Is it safe? Are there any risks to chiropractic adjustment? This is the big question, and Clarendon Chiropractic hears it a lot, especially from those who have never worked with a chiropractor. This is a very important question that many people are curious about. Perhaps they’ve seen videos of neck-cracking compilations on YouTube or heard from friends about stories they read on the news. Chiropractic medicine is something they are still unsure about and afraid of visiting.
This is why we are qualified to discuss this topic. Clarendon Chiropractic sees hundreds of patients per week without any injuries or incidents. We talk with many other clinics across the country that have the same safety record.
We are committed to your total healing through chiropractic care. We also want to provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions about your health. This blog post will address some common concerns regarding the safety of chiropractic care, as well as discuss some remote risks and how we mitigate them.
Although chiropractic is considered safe, there are side effects that can be caused by spinal manipulation There are horror stories in every industry. This is true for chiropractors as well as any other health-related industry (even Kale, a superfood, carries some risk: There is such a thing as too much Kale!). We are here to help you find a trustworthy, non-fluff source and answer the horror stories that can lead people to abandon chiropractic care.
We’ll discuss some of the risks involved in chiropractic adjustment, as well as some common concerns we hear from new clients and inquirers.
Chiropractic adjustments do not involve surgery or the use of drugs. Chiropractors offer patients a safer and less dangerous way to treat pain and back injuries using physical manipulation.
Chiropractors use their hands and special tools to control pressure to treat problems in your body. This is known as spinal manipulation. This is done to align your spine and improve your range of motion. It also helps your body to achieve optimal performance by opening up nerve energy channels to allow it to flow freely throughout your body.
They may use stronger pressure for spinal manipulation, but it is not always. It all depends on individual needs. The art and science of spinal manipulation are two different things. Before being licensed, chiropractors must have completed years of training and practice before they can work with the public. Many safety precautions are in place.
Doctors of Chiropractic medicine must complete 4,620 hours of education to earn their degree. This is almost 1000 hours more than for a Doctor in Physical Therapy, and less than 200 hours than for a Medical Doctor. To earn their doctorate in chiropractic, doctors of chiropractic must complete 4,620 hours of education. This is almost 1000 hours more than for a Doctor in Physical Therapy, and less than 200 hours than for a Doctor in Chiropractic.
Many people who have chiropractic treatment report improvements in their health and less pain. However, there are some side effects to spinal manipulation. A study done by the Nordic Institute for Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics, Odense, Denmark found that side effects from chiropractic adjustments are usually short-lived and often disappear within one day. According to the study, minor discomfort in the area of the adjustment was the most common side effect. The lumbar spine and the neck, are followed by discomfort in other areas, headaches nausea, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea.
These side effects were most often reported during the first round of treatment. Patients with underlying conditions were more likely to report side effects. However, the study showed no difference between patients who have had chiropractic manipulations in the past and new patients. Your spine health has a direct impact on your whole body.
The evidence is overwhelming that the answer is no, especially when considering some of the more invasive and dangerous methods in traditional medicine today.
Let’s suppose you have back pain due to a herniated disc (also known as a ruptured or slipped disc) in your spine. This is a common reason why people seek chiropractic treatment. We have broken down the most popular treatment options and the associated risks.
Chiropractic, a Greek word that literally means “done with hand”, is the origin of the term chiropractic. Chiropractic manipulation of the spine does not involve any cutting or harsh chemicals. The treatment involves one person applying their hands to the body of another. There are risks, as we have discussed, but they are usually mild and rare.
Anti-inflammatory painkillers are available over the counter. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, also known as NSAIDs or anti-inflammatory painkillers (or NSAIDs), are readily available over-the-counter and are often the first thing people turn to when they have back neck or headache pain. Although they are generally safe, some risks exist for those with underlying medical conditions.
Harvard Medical School claims that 30 billion doses pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen are used annually to treat common conditions like headaches and back pain. NSAIDs have been deemed safe. However, there are many side effects, such as stomach ulcers and kidney damage, and allergic reactions. Overuse of anti-inflammatory drugs can increase the risk. Harvard says that at least 15% of people who take them exceed their recommended dosage. People tend to consume more NSAIDs because they are cheap and easy to find.
To ease their neck and back pain, many people resort to prescription painkillers like narcotics. These drugs include codeine, fentanyl (Vicodin), hydrocodone, Percocet (Percodan), and oxycodone.
Although they may provide immediate pain relief, Medline warns that they can cause side effects such as sleepiness, impaired judgment, itchy skin, and constipation. These pharmaceutical products are known to increase the risk of addiction. This is especially true if there is family history of drug or alcohol abuse.
Another common treatment for pain in the neck or back is epidural steroid injections. These injections are direct injections of steroid medication directly into the spine.
Spine Health states that although most risks associated to steroid injections are very rare, they do include infections at the injection site, spinal headaches or painful “dural puncture” headaches, excessive bleeding, and nerve damage due to trauma from the needle at the injection site.
Steroid injections can also cause pain, swelling, anxiety, panic attacks, blood sugar spikes and ulcers, insomnia, hip arthritis, cataracts, and sleep disturbances.
Then there’s surgery. This is an intrusive, but sometimes necessary, way to treat severe and chronic spinal issues and injuries.
Spinal surgery can sometimes be an effective last resort to back pain. However, it is costly and disruptive. There are also many more risks than other spinal treatments.
There are many risks associated with spinal surgery. These include allergic reactions to anesthesia or other drugs, blood clots, life-threatening infections, bleeding, permanent nerve damage, strokes, heart attacks, and even death.
Chiropractic manipulation is safer than other methods for treating chronic neck or back pain. There are rare side effects and risks associated with chiropractic care. This is especially true for those with pre-existing or underlying health conditions. However, most people experience relief from chronic back and neck pain and headaches.
