Chiropractic adjustment of the neck and cervical vertebrae may carry with it some risks, so your chiropractor will perform an examination first. While very low in its risk, an improperly done neck manipulation can actually cause some problems ranging from stroke to pinching and severing major blood vessels in that area.
Most, it not all, chiropractors understand the risks involved in spinal manipulation and only perform this procedure when it’s the right treatment for the patient. A case history as well as a physical and neurological examination is done first. I would be unwise for a doctor of chiropractic to perform any treatment without doing these things first. In many cases, the dangerous manipulations are being performed by non-chiropractors and this is what puts the unsuspecting “patient” at risk.
Headaches, neck pain, and numbness or tingling in the arms and hands can be linked back to misalignment of cervical vertebrae. The benefits of a specific adjustment to the bones of the neck often means an end to long term chronic conditions. Many people only seek chiropractic care after they’ve tried every other possible treatment, including medications, injections, and even surgery.
Chiropractic treatment can be very helpful in dealing with neck pain, even if it’s chronic. Many times this chronic neck pain may be caused by muscle tension or posture issues which can be fixed in just a couple of visits with a skilled doctor, even if the problem has been around for years. Because chiropractic is so effective in dealing with the spine, this can also affect how the person deals with muscle tension or how they carry their muscles and whether that translates itself into back or neck pain.
When deciding whether chiropractic is the right answer for your neck pain, the best thing to do is to check in with your general practitioner first if you have any specific concerns about your past history. He or she can help figure out if chiropractic is appropriate to your specific situation or if it would be unsafe. If you do decide to go with the chiropractic option, look for someone who specializes in skeletal, muscular and spinal problems.
The doctor of chiropractic may do an x-ray examination of your neck (and maybe your entire spine) and then may suggest a regiment of chiropractic care that may include massage, heat, cold therapy, electric stimulation, or ultrasound in addition to chiropractic adjustments. These additional therapies are complementary to problems dealing with muscles and the spine.
Philip Vincent is a health educator. Need an Lacombe Chiropractor? Consider a visit to this Central Alberta Chiropractor.
