Symptoms FAQ’s

It’s a similar thing with our spines. Your spine is amazing and will adapt to work around problems that develop over time as a result of falls, traumas, poor lifestyle habits, work stress etc. In fact, our bodies are so marvelously capable at adapting to changes from these type of events, that problems can go unnoticed for quite some time before we notice their effects. Eventually, however, your body becomes overwhelmed; your spine can’t compensate anymore and rings the alarm bell, or in other words, lets you know by producing symptoms such as pain. So… you’ve been “feeling” ok, whilst your spine has been slowly going downhill and may now be in quite a bad way, both structurally and symptomatically. Furthermore, if we ignore our symptoms, which are just our body’s cry for help, and even put up with them for years, problems can become chronic. This sets the stage for degenerative changes to occur.

The good news is that chiropractic works quite quickly. We have a saying in chiropractic that pain is the last thing to come and the first thing to go. Unfortunately, the fact that this often happens can lull us into a sense of false security. Occasionally, I hear people say “I’m feeling so much better, I think I’ll leave it for now” by this they mean their chiropractic care. Now, this is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Don’t be fooled into thinking that just because you are feeling better, that you are better. This may simply be NOT SO! To think in this way, is to say that lack of symptoms equals good health. To finish off with another chiropractic quote – “pain free does not necessarily mean problem free.”

Now you know that symptoms are merely your body’s alarm bell, what do we , as chiropractors, go by when assessing the health of your spine? Function is the answer. As a chiropractor, I go by how your spine is functioning. Of course I’m interested in your symptoms, but function is my main concern and it’s the way I assess how you’re doing. My aim is to get you to recover as well as your body is able to, initially by getting you out of pain and then ensuring your spine is functioning well. Meaning that we make sure that the joints, muscles and ligaments are doing their job properly in supporting your spine – something they can only do when your spine has been stabilised and everything is given the time to strengthen. This means going through the Initial stage to correct the problems in your spine and then the Reconstructive stage to stabilise your spine and allowing muscles and ligaments to strengthen. Only then can Wellness care keep you at your best.