| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS… Chiropractors
don’t just treat pain; they work to correct its causes. If subluxation is the cause
of the pain, then that’s what should be cared for. Chiropractors adjust your spine to
remove or reduce your subluxations. This adjustment is designed to restore the normal
function and range of motion to the joints of your spine. Too
often, conventional medicine just covers up symptoms while the underlying problem worsens.
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic
is a conservative and natural form of health care that concentrates on keeping people
well. In fact, research has shown that patients under chiropractic care have stronger
immune systems, and don't get sick nearly as much as the normal population. Doctors of
chiropractic attempt to get to the cause of a health problem, rather than just treat the
symptoms. The primary focus of chiropractic is the detection, reduction and correction of
spinal misalignment (subluxations) and nervous system dysfunction.
Is a Chiropractor a "Real" Doctor? Yes,
to receive the Doctor of Chiropractic degree, candidates must complete extensive
undergraduate prerequisites and four years of graduate-level instruction and internship at
an accredited chiropractic institution. A doctor of chiropractic receives education on par
with medical doctors or dentists. Before
they can practice doctors of chiropractic must pass the National Boards, as well as the
licensing exam for the state in which they wish to practice. Most states require the
doctors to attend continuing eduactional programs for annual relicensure.
How is Chiropractic
different from any other kind of health care? Chiropractic
works with your body’s internal electricity - the nervous system. Health is a way of
life. You were designed to be healthy. Your body really wants to be healthy. So why fight
it? Sound
simple, doesn’t it? So what makes this way of thinking so different? Day
and night, television and advertisers tell us we can rub, inject or swallow our way to
good health. we’ve learned to believe that the answer to all of our health problems
is in a little bottle of pills. The truth is that the potential for good health is already
within each one of us. Chiropractic releases that hidden potential without the use of drugs.
Can Chiropractic Care Help? Most
patients notice significant improvement when starting care. However, in a small percentage
of patients, they may notice a little discomfort as their spine is adapting to the changes
being made. One of the main reasons for the consultation and examination is to clearly
define the cause of your health conditions. If you have misaligned vertebrae, then
chiropractic can help. If that's not what you have, we will suggest a referral to the
proper health care professional. Our concern is that you get the proper care so your
health will improve.
Does it Work? Yes!
-Every year, more and more people, of all ages are turning to chiropractors to improve
their health and performance, not just injured workers or athletes. Chiropractic is the
fastest growing and the second largest primary care profession. Chiropractic services are
in high demand as we look for better ways to be healthy, other than relying on surgery of
drugs.
Could my pain be a helpful sign? Yes!
those pains you’ve been hiding with pills, injections and creams are really trying to
tell you something. Pain is not the problem. Pain is your body’s alarm system. It
alerts you when something is interfering with your health. By ignoring the cause of the
pain, you could be inviting severe consequences. Possible long term effects include spinal
joint degeneration, nerve damage or organ problems that may not become evident for a long
time.
Do Adjustments Hurt? Some
patients may experience a slight soreness when first starting care. This is similar to
starting a new exercise program. Most patients, however, enjoy their adjustments and look
forward to them.
What is the cracking noise? An
adjustment often makes a noise. the noise is a gas that escapes from a joint when it is
moved quickly. An adjustment takes the joint just past its normal end range of motion for
a fraction of a second and, in that time. the buildup of nitrogen gas is usually released.
Them is nothing that cracks or breaks, If there is no popping noise, it means there was no
sound from escaping gas.
How long does it take for chiropractic to work? Each
person and each case, is different, The length of your care depends on the problem you
have and its severity. We can provide a much better estimate after an examination and
consultation. For most patients pain relief occurs within the first few weeks. Patient
results vary depending upon many factors. how long have you had you problem? Did you keep
all of your appointments? Are you getting the proper rest, exercise and nutrition? Are you
in otherwise good health? Within a short period of time, most patients sense enough
progress to justify completing our recommendations.
Do I Have to Go Forever? After
a patient's initial examination, a program of care is established. This may run anywhere
from 3-9 months, depending on the patient's condition. This is similar to putting braces
on crooked teeth. After this time, most patients choose to maintain a check-up program to
keep their spine healthy, free from pain and to prevent a relapse. Most patients think of
this as wellness or preventative care similar to dental check-ups. Of course, how much
care you chose to receive is always up to you.
How did Chiropractic Begin? The
principle of chiropractic was discovered on September 18, 1895 by Dr. Daniel Palmer of
Davenport, Iowa. Palmer was carrying on a shouted conversation with the deaf building
janitor. Harvey Lillard. Lillard was telling Palmer that 17 years earlier, while working
in a cramped, stooped position, something had popped in his neck and his hearing loss had
become progressively worse. Dr.
Palmer, a curious man, examined Lillard's back and found a painful, misaligned vertebra.
Suspecting a connection between this vertebra and the hearing problem, he repositioned the
vertebra with a gentle thrust Lillard's hearing improved immediately. With continuing
daily care, Lillard was able to hear well within a week.
I Thought Chiropractors Were Just ”Back”
Doctors . . . It
is unfortunate that the majority of the population believes that the only thing that
chiropractors are good at is treating sore backs. Chiropractic has been shown to be
extremely effective in helping people with sore backs, but that is a small fraction of
what it is we actually do. The avenue of approach that we take to effect a change on your
body is via your spine. MD's prescribe medication that is usually taken orally, but we
don't call them "mouth" doctors. A doctor of chiropractic is actually a
"nerve" doctor. The nervous system controls every tissue, gland and organ in
your body. By allowing this system to function at it's optimum, patients enjoy better
overall health and well being. We have helped hundreds of patients with conditions such
as: asthma, allergies, ear infections, bladder infections, PMS, irritable bowel syndrome,
headaches, cronic pain, sinus infections, childhood scoliosis and many others.
We Get Sick Because We Were Exposed to the
"Germ" - True or False? Many
people, as well as the medical profession, believe that the reason people get sick is that
they were exposed to a germ (bacterium or virus). This theory fails to explain why do some
people get sick and others don't when exposed to the same "bug". In reality,
people get sick because their resistance (immune function) is low. Then when exposed to
the germ, it attacks those week tissues and you get sick. Germs no more cause disease than
cars cause automobile accidents. The viruses and bacteria we call germs are everywhere.
They're in the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the water we drink. They can only
result in disease when our bodies provide a hospitable environment for them to reproduce.
Long term chiropractic patients usually enjoy better over all health and just don't seem
to get sick as much. In the future, doctors will do more to promote better
"health", than just treat patients in crisis. Also,
drugs (prescription and over the counter) in our culture are big business. They spend
billions on advertising alone. This tends to brainwash many people into thinking when they
have a "symptom" they must take a drug to get rid of the symptoms. Then we
wonder why we have such a drug problem in our society. In fact the third leading cause of
death is now "iatrogenic disease", which stands for doctor induced. Actually,
the best doctor is the one inside every patient. Your body innately knows how best to run
and take care of itself. In chiropractic we don't put anything in to your body, and we
don't take anything out. We allow your body to heal from the inside, naturally and
conservatively.
Isn’t Chiropractic
Care Expensive? Actually
chiropractic care is much more affordable and effective than many other types of care.
Physical therapy is at least twice as expensive per visit, and spinal surgery can be over
$50,000. Our office is unique in that we offer cash discounts to patients that make care
very affordable, and most everyone can bring in their entire family for care. Many
insurance companies also help to offset the cost of your care.
What if my insurance won’t pay for chiropractic
care? Insurance
companies make two mistakes by limiting or denying coverage. First, they ignore current
research showing the superiority of chiropractic care in many cases. Plus, they overlook
the lower cost and higher patient satisfaction enjoyed with chiropractic care. we offer
ways to make chiropractic care affordable for just about anyone.
How Did I Get My Spine in this Mess? Many
times I am asked, "Gee doc, I didn't do anything, how did this happen to me".
There are basically 5 causes of spinal subluxations (misalignments). Sometimes it starts
at the birth process itself. Many times the delivery is assisted by forceps or vacuum
extraction, this has been shown to cause tearing of the nerve fibers, and can set up a
spinal problem. In childhood, kids bump and fall all the time. Not every fall causes a
subluxation, but it leads to a higher incidence of potential spinal trauma. Just like
every candy bar doesn't cause a cavity, but it will increase the likelihood of one
developing. The next cause is a macrotrauma. Such as a car accident or lifting injury.
This will knock spinal bones out of alignment and cause subluxation. Cumulative
microtrauma is probably the most common cause of subluxation. Things such as improper
sleeping, poor posture, and, occupational hazards will cause subluxation. The last cause
is emotional tension and stress, this will cause muscles to tighten and pull the bones out
of alignment. So buy the time most patients make it to my office, it is usually a
combination of all these factors. Just like where did you get that cavity? Was it because
you ate candy, didn't brush or visit your dentist? It is unfortunate that pain is the last
thing to show up, and usually the first to go. So if we just base your good health on your
symptoms, we really sell you short, and you don't get the care that you need. We encourage
everyone to receive a regular spinal check-up, just like you would practice preventative
dentistry you will feel better and be healthier because of it. |