Ever felt like your neck hurt more after a chiropractic appointment than before you came in? You’re not alone. Soreness after seeing a chiropractor is actually pretty common. It doesn’t mean anything’s wrong. The adjustment was likely harmless. Pain is just your body responding to change. Neck pain can get worse before it gets better. Why? Let’s take a deeper look.
Is Your Neck Pain Worse After the Chiropractor?
Is Your Neck Pain Worse After the Chiropractor?
When you see a chiropractor for neck pain, your body is already under stress. It could be from an injury. Poor posture. Emotions in your physical body. It’s normal for some of this stress to shift after an adjustment. This can make you can feel sore. Think of it like working out when you haven’t exercised in months. When you finally do, it can hurt at first. But it’s actually a sign of progress.
During a chiropractic adjustment, your neck starts to move again. Likely in ways it hasn’t for a long time. But the adjustment doesn’t just change alignment. It releases tension. This typically causes temporary discomfort. It’s part of the process of your body reorganizing itself. Regaining mobility. Discovering a space where it can move without pain.
Holistic Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain
Not all chiropractic care involves cracking backs. Or popping things back into place. At Twin Waves Wellness Center, we take a holistic approach to chiropractic care. Take a whole-body approach that supports body, mind, and spirit. We use a gentle technique called Network Spinal. Instead of forceful adjustments, this network chiropractic technique uses light touch. Known as contacts, these gentle touches along spine and neck help rebalance the nervous system. This helps the body release stored tension. Calms the stress response. Moves you out of fight-or-flight. Yes, it provides physical relief. But a holistic chiropractor also provides emotional relief.
A lot of the time, neck pain is connected to emotional pain. It’s about how your nervous system is handling stress. This is the mind/body connection you hear so much about. Our mind and emotions have a direct influence on our physical health. Because it directly influences the nervous system, Network Spinal supports both body and mind. It body move out of protection and into healing. This can make your neck pain worse after the chiropractic adjustment.
The good news? Your post-chiro neck pain means you’re healing. But the best part is that it’s not a temporary fix. Holistic chiropractic delivers long-term results. By releasing old emotional energy, you help release old pain patterns. With regular holistic chiropractic care, you can let go of that crick in your neck once and for all. Even if there’s some soreness in the beginning.
What Happens During Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain
When you visit our Solana Beach wellness center for neck pain, we’re going to look at more than the part of your neck that hurts. We’ll ask about your overall health. Your medical history. How your lifestyle could be connected to your neck pain. Maybe you’re stressed. Well, stress isn’t just mental. It can show up in your body as a stiff neck. Tight shoulders. Clenching the jaw.
Dr. Suzanna and I both work with people every day who notice their physical pain is tied to their emotional state. It makes sense, though. The nervous system is connected to how we process pain. Stress and anxiety can show up as:
- Neck and shoulder tension
- Headaches or migraines
- Lower back pain
- Digestive discomfort
- Poor immune function
- Stiff musles and joints
- Consistent low-grade aches and pains
We take a holistic view. Meaning we believe neck pain isn’t just about the neck. It’s about your entire system. How you’re functioning as a whole. Mentally. Physically. Spiritually.
What to Expect in a Visit
Gentle adjustments with Network Chiropractic release tension and restore balance. Adjustments are known as entrainments. During a session we use gentle contacts along the spine and on the neck. We never rely on cracking or popping the neck. This can be a lot more comfortable than traditional chiropractic adjustments! But it can still make you sore after. It’s just your body adjusting.
Why Neck Pain Gets Worse After Chiropractor Before It Gets Better
It’s said the only way out is through. Typically, this refers to emotional healing. But consider how closely connected emotions and pain are. Healing isn’t always comfortable. It makes sense neck pain might intensify after chiropractic care. Parts of the body are reawakening. The nervous system is rebalancing itself. Your body is coming back online.
Think about it. If your neck has been bothering you for a while, you’ve probably avoided moving certain ways because of the pain. When you see a chiropractor, it reactivates these areas. It makes sense you might feel pain. Suddenly, your nervous system has all this new information. It needs time to process this. At first, this can be painful. But then it gets better.
The Difference Between the Healing Response and Injury-Related Pain
It’s important to understand something. There’s a difference between neck pain that signals you’re healing and pain that signals an injury. Healing pain is usually temporary. You might feel sore. The neck could feel tender. It might hurt to move more than it did before. But this improves in a day or two. That’s the healing reponse. Injury-related pain is different. It’s sharp. Extremely uncomfortable. If your neck pain doesn’t get better after a few days, call your chiropractor.
Do This After Visiting a Chiropractor for Neck Pain
Communication is so important! Talk to your chiropractor after each session. Let them know exactly how you feel. This feedback helps us adjust your care plan. This way, you get exactly what you need. I always encourage patients to share improvements and challenges. Sometimes feeling your neck pain is worse after the chiropractor is part of the process. Sometimes it’s not. If it lingers or just feels “off,” we’ll reassess.
Here are some wellness practices to support yourself after an adjustment:
- Drink plenty of water
- Gently stretch the neck
- Use heat or cold packs, depending on what feels best
- Rest when your body tells you to
- Keep stress levels low
Simple self-care after seeing your chiropractor gives your body what’s needed for lasting healing. Your neck pain might be worse after an adjustment. But a little self-love goes a long way.
Holistic Healing When Neck Pain is Worse After a Chiropractor Visit
Healing from neck pain isn’t always instant. It takes time. It might involve temporary discomfort. But it’s all part of the body reorganizing itself. Learning healthier, pain-free patterns. At Twin Waves Wellness Center, we’re here to guide you through this with care, compassion, and understanding. We use gentle chiropractic techniques that honor your body and your emotions. If you’ve ever wondered why your neck pain feels worse after the chiropractor, it’s typically just all part of the healing process.