Chiropractor Near Me in Killeen

What Does a Chiropractor Actually Do?

This is a great question, and there are so many misconceptions about chiropractic care. Think of a chiropractor as a doctor who treats any kind of muscle, bone, or joint pain. Chiropractors go through years of school and training to become a chiropractor. Once licensed, chiropractors treat people for any musculoskeletal issue that is causing aches or pains. Chiropractors often offer alternative methodologies for treating pain and can be seen as a complement to your traditional medical care.

What Is an Adjustment?

The best way to experience lasting pain relief is to address the root cause of your pain. In order for your spinal decompression chiropractor to develop a customized treatment plan for your pain, they will first need to

When chiropractors evaluate your spine for any misalignments, they are evaluating you to see how your spine health is affecting your overall health. However, instead of prescribing medication to ease your aches and pains, or surgery to fix an issue, chiropractors use their hands and special instruments to manipulate the joints in the body. These manipulations are designed to correct misalignments along the spine, reduce pain, and improve overall function.

These adjustments generally do not hurt but can cause some soreness as if you’ve completed a workout routine. This soreness decreases over time as your body gets used to the chiropractic adjustments, and your muscles adjust.

When Should I See a Chiropractor?

There’s never a bad time to see a chiropractor. While an ache or pain may bring you in initially, seeing a chiropractor is just like keeping up with any other routine maintenance in your life. But, if you’ve been experiencing any chronic or new symptoms like the ones below, it’s time to book an appointment:

• Lower Back Pain
• Upper Back Pain
• Neck Pain
• Shoulder Pain
• Migraine and Tension Headaches
• Knee, Foot, and Ankle Pain
• Sciatica
• Fibromyalgia
• Vertigo
• Lingering symptoms from an injury

What Should I Expect from a Chiropractor Near Me?

Chiropractors can and do treat pain just about anywhere in the body: arms, legs, hands, feet, neck, jaw, hips, back – you name it and a chiropractor probably treats it! Chiropractors are looking at how the entire musculoskeletal structure works together. This means that as joints shift, muscles may shift, too. Or, a muscle may be pulling on a joint, causing it to be misaligned. These are all issues your chiropractor will help you navigate.

Chiropractors also treat people of all ages. Many chiropractors recommend that new parents bring their babies in immediately to be assessed, since birth is such a traumatic event for an infant. All patients are screened to make sure they are eligible and well enough to receive chiropractic care. If for some reason chiropractic care is deemed too risky for you, your chiropractor will help you understand why, and will help you find alternative solutions.

Your first visit to a chiropractor will seem like any other first visit to a doctor. Your chiropractor will want to review your medical history. Be prepared to go over any pre-existing conditions, illnesses, or injuries, as well as family medical history. Typical screening questions at an initial visit typically include:

• How and when did your pain start?
• Where is the pain felt now?
• Describe the pain? Is it sharp, dull, aching, burning, or throbbing? Does it come and go, or is it continual?
• What activities or circumstances make it worse?

Your chiropractor will also perform a physical exam, and potentially perform other diagnostic tests to best understand your issues. This thorough exam typically includes tests for blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and reflexes. You might be asked to participate in some other diagnostic tests to gauge range of motion, muscle tone, muscle strength, and neurological integrity.

Based on your symptoms and evaluations, your chiropractor will develop a treatment plan for you. Your first visit should take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. Subsequent visits to check for alignment or to give adjustments usually take between 10-20 minutes, plus some resting time if your chiropractor recommends it.

When Will I Feel Relief After Seeing a Chiropractor Near Me?

The great news is that most people feel some improvement after their first adjustment! While this isn’t true of every single person, it is common. With most chiropractors, though, the goal of an adjustment is not only pain relief, but also a restoration of the body to its intended alignment and functionality. So, in order to adjust your expectations accordingly, it’s good to talk about what you expect to get out of chiropractic treatment. You should experience short-term and long-term pain relief, as well as improved overall health, from your routine chiropractic care.

The frequency and length of your treatment plan will depend on the severity of your pain, and the diagnosis your chiropractor gives you. For many patients experiencing lower back pain, chiropractors often recommend adjustments 1-3 times per week for 2-4 weeks before reassessing. If you’ve been in a car accident, however, or are experiencing chronic pain from an illness or injury, your treatment plan could differ.