What Are The Real Risks For Chiropractic Care in Vacaville

Some people look at chiropractic care as either extreme or intimidating, but they may also overestimate the risks. If you are also like that, then this article will help clear your mind and ensure to you about the safety of this treatment.

Treating low back pain with the use of spinal manipulation is indeed safe and effective, especially if it is being done by a well-trained practitioner. There is no need to fear about chiropractic procedures in Vacaville since the reality is far from the rumor.

How safe is chiropractic care?

Less than 1 per million patient visits experience a serious adverse event (AE) during a lumbar spine manipulation procedure. In fact, patients have even greater risks when they opt for taking medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for their low back pain.

However, there are some minor adverse events experienced by some patients shortly after treatment. This occurrence is common and usually resolves itself within the next 24 to 48 hours.

Chiropractors always pay careful attention to a patient's medical history and co-existing conditions because it allows them to make modifications to the treatment if need be.

Red flags in chiropractic care

There are patients with a medical condition that contradicts with the high-velocity manipulation to the lumbar spine. These conditions are referred to as "red flags", and here are some examples:

• Osteomyelitis
• Bone tumors
• Multiple myeloma
• Severe osteoporosis
• Paget's disease

Other red flags include progressive or sudden neurological conditions like cauda equina syndrome. Generally, any form of condition that causes unstable joints can be marked as a red flag. This includes several inflammatory conditions such as:

• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Reactive arthritis

If you have bleeding disorders and structural instability issues, it is also considered a red flag. In fact, a red flag could include something that's even simple like when a patient is unable to get an adequate physical examination or when the chiropractor is not qualified enough to carry out the treatment.

Crafting the best strategy for your chiropractic treatment

If you have contraindicating medical conditions, it doesn't mean that it prohibits low-velocity, soft-tissue, low-amplitude procedures, and mobilization. Having red flags doesn't mean that chiropractic care is dangerous since it is just used as a basis to seriously adjust the treatment approach that will satisfy the needs of a patient.

For example, having local primary bone tumors are considered red flag scenarios because these tumors may reduce the strength of the affected bone. However, chiropractors are still able to determine a treatment approach that uses other options to help the patient's condition without putting them in harm's way.

There are chiropractic treatments that are contraindicated for a certain chiropractic technique. Spinal fusion is marked as a red flag condition since the use of low-amplitude, high-velocity manipulation is contraindicated at the joint level. Patients with an artificial disc replacement or other implant are also marked with red flags. However, soft tissue manipulation and other manual techniques can be used to select patients who have just undergone spine surgery.

A patient with a pacemaker are not allowed to undergo electrotherapy treatments. Chiropractic can recommend other therapies that do not interfere with the pacemaker's function.

Now that you feel safe about undergoing chiropractic care, it is time to get in touch with Dr. Alex Tam of Absolute Integrative Physical Medicine and get yourself treated. So make sure to schedule an appointment by dialing (707) 474-5688 and get rid of your pain today!