I’ve Tried Chiropractic and I’m Still in Pain — Now What?

Who this is for

This article is for active individuals who sought chiropractic care for pain or injury, experienced temporary relief—or none at all—and are still unable to train, lift, or move the way they want.

If you’ve thought:

• “Adjustments helped for a day… then the pain came back.”

• “I keep needing to go back.”

• “Something still doesn’t feel right.”

Keep reading.

Why chiropractic sometimes doesn’t solve the problem

Chiropractic care can be extremely helpful—but it has limitations.

Pain relief alone does not equal resolution.

Common reasons chiropractic care falls short:

1. The joint wasn’t the real issue

Pain is often blamed on stiffness or misalignment when the real problem is:

• Poor load tolerance

• Motor control deficits

• Strength gaps

• Movement strategy breakdowns

Adjusting a joint doesn’t fix those.

2. Relief wasn’t followed by rehab

An adjustment may reduce symptoms—but without follow-up work:

• The body returns to old patterns

• Pain resurfaces under stress

• The cycle repeats

Relief without reinforcement doesn’t last.

3. Care wasn’t individualized

Generic adjustments and exercises ignore:

• Training volume

• Sport-specific demands

• Injury history

• Goals

Active bodies require active solutions.

Why pain keeps coming back

Pain that returns isn’t a failure of your body.

It’s a sign that:

• Capacity wasn’t rebuilt

• Load progressed too quickly—or not at all

• The system adapted temporarily but not permanently

Lasting change requires progression, not repetition.

What to do when chiropractic didn’t work

The next step isn’t abandoning care—it’s upgrading the approach.

What works:

1. Identify what adjustments couldn’t address

Joint motion is only one piece of the puzzle.

You also need:

• Strength

• Control

• Endurance

• Confidence under load

2. Build a plan around training demands

Your rehab must reflect:

• How often you train

• How hard you train

• What positions stress your injury

If rehab looks nothing like training, it won’t carry over.

3. Progress beyond symptom relief

The goal isn’t fewer bad days.

The goal is:

• Returning to full training

• Handling volume and intensity

• Trusting your body again

Who this approach is for

This model is ideal for:

• Active adults

• Athletes

• CrossFitters

• Dancers

• Anyone frustrated with recurring pain despite care

Especially those who feel unheard or rushed.

Our specialty at Kinetix Chiropractic

At Kinetix Chiropractic in Sanford, FL, we specialize in cases that haven’t responded to chiropractic care, physical therapy, or even surgery.

We focus on:

• Listening first

• Understanding your full history

• Building a plan that actually progresses you forward

If you’ve tried chiropractic and still feel stuck, this is exactly the type of case we’re known for helping.