Does chiropractic adjustments to the back make your back more prone to get out of alignment?

Question

I've heard you can get addicted to going to the chiropractor. If your chiropractor constantly adjusts your back (say twice a month) into alignment does it in a sense loosen your back up to the point where now your back is always going out of alignment with physical activity that might not have misaligned it otherwise. I got whiplash about 2 years ago (car accident)and want to stop going to my chiropractor but the neck pain seems to return in a few months when I stop going.

Answer 1

The problem of repeated adjustments causing future misalignment will be absent if your chiropractor uses the right methods. It is just a matter of getting a chiropractor whose methods incorporate the following techniques:
1. Initial measurements are made to determine the need for adjustment. These include hip and shoulder caliper measurements that show degree of tilt in the body; and thermal imaging of the spine to identify stress points.
2. If adjustment is indicated by the measurements, x-rays are taken of the head and neck. Using these images, the chiropractor does careful calculations to determine the direction and amount for the adjustment.
3. Adjustments are made only to the atlas vertebra, located at the top of the spine. The atlas should be in alignment with the foramen magnum opening in the skull where the nerves go into the spine. This is known as Upper Cervical Chiropractic. Individual vertebra other than the atlas should never be adjusted. No joints should ever be "popped"
4. Patient lies on their side for adjustment; head is not rotated.
5. After the adjustment the patient is allowed to rest for a period of time for things to settle.
6. Then the measurements are repeated to evaluate the degree of improvement.
7. Normally, the patient will be called back for a repeat of measurements in one to two months to evaluate whether further adjustment is required.
This treatment regimen has been shown to be very effective. Using it has also been helpful for patients who have been diagnosed by medical doctors to have “diseases” such as multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s, alzheimers, etc.
To find chiropractors using these methods, you can interrogate possible candidates about their methods, or you can use the following contacts for more information:
The chiropractor I use is Stephen Duff, Healdsburg, CA 707 633-7211.
www.erinelster.com. She is located in Colorado and has done much research on chiropractic techniques used on “diseases”.
The National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA).

Answer 2

I had back problems that originated in my neck. For the first month I had to see the chiropractor twice a week. Then once a week for two months. Then once every two weeks. Then once a month. It took two years before my back stopped locking up. For the following four years I went back once every 6-8 weeks for a maintenance adjustment. Then I moved out of the country. I thought I would have problems since I don't have a chiropractor here, but I haven't had any. Maybe you just need to keep seeing the chiropractor for a bit longer before you are totally healed. I presume you have a cervical pillow. I can only go a couple of weeks without mine. I have also slept on a very hard bed (like a board with a little padding) for the last 11 years. Make sure your mattress and/or pillow isn't contributing to your neck problems. Also, check the angle at which you are using your computer and/or watching tv. If you look down a lot that can contribute to your neck problems too.

Answer 3

I m a family medicine doc, send many many patients acrss the hall to my friend who is a chiropractor .Certainly over frequent alignments can destabilize a joint, however the actual frequency that would cause that varies greatly. twice a month is not even near that number in my opinion. Any chiropractor worth his salt will focus on MUSCLE REHAB AND STRENTHENING to stabilize the joints in question and help reduce pain and frequency of visits. If yours doesnt...find one that does.

Answer 4

Yes after anguish from a durable extreme ear illness that became mastoiditis and led to a satisfactory quantity of agony and predicament listening to I had a pair changes to my atlas that resolved the quandary thoroughly. It has been over 10 years and it not ever got here again. No different clinical cure used to be used.

Answer 5

You may have some discomfort forever. The addiction you speak of is to feeling better for awhile. Most people suffer back pain.

Learn to stretch daily and often. Do exercises to tone your muscles, especially the stomach and lower back. Yoga is very effective.