Essential Things To Tell Your Chiropractor Before Treatment

29 May 2019
 Categories: , Blog


While spinal adjustments, manipulation, and therapeutic massage therapy are considered safe treatment options for just about everyone, there are certain things you will need to tell your chiropractor prior to your session. Not only do chiropractors perform physical treatments on their patients, but they also recommend nutritional interventions to some patients a part of their therapeutic treatment plans. Here are some important things to discuss with your chiropractor before your treatment begins:

History Of Blood Clots

Because certain chiropractic treatments require physical contact by the practitioner, you will need to discuss your past history or present risk of blood clots with your chiropractor. If you have a blood clot, massaging areas close to the vein or artery that contains the clot may dislodge it, causing it to travel through your circulation to your heart or lungs.

While this risk is lower if you are taking prescription anticoagulants or if you take an aspirin every day, it is still necessary to talk to your chiropractor about it. As long as your chiropractic physician knows about your blood clot history, he or she will make sure that the treatments offered to you will not increase the risk of disturbing the clot or impair your circulation in any way.

Nutritional Supplement And Medication Use

Since nutritional intervention is an important component of many chiropractic treatment plans, it is essential that you talk to your chiropractor about any dietary supplements or medications you take. For example, it is not uncommon for chiropractors or alternative practitioners to prescribe magnesium supplements to help relieve spinal and muscle pain. While effective in reducing muscle contractions and decreasing inflammation, magnesium can interfere with the effects of prescription anticoagulants and aspirin.

Magnesium is thought to decrease platelet aggregation, which means that it can make your platelets less sticky, making you bleed easier. If you take magnesium with anticoagulants or aspirin, you may be at risk for dangerous bleeding.

Another commonly prescribed supplement in the management of pain is fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids. These supplements can also cause abnormal bleeding and are not recommended for those who take anticoagulants or aspirin.

If you are considering chiropractic care, be sure to tell your chiropractor about your blood clot history, dietary supplement use, and the medications you take. When your chiropractor is well-informed about your health and medication history, he or she will be better prepared to develop an effective individualized treatment plan based upon your needs. For more help, contact a company like Aurora Chiropractic Clinic today.


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