Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What do Chiropractic Doctors Do?
Answer: Helping to restore proper spinal biomechanics and improved nervous system function begins with a case history. This gives the doctor a background about your health, such as surgeries, accidents, the onset of your condition, and other details affecting your current health. After reviewing your history and discussing your specific problem, a thorough orthopedic, neurological, and chiropractic examination is performed. X-rays may be taken to uncover structural and functional problems associated with the spinal column. These examinations help identify areas of spinal malfunction and resulting nervous system deficit. The findings of these examinations are explained and a plan of chiropractic adjustments may be recommended. Progress is monitored with periodic examinations and follow-up reports.
Question: What is the difference between a Chiropractic Doctor and a Medical Doctor?
Answer: It takes eight years of education and training to become a Doctor of Chiropractic. The Doctor of Chiropractic first completes pre-chiropractic studies at a college or university. The Doctor of Chiropractic studies all the basic sciences and must pass the State Board of Examiners’ basic sciences examination. This is the same basic sciences examination other doctors, including Medical Doctors, are required to pass. He or she attends a college of chiropractic for four years, which must include an externship at an outpatient clinic where he or she gets real world experience in a clinical and academic setting. After graduating from a Chiropractic college, like a Medical Doctor, he or she must pass the State Board Exam in the state he or she wishes to practice in.
Question: I’ve been to many doctors for my condition and no matter what they do, I don’t get better. Why would going to a Chiropractor get me better?
Answer: A misalignment of one or more of the 24 movable bones or “vertebrae” of your spine can irritate or cause pressure or pinching on spinal nerves and result in a serious health-robbing, damaging interference (irritation or blockage) to normal nerve control of your body. Since the brain controls all parts of your body through the nervous system, this nerve interference can cause pain and many health problems. It can also lower your body’s resistance so that you become even more susceptible to contagious and infectious disease. Therefore, if your problem is caused by a misalignment of one or more of the bones of your spine, only chiropractic care will get you better.
Question: What will happen on my first visit?
Answer: In order to determine the cause of your symptoms, the doctor will conduct a thorough exam including spinal, physical, orthopedic and neurological examinations as well as listening to your case history. X-rays may also be taken as they reveal fractures, spinal misalignments, joint and bone disease, congenital anomalies and other aspects of your health.
Question: How long will I need chiropractic care?
Answer: Spinal problems, neglected since early childhood, may require ongoing supportive care of optimum spinal function. These long-standing problems are often associated with muscle weakness, soft tissue damage, and degenerative changes to the spine. Most patients find that periodic chiropractic checkups help keep them in tip-top shape. Those who are active, have stressful jobs, or want to be their very best, find that a schedule of preventive visits are helpful in the maintenance of good health. Some patients seek chiropractic care only when their ache or pain becomes unbearable. While this style of “crisis management” is usually more costly and time-consuming, our office stands ready to help all patients, regardless of their health goals. How long you decide to benefit from chiropractic care is always up to you.
Question: What is Chiropractic?
Answer: Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism and that the nervous system is essential to all bodily processes, even stimulating your immune system. The nervous system is the driving force behind all life’s activities. Some examples of activities that are controlled by the nervous system include walking, food digestion, and disease defense. The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord and a network of nerves. The spinal cord is encased within 24 movable bones called vertebrae that protect the spinal cord. A network of nerves branch out from the spinal cord, then travel through spaces between the adjacent vertebrae to control and communicate with all muscles, blood vessels, organs and other tissues of the body. When two adjacent vertebrae become misaligned, the space between the vertebrae becomes constricted. Just as less water would flow through a hose that is partially kinked, fewer electrical impulses flow through the nerve due to the vertebral misalignment. If the nervous system is impaired, it can cause malfunction of the tissues and organs throughout the body, which decreases the ability to fend off diseases, digest foods or engage in any other activity that requires normal nerve flow. This impairment is called vertebral subluxation complex.
Question: What are the effects of subluxations on the body?
Answer: Spinal subluxations alter normal nerve impulses and thereby cause pain and disease conditions, not only in the back, but also elsewhere in the body. The following is a partial listing of conditions or symptoms that frequently result from subluxations and often respond to chiropractic treatment: Allergies, Arm & Hand Pain, Arthritis (some forms), Asthma, Back Pain, Backache, Low Back Pain, Bed Wetting, Blood Pressure - High or Low, Bronchial Conditions, Bursitis, Carpal Tunnel, Chronic Cough, Constipation, Diarrhea, Disc Problems, Dizziness (Vertigo)Emphysema, Cold Feet, Gallbladder Dysfunctions, Glandular Dysfunctions, Hay Fever, Headaches, Hip Pain, Impotence, Indigestion, Injuries (Auto, Home, Work), Insomnia, Joint Pain, Kidney Dysfunctions, Knee Pain, Leg Pain, Cramps, Tingling, Numbness, Migraines, Menstrual Problems, Nervousness, Poor Circulation, Shoulder Pain, Sinus Problems and Whiplash.
Question: Who gets subluxations?
Answer: Almost everyone develops spinal subluxations. The four major causes of vertebral subluxations are congenital instability, injury, fatigue, and reflex reactions. Fortunately, most of these subluxations correct themselves when one relaxes or lies down to sleep. When spinal subluxations are severe or persistent they require chiropractic diagnosis and treatment.
Question: What is a Chiropractic Adjustment?
Answer: Chiropractic adjustment is the art of introducing a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a vertebra that is subluxated or out of place. The Chiropractor identifies the location of the subluxation, determines the exact direction and the best way to correct the positioning. The adjustment itself is a movement of the spine that is done either by hand or with a computerized instrument in a very quick movement. The adjustment assists the vertebra back into the normal alignment, which restores proper motion to a joint and relieves nerve pressure. There are approximately 40 different ways to analyze and adjust the spine, so the actual adjustment will vary from Chiropractor to Chiropractor.
Question: What is that “cracking” noise?
Answer: Your joints contain fluid that helps to keep them healthy and lubricated (like oil in a car). This “synovial fluid” contains gas (like carbonation in soft drinks). When an adjustment is made you may hear a noise. This is known as an “audible release” and is simply the release of gas in the joint much like when you open a can of soda
Question: How long will it take me to get well under adjustments?
Answer: The length of time will depend upon how long the vertebrae have been displaced, how successful the adjustment is in reducing the displacements, how much damage has been done to the nerve tracts and fibers, the vitality of the patient, and the rate of response of the nerve fibers to the adjustment.
Question: What brings about healing under adjustments?
Answer: The function of the adjustment is to restore misplaced bone structures to their normal positions and re-establish the normal pathways for the nerve tracts and fibers so that performance of the nervous system can improve, thus promoting healing.
Question: How can the chiropractor determine if the patient is making progress?
Answer: Patient progress is determined by the degree of the presence or absence of the objective and physical signs of imperfect performance of the nervous system: leg length checks, mobility checks, thermographic pattern measurements, spinal column distortion measurements, evaluation of symptoms as compared to the objective signs, and other methods.
Question: Are chiropractic treatments safe?
Answer: Chiropractic is a natural approach to better health and has an excellent safety record. For this reason, the insurance premiums for chiropractic malpractice are very low. Before starting any kind of treatment, the Chiropractor explains the procedures and reveals any potential risks involved in taking treatment, delaying treatment or not taking treatment at all.
Question: What can I do to give myself the best chance for a quick recovery?
Answer: Learn proper sitting and lifting methods. Specific exercises may be suggested to help retrain the muscles that support your spine. Proper rest is an important aspect of the healing process, too. Get the appropriate amount of rest your body needs to avoid sleeping on your stomach. During the healing process, proper nutrition is more important than ever. Make sure you eat balanced meals, and if you are overweight, now would be a good time to slim down and reduce unnecessary stresses to your spine. Perhaps most important of all, keep your appointments and follow your chiropractic doctor’s recommendations for optimum results.
Question: Why do children need chiropractic care?
Answer: Chiropractors treat the condition of life. Chiropractors check the spine for vertebral subluxations, nerve pressure caused by misaligned vertebrae, which cause interference in the flow of information from the brain to the various systems of the body. This nerve interference left uncorrected insidiously and negatively affects good health. Getting adjusted regularly helps each and every function of your body, promoting lasting good health.
Question: Am I too old for chiropractic care?t
Answer: More and more people are consulting chiropractic doctors, especially in their later years. With growing concerns about over-medication and the side effects of combining various prescription drugs, safe and natural chiropractic care is gaining popularity. Restoring better spinal function can help improve mobility, vitality, endurance, and appetite. Many patients report improvement with arthritic symptoms and other chronic ailments often associated with the aging process. The adjusting technique used by your doctor will be modified for maximum comfort and results. As we get older and wiser, the simplicity and effectiveness of chiropractic becomes increasingly obvious.
Question: Can I afford chiropractic care?
Answer: We strongly believe that the cost of living with pain is much greater than the cost of chiropractic care. Often, the cost of surgery, drugs and other treatments for the symptoms alone can far exceed the cost of correcting the problem using chiropractic methods. Our office offers flexible payment plans to meet your budget. We will work with you, no matter what your financial situation. We believe that everyone should have access to chiropractic care and have structured our fees to make it affordable for you. Ask our Office Manager for details.
Question: Will my insurance cover chiropractic care?
Answer: Many insurance plans cover chiropractic care. We currently have a great number of patients who have insurance coverage through PPOs, Medicare, and other insurance carriers. We will be more than happy to call and check your insurance coverage for chiropractic care. In the even that there is no chiropractic coverage, we can set-up a payment plan to meet your financial and treatment needs.