10 Signs it’s Time to See a Chiropractor

Many people live with unnecessary aches and pains every day. These could be due to a prior injury, chronic health condition, an active lifestyle, or just everyday stress. However, there are countless physical symptoms to be aware of that signal the need to see a chiropractor. You don’t have to accept or deal with pain, no matter the cause or reason for it. Prolonging treatment and care of pain increases the risk of serious injury and an increase in the level of pain you’re experiencing. 

Many people believe that a chiropractor is only able to help with neck and back pain, when in reality, chiropractic care is beneficial for the entire body. We can help with a variety of pains and injuries, as well as help reduce the risk of something going wrong in the first place. With the right treatment plan, chiropractic care can help alleviate, minimize, or even eliminate the pain you deal with on a day-to-day basis. 

Here are 10 signs it’s time to call your local chiropractor for an appointment:

1. You suffer from a chronic health condition

Chiropractic care can help manage and treat numerous chronic health conditions, including sciatica, migraines, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and more. While some chronic health conditions are more serious than others, these all cause pain that can be managed with the right chiropractic treatment plan. Treatments such as dry needling, the McKenzie Method, Nerve Flossing, and Myofascial Release are just a few that we offer here at Active Health KC to help treat and manage pain. We work to find the right treatment plan for each patient to help with managing their pain and reducing the need for pain medications. 

2. You suffer from frequent headaches or migraines

Many people suffer from frequent headaches and migraines, but few realize that chiropractic care can help reduce, treat, and even eliminate this common ailment. Headaches can be caused by a number of reasons, including dehydration, malnutrition, oxygen deprivation, stress, or even a dysfunction in the neck or spine. We work with our patients to find the cause of their headaches, provide techniques to help control them, offer insight into muscle and joint imbalance, and discuss dietary contributions. Here at Active Health KC, we want to get our patients off of pain medication and into a treatment that will stop their headaches by managing the source of the pain. 

3. You spend long periods of time sitting

If you spend a long period of time sitting at a desk every day, whether for work or for school, it’s highly likely that you experience neck, back, and maybe even shoulder pain. Pain from sitting all day is common because many people are prone to slumping or slouching in their chair. Poor posture is one of the leading causes of general back pain, but chiropractic treatment and tips can help. The poor posture from slouching in your chair puts extra pressure on your lumbar spine, leading to pain and tightness in the lower back, too. Once we’ve figured out the source of your back pain comes from sitting for long periods of time, we will create a treatment plan and provide tips for what you can do to make your work set up more ergonomic to reduce aches and pains. 

4. You live an active lifestyle

Having an active lifestyle puts additional strain and pressure on your body. Whether you spend your free time working out, regularly play sports, or just run around with children, this added stress on your body can cause you to experience pain and joint dysfunction, too. We offer ongoing treatments to keep your body functioning well, allowing you to perform better on the field, the court, or the backyard. Regular visits to a chiropractor can also reduce the risk of injury so that you can keep being active without the worry of an injury stopping you in your tracts.

5. You suffer from frequent joint or muscle pain

If you suffer from frequent joint or muscle pain, your first reaction shouldn’t be to get pain meds to fix the issue; this is definitely a sign that you should see a chiropractor. Frequent pain in your joints or muscles can be a telltale sign of an underlying condition, such as an injury you weren’t aware of or a dysfunction in the spine. We work with our patients to find the cause of their pain and create a treatment plan that works for their comfortability and preferences. We want to ensure that your body is functioning as well as possible utilizing the treatment that works best for you!

6. You have been involved in an accident

Being involved in a motor vehicle accident can cause serious injuries, visible and invisible, that a chiropractor can help treat. If you’ve been in an accident recently, that is definitely a sign that you should make an appointment with your local chiropractor as soon as possible. Seeking treatment quickly can reduce inflammation and scar tissue that can form from damaged muscle fibers. Getting chiropractic and rehabilitation care can also help prevent chronic pain and safeguard you from further injury. We can identify your injuries and form a treatment plan that works for your body to ensure long-term recovery. 

7. You deal with a lot of stress, mentally or physically

Dealing with some stress in your life is normal but chronic stress can lead to numerous other problems, including reduced sleep quality, decline in mood, increase in tightness and soreness in your muscles, and even increase in headache or migraine frequency. If you’ve been feeling excessively stressed, like many of us have with the state of the world, it might be time for you to seek chiropractic care. A chiropractor, like Dr. Cotter at Active Health KC, can help reduce how stressed you feel and reduce the effects that stress can cause on the body by relieving muscle tension, improving nerve function, and building a treatment plan to target your areas of pain and stress. 

8. Your shoes wear out unevenly

If you’ve noticed your shoe’s soles wearing out quicker on the side or in the heels, that might be a sign that you should see a chiropractor. The soles of your shoes wearing out unevenly could mean your body is unbalanced and needs an adjustment or other treatment. Uneven wear on your soles can be an indicator that you’re experiencing dysfunction in the body. Chiropractic treatments can ensure the problem doesn’t continue and lead to chronic pain in your ankles, knees, hips, or back. We can evaluate what the issue might be to figure out which treatment method would be right for you!

9. You’re experiencing a limited range of motion

Experiencing a limited range of motion in any part of your body, whether it be caused by muscle stiffness, joint pain, or even a prior injury, means it’s probably time to see your local chiropractor. A chiropractic adjustment can improve function of the body and joints, relieving pain and increasing your range of motion. Having a normal range of motion helps your body function at its best. We can evaluate where your limited range of motion stems from and provide tips on what to do in between treatment appointments to speed up the process to a better functioning body. 

10. You feel sharp, shooting pain in your legs 

If you’ve noticed sharp, shooting pain in your legs, it is definitely time that you should see a chiropractor. This pain could mean that you are suffering from a pinched nerve or a herniated disc in your back, which could lead to much worse problems if not treated quickly and effectively. We can identify the cause of the pain through assessments and tests and create a treatment plan that works for you to alleviate unwanted pressure that is likely causing this pain. 

If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms and signs, call Active Health KC today for your free consultation and to set up your first appointment so you can be on your way to living pain-free!