When should you NOT see a chiropractor? Warning signs

Almost everything written about chiropractic talks about what it’s good for. This article is about the opposite, and I think it says more about a serious practice than any list of benefits: when you should not come and see me, or at least not yet.

A good professional isn’t the one who says yes to everything. It’s the one who knows how to recognise what falls outside their field and sends you to the right place. At the first visit, part of my job is precisely to rule out that there’s something behind your pain that needs a doctor before an adjustment.

Warning signs: see a doctor first

If you have any of these signs, the priority is a medical evaluation, not a chiropractic session:

• High fever together with back or neck pain. It can indicate an infection.
• Progressive loss of strength in your legs or arms, or that worsens over time.
• Loss of bladder or bowel control together with lower-back pain. This is a medical emergency.
• Pain after a significant trauma (serious fall, car accident) without having been evaluated first.
• Pain that doesn’t ease with rest and worsens at night, especially with unexplained weight loss.
• A recent history of cancer with new bone pain.

None of these pictures is “fixed” with an adjustment, and forcing them can be counterproductive. If you recognise yourself in any of them, see your doctor or go to A&E.

Situations that need adapting (or waiting)

There are cases where chiropractic care can make sense, but with precautions and adapted technique:

• Severe osteoporosis: high-velocity manipulations are avoided and low-force techniques are used.
• Disc herniation with neurological deficit: requires prior evaluation and, often, coordination with a doctor.
• Pregnancy: usually well tolerated with specific training, but it’s worth checking first with your midwife or obstetrician.
• Blood-thinning medication or other medical conditions: always best to mention in the case history.

That’s why the first visit starts with a long conversation. It’s not bureaucracy: it’s what lets me decide whether the adjustment is right for you, or whether it’s best that another professional sees you first.

What I do when something doesn’t add up

If any of these signs appear during the assessment, I don’t improvise. I explain it clearly and refer you to the right specialist: your GP, an orthopaedic surgeon, a neurologist or whoever is needed. I’d rather lose a session than put you at risk. And honestly, that’s the only way of working in health that seems defensible to me.

Chiropractic is a useful tool for many things, but not for everything, and no serious professional will tell you otherwise.

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If your case does fit chiropractic care, here I explain what the first visit looks like step by step. And if you have doubts, get in touch or book an assessment with no commitment.