Question
I have just been to my second chiropractic session. My husband
recommended it as he goes every time his back causes him pain.
With him, it was twice a week and then changed so he was going
every few months.

Recently he had an accident and has return to going more
regularly, but this doesn't seem to help. His pain continues.

I am concerned with how much maintenance this might require for
myself and also that this time my husband doesn't feel the same
pain relief.

So my question is

How do you know when chiropractic sessions are progressing
and helping ?

Answer
Fiona,

Thanks for the question.  The concerns that you have are very normal and warranted.  However, if your husband has suffered injury due to a traumatic accident, it could take several months to resolve.  Traumatic injury requires more care and chiropractic treatment due to the nature of the injury, which is to the supportive ligaments and structures of the spine.  Normally, when someone has spinal joint dysfunction, manipulation will correct the problems and the corrections will "hold" after a handful of manipulations.  In the case of trauma, the patient will require more treatment because of the supportive structures inability to "hold" the adjustments.  The area being treated is much more unstable and treatments will not "hold" as well initially.  Given the normal rate of healing, the body will begin to heal and those supportive structures will begin to do their jobs and hold those adjustments so that your husband feels better and his condition resolves.

He may then require maintenance care in the long term on a more frequent basis.  The other side of that story is that there is really no other alternative treatment that will provide the type of help he needs.  Unless he has suffered injury to the discs or nerves or other structure that requires surgical intervention, normally chiropractic, therapy and rehab are your best approaches to traumative soft tissue injury.

As for your treatment, I don't know what  is wrong with you and what type of treatment your chiropractor is performing, but I would suggest that you receive at least 8-12 visits prior to having any concern over future care.

You should begin to feel a difference, even if it is minor after 3-5 visits. You may feel better for the day or for just a few hours, but this is a good sign.  I again go back to the concept of "holding" the adjustments.  If your problems have been present a long time, then you will likely see minor, temporary relief from your initial treatments.  Because your body has been in a distorted pattern for some time, then it will take some time, treatment and work on your part to start to see and keep the results you are after.

Talk with your chiropractor regarding your concerns, I am sure he/she will be able to help you understand what is going on and what he/she and you need to do to recover at maximum benefit.

I hope this helps.

God Bless,

Dr. Boss