In a previous post we discussed what to expect at your first Chiropractic visit and now it is time for your first adjustment. Your Chiropractor should have already discussed their findings with you and how you can best be helped with Chiropractic care.

So what to expect?

There are many different chiropractic techniques, ranging from gentle touch to using specialised equipment. Treatment may vary greatly depending on the Chiropractor and their personal preferences but in most cases a typical treatment will include Chiropractic adjustments. If you are nervous about your first adjustment, just let your Chiropractor know. They will do their best to re-assure you and tailor the adjustment to suit you.

Your Chiropractor will have found areas of your spine that are misaligned or not moving correctly, and these are the areas that they will adjust. An adjustment is often a quick thrust to the spine to put the joints into a better position and get them moving properly.

Your Chiropractor will often adjust an area that is already sore, so some adjustments may cause a moment of discomfort, but generally won’t cause you any pain. You will often hear a “click” during an adjustment and this is due to gas bubbles in the joint fluid being released. No need to worry as this is perfectly normal.

The effects of an adjustment are varied, and range from some patients feeling immediate relief, to feeling very relaxed or even sleepy. Some people will experience a mild ache afterwards and this is due to the muscles working a little harder to keep everything in the right place. This usually wears off within a day at two and can be compared to the ache you feel after exercising for the first time.

Chiropractic adjustments can have an effect on the nervous system so you may notice changes in other areas. I have had many patients report improvements with their sinus and digestive issues following an adjustment.

So how will you respond to your first adjustment? Well you won’t know until you give it a try.

Have you ever had to stop walking to remove a pebble from your shoe that was irritating your foot? It wouldn’t make sense to just carry on and take painkillers or muscle relaxants for this irritation when removing the pebble would resolve the problem for good.

So why is it, that so many people constantly take medications for their headaches, back pain, fatigue and many other issues, instead of removing the problem from its source?

It seems that many of life’s problems are approached in this manner; we can either patch it or fix it. Although they may sound similar they are two very different options. Patching the problem is often a quick fix; we try to find something that will help the problem now, without much thought for the future and as a result the problem tends to keep coming back.

Fixing the problem is a long term solution; it not only involves helping the problem now, but also ensuring that it doesn’t keep happening.

Your choice in Chiropractic care is no different. When you are in pain, Chiropractic can offer you two choices, to either patch the problem or to fix it. I personally, love to help patients get out of pain, but I find it far more rewarding helping people fix their problem, and watching their health improve over the long term.

I see people all day who come in with the mindset, “I just want to feel better” and it’s my goal to help them focus on their health long term. In many cases Chiropractic can help them feel better relatively quickly, but unless they are committed to fixing the problem, it’s going to keep coming back.

In Chiropractic cases, the source of the patient’s problem is from a joint being out of position that puts pressure on a nerve, or a joint being stuck and not moving properly, which puts strain on the muscle. If you experience headaches, there is a good chance that a misalignment in your neck is adding to your misery, rather than a lack of Painkillers in your diet. Once the pressure is removed from the nerve, or the joint starts moving properly again, patients will get relief. However, with time the vertebra tends to go back to the position it is used to, resulting in pain again.

This is why I believe corrective Chiropractic care is so important. Through chiropractic adjustments, home traction, and specific postural exercises you can realign your spine to its normal shape and curvature thereby taking pressure off the nerves, joints and muscles to allow your spine and nervous system to function healthily.

If you never remove the pebble from your shoe, what do you think will happen to your foot after a few months of walking? If you never address the cause of your headaches, back pain or fatigue, what do you think will happen in a few years from now?

The decision to patch or fix the problem is always yours. Whether you want short term relief or a long term solution that will benefit you the rest of your life, your Durban Chiropractor can help you.

Patients who are starting Chiropractic care often want to know how long it will take before they feel better. Unfortunately there is not a single, simple answer that will be true for everyone.

Many factors can influence how quickly a patient will heal. I have seen some patients experience instant relief after one adjustment, whereas others take weeks to months before they notice a significant improvement. In general most patients tend to notice some relief within the first few Chiropractic adjustments.

Many factors can influence how quickly a patient will heal. I have seen some patients experience instant relief after one adjustment, whereas others take weeks to months before they notice a significant improvement. In general most patients tend to notice some relief within the first few Chiropractic adjustments.

Here are just a few factors that can influence the healing process.

• AGE – younger people tend to respond the quickest to therapy. From middle age onwards the body’s capacity to heal tends to diminish.
• LENGTH OF TIME – a person who has had a problem/pain for many years will tend to heal slower and may notice gradual improvements with time. People who have only had pain for a few days tend to notice big improvements within a short time. If you have any pain, it is best to have it assessed as soon as possible, as ignoring it, will often allow the problem to get worse.
• LIFESTYLE – People who have a healthy lifestyle, who exercise regularly and eat healthy foods tend to heal quicker. Exercise keeps the joints and muscles moving well, and promotes blood flow which aides in healing. Good nutritious foods give the body the building blocks it needs in order to heal.
• AGGRAVATING FACTORS – If you have a neck problem but spend all day, every day hunched over a desk you will take longer to respond to care. Patients who remove any aggravating factors tend to respond better.
• COMPLIANCE – If your Chiropractor gives you any exercises or stretches or any advice…Follow it.  Patients who follow their Chiropractors suggestions generally tend to respond quicker.

Perhaps the most important factor is, “what do you hope to achieve with Chiropractic care?” If you only want to feel better, this can often be achieved in a short space of time. If you are looking to fix the problem that is causing the pain, this can often take a lot longer. In most cases if you do not fix the underlying cause of the pain, the pain will inevitably return. Chiropractors will often recommend adjustments or specific postural exercises even when you aren’t in pain. This ensures that you spine stays in the correct position and the joints keep moving properly so that your problem can be fixed.

There are many factors that play a role in how quickly you will respond to Chiropractic Care. Whether you are looking for short term pain relief or to fix the problem long term, Chiropractic can help you.

It’s often said that a change is as good as a holiday and with that in mind, Back to Health Chiropractic will soon be changing premises. Not only are we excited about this change in location, but the host of other changes that comes with it.

• Digital booking system
• Paperless office
• Automatic appointment reminders
• Instant access to your medical aid and available funds

The above are just some of the changes that will make visiting your Durban Chiropractor simpler and more efficient.

The change that we are the most excited about…

We will soon have our own, on site, X-ray facility, making it easier and more cost effective to have your spine X-rayed, if you should need it.

The new premises are located in the heart of Durban North, at DHS old boys club. It is a quiet, peaceful environment with plenty of available parking. There will also be a gym, beauty salon, restaurant and many other health practitioners working as a team, to help you with all your needs. Everything has fallen into place very suddenly so we will keep you updated with any more exciting changes.

Everything has fallen into place very suddenly so we will keep you updated with any more exciting changes.

I remember feeling both nervous and excited the first time I saw a Chiropractor. I went in not knowing what to expect but I left knowing that I had made the right choice. A good Chiropractor should take the time to explain everything, give you your options and put you at ease.

Your first visit is often the longest, as the Chiropractor will want to take the time necessary to find out exactly what is bothering you and how best to serve you. A typical first visit will start with a detailed medical history.

Where does it hurt? How long have you had this problem? Can you think of anything that may have caused this pain? Is there any time of the day when it feels better or worse? These are just a few common questions your Chiropractor will ask you to get a complete understanding of what is causing your pain.

Your Doctor should then perform a series of tests to examine your spine. These may include orthopaedic tests, to determine how your joints and muscles are functioning. Neurological tests to show how your nervous system is functioning, and postural tests to determine what part of your spine is under the most strain.

These tests are all very important and will give your doctor a very good idea of what your problem is. If necessary your Chiropractor will take a set of X-rays, or refer you for further testing. X rays are very useful as they can show broken bones or if there is disease in the spine. They also show the shape and alignment of your spine and if you have any degenerative changes due to a misalignment.

Align Corrective Chiropractic makes use of  digital posture assessment and digital X-Rays of the spine. These are both very useful in indicating any postural/structural problems.

Once your Chiropractor has all the information they need, they should go through their findings with you, discuss your options and recommend a treatment plan for you to get the best possible results.

Your Chiropractor will then give you your first adjustment and hopefully you too will leave knowing that you made the right choice.

Dr David Palmer talks about how Chiropractic care can help your neck pain.