When you visit a chiropractor, or speak with someone who regularly does, you might hear the word “subluxation” and wonder what it is. Subluxation is when the spine’s vertebrae become misaligned. This can happen as the result of a car accident, during a sporting event or while you complete every day activities. Subluxation runs the range from slightly uncomfortable to extremely painful, and should be corrected for you to live a full life. Can you tell if you have spinal subluxation? The following are a few signs.
Headaches
If you start getting headaches that seem to come out of nowhere, it’s possibly subluxation. Tension begins to build in the spine, and without releasing it, it causes pressure and pain. Although your pain is felt in the form of a headache, your subluxation could be occurring in your back or your neck. This is why it takes an experienced chiropractor to remedy the problem.
Neck or Back Pain
Subluxation often presents itself as pain in the neck or the back. Again, the pain may originate in one area and spread up or down the spine, so it’s important you see a professional to correct it. Sometimes this pain is in both the back and the neck, and sometimes you’ll just feel it in one area. The pain you feel might come and go, could be minor, or might be extremely and permanently debilitating.
Stiffness
Sometimes you become stiff while suffering from subluxation because the pain you feel causes you to put limits on what type of movements you make. Other times, the subluxation just makes it difficult for you to make those same movements. You might feel stiff when you’re laying in bed at night, or you might notice during everyday tasks you are unable to complete them as you once could. Becoming less flexible could also be a sign your spine is becoming stiff due to subluxation and should be checked out.
What You Can Do
If you suffer from any of these symptoms, your best bet could be to contact a chiropractor. These professionals have the experience and skills necessary to pinpoint the problem and adjust the right vertebra in the right direction. Sometimes one visit to the chiropractor remedies the problem, and sometimes it takes a lifetime of regular appointments to keep you comfortable. Contact a chiropractor today to schedule an appointment or to learn more about what subluxation feels like and what you can do about it.