In our Western culture the trend to combat all obstacles appears to trudge the path in which the greatest results are promised through the least amount of effort. We are a culture of Fad-everything! From diets to clothing to jewelry and especially healthcare! This holds true for most aspects of our lives. We have truly embraced a mentality that says we can get everything we want for little effort, nevermind the consequences of those actions immediately or in the future. Take this pill, get that shot, cut it off, snip it out, eat this, drink that - the 'friendly suggestions' list goes on and on.
Chiropractic, as a very generalized rule, is frequently accused of requiring that patients succumb to a never-ending treatment plan. I'll be the first to admit that there are doctors out there that provide a less than appealing education for their patients in regards to continued chiropractic care, what we will refer to as wellness care. Wellness care is exactly what it sounds like: periodic treatments, scheduled at a frequency appropriate for each individual's body and lifestyle, implemented with the specific intention of keeping the body communicating optimally with the brain, boosting immune function, preventing or reversing immobilized joints, and an unlimited amount of additional positive 'side-effects.' Wellness care follows a completed treatment plan for corrective or maintenance care (the original reason why a patient visits a chiropractor).
The treatment plan almost always consists of several scheduled adjustments - and yes, many of these adjustments take place AFTER you are out of pain or have noticed resolution of your chief complaint(s). To understand the reasoning behind this, you need to also understand that pain is the worst indicator of dysfunction in your body - it is frequently the LAST symptom to indicate a problem and the FIRST symptom to disappear during treatments. Additionally, it is important to note the difference between a symptom and a sign. A symptom is what you, as the patient, tell the doctor you are experiencing. It is subjective. A sign is what the doctor sees in your body, based on examination, touch, labs and other tools. It is objective.
Very frequently you start to feel better long before your body is finished healing. Too much stress on your body before it is fully healed predisposes you to recurrent dysfunction. This is the key reason why you should stick to a suggested treatment plan in chiropractic - if you cease treatments before your body is fully healed, you are to likely re-injure yourself (or get sick again), leading to frustration and an extended treatment plan for the second round. Or worse, you may leave care prematurely and feel that chiropractic did not work for you, preventing you from seeking appropriate care in the future for different (or even the same) ailments.
Like the picture implies, your health is not something that can be achieved and then maintained through one visit to the gym, one healthy meal, one shot, one pill or one surgery. Time accumulated in a state free of dysfunction and subluxation is what gets you healthy and well. Your body has the innate capability to heal itself, and accumulated healthy behavior like physical activities, healthier meals and wellness adjustments provide an environment for your body to maintain optimum health. It's a commitment to yourself. Be good to yourself!
Yours in health,
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