Below you will find a list of questions that we often hear regarding chiropractic care. We think you will find the answers informative. Please feel free to call us with any other questions you may have.

 

Chiropractors work with the bones and nerves of the spinal column and spinal cord, respectively. Chiropractors spend years of highly specialized training in order to locate where misplaced spinal vertebrae are impinging the nerves which travel down the spinal cord and out through the spinal column to the muscles, organs and glands of the body. After locating the vertebrae impinging the nerves (subluxations) the chiropractor, using various techniques, is able to replace the misplaced vertebrae and thus release pressure on the nerves. That is called a spinal adjustment.

Often people are totally unaware that they have subluxations in their spine. That is because nerve fibers are composed of approximately 20% pain fibers and 80% functional fibers. This is why we can have malfunction and disease in the body and not feel any pain or symptoms. Vertebral subluxations are often referred to as "silent killers".

The area fed by the impinged (damaged) nerves may receive a faulty or improper nerve supply for years. All the while there may be no pain and you may be totally unaware of your condition. All the while your body may be weakening and actual damage to the spinal column, nerves and organ may be occurring.

In fact, people who have a neck ache or backache are the lucky ones! They may know that it's quite possible that they have subluxations and they will hopefully do the smart thing: go to a chiropractor. Others may suffer from digestive problems, head aches, colds, menstrual cramps, depression, seizures, skin conditions and many other problems and not be aware that a realigned spinal column could greatly improve their health.

Millions of people are walking around with many subluxations but don't feel anything wrong in their backs or necks so they think their nerves are fine and they never get their spines checked by a chiropractor. How wrong they are! How do you know if you have a subluxation? You go to a chiropractor and get your spine checked and adjusted (if needed).

 

An adjustment is the term used to explain the chiropractic treatment. It is known in the medical community as spinal manipulation, although the chiropractic adjustment is performed specifically by chiropractors with 4 years of extensive experience in this type of treatment.

 

The adjustment is a painless procedure although when the patient has a chronic condition or muscle spasms accompanying the spinal misalignment (called subluxation), the spasms can be uncomfortable.  

 

A subluxation is a misalignment of the bones that house and protect the spinal cord. Any misalignment puts unnecessary pressure on the nerve system and cuts off the nerve supply to different parts of the body. Vertebral subluxations that are left undetected and unadjusted for many years can lead to symptoms of pain, diseases, and an unhealthy expression of life. 

 

How do I know when I am subluxated?

It is not easy knowing when you are subluxated, although a pain of some kind can be a clue. Abnormal posture including one shoulder higher than the other, hips not level or a head forward past the shoulders can also be indicative of a subluxation. Often the nerves that are negatively affected by the misalignment in the spine do not carry pain signals. This means that you can suffer from subluxations for years without any painful warning signs. However, allowing subluxations to exist in your body can negatively impact the functions of the organs in your body, which leads to a deterioration of your health. A chiropractor can detect the subluxations with their trained hands, and can correct them properly. 

 

A person can become subluxated in a wide variety of ways. Simple things like sleeping, sitting, and standing can contribute to subluxations. Often, people develop their first subluxation during birth when the doctors use force of up to 60 to 100 pounds to aid the delivery. Normal childhood activities such as spills from the bike, sledding, playing ball, and any other activity that results in a jarring fall, all result in subluxations in children. Because subluxations don’t often cause pain, people do not know they are there and thus do not get them fixed until after major damage has been done, at which point the pain usually begins to be felt.

 

While correcting subluxations might bring you relief from pain, the general aim of the chiropractor is not to merely fix painful backs and necks, but to enable the body to express itself to the fullest, without any interference from subluxations. Correcting subluxations opens up a whole new world of wellness and health care because the body is able to function as it was designed to. Without any nerve blockages due to subluxations, the body can boost its immune system and much more effectively fight disease and illness. Relief from back and neck pain, which are the most common symptoms that people bring into a chiropractor's office, might come about from the adjustments, but there are no guarantees. However, living with subluxations is like trying to ride a bike with one hand, you are only half as effective as you would be if you had the full use of both hands. Allowing subluxations to exist in your body, even if they are not causing you pain, means you have a reduced immune system and a lower level of wellness and health.

 

That “cracking” sound is air, gas & fluid escaping from the joint. It is the same thing that happens when you crack your knuckles. The patient’s bones do NOT crack. When can I expect to feel better? Different patients have different healing times. Some experience relief within 1-2 weeks; others notice changes before the end of the first month. Healing is sometimes dependent on the length of time a patient has had the symptom.

 

No! Pain usually subsides in the first 4 – 6 weeks. Correcting the cause of a problem usually takes a couple of months. You have the option of discontinuing care when the pain subsides or when you complete the corrective procedure. Or you can continue with what we call maintenance care. The purpose of maintenance care is to keep your spine healthy and to avoid a reoccurrence of a back-related problem. Just as you go to the dentist for regular checkups, having your spine checked by the doctor is just as important, if not more so. But the choice is always yours.

 

Most patients have seen their posture improve as a result of chiropractic care. How long will each appointment take? After the first two visits, each appointment generally takes between 5 and 15 minutes, depending on what you need to have done on each visit.

 

The doctor will determine if films are necessary during the examination.

 

If you have them, please DO bring them, as they will help the doctor in his examination. If the doctor determines at the end of the examination that new films are necessary, he will advise you why he feels they are necessary.

 

It depends on what it causing it NOT to be straight. If the cause is a lot of arthritis and degeneration, it is unlikely that the spine can be straightened. If the cause is muscle tightness, there is a much greater chance that the spine can be straightened.

 

Chiropractic treats the misalignment of the spine. Chiropractic does not cure cancer or other disease. The chiropractic adjustment can help relieve the pain associated with different diseases. As a result of chiropractic care, many patients experience relief due to the body’s innate ability to heal itself.

 

Chiropractic is good (and safe) for all patients, because chiropractic care centers on the spine. Particularly, it is good to get children checked after they have had a fall.

 

About 80% of insurance plans cover chiropractic. We will verify your benefits when you come to our office for the first visit.

 

What is the difference between an Osteopath and a Chiropractor?

Chiropractors locate and correct specific areas of nerve interference, within the spinal column. Osteopaths use general manipulation of the entire spine. They are basically moving everything around to create circulatory changes in the body.