Chiropractors are doctors, not therapists, so they are fully trained and certified to determine, diagnose, and treat most neck, back, hip, and other joint problems that also involve the spinal cord, spinal nerve roots, and the nervous system. Therefore, this specialty qualifies your Chiropractor to be the best when it comes to evaluating and treating such conditions.
Chiropractors, like all other doctors, however, are not fully qualified to diagnose and treat conditions outside of their scope of practice. Chiropractors are definitely NOT best when it comes to the treatment of most health emergencies that require immediate drugs, surgery, or life support, such as severe accidents, heart attacks, or broken bones. See your medical practitioner for these conditions.
Your Chiropractor, however, is more qualified than most medical practitioners when it comes to diagnosing and treating more chronic pain and illnesses, especially those involving the spine or nervous system. Another name for a Chiropractor could be “functional neurologist” since we affect most joints that involve chronic conditions that lead to spinal nerve root impingement, radiating pain, tingling, numbness, or loss of motor functions that don’t involve a stroke or similar paralysis.
Chiropractors are also best at directly affecting a chronic pain problem since most such problems involve the nervous system and some kind of nerve impingement. With a few specific adjustments, your chiropractor can often bring about immediate relief!
In the case of chronic pain where relief is not immediately forthcoming, your Chiropractor will do a more complete examination, or order further tests such as X-rays, MRI images, or lab tests. For older patients with very chronic back or neck problems, genetic disorders, and/or diabetes, relief may take a longer time to come, if at all. While your Chiropractor may appear to be able to perform miracles, it’s a fact that some “miracles” take longer than others to appear!
Sometimes a patient will be told he or she can only expect temporary relief from their condition, and that they may then only reach MMI or Maximum Medical (or Chiropractic) Improvement. In such cases, home care, exercises, or other therapies will be recommended by your Chiropractor.
