If your spine is severely misaligned, you may be able to tell by simply observing yourself in the mirror and looking for things like uneven shoulders or a crooked neck. However, when spinal misalignment is at its earliest and most treatable stage, there aren’t always visible signs of a misalignment, so you need to be aware of some of the not so obvious signs of an issue. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at four subtle signs that your spine may be misaligned.
Subtle Signs Of Spinal Misalignment
If you are dealing with any of these issues, it may be worth broaching the topic with your primary care physician or a back specialist to see if an alignment issue is to blame. Here are four no so obvious signs of spinal misalignment:
- Frequent Headaches – Frequent or recurrent headaches can be caused by a variety of issues, so there’s no guarantee that an alignment issue is contributing to your headache onset. That said, a spinal misalignment can contribute to more frequent headaches for a few reasons. For starters, an alignment issue could lead to structures compressing or irritating key spinal nerves, which can end up leading to pain and headache onset. Alignment problems can also change how stress is dispersed on the muscles in the neck and upper shoulders. If these muscle groups are constantly stressed or overworked, it can lead to the onset of what’s known as a tension headache. It’s not uncommon for headaches to be tied to an issue in your upper spine.
- Chronic Fatigue – Again, fatigue is a problem that can be caused by a variety of issues, so don’t immediately assume a spinal misalignment is to blame. That said, when your spine is out of alignment, it can’t work as efficiently to handle stress. This forces your spine and the supportive muscle groups to work harder during everyday activities. Over the course of the day, this can wear you down faster and leave you feeling fatigued. An alignment issue can leave you feeling more tired than normal.
- Hip And Knee Pain – In general, it’s usually safe to assume that pain in one location is caused by an issue in that same location. For example, breaking your arm or stubbing your toe is going to lead to discomfort in those locations. However, that’s not always the case. Sometimes pain in one area is a sign of a problem in another, and that’s often the case when it comes to spinal alignment issues. When your spine is misaligned, it changes how stress is dispersed on your entire body, with other areas inherently taking on more strain. Nearby areas like your hip or knee oftentimes shoulder this added stress, which can cause them to break down faster. If you’re dealing with new hip or knee pain without an obvious injury to those areas, know that the real issue could be with your spine.
- Tingling or Numbness In The Extremities – Numbness or a tingling sensation in your arms or legs is another example of a problem that may very well be housed in your spine. Countless nerves make their way out of the spinal canal before traversing down your arms and legs, and if a nerve is impinged as a result of a shifted disc or vertebral section, you may notice symptoms along the nerve path in your extremities. If you’re dealing with sensory issues in your arms or legs, don’t be surprised if you end up connecting with a spine specialist.
If you are dealing with any of these subtle signs of a spinal misalignment, or you have more obvious signs of a back issue, don’t delay treatment any longer. In the greater Twin Cities area, connect with Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
