As the Chicago marathon approaches next weekend,  fellow Chicagoans and Lincoln Parkers are planning to run or cheer for someone running the marathon.  As summer sports switch to fall, and sports leagues ramp up before winter comes, Chicagoans should remain as active as they can prior to the cold forcing us indoors.  With those continuing to exercise and remain active, or even someone who is learning and engaging in new workout classes, one has to ensure that he/she maintains proper flexibility, and mobility.  Often, without properly warming up, injury can occur affecting one’s exercise regimen.

Chiropractors are helpful at treating pain and do not require long wait times compared to orthopedists, and/or primary care doctors.  If you visit an ER or urgent care, you will eventually be seen, but you will likely wait several hours because you are not a significant case (compared to a wound injury or cardiac issue for example. which will be seen immediately).   Chiropractors can often see patients the same day, depending on availability.   With your pain, visiting a chiropractor can provide answers to how your pain likely came on, what you can do reduce your pain presently & to minimize future episodes, and provide imminent treatment (provided there are no red flags).  Also, X-rays can provide insight to discovering what, if any, structural issues are present in the injured area leading to the possible cause of the pain.  X-rays are a cheap alternative to the more expensive MRI or CT scans.

Availability and timing are always 2 critical components allowing one to access a chiropractor soon after an injury occurs.  When individuals sustain an injury, they often want to come in as soon as possible.  At my office, I usually can get a patient in on the same day or within 24 hours, depending on the person’s availability. Getting in quickly allows one to find out what the cause of one’s pain is and the opportunity for the chiropractor to treat you to provide you some relief.  Treatment, involving chiropractic manipulation to improve alignment, and inflammation, muscle stimulation (AKA muscle stim) to reduce muscle tension/spasms, and corrective exercises to provide you home-care instructions to improve movement, pain, and function.  These measures may not cause one’s pain to go away completely, but when one is in a great deal of pain, the chiropractor will make proper decisions regarding your medical case in order to help the patient with their injury (or injuries).  Further treatment will likely be discussed following the initial visit, but helping the patient quickly when in need will create the proper trust and communication to move forward with chiropractic treatment.

Getting answers quickly alongside relief will provide a bridge to heal quickly, safely, and to ensure this injury does not hopefully return when reaching out a chiropractic office.

Brian Marion, DC, CCSP, ART, CKTP, SFMA

Lincoln Park Chiropractic 2202 N. Lincoln Ave Suite 1 Chicago IL 60614

(773) 248-2790 https://lincolnparkchiropractic.com