop treatment at any time, but once you experience the full benefits of chiropractic care, it is very likely that you won’t want it to stop!
Schedule your appointment today to see how we can help.
