Why Does It Take Multiple Visits to a Chiropractor to Fix the Problem in My Back?

For most people, pain in the back will begin to recede after several visits to a chiropractor. But even then, that does not necessarily mean your problem has been fully corrected. Research indicates that after being adjusted, you’ll only hold that alignment for 24 to 48 hours, at least at first. It takes a series of spinal adjustment sessions to retrain your spine to remain in its normal position.

Why exactly is this? The primary reason is that the structures that support the spine (those being the tendons, muscles, discs, ligaments, etc.) can take months or even years to properly heal themselves and hold the spine in proper alignment. Only at that point can the nervous system then also heal, and your issue be considered fully resolved.

With this in mind, here’s a quick overview of what you can expect from your series of visits to a professional and trusted chiropractor in Naples, FL.

Several phases of care

There are several phases of care that occur during the course of your chiropractor visits, and how long it takes you to get through each of those phases really varies depending on the severity and type of your condition.

The first phase is primarily focused on relief. This is when you’re in the most pain, and the main goal is to reduce your symptoms so you can go about your day without being in constant pain and discomfort. This might require daily visits, or at least multiple visits per week, until your body is no longer constantly affected by the symptoms you’ve been experiencing.

It’s worth noting that pain is both the last symptom to appear, as well as the first to disappear in most cases. For this reason, you should not believe yourself to be cured simply because your pain has disappeared. This is why there are more phases to your chiropractic care.

The second phase, then, is corrective care. As mentioned previously, chiropractors focus on retraining your body to correct the issue after your initial symptoms have been dealt with. You will not need to receive adjustments nearly as frequently during this phase. Instead, you will often start doing some exercises and stretches, either at the center or at home (or both) to accelerate your recovery. It is normal to have some minor flare-ups in symptoms during this phase, because the body has not yet fully healed from its condition. This phase, depending on the severity, could last anywhere from months to years.

The final phase is wellness care. This occurs after your body has fully healed, and it involves routine chiropractic care to guard against a return of your problems. Think of this as being similar to eating well and getting exercise as a means of keeping your body in good shape. This kind of care is necessary to ensure the long-term health of your overall musculoskeletal system.

For more information about what you can expect out of your visits to a chiropractor in Naples, FL, contact the team at Hiler Chiropractic & Neurology today.