Is Chiropractic Care Safe?

Considering how chiropractic care uses force in order to realign your spine, many people worry that it can do more harm than good. They worry that chiropractic care can worsen problems, rather than fix them, and that you’d be better off sticking with more traditional treatment methods. The truth is that chiropractic care is safe when it is performed by a licensed doctor of chiropractic, but there are some risks that are worth mentioning. Here is what you need to know about safety and chiropractors.

What Are The Risks Seeing A Chiropractor?

Since chiropractors provide natural, non-invasive treatment, there aren’t many risks associated with seeing a chiropractor. It is common for people to experience headaches, fatigue, and some pain or discomfort in the adjusted area for a few days following their adjustment, but these should fade quickly. 

There are some more serious risks to seeing a chiropractor that are quite rare, but still possible. These include:

• Herniated disks/worsening of an existing herniated disk
• Compression of nerves in the spinal column
• Damage to an artery in your neck/a stroke following a neck manipulation

Generally, so long as you see a licensed doctor of chiropractic, you should be safe. Complications from chiropractic treatment are rare. As with anything, there is both the potential for mild and serious complications, but that does not mean that it is not safe to see a chiropractor.

Is There Anyone Who Shouldn’t See A Chiropractor?

Chiropractors can help you with all sorts of different conditions that can result from spinal misalignments. When they realign your spine, you can find relief from back pain, neck pain, headaches, and more. However, there are certain conditions that make seeking chiropractic adjustments inadvisable. 

Some of the conditions that make seeing a chiropractor inadvisable include:

• Cancer in your spine
• Increased risk of stroke
• Severe osteoporosis 
• Bone tumors
• Paget’s disease 

Some of the other conditions where chiropractic treatment may not be the safest option for you include:

• Progressive or sudden neurologic conditions 
• Conditions resulting in unstable joints
• Bleeding disorders

If you’re ever uncertain about if chiropractic care is safe for you, you can consult either with your primary care provider or with a licensed doctor of chiropractic. Chiropractors have your best interest at heart and want to help you feel better. They do not want to risk your health, but help it. 

If you are a good candidate for treatment, your chiropractor will personalize your care to you and your specific needs. If your condition would not benefit from chiropractic care, your chiropractor will tell you. 

Steps For Safe Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic is like any other medical practice. For your safety, you want to ensure that the chiropractor you see is licensed with a doctor of chiropractic degree. You can either look online for reviews or ask your physician for a referral. You can also schedule a consultation with a chiropractor in order to learn more about treatment options and whether or not chiropractic care is a good treatment option for you.

You wouldn’t see a doctor who lost their medical license or go to someone who didn’t go to med school for medical issues, would you? That would not be safe at all. The same is true for chiropractors. 

When you see licensed professionals, you can rest assured that they have your well-being in mind and will make adjustments to their treatments as needed to ensure that they are as safe and beneficial for you as possible. Chiropractors are experts in regards to your musculoskeletal system and undergo extensive training and schooling in order to learn how to provide their patients with good chiropractic treatment to help them recover. 

How To Determine If A Chiropractor Is Good

A good chiropractor can do wonders for your quality of life and help you recover from your issues, but unfortunately, the bad ones give the entire field a bad reputation. There are some warning signs that you can watch out for that indicate a chiropractor may not have your safety or care in mind and that you should continue your search for a good chiropractor who has your best interests at heart.

Some of the warning signs of a bad chiropractor include:

• They’re not treating the affected area.
• They don’t track your progress.
• Their diagnosis is gimmicky. 
• They schedule excessive visits.
• They’re ordering excessive X-rays.
• They’re not willing to work with other medical professionals.

Conversely, some of the signs that a chiropractor will have your safety in mind and work to take care of you include:

• Clear communication.
• They take the time to gather your health history and perform an evaluation. 
• They give you a clear strategy on how to help you.
• They adjust your treatment according to your pain and needs.
• They use multiple treatments to help your body heal.
• As you get better, they schedule fewer treatments because you need fewer.
• They work to ensure that you are comfortable and feel heard.
• They are willing to work with other medical professionals.
• They will tell you if chiropractic care is not the best option for you.

Safe Chiropractic Care You Can Trust

Elite Chiropractic is dedicated to providing each and every one of our patients with the personalized treatment they need in order to improve their well-being. We have your well-being at heart and will adjust your treatment as needed in order to ensure that it works for you. To learn more about if chiropractic treatment is right for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.