When body aches and back problems get too overwhelming, your doctor may suggest a trip to the chiropractor. This practitioner is specially trained in helping the body heal itself by performing a series of adjustments along the spinal column. Depending on your physical condition, the practitioner may perform this adjustment with instruments or bare hands. While the procedure itself is relatively painless, what happens after you leave the clinic? Before your visit, familiarize yourself with three of the common side effects you may experience after a chiropractic adjustment.
1. You Have Flu-Like Symptoms
During an adjustment, the chiropractor applies pressure along the spinal column in an attempt to align it. Doing this helps to bring the rest of the body’s musculoskeletal system into the proper placement. The process itself is meant to shake off scar tissue that forms when the blood supply is cut off from an affected area. Without adequate blood flow, a muscle will not receive the new oxygen it needs to repair tears and inflammation. The result is hard scar tissue. When an adjustment is performed, it breaks through this tissue and allows blood to flow through. The unintended consequence is something called a toxic release into the body. While it is not anything to be alarmed about, it may make you feel like you are coming down with a case of the flu. You may have generalized aches, feel extremely exhausted and downright sluggish. This is temporary and should go away within 24 hours.
2. You Have a Headache
A headache after spinal manipulation is a common and temporary side effect. The blood flow is increased suddenly by the realignment of the neck and spinal column. When blood rushes into the head, it may cause a headache. If the pain grows worse or is accompanied by nausea, vomiting or light sensitivity, it may be a migraine. This is not a common side effect, and you may want to check with your chiropractor.
3. You Feel Dizzy and Nauseous
The spinal column houses the pathway for nerve impulses to travel from the brain throughout the body. Any kind of adjustment to this pathway may result in very temporary vibrations in the head. Some people may feel dizzy or nauseous upon standing or when they turn their head. These feelings should go away within hours of treatment.
An adjustment may be just what you need to help your ailing back or body, especially if you prefer to treat without powerful medication. Only a chiropractor, like a chiropractor, from Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic, is trained in spinal manipulation, so steer clear of any other practitioner offering the procedure.
