Pain is often the last thing to come and the first thing to go.
One thing you will hear us say a lot in the office is, “pain is the last thing to come and the first thing to go.” This simply means that if you have a problem, pain is usually the last symptom to show up and once you begin treatment, the first symptom to disappear. One of the first things patients notice after beginning treatment is less pain, and that is a great thing. As chiropractors, it is our job to find, correct and even prevent spinal misalignments. This can quickly provide pain relief. However, following through with your chiropractic care, even though you feel much better, is critical for two important reasons.
First, the underlying cause of your problem may not yet be completely corrected. You might feel better but if your spine is still not structurally sound, the problem will continue and eventually the pain will come back. The longer a problem or subluxation is allowed to occur in the spine, the more damage there is in the long run. Often times we see that the symptoms return even worse than before when this occurs.
You can compare it to a sprained ankle. After a little time and treatment, the ankle feels much better, however, the ligaments are probably not completely healed yet. If you tried to run or jump on it, it would most likely hurt and you may even re-injure it. Even after an ankle sprain feels better, you still take it easy for a while afterwards to make sure that it is fully healed. The spine is the same way. You want to be sure that your chiropractic care has completely corrected the misalignments (subluxations) in your spine and that your body’s normal function is restored before determining that the treatment is complete.
Another reason to return to the chiropractor is preventative care. Chiropractors don’t just treat existing problems, they provide excellent preventive care as well. Regular visits to the chiropractor can prevent new subluxations from occurring or at least treat them early enough that they don’t become a bigger problem. Based on your individual needs for preventative care, we determine the most appropriate frequency of periodic spinal adjustments and regular examinations. We find that some of the healthiest people utilize preventative care by chiropractors.
It is important to know that subluxations may not cause symptoms. Sometimes our bodies are so good at adapting and working around them they we don’t even notice the problem or symptoms. A problem can begin at birth and lead to later disease or dysfunction without you even knowing it’s there. Regular contact with a chiropractor helps keep you in control of your health in such a way that problems and symptoms are less likely to develop. Children especially can benefit from chiropractic care, as their spines are still developing and problems later in life can be avoided with proper spinal alignment during this time.
One of the great things about chiropractic treatment is that it is all-natural and drug free, avoiding invasive procedures. Because of this, there is no reason not to continue to have regular chiropractic care. We provide a holistic approach to diagnosing and treating your health and if need be make the proper referral to another specialist.
Dr. Jason Schluter is a Chiropractor in Tulsa, OK at Schluter Chiropractic.
Schluter Chiropractic is conveniently located off Memorial Drive in Tulsa, Oklahoma and provides quality chiropractic care to Tulsa and the surrounding areas.
To schedule an appointment, call (918) 664-3571 or visit www.DrSchluter.com.
