The spine is a vital and very complex part of your body. It is made up of many components: bones, joints, muscles, and nerves among others. And when one thing goes wrong with it, multiple things could go wrong with your entire body as well. This is why signs of spine misalignment are signs you should take seriously.

What Exactly Is Spine Misalignment?

According to the American Chiropractic Association, spine misalignment is a condition that occurs when the joints of your spine become displaced from their proper position, causing stress and tension on parts of your nervous system with potentially harmful effects. The good news though is that signs of spine misalignment are signs that can be treated to restore both your health and strength.

If you think you might have signs of spine misalignment, it is important to know the signs. Here are the seven signs of spine misalignment you should know about:

Sign #1: Extreme Exhaustion or Fatigue

One of the signs of spine misalignment is extreme fatigue or exhaustion. When your body is out of whack, it can be very difficult for you to go about your day. You might feel like you are always tired and that there is never enough time in the day to do all the things you want to do.

The misalignments of the spine are a typical source of tiredness since they impede nerve function, preventing the body from functioning optimally. This includes balancing hormones that can lead to fatigue, causing sleep problems that lead to more exhaustion, and more. 

Many people find themselves waking up in the middle of the night or too early in the morning and not being able to fall back asleep. This feeling of exhaustion can also result in depression, headaches, weight loss or gain, and other signs.

Sign #2: Chronic & Severe Headaches

Chronic and severe headaches are warning symptoms of spine misalignment that you should be aware of. You might notice that you have a headache more days than not or that it just doesn’t seem to go away after the first day. This type of headache is usually one that won’t go away with conventional treatments, like Tylenol or Advil.

A headache that won’t go away (and one that isn’t relieved by medicine) is often a sign of an underlying problem like signs of spine misalignment. The reason for this is that the misalignments in your spine could be causing pressure on your nerve roots, which can result in pain and other signs. If you find that you have signs of spine misalignment and you suffer from frequent, chronic headaches, it is important to get them checked out right away.

Sign #3: Neck, Hip, & Knee Pain

Neck, hip, and knee discomfort are among the most common symptoms of spine misalignment. Two regions of the spine are typically affected by spinal misalignment: joints and muscles. When you have signs of spine misalignment in your neck it is referred to as cervicogenic headache and can be felt on both sides or even just one side of the neck. 

The signs of spine misalignment can also occur in the hips and be felt as referred pain which is pain that radiates to other areas, like the knees. If you notice that your knee hurts and it seems to be coming from your hip or vice versa, signs of spine misalignment could be a cause.

Signs of spine misalignment can have an impact on your day-to-day life, causing the muscles in your neck, hips, and knees to tense up. This tension can cause pain that might interfere with you doing all of the activities you previously enjoyed. 

This can cause serious discomfort that can lead you to limit movement. When you have signs of spine misalignment, even sitting can seem like a chore because doing so might result in pain and stiffness.

Sign #4: Tingling, Numbness &/or Loss of Feeling in the Arms and Legs

Loss of feeling in the extremities is a sign of spine misalignment that you should know about. If you notice signs of spine misalignment, it can lead to numbness and tingling in your arms and legs. 

This typically occurs on one side or the other of your body but sometimes you might not be able to pinpoint which side is causing signs of spine misalignment for you. 

Some people also experience a pins-and-needles sensation with signs of spine misalignment as well as pain shooting down their arms or legs.

Sign #5: Trouble Sleeping & Chronic Restless Leg Syndrome

One of the signs of spine misalignment that you might not even notice is symptoms related to trouble sleeping and chronic restless leg syndrome. If signs of spine misalignment remain untreated it can lead to sleep disturbances, such as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

Chronic restless leg syndrome is another sign and symptom related to signs of spine misalignment that many people overlook. Restless leg syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by sensations in the legs and sometimes even the arms caused by signs of spine misalignment. 

This could also interfere with your ability to enjoy all the activities you once loved to do because signs of spine misalignment can be exacerbated when participating in them. 

Sign #6: Inability to Maintain Proper Posture

Do you find it hard to sit upright for periods of time? Do signs related to signs and symptoms interfere with your ability to maintain proper posture? 

Muscle contractions can pull the spine out of alignment or even put pressure on joints that could result in signs related to poor posture. Many people think that signs of spine misalignment are due to their desk job but this is not always the case. There could be a number of different reasons a person starts slouching their shoulders or has poor posture including signs and symptoms related to spine misalignment.

Posture is important to maintain, especially as we age. Poor posture over a long period can make misalignment worse and could even lead to permanent changes in your body’s structure as well as related health issues such as chronic pain.

Sign #7: Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is one of the signs of spine misalignment that most people can relate to. It is one of the main signs related to misalignment that is caused due to many different reasons. It can be triggered by a lack of strength in the core muscles and poor posture that might also cause discomfort while sleeping but this could also be signs of issues like arthritis or lumbar stenosis. 

The signs and symptoms associated with signs of spine misalignment will vary depending on how severe it is, your age, history of injuries, and if signs are left untreated for too long which could even lead to more serious problems like nerve damage, chronic pain, or surgery.

What To Do About It?

It is important that you are checked out by a doctor if you are experiencing symptoms related to spine misalignment. If signs of spine misalignment go untreated for too long, these problems can become permanent in addition to causing other signs to appear in your body.

Here are three pieces of advice that may assist with spine misalignment:

Get Chiropractic Help

Spine misalignment can be hard to cope with but a number of signs can be improved through chiropractic care.

If spine misalignment is the result of a previous injury, chiropractic can help restore the misalignment related to poor posture as well as those that have been caused due to muscle spasms. Chiropractic care is safe for most people and can even give relief that your body needs without any negative side effects like painkillers or surgery.

Be Active 

Physical activity is related to spine misalignment that most people are aware of but many still have signs of spine misalignment due to not being active.

Many signs associated with spine misalignment will be relieved by staying active. Staying active can help prevent signs related to spine misalignment as well as improve posture and reduce the appearance of other signs in your body.

Consider adding low impact exercises into your daily routine which you can do at home or at the gym like swimming, walking, or riding a bike. Not only will these types of exercises help relieve some symptoms but they may even make you feel better overall.

Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle

Spine misalignment might be caused by other symptoms as well, such as a lack of exercise, not getting enough sleep, and an unhealthy diet.

Combining exercise with healthy habits like eating properly, exercising regularly, and getting adequate amounts of sleep will help alleviate signs of spine misalignment while also improving symptoms associated with it which you need for a healthy body and mind.