When your spinal vertebrae are out of alignment it can lead to uncomfortable back pain. Spinal injury or a medical condition can also contribute to back pain. Thankfully, chiropractors can help treat back pain with a variety of safe and all-natural therapeutic techniques. One of the misconceptions about going to the chiropractor is that chiropractic adjustments can make back pain worse. However, nowhere can offer you a magical relief from your back pain instantly. Just like with going to the gym, your muscles need time to adjust to the experience and you might experience some soreness as they grow stronger. When you visit a back pain chiropractor for an injury or issue, they will also be addressing the root cause of your pain so you can experience treatment and healing that lasts.
What to Expect After a Chiropractic Adjustment
Chiropractors use chiropractic adjustments and other all-natural techniques to help reduce pain, especially in the back and neck. People also seek out chiropractic care when they are recovering from an injury, like after a sports or car accident injury. After your first few chiropractic adjustments, you might feel like things are worse before they get better. In some cases, you might feel strange things happening after a chiropractic adjustment. Here are a few examples of how chiropractic adjustments can affect you and what that means for your healing and recovery.
Muscle Soreness
When you get a chiropractic adjustment, your chiropractor is actually helping to move your vertebrae back into healthy alignment. The nearby muscles that support your spine also have to adjust to this movement and either shorten or lengthen to continue to provide stability for the area. This can lead to muscle soreness, which is a natural response to the healing process. Think of that new exercise routine you just started. At first, you will likely be sore for hours or even a few days afterward as your muscles adjust to these new movements and start to gain strength. Similarly, with chiropractic adjustments, your muscles are re-learning healthy habits of how to support your spine in healthier ways.
Cold Symptoms
You might be surprised to experience a runny nose or a cough after a chiropractic adjustment. Some people experience cold and flu-like symptoms after a chiropractic adjustment because of how the treatment kickstarts the body’s immune system. Chiropractic care will prompt your body’s natural healing abilities, which can include flushing out things that are inside your body and shouldn’t be. Sneezing, coughing, and a runny nose are ways your body chooses to expel the bad stuff out of your body that likely would have caused you to get sick. Chiropractic adjustments can help your body clear out these toxins of a cold or sickness coming on, which can help reduce the length and severity of your illness.
Digestive Irregularities
It is also possible to experience some digestive changes after a chiropractic adjustment. Your digestive system is connected to the vertebrae in your lower back, so adjustments to that area can cause some surprising fluctuations in your bowel movements. People who have issues like constipation or irritable bowel syndrome may experience more regular bowel movements after chiropractic adjustments, while people who generally have normal bowel movements may experience some brief irregularity.
How to Reduce After-Effects After Visiting the Chiropractor
Just like with health and strengthening exercises, chiropractic adjustments with your back pain chiropractor can cause you to experience soreness in your back as you heal. This is a healthy and normal response to back pain treatment, and chiropractors use safe and natural treatments so you don’t have to worry about invasive procedures or drugs that have uncomfortable and unwanted side effects. You can do a few things to prepare for your visit to the back pain chiropractor that will help you to minimize feeling worse after a visit. Drink lots of water before your chiropractic adjustment, which can help flush out toxins and hydrate your muscles and joints. Drink water after your adjustment as well to replenish your fluids and stay hydrated. Focusing on healthy eating habits can also provide nutrients to help support your body as it heals from back pain.
At AICA Orthopedics, our back pain chiropractors make every effort for you to experience a safe and healthy healing environment. Call or visit us to learn more about how our chiropractors can help you experience lasting relief and healing from your back pain.
