How to Tell If Your Spine Is Misaligned, and What to Do About It

Many people think that the majority of our back health relates to our posture, which is true to an extent, but much of our back health can be due to a potential issue with the spine. The misalignment of your spine can be the true culprit you are dealing with, but you may not even be aware of it.

Spinal misalignment is a serious problem if it goes unchecked or undiagnosed for too long. Considering that our back is the largest muscle group in the body, and the spine contains a big portion of our central nervous system, it is important to recognize a misalignment in the spine and imperative to know what you need to do about it.

1. Causes

It is hard to figure out what can cause a spinal misalignment from person to person as there are numerous ways it can happen. Back injury or accidents like falls are very common as they can damage the discs of the back and cause it to shift. There are genetic causes too, which result in degenerative muscle tissue holding the spinal column in place. Regardless of what caused it, there are many ways to tell if the spine is misaligned.

2. Back and Neck Pain

One of the biggest giveaways that you may be dealing with a misaligned spine is back and neck pain. Some back pain can be the result of poor posture, but the severity of pain when turning or bending your back will be much more noticeable. It can usually be present with a stiffness of the neck and back, pain on one side of the body, and having a harder time getting comfortable lying down or getting up. 

The back and neck meet so if there is a nagging pain in both of these areas, there may be a greater chance that your spine is misaligned.

3. Noticeable Differences in Body Composition

If you can notice that your hips are not even while lying down, or that one leg seems longer than the other, or that one shoulder looks lower than the other, you may be noticing spinal misalignment. These differences, along with how your feet point and your pant legs fit, can be quick ways to notice misalignment. 

However, these are not guaranteed results. While they may lead to a proper diagnosis, you should still consult a certified physician or doctor. Chiropractors at https://www.rhlittlerock.com/ strongly advise that people experiencing discomfort on their backs or anywhere near the spine get checked as soon as possible, as there can be underlying factors that may lead to extensive damage to our backs if it remains untreated. Chiropractors can help your spinal issues, as well as providing any other pain relief to your joints and bones that can be a result of your misalignment.

4. What to Do

As mentioned earlier, visiting a doctor is your best bet after you have noticed or inspected any noticeable differences in your shoulders, hips, and legs. Better than visiting any doctor is a chiropractor. These physicians are qualified specialists who focus on the body’s muscular-skeletal form, which is what a spine misalignment relates to.

If you believe that you may have a misaligned spine, you should try to set up an appointment or consultation immediately. Lingering effects of a misaligned spine go beyond the pains and aches that are often associated with back issues.

5. Other Symptoms of Misalignment

While pain is often a symptom, there are other unfortunate results of a misaligned spine. These include headaches due to the effect on the nervous system, indigestion or infrequent appetite, reduced circulation, and reduced sensation. These are possible results of a misaligned spine so it is important to consult a chiropractor and/or doctor as soon as you can before it progresses.

Misaligned spines are often thought to be a result of bad posture and create back pain. This is true in some cases, but it is only one part of the diagnosis of the spinal misalignment. Spinal misalignment can happen from accidents or injury, or even genetic issues leading to back problems. 

The issues go from back and neck pain to digestive issues, limited mobility, poor blood circulation throughout the back and body, and reduced sensation in your muscles. These painful symptoms of misalignment can be easily prevented if you can spot an issue with your spine early enough.

Noticeable differences in the length of your legs, how your shoulders are not level, and how your hips are positioned while lying down are all signs that you need to get checked immediately. It is advised to seek professional medical help if you believe you have a spinal misalignment. Doctors, specifically chiropractors, are your best bet to properly diagnose and possibly treat whatever the problem is.