A client asked me how long it will take before the chiropractic adjustments will bring results. To be precise he asked, “How long after the adjustments will things get better?”
I have not been asked this question before. Plenty of people ask how long it will be before they are pain free but this is a little different.
The question is not straight forward. In a true sense I could say that things will be better straight away because the body will be working better and the nerves will communicate with greater ease. Of course you might still be in pain, and sometimes quite a lot of pain.
It All Depends on Your Unique Needs
Generally clients notice a reduction in symptoms soon after we begin care, ranging from a day to a couple of weeks.
Importantly though the body takes time to heal. Often we can see a weakness, an irritation in the nerves that pass the painful area of the spine. After an adjustment this weakness disappears for a period of time. Naturally if irritation has been present for some time, perhaps years, it will re-emerge in a day or so.
When the nerve is functioning better, your body will heal by taking away damaged cells and replacing them with new cells. This is the healing process.
Healing takes time, but whilst this occurs the symptoms have often felt better from day one. The function however remains poor until the healing is complete and this might be weeks, months or even years.
What you can do to help with healing
Keep to your adjustment schedule, reduce activities and tasks that irritate or create damage, keep regular with the exercises that you have been recommended, if you have been asked to use ice or heat apply regularly and ensure that you get plenty of good quality, restful sleep.