I often times see patients in my practice who have never been to a Chiropractor before. Now besides the understandable apprehension with trying something 'new', patients also ask the question, "is it safe?"
Now of course I am going to tell you that Chiropractic treatment is safe. But I'd also like to expand on that and not only prove that it's safe but also why in certain situations, it may not be.
Chiropractic is a regulated health profession in Canada. Along with federal governing bodies there are also provincial associations that oversee Chiropractic and Chiropractors. Doctors of Chiropractic are primary health care providers which means similarly to Medical Doctors and Dentists, you don't need a referral to see one.
Now more about Chiropractic safety. Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of back pain, neck pain, joint pain of the arms or legs, headaches, and other neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. In my practice the most common 'side-effects' patients occasionally report are soreness and stiffness. The soreness seems to appear after the first one or two sessions but eventually subsides and goes away completely. I advise all my patients on appropriate home/follow-up care to minimize any discomfort they may feel away from the clinic.
Most importantly though, some patients who are suffering from neck pain, headaches, shoulder stiffness etc. and who would benefit from a cervical adjustment are concerned about the possibility of stroke. I can tell you that yes it is possible a Chiropractor can cause damage to the vessels in your neck, that if compromised, can lead to a stroke. However, and this is very important, the scenario you see in movies where a unsuspecting 'bad guy' just collapses because the hero "snaps" his neck is unrealistic. That situation is just Hollywood at work, plain and simple.
Now in the real situation where patients are in my office for help and treatment, I will conduct a thorough history and physical exam. There are patients out there who should not have their neck adjusted, under any circumstance! That's why a Chiropractor must do a thorough exam to rule out those patients. A good Chiropractor should be asking questions about family history, nature of pain, previous trauma, and other symptoms to identify patients who might be better off seeing another health care provider. In addition to this, a physical exam along with Orthopaedic testing can also bring to light "red flags" that should alert a Chiropractor to avoid neck adjustments.
As stated, for the vast majority of patients in almost all situations, a Chiropractic adjustment will offer them tremendous relief without the use of drugs or surgical intervention. But there will always be a small minority of cases where an adjustment might make matters worse. Hopefully this post will not dissuade anyone from seeking Chiropractic care. If anything, my desire for posting this is to make patients more aware so they have a frank and honest discussion with their health care provider be it Chiropractor or not.
In addition, Chiropractic will not be everybody's cup of tea. The reasons for Chiropractic's effectiveness anatomically and physiologically are universal but there is always patient's preference. I'll explain it this way. When you look at a car like a Porsche, a finely tuned, marvel of engineering. It has everything; luxurious interior, superior handling, speed and agility. In many's minds, it's the perfect car. However, there will always be those who prefer a Volkswagen or Toyota, regardless of cost. Go figure. That's preference.
If you have any more questions for your Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC, please visit COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC HERE!!!!
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