Many people swear by chiropractic care to help their aching back and body.
A chiropractor specializes in the alignment of the human body and uses a system of specific body-altering moves that supposedly helps properly realign the body. This realignment often comes with a series of joint-cracking twists, pulls and pushes that, when done correctly, is supposed to help the body function better.
Pro: Better Body Alignment
When seeking the use of any alternative medicine, it's important to make sure you see someone who is highly credentialed and who comes highly recommended. A good chiropractor will be able to adjust your body's alignment so that all the joints and connective tissues are in proper working order. Qualified and good chiropractors will often set a schedule with patients to adjust the body more frequently at the beginning of treatment and less frequently as the body starts to adopt and change toward a permanent proper alignment. Many patients seek the help of a chiropractor after suffering a trauma from a car accident or serious fall. The chiropractor can work with the patient to improve range of motion and relieve tension in the body by adjusting the patient's body alignment.
Con: Health Care Coverage
While the field of chiropractic care has come a long way in understanding and acceptance by the greater medical community, there are still issues with getting the treatment paid for and covered by insurance. It's important for potential patients to find a doctor whose care is covered by their insurance plan. Almost all insurance plans offer some form of coverage for chiropractic visits but it can still be a tricky situation in some instances. Talk to both your insurance provider and your desired doctor to find a solution. In some cases, the solution may be a recommendation to a different doctor or working out an out-of-pocket payment plan with the desired doctor.
Pro and Con: No Drugs or Surgery
Chiropractors do not prescribe drugs of any kind and do not perform surgery. One of the most basic beliefs of chiropractic medicine is the belief in the human body's own inherent recuperative abilities. This means that a chiropractor will work with a patient on changing her lifestyle by recommending a healthier diet, exercise and proper ways to move and function in her day-to-day life, as well as work on problems in the patient's musculoskeletal system and offer spinal alignment and adjustment, but the chiropractor will not prescribe pain medication or perform corrective surgery. This is both a pro and a con. For patients who are leery of surgery or of taking medicine, a chiropractor can help with some problems. For those who may need medicine to deal with their pain or may need surgery to correct a problem, they must see a physician and then often a specialist. Ultimately, it's important for patients to work within both realms of treatment to find the best solution to their pain and injury.
Tags: chiropractor will, body alignment, chiropractic care, desired doctor, human body