“When should I stop chiropractic treatment?”
I'm 27, and went to the chiropractor for lower back pain. But now, after three sessions of treatment, I feel great! Is now the time to stop chiropractic treatment?
14 Answers
When your doctor advises so.
NO. DO NOT STOP TREATMENT, AS YOU PROBABLE NEED CORRECTIVE CHIRO CARE, THAT COULD BE OVER A 4-5 MONTH PERIOD.
It’s important to continue after the pain improves as the issues that caused the pain (nerves, spinal structures, ligaments) need to heal. I get adjusted every week for maintenance. I have done so for the past 10 years.
When your doctor tells you.
You stop treatment when your objective chiropractic tests show you've really improved.
Hello!
Isn’t chiropractic great? You should talk to your chiropractor and review your goals for starting care. Some doctors and some patients have the goal of pain relief and if you and your doctor agree, then perhaps you are done until the next time it hurts. Other doctors and patients have a structural correction goal, to help change the body structure so that this does not happen again. Structural correction takes longer, but helps stop or slow down degeneration and permanent arthritis. It depends on your goals.
Best of health,
Dr Steven Moon
Isn’t chiropractic great? You should talk to your chiropractor and review your goals for starting care. Some doctors and some patients have the goal of pain relief and if you and your doctor agree, then perhaps you are done until the next time it hurts. Other doctors and patients have a structural correction goal, to help change the body structure so that this does not happen again. Structural correction takes longer, but helps stop or slow down degeneration and permanent arthritis. It depends on your goals.
Best of health,
Dr Steven Moon
It’s great that you feel better after just three treatments. If you stop the pain might return and it might take longer to fix. I tell my patients there are 3 phases to chiropractic healthcare. The first phase is relief which you’ve already achieved. The next is correction. This usually takes several weeks at a reduced frequency of treatment to correct imbalances and fix the alignment issues that caused your pain to begin with. The last phase is maintenance. This is usually once/month or so to maintain the corrections and keep you balanced and healthy. It’s easier to stay well than to get well.
That is great news that you are doing great! Most young patients respond very quickly to care. Chiropractic is more than just pain relief. The goal is to get you optimized and prevent other issues from occurring or even reoccurring. Your chiropractor should be able to present you with an idea of preventive care to minimize care over time. Much like doing routine care.
This would be a great conversation to have with your Chiropractor since I am unfamiliar with your case. For my patients, I want to get them back to a fully functional level before I release them from care. Sometimes the pain stops before this is achieved, sometimes after.
It sounds like you are ready to be discharged from active care, but it is advisable to schedule a treatment for maintenance every 2-3 months or earlier if the pain comes back.
Dr. Majed Nagoulat, D.C.
Dr. Majed Nagoulat, D.C.
Hello,
Good question. It really depends on what condition your spine is in. If the symptoms came on quickly after overuse or a strain or something uncomplicated, you may be able to stop when "feel better." However, if there are issues like unbalanced pelvis or disc issues, you may be better served with corrective treatment, rather than just symptoms treatment. Your doctor should have taken X-rays, made an accurate diagnosis and ordered a plan of care based on your healthcare goals.
I hope you find this info helpful.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Eric Miller
Good question. It really depends on what condition your spine is in. If the symptoms came on quickly after overuse or a strain or something uncomplicated, you may be able to stop when "feel better." However, if there are issues like unbalanced pelvis or disc issues, you may be better served with corrective treatment, rather than just symptoms treatment. Your doctor should have taken X-rays, made an accurate diagnosis and ordered a plan of care based on your healthcare goals.
I hope you find this info helpful.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Eric Miller
Usually, symptoms go away before the problem is completely resolved. I would suggest consulting your chiropractor and asking the same question.
Dr. Cedrick Noel, BSN, DC, FABCDD, DACNB
Dr. Cedrick Noel, BSN, DC, FABCDD, DACNB
Chiropractic works! How fantastic it is that you responded to your chiropractic treatments so quickly. I am sure your Doctor has shown you how to stretch and improve your daily activities to prevent an acute situation again. As for stopping chiropractic treatments, I would use your chiropractor as you need. If pain or stiffness lasts longer that 36 hours you should get a check up before it gets worse. Many patients I see at my office get a maintenance adjustment every couple of months depending on their activity/work level. Stopping for now does not mean stopping forever!
People with uncontrolled high blood pressure feel great too. Talk to your Doctor of Chiropractic about your treatment plan. He knows best.
