Don't Wait Until Back Pain Is Unbearable To Visit A Washington, DC Chiropractor

Why does your back hurt? It's common to have no idea why. It's also common for the pain to be too bad to physically shrug in response to that question. And yet, even under these painful conditions, it is common to not seek out the help of a professional like a Washington, DC chiropractor, but to instead suffer through it.

Why We Think We Should Tough Out Back Pain

"Toughing it out" is a suggestion for athletes who are building stronger muscles. In order to gain muscle mass, you want to push past the point of resistance. You reach the point where you start to feel tired and like you can't do any more push-ups, and then do a few more. By powering through healthy exercise, your body grows stronger. This is your body leaving its comfort zone and changing to become healthier.

That's a healthy version of toughing it is outperformed by athletes and anyone wanting to build up their physical health through careful exercise practices.

This idea is then associated with one of strength. We're building muscles, we're toughing it out, we are being strong and capable people. When we think of riding out the pain as a sign of being a strong-willed person, we don't consider whether that's truly what's best for our health.

Why You Shouldn't Wait To See a Washington, DC Chiropractor

Unfortunately, this idea is often applied to scenarios where there is nothing to gain from "toughing it out".

It's common to believe that by pushing ahead, we will be able to continue on with our activities and the pain will go away on its own. Even in the cases where this is true, that doesn't always mean the cause of the pain was resolved. This may mean it comes back again and becomes a chronic issue, or that other troubles will arise.

Without knowing the cause of your back pain, or finding a treatment for it, you risk the condition becoming worse.

When there are gentle and easy treatment options that can improve your back pain and the health of your back, there is no reason to avoid seeking treatment.

What Happens When You Visit a Chiropractor For Back Pain

At your first appointment, your chiropractor will perform an exam. They'll talk to you about your health history and what you've been feeling and experiencing with your back. What brought you into the chiropractic clinic for your first appointment? What has your life been like with your back before this pain started? When did the back pain begin? What types of daily activities do you perform that put stress on your back? This conversation will give them insight to what they find during your exam so they can create a complete picture of your back health.

This is a great opportunity for you to ask the chiropractor questions about anything you've been experiencing.

Your chiropractor will then make a few gentle, natural adjustments to your spinal alignment based on your discussion and their findings during the exam. This will help you find relief from your back pain during this appointment.

For the long term, they can discuss options with you for a treatment plan to keep your back in its best health. Depending on the source of your back pain, they can discuss future appointments for spinal alignment and other practices you might be able to employ to keep yourself feeling your best day today.

There's no need to tough out back pain and let it become worse or grow into a chronic problem. You never know when vertebrae might be misaligned or a disc might have slipped out or another serious problem with your back that could be causing damage and long-term problems for you. When your back hurts, seek out the help of a chiropractor who can get your spinal health back on track.