Yes! Chiropractors help people get out of pain every day. Scientific studies have been published recently in well known medical journals that support its effectiveness for back pain, neck pain and headaches. It is more effective, with fewer side effects, than addictive opiates for spinal pain.
Chiropractic care is one of the safest treatments available for back pain. The risk of serious adverse effects is much lower than that of NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, and opiates. Driving to an appointment carries more risk than a chiropractic adjustment. The risk of stroke that has been previously associated with neck manipulation has been shown to be the same for people who visited their medical doctor and were not manipulated. This means that that type of stroke was likely already occurring prior to seeing a chiropractor, since the symptoms can be similar to musculoskeletal neck pain.
Cracking your own back does not lead to arthritis. One doctor tested this by cracking the knuckles of only one hand for his whole life. When he xrayed the two hands he found no difference between them.
Read more about cracking your own back.
If your back or neck pops while you are stretching, that is fine, but you should not make a habit out of cracking your own spine. The reason is that when you try to crack your own spinal joints, the only ones that pop are the joints that are already moving. While that can temporarily give you some relief, you need a trained chiropractor to specifically adjust the joints that are not moving well to fix the problem.
For certain kinds of headaches, specifically, tension type headaches, a chiropractor can usually relieve them with a few adjustments. Some headaches have different causes, so it is important to get a proper diagnosis to guide your treatment.
Read more about Headaches.
Absolutely! Adjustments can be very helpful during pregnancy, as the pelvic bones need to expand in preparation for birth. Many OB/GYNs and midwives recommend chiropractic for their patients.
Read more about Chiropractic during Pregnancy.
No, there is nothing addictive about chiropractic treatments. Adjustments also do not stretch out your joints or ligaments making you more prone to future injuries. Once you see how helpful an adjustment can be, though, you might not put up with your usual aches and pains anymore.
The best pillow for you depends on your sleeping position. Side sleepers need a thick pillow to take up the space between your head and shoulders, while back sleepers need a very thin pillow to avoid putting their neck in a bent position all night.
Read more about How to Sleep for Neck Pain.