Why Does My Head Hurt When I Cough? - Chiropractor Conyers AICA

Many people prefer chiropractic care to address a wide range of health conditions and improve overall well-being. This non-invasive treatment option offers a drug-free approach with long-lasting results.

When visiting the chiropractor, people might experience various reactions after receiving chiropractic adjustments and other treatment techniques. These reactions can differ widely from person to person, ranging from a sense of immediate relief and exhilaration to feelings of achiness or soreness.

If you are sore after the chiropractor, there are many explanations and even ways to prevent soreness going forward. In fact, mild soreness is usually a normal and temporary part of the healing process. Let’s explore soreness after chiropractor visits in greater detail.

Potential Reactions After a Chiropractic Adjustment

The most common reaction to chiropractic adjustments is mild discomfort in the spinal joints or muscles, typically occurring within a few hours after the adjustment and resolving within 24 hours.

The soreness experienced after a chiropractic adjustment is similar to what you might feel after engaging in physical activity that targets specific muscles. Soreness after the chiropractor is typically a sign that the body is adjusting to the changes made during the adjustment.

Here are some other potential reactions you may experience after a chiropractic adjustment.

Immediate Relief

This reaction is often one of the most sought-after outcomes of chiropractic care, especially for people dealing with acute pain or discomfort. Chiropractic adjustments can help alleviate pressure on nerves, reduce muscle tension, and promote proper alignment, leading to immediate relief for many people.

Increased Mobility

Chiropractic adjustments aim to restore proper joint function and mobility, which can lead to noticeable improvements in range of motion and flexibility. This can be particularly beneficial for people with conditions like arthritis or chronic back pain. Many people notice how they can bend, stretch, or twist with more ease immediately after treatment.

Fatigue

Manipulating the spine and muscles during a chiropractic adjustment can be physically demanding for the body. As a result, some people may feel tired or fatigued afterward. This reaction is usually temporary, and getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated will help you bounce back faster.

Relaxation

The relief of tension and stress in the body during a chiropractic adjustment can induce feelings of deep relaxation in some people. This may be attributed to the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain-relieving hormones, which can create a sense of greater well-being. Many people even report sleeping better after a visit to the chiropractor.

Emotional Release

Tension and stress can be stored not only in the muscles but also in the nervous system. During a chiropractic adjustment, some people may experience an emotional release as tension is removed. This can manifest as feelings of sadness, relief, or even euphoria. While this can be surprising for some people, this type of emotional shift is a healthy part of releasing built-up stress in the body.

Improved Sleep

Better spinal alignment and reduced muscle tension can have a positive impact on sleep quality for many patients. Improved circulation and reduced discomfort can make it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. If soreness does occur, it usually fades quickly and gives way to this benefit.

Why You Might Feel Soreness After Spinal Adjustments

Soreness after a spinal adjustment at the chiropractor is not an uncommon experience and can occur for a variety of reasons. Neck adjustments target specific areas of tension and misalignment in the cervical spine. During the adjustment, muscles that have been tight or contracted may suddenly relax, which can lead to soreness as the muscles adapt to their new, more relaxed state.

The manipulation of the cervical spine during an adjustment can sometimes cause a mild inflammatory response in the area. This inflammation is a natural part of the body’s healing process, though it can manifest as soreness in the hours or days following a chiropractic adjustment.

Similarly, chiropractic adjustments to the vertebrae in the upper, middle, and lower back can result in soreness and other experiences afterward. Manipulating the spine and muscles during a back adjustment can be physically demanding for the body, causing you to feel tired or fatigued afterward.

It helps to remember that your chiropractor is essentially retraining your musculoskeletal system to work the way it’s meant to. If your spine or joints have been misaligned for months or even years, your muscles, ligaments, and nerves have adapted to that imbalance. When your chiropractor corrects the misalignment, those tissues now need to “learn” the new position, and the adjustment period can cause some temporary soreness.

How You May Feel After Adjustments to Other Joints

Chiropractic care doesn’t just focus on the spine. Adjustments to joints other than the neck and back, such as the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles, can also cause various reactions and sensations. Here’s how you may feel after adjustments to these joints:

• Immediate Relief: Similar to adjustments in the neck and back, adjustments to other joints can often provide immediate relief from pain or discomfort.
• Increased Mobility: Adjustments to joints can help restore proper alignment and function, leading to improved range of motion and flexibility. You may notice that the joint feels less stiff and moves more freely after an adjustment.
• Improved Function: In addition to reducing pain and discomfort, adjustments to joints can improve their overall function. You may notice that the joint feels stronger and more stable after the adjustment, making it easier to perform daily activities and exercises.
• Referred Sensations: Sometimes, adjustments to one joint can lead to sensations in other areas of the body. This is known as referred sensation and is thought to occur due to the interconnectedness of the body’s nervous system. For example, an adjustment to the hip may result in sensations or improvements in the leg or lower back.

Is Soreness Normal After Chiropractic Care?

For most people, mild soreness is completely normal. In fact, it’s often a sign that your body is responding positively to treatment. Just like sore muscles after exercise indicate that you’ve challenged your body in a healthy way, soreness after chiropractic adjustments reflects the changes happening in your musculoskeletal system.

However, soreness should be temporary. Most patients notice it fades within 24–48 hours. If soreness persists longer, feels unusually intense, or is accompanied by new or worsening symptoms, it’s important to let your chiropractor know. They can adjust your treatment plan or evaluate whether something else may be contributing to your discomfort.

How Long Does Soreness Last After the Chiropractor?

For most people, soreness after a chiropractic adjustment is short-lived. Typically, it shows up a few hours after your visit and goes away within 24 to 48 hours. The experience is often compared to the type of muscle soreness you feel after trying a new workout or physical activity.

If you’ve been seeing a chiropractor regularly, you may notice that soreness decreases with each visit as your body gets used to the adjustments. On the other hand, if it’s your very first appointment, or if it has been a long time since your last one, your muscles and joints may need a little more time to adapt. In rare cases, soreness can last a few extra days, especially if you are dealing with significant misalignments or recovering from an injury.

The key to soreness after a chiropractic appointment is that it should feel mild and temporary. If your discomfort lingers for more than a few days or becomes more intense, it’s a good idea to call your chiropractor for guidance.

5 Ways to Reduce or Prevent Soreness

To reduce or prevent soreness after a chiropractor visit, you can:

• Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps flush out toxins released during the adjustment and keeps your muscles and joints lubricated, which reduces the risk of soreness.
• Apply ice or heat: Using an ice pack or a heating pad on the treated area can help alleviate soreness and inflammation. Ice is particularly effective in the first 24 hours after treatment, while heat can provide additional relief after that period.
• Proper Posture: Maintaining good posture between visits helps your body adapt to the new alignment more smoothly.
• Epsom Salt Bath: A warm bath with Epsom salt can relax sore muscles and ease inflammation.
• Balanced Nutrition: Eating foods rich in omega-3s, antioxidants, and lean proteins supports healing and reduces inflammation.
• Gentle Movement: Light stretching or walking helps keep blood circulating and prevents stiffness after adjustments.
• Gradual Exercise: If your chiropractor recommends exercises, start slowly and increase intensity over time. Overdoing it right after an adjustment can worsen soreness.
• Follow post-adjustment care instructions: Your Conyers chiropractor may recommend specific stretches, exercises, or lifestyle adjustments to support the benefits of the adjustment and minimize soreness. Following these instructions diligently can help minimize soreness and promote overall healing.

Who Is More Likely to Feel Sore After Chiropractic Care?

While anyone can experience mild soreness after an adjustment, some groups of people are more likely to notice it:

• First-time chiropractic patients: If your body has never experienced a chiropractic adjustment before, your muscles and joints may respond with a little extra stiffness or soreness as they adapt to the new alignment.
• People with chronic misalignments: When your spine or joints have been “stuck” in the wrong position for a long time, the supporting muscles and ligaments have adapted to that imbalance. Correcting it requires those tissues to stretch and shift, which can cause temporary soreness.
• Injury recovery patients: If you’re recovering from something like a car accident, sports injury, or slip and fall, your body may already be inflamed or tender. In these cases, it may take a little longer to adjust to chiropractic care, and some soreness is common.
• Those with less muscle flexibility or strength: People with tight or weak muscles often feel sore after chiropractic care because the adjustments challenge tissues that aren’t used to moving freely.

Knowing where you fall in these categories can help you set realistic expectations for your next trip to the chiropractor. The good news? The more consistent you are with chiropractic visits, the less soreness you’ll likely experience over time.

Soreness vs. Pain: How to Tell the Difference

One of the most important things to understand about chiropractic care is the difference between normal post-adjustment soreness and pain that signals something’s wrong.

• Soreness feels like the achiness you get after a workout. You may feel stiff, mildly tender, or fatigued, but it usually improves within a day or two. This type of discomfort is part of the healing process and typically means your body is responding to the adjustment.
• Pain, on the other hand, is sharper, more intense, or persistent. If you feel sudden stabbing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness after an adjustment, that’s not normal and should be reported to your chiropractor right away.

When in doubt, always communicate what you’re experiencing. Chiropractors are trained to modify their techniques to keep you safe and comfortable, and your feedback is an important part of your care plan.

When to Call Your Chiropractor

While mild soreness after a chiropractor visit can be quite normal, there are situations where you should reach out to your chiropractor. Call if you experience:

• Severe or sharp pain that doesn’t improve
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the limbs
• Headaches or dizziness that worsen after treatment
• Pain that interferes with daily activities for more than a few days

These reactions aren’t typical and may signal that your body needs a different approach. Chiropractors are trained to adapt their techniques to your comfort level, so open communication is key.

Trust AICA Conyers for Chiropractic Care 

Whether you need treatment for car accident injuries or are looking for a Conyers chiropractor to see regularly, our team at AICA Orthopedics is here to help. Our Conyers chiropractors work alongside physical therapists, orthopedic doctors, and other specialists to provide you with comprehensive care. At AICA Orthopedics, we provide you with a personalized treatment plan to address your specific concerns and ensure you have a smooth experience from start to finish.

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