For the uninitiated, a chiropractic adjustment sounds like a bone-crunching, possibly painful experience.

Add to this the jokes about chiropractors that circulate around our communities, and the general lack of knowledge most people have about the whole process, and it is not surprising to hear that many forego much-needed care and opt for painkillers and other medications instead.

But which is better for you? The painkillers or the chiropractic care?

While for some, the term alternative care is akin to questionable medical practices, this is not the case when it comes to chiropractic.

Chiropractors are extensively trained medical professionals who have to undergo four grueling years of study and hands-on training before being permitted to apply for licensure.

In addition to the rigorous training and licensure, since chiropractors work using natural means to treat their patients, it is not only safe but non-invasive.

Obviously, chiropractic care is no panacea for everything that ails you, but if you have musculoskeletal problems, a chiropractor will most likely be able to quickly and effectively end your pain without so much as one Tylenol!

In addition to this, headaches are oftentimes related to spinal misalignments, and chiropractors have had great success helping headache sufferers finally get some relief.

There is, of course, the chance that a treatment might harm you in some small way, but this happens so infrequently that it is hardly worth mentioning and pales in comparison to the problems associated with the painkillers currently on the market.

You may feel a bit of discomfort after you receive a chiropractic adjustment, but this will fade away within about a day or less.

What you will experience is pain relief, better joint mobility (especially in the neck area), and increased range of motion in the joints.

Bending over to pick up your dropped car keys will no longer be a painful process and reaching up to take a can of beans out of your pantry will no longer cause a painful muscle spasm.

It is also interesting to note that much of the success of the treatment rests in your power to guide your chiropractor with adequate information. By explaining how a certain manipulation of the spine has affected you – whether it was a good experience or not, is important.

Your doctor will actually draw many valuable conclusions from your descriptions and the more detailed you can be, the better.

Last but not least, the use of over the counter painkillers and even steroid injections has been extensively linked to liver and also kidney damage and as such, these are never viable alternatives to a well-trained chiropractor’s healing touch.

So go ahead and make an appointment – you will be amazed how safe and highly effective your chiropractic treatment will be.