If after 10 visits, the joint still does not remain in place after the manipulation, then there is an obvious injury to the ligaments. The manipulation should stop at this point. If continued chiropractic care seems unnecessary, consider the following: Does your primary care doctor only want to see you once and never again? No, of course not. Your primary care doctor will likely want to see you at least once a year and more often if you have certain conditions.
They want to help you maintain your health throughout your life, and chiropractors have the same goal. While you might feel better after a few adjustments, that doesn't mean your spine is fully aligned. Pain is the last symptom to appear and the first to go away. Continuous adjustments will further help keep the spine aligned.
Just like when you go to the dentist, the settings must be programmed. So how often should you go to the chiropractor? The answer is different for each patient, but you should schedule appointments as needed. Weekly or monthly visits may provide the most benefit. While a chiropractor is an important part of your healthcare team, there are situations that are not suitable for chiropractic care.
Both very active people and those who must sit at a desk for many hours can benefit from chiropractic care before the real pain begins. In addition to the need for additional sessions for maintenance, one of the main reasons why people often need several sessions in advance is that they don't seek chiropractic care until they have symptoms, meaning they're already in pain. This is why many patients with chronic symptoms are advised to use chiropractic care as part of their treatment plan. While chiropractic care is generally safe, always remember to check with your doctor if you have any medical conditions or allergies before starting.
One of the most common frustrating misunderstandings about chiropractic care is that its intention is to “cure” someone in the same way as an antibiotic treatment to eliminate an infection. Preventive chiropractic care can help fix this problem before you miss three days of work because you can't sit at your desk without severe back pain. Your chiropractor may recommend that you wait until it heals or the inflammation has subsided before trying to receive chiropractic care. They can also refer you to a specialist to help rule out other underlying causes that can't be addressed with chiropractic care.
Likewise, if you've been putting off chiropractic care because you've been feeling better after a few sessions, it's important to spend time visiting your chiropractor before the pain starts to come back.
