When do I need to go to the doctor?
A frequent question that people ask me when I’m speaking to a running club is how do they know when they need to go to the doctor and when they can just ice/rest their aches at home. A good rule of thumb is if you have a nagging pain that will not go away within 2 weeks of ice, rest or stretching, you have an injury that needs to be evaluated by a chiropractic physician. The obvious exception to this rule is any type of fall, impact in a sports game, severe pain or numbness/weakness. If you any of those symptoms, it’s best to contact your doctor right away.
Waiting for symptoms to just go away or trying to ignore the pain generally makes your injury worse. When the injury increases, it takes longer to recover and sometimes turns a simple problem into a complex one that requires referral for injections, surgery or medication. Remember, pain is like the “check engine” light on your dashboard. You wouldn’t unplug the light when it turns on. You would take your car into the mechanic. Doesn’t your body deserve the same respect?