Minimal Pain, Maximum Gain: Do Chiropractors Hurt?

Typically, people go to the chiropractor to alleviate pain, not compound it. Most chiropractic adjustments don’t hurt, but if your problems are more serious, you may feel temporary pain as your chiropractor addresses your needs. The small amount of pain you feel during the adjustment is less than the pain that brought you into the chiropractor’s office. While you may be sore following the adjustment, this should slowly go away shortly after and as the sessions progress. The pain is minimal, but you stand to gain a lot of relief. 

What is a Chiropractic Adjustment? 

When you visit a licensed chiropractor, they will begin with an assessment of your body to determine where your issues lie. Once the source is uncovered, the chiropractor begins realigning the parts of your body that are out of place through gentle pressure and movements. This can be done by hand or with special medical instruments that manipulate the joints in a controlled manner. 

Chiropractic care is usually not painful, with most patients often finding chiropractic adjustments to be therapeutic. During the spinal adjustment, Dr. Matt uses controlled, precise manipulations on your spine and joints to alleviate pressure on your nervous system and improve your mobility. 

When you are starting your adjustment sessions, you may feel differing degrees of discomfort or soreness, similar to the feeling you get when you start exercising after a long time without. At Chiropractic Memphis Downtown, Dr. Matt is committed to providing gentle, effective adjustments based on each patient's needs and their comfort level. While we want to alleviate your pain, we want to do so with minimal discomfort. 

A Normal Chiropractic Adjustment Session

The first adjustment doesn’t need to be stressful, especially when you know that your pain will soon be alleviated. When you arrive, you will enter a treatment room similar to a doctor's office. There, you will likely find a padded table that resembles a massage table. Chiropractic tables are capable of more movement than a traditional doctor’s table, as they can be raised or lowered, stretch your back, or even provide automatic adjustments. 

Once your chiropractor discusses what is bothering you and provides a thorough diagnosis, they will explain the treatment plan that will target your pain. They may ask questions about family history and daily routine to help pinpoint the cause of your discomfort, then lay you on the table to begin treatment. 

While they work, your chiropractor will explain the process to provide you peace of mind. You may hear or feel cracks and pops from your joints during the session, but these are part of the process and shouldn’t hurt. The sound you hear is actually gas bubbles being released from the joints. If you do feel any pain due to the adjustment, there may be greater underlying issues. 

While every adjustment is different, chiropractors typically follow standard formats to target the main areas of your spine. Once finished, they will provide you with follow-up care advice that may include applying heating pads or ice packs to the affected areas. 

How Often Should You Get a Chiropractic Adjustment? 

Depending on your degree of pain, you may want to visit the chiropractor more or less often, though they will usually advise you on the amount of adjustments you should have for your issues. Small problems can typically be fixed after one adjustment, while more complex problems may require multiple sessions. You may also see your chiropractor weekly or monthly for ongoing issues or as a preventative measure. 

Pain-Free, Gentle Chiropractic Adjustments

It’s incredible what types of pain chiropractic practices can cure, which is why Chiropractic Memphis Downtown focuses on providing effective, gentle adjustments. Using the latest technology, we help alleviate the pain that has been building up in your body and return you to a full range of motion. If you’ve experienced pain and aren’t sure where to turn, Chiropractic Memphis Downtown is here to help.