Risks Involved With Seeing a Chiropractor

There are literally hundreds of thousands of individuals who will swear by the benefits they have received from chiropractic care. Side effects from chiropractic manipulation are very rare and overall patient satisfaction has always seemed to be very high. But, like any medical or therapeutic procedure, side effects are possible and it is not without some level of risk. For the vast majority of patients a trip to the chiropractor leaves them feeling refreshed and better than ever, the most common side effects are some mild discomfort in the treatment area. For most patients this discomfort does not last more than 24 hours.

The most dangerous side effect from chiropractic treatment is that of stroke after receiving cervical manipulation. While there is some anecdotal evidence to support the idea that these rare occurrences are a direct result of a chiropractic visit, it is hard to find empirical evidence showing a direct correlation between the chiropractic treatment and the resulting stroke or carotid artery dissection. While the studies seem to indicate that an individual is just as likely to suffer from a stroke during their everyday activities as they are to suffer from one as a result from a visit to the chiropractor, it is worth being aware of.

There is some evidence to support the idea that the arteries in the neck undergo a good deal of strain during chiropractic treatment. While this may not be surprising to anyone who has ever had their neck manipulated by a chiropractor, it does not necessarily mean that any long-term damage is caused by these treatments. As with any medical or therapeutic procedure, it is always advised that you go to a highly qualified professional. You can greatly reduce any of risk for injury if you make sure that the individual you are going to is qualified and comes highly recommended by your friends or family.

The risk for injury or side effects is an unfortunate part of virtually every aspect of medical treatment. The overwhelming majority of individuals have a greater risk of experiencing a serious side effect from over the counter pain killers than from a visit to a chiropractor's office. If you are unsure of whether or not you are healthy enough to undergo a chiropractic manipulation, you should discuss the matter with your family doctor and see if there are perhaps other treatment options that would be better suited for your particular needs.