+ CAN CHIROPRACTIC HELP ME?

Chiropractic has helped millions of people with myriad problems. We are probably best known for neck and back pain, sciatica and headaches, but it's much more far reaching than that, from kids with asthma to women with menstrual problems to people with digestive disorders and weak immune systems. Chiropractic works on normalizing the function of the nervous system, the Master System of the body, and in freeing the messages that travel from the brain to all parts of the body.

Of course the question is unanswered. A chiropractor will not know if he can help you, if you are a chiropractic case, until he takes a history, does an exam and often takes x-rays. Then when all information is gathered we will know with reasonable certainty if we can help and how long it will take. So get checked and find out!

+ HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?

In asking, "How long will it take," you first have to realize there are three phases of care in a chiropractic office. The first is "Pain/Symptom Relief," and of course this is our first concern. The second phase is "Stabilization and Correction," if needed. This is where we work to bring the spine back to a normal state of structure and function, or get it as close to that ideal as possible- dependent upon any permanent damage that has been done. This is like doing orthodontics on a crooked set of teeth. Without corrective care when needed, the patient will, with time, slide back down into pain or symptoms and over the months and years actually get much worse. This is why it's so important to correct the cause and not just treat the pain symptom. And the third phase is "Maintenance Care." This is keeping the patient healthy, being proactive and preventative. It's the same as getting your dental checkups and cleanings; don't wait until your teeth are a mess. Also, bringing your care in for an oil change and service; don't wait until it breaks down on the side of the road.

The time it takes to achieve real correction is based on a few factors. 1) Age of the patient, 2) How long the problem has been present, 3) Any structural deviations (like scoliosis or reversed curves), 4) If degeneration or arthritis is present, and how severe, 4) Is there any compression, and how severe, and 5) Is there a pathological condition present, and how severe.

Of course the sooner a person is checked, the less time it takes and the less costly care is. That's why we encourage and have so many kids in our practices. Our doctors have actually checked and adjusted many infants less than 24 hours old! And it is extremely gentle, don't worry. All high school athletes should certainly be checked!

One of the riskiest things to believe is, "Maybe it will just go away."
This allows the problem to fester and turn into something a lot more serious than it could have been.

+ DO I HAVE TO KEEP COMING BACK FOR TREATMENTS?

You may have heard the notion that once you go to a chiropractor you have to keep going back. Before we answer that question, ask yourself how many times you have visited a dentist? Like most people, you've probably gone dozens of times. Why? Quite simply, to prevent your teeth from literally rotting out of your head.

Once we have eliminated your pain and rehabilitated the injured tissues we do recommend that you maintain a schedule of periodic spinal checkups. Like your dentist and like many of the medical experts are now recognizing, prevention is the key to reducing recurrences of existing health conditions and minimizing new injuries in the future.

So the answer is yes, we want you to keep coming back, but just periodically. Periodic chiropractic care minimizes spinal and nerve stresses, reduces recurrences of old injuries, prevents new injuries from developing, minimizes degenerative processes, which enhances overall health and wellness.

+ ARE CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENTS SAFE AND DO THEY HURT?

Chiropractic care is extremely safe for people of all ages from geriatrics to infants. Adjustments are natural and non-invasive. Research consistently shows that care from chiropractors is among the safest care available.

Rate of improvement under chiropractic varies with the type of condition and severity. Some people experience soreness, just as you would if you hadn't worked out in years and then go to the gym and begin a running and weight lifting program. Many patients however experience instantaneous relief immediately after an adjustment.
Malpractice insurance rates for chiropractors (which should certainly be an indicator of rates of injury) are considerably lower than any other medical/health care profession.

Read research articles on the saftey of chiropractic...

+ HOW CHIROPRACTIC WORKS

Very simple. Chiropractors locate and correct "vertebral subluxations."
The bones in the spine, the "vertebra", can become misaligned (tilting, twisting or compressing out of their proper positions) from a large trauma or from accumulated stressors or minor traumas, and trouble can occur. For one, an uneven pressure is put on the disc which over time can cause damage to the disc-like a slipped, bulging or herniated disc. Secondly, a "pinched" nerve can result.

These subluxations can cause a local problems, like pain or restricted movement, or a distant problem in whatever organ or gland that "pinched" nerve supplies with messages from the brain.

Chiropractic functions to correct these misalignments and normalize or restore the flow of nerve messages from the brain. This in turn will allow the body to better heal itself.

+ Should children go to a chiropractor?

Absolutely! The ideal way to utilize chiropractic is to start at an early age, that way a problem can be caught and corrected early while its still easy and quick.

Problems can occur in utero, if for instance the fetus is jammed up into the mothers ribs for a prolonged period of time this can traumatize the neck. A difficult birth is another reason. Then we all know how many falls and bangs kids experience.

Kids usually respond very quickly to chiropractic care.

Some of the most common reasons we see young children are: ear infections, colic, not sleeping through the night, bed wetting, constipation, asthma and eczema, allergies, and getting sick frequently.

+ What type of education do chiropractic doctors receive?

Doctors of chiropractic are well educated. Chiropractic education and medical education are similar in many respects and different in others because chiropractors do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery, and medical doctors do not correct vertebral subluxations. After graduating with a doctor of chiropractic (d.c.) degree, each candidate passes the demanding four part national board examinations. Then, doctors apply to a governmental or professional licensing board and pass a still more difficult test before being granted the privilege to practice. A chiropractor's education, however, never ends. Most doctors complete regular postgraduate instruction for license renewal and to stay current on the latest research and adjustment techniques.

To learn more about a chiropractor's education...

+ Is it OK to see a chiropractor if I'm pregnant?

Not only is it ok, it's almost a requirement! During pregnancy you want all of the nerve messages, control messages, from the brain getting through to the fetus. Secondly, it is very important that the mother's spine and pelvis be in-line, and not fixated or locked up, because this makes carrying and delivering the baby so much easier.

We have heard mothers say a thousand times, "My delivery after I started getting adjusted was so much easier than before I was adjusted!"

Some of our doctors have adjusted women up until the very day of their delivery.

+ Can I tell if I have a subluxation?

Not always. A subluxation is like a dental cavity--you may have it for a long time before symptoms appear. That's why periodic spinal checkups are so important. Although it may be possible to know you have a subluxation, it is rarely possible to be sure you don't. Regular spinal checkups are always a good idea, and they promote good health from the inside out.

+ What is a chiropractic adjustment?

A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is subluxated, "locked up," or not moving properly. The purpose of this safe and natural procedure is to eliminate interference to the nervous system, improving spinal function and overall health. "gentle spinal adjustments boost your body's immunity."

+ Is back pain common?

More than 80 percent of people experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. In fact, it is one of the most reported reasons people miss work and is the second most frequent reason patients visit the doctor.

+ Can I learn to adjust myself?

Easy. The answer is no.

Many people however can "crack" their neck or back, but this is not an adjustment.

When there is a "subluxation" in the spine (bone out of place causing fixation or locking and nerve irritation) most of the time there are additional "compensating" fixations. These compensating areas are the ones you can "crack" if you twist or maneuver yourself, but that does not correct the real cause, the subluxation.

Chiropractors are trained to apply a very specifically directed thrust with timing, direction and just enough force. It's very specific and artistic thing.

Actually, we as chiropractors, have chiropractors ourselves whom we go to, to receive our adjustments. We practice what we preach.

+ Can a Chiropractic Neck Adjustment Cause a Stroke?

Chiropractic adjustments are extremely safe for patients of all ages.
Check out: http://www.chiropracticissafe.org/

Malpractice insurance rates are extremely low in the chiropractic profession, lower that any medical provider.

Read some research articles on neck adjustment safety...