What Does a Chiropractor Do? Why I See One Every Month

Ever since I was younger, I have had back problems. One reason was that I grew very fast and, compared to other kids, was very tall.

I grew to be 6 feet and 7 inches before I stopped growing. Although that does not automatically mean that this was the main cause, it was a contributing factor to my back problems.

The result was that I once in a while had soo much trouble with my back that I needed medical attention. After trying physical therapy with not too much result, I ended up at a chiropractor.

This helped my back, and stubborn as I am, I ignored all his advice and went back to doing what I was doing. That was me at a young age, and at that time I thought I was indestructible.

So, I kept hurting myself and go see a chiropractor when it got too bad.

Fast forward, and many chiropractic visits later, after I got older, I realized that I can not keep doing the same over and over.

I was just ignoring my back till it was too late. Sometimes I even lost feeling in my legs because of my back.

Why I Go to a Chiropractor Once a Month

I strongly believe that your spine is the highway of your body. After all, all your nerves are in your spine and connected to the rest of your body.

After realizing that, I figured that it needed maintenance on a regular basis. Time to find a chiropractor that can help me with this maintenance plan.

Luckily for me, I found a local chiropractor who also believes in the once a month plan. Even better was that we were both Christians and shared the same Christian beliefs.

What I also found very important is that he refused to do anything to my back before he took X-rays. He wanted to make sure, also because of my age, that nothing serious was wrong with my spine.

What Does a Chiropractor Do?

A chiropractor works with the spine and musculoskeletal system, with the goal of improving how the body moves and functions. One of the main things they do is perform adjustments to the spine and other joints.

What Happens During My Chiropractic Appointment

I try to make my appointments early in the morning on the first Wednesday of the month. Just for convenience reasons, and it is easy to remember.

My goal is to stay mobile in my back. Treatment is basically only for pain relief and not soo much for major adjustments.

I am older, and that is the plan we decided on.

When I go to my chiropractor, he checks how my back, spine, and shoulders are moving and looks for areas that may be stiff or not moving as well as they should. If needed, he makes an adjustment to help restore movement.

Of course, everyone’s situation is different. Some people see a chiropractor because they have back or neck pain, while others, like me, use chiropractic care as part of their ongoing routine.

My visit always starts with being treated with the muscle tension machine. This relaxes the muscles in my lower back before they start adjusting my back.

After that, it gets rubbed with some stuff to keep it warm.

Now, my spine gets checked and, if needed, small adjustments are made. This goes all the way from the bottom to the top of my neck.

Sometimes he pays extra attention to my neck and shoulders since they are also stiff sometimes.

That’s all, and it usually takes me an hour from leaving to being back home. This is also because the office is close to my house.

My Experience With Monthly Chiropractic Care

For me, it isn’t about going to the chiropractor because I have a major back problem. I go once a month as part of my regular health routine.

I think of it a little like taking your car in for maintenance. You don’t always wait until something breaks before you have it checked. I take the same approach with my back and shoulders.

Everyone’s situation is different. Some people see a chiropractor because they have back or neck pain, while others, like me, use chiropractic care as part of their ongoing routine.

The important thing is that a chiropractor isn’t a replacement for your regular doctor. If I had a serious injury, severe pain, or a medical problem, I’d want to know what was causing it and get the appropriate medical care.

I found out by doing this that my back never gets to hurt too bad. But I also take better care of myself and try to avoid hurting my back.

Eddie van Aken

Resources:

• https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/chiropractic-in-depth
• https://waldochiropracticgroup.com/what-does-a-chiropractor-do-when-you-should-see-one/