FAQs

1. How does chiropractic REALLY work?
The nervous system controls every cell of your body. Nerve impulses flow from the brain, down the spinal cord, and to every organ and tissue. Impulses sent back to the brain confirm that the body is working the way it should. The moving bones of the spine can interfere with this exchange by irritating adjacent nerves. Ill health can result from distorted or compromised nervous system control of the body. Chiropractic care helps restore the integrity of the nervous system by reducing interference caused by the spine.

2. Who can chiropractic help?
Improved nerve communications between your brain and your body can help everyone. So, if you have subluxations, you could be a good candidate for chiropractic care. Modified adjusting approaches can help children, the elderly or those with special needs.

3. How long will it take?
Since chiropractic care depends on the healing abilities of each patient, results can vary from patient to patient. Everyone responds differently. Some detect changes in a few short days or weeks. Other may take weeks to months before showing progress.

4. If I start, will I have to go for the rest of my life?
Some patients opt to continue with some type of regular chiropractic checkups. These patients show up for their visits feeling great. Their interest in wellness and prevention helps make sure that once they get well, they stay well.

5. What if my insurance company doesn't cover chiropractic?
While an insurance company or other third party may be helpful, be careful. Don't allow a profit-motivated company to make decisions about what you do with your health. We make chiropractic care affordable for just about anyone. See our insurance page.

6. Does chiropractic wear out your joints?
Chiropractic care can help prevent your joints from wearing out! Bones don't rub on each other. Instead, each joint is enclosed in a "capsule" of fluid that should offer a lifetime of friction-free movement. When there is a loss of proper motion of position of spinal bones, this movement can be restricted. Spinal joints above or below attempt to make up the difference by moving too much. Chiropractic spinal adjustments are directed only to those areas that are "stuck" and not moving enough.

7. Can chiropractic help the bone spurs in my feet?
Bone spurs and other arthritic changes to joints in the feet, hands or spine are the body's response to long-standing malfunction. Restoring proper joint function is thought to slow or stop this degenerative process.

8. Is chiropractic care safe?
Critics mislead by suggesting that adjustments to the neck can subject patients to unnatural stress or compromise blood supply to the brain. But if the spine were that fragile, people would fear bending over to tie their shoelaces or looking up to enjoy the sunset! Thousands will die this year from anesthesia or needless back surgeries. Thousands more will perish from common aspirin or destroy their kidneys from so-called "safe" pain medicines. Adverse reactions to prescription medication are the fourth leading cause of death in the US. Meanwhile, the rare complications from chiropractic care can be counted on one hand.

9. Is it safe for pregnant women?
Yes. Besides helping to relieve the discomfort many expectant mothers experience chiropractic care helps normalize nervous system function. This is an important component of overall good health. The benefits of chiropractic care may also be noticed during delivery. Many chiropractic patients report that their deliveries were faster and more comfortable than deliveries previous to chiropractic care.

10. Will I have to have X-rays?
X-rays and other types of images can be helpful. Pictures of your spine, especially after trauma, can confirm our other findings and make your care more precise. We can tell if we need them after completing our other examinations.

11. How long until I feel better?
Some patients experience almost instant relief. Others discover that the healing process can take months, sometimes years. Every patient recovers at their own pace. Factors which can affect the healing process include your age, your overall health condition, muscle tone, diet and even your attitude.

12. When will I get my first adjustment?
It depends on your complaint and how long it may take to study your examination findings. This is a clinical decision and varies from patient to patient.

13. Will I receive any medication for my pain?
No. Chiropractic doctors don't dispense drugs. Because we rely on natural methods, ask for directions on how to use ice to control any painful symptoms. Ice, when properly applied, can have an analgesic effect without the side effects associated with pain medications.

14. Can I get chiropractic care if I've had back surgery?
Yes, your chiropractor will avoid areas of your spine surgically modified. However, surgery often causes instability above or below the involved level. These "reactions" will be the focus of your chiropractic care.

15. Can patients with osteoporosis get chiropractic care?
Of course. Regardless of your age, size or condition, chiropractic care can be helpful. The specific needs of each patient are considered. If yours is not a chiropractic case, we'll refer you to the appropriate specialist.

16. Can chiropractic cure sciatica?
Actually, chiropractic doesn't cure anything. Only your body can do that. The chiropractic approach to sciatica (and other health problems) is to help restore the way your spine works, reducing nerve irritation and revitalizing your own healing ability.

17. Will I have to have neck adjustments?
If your problem is the result of abnormal motion or position of spinal bones in the neck, cervical adjustments can be effective. There are many ways to adjust the neck, and your chiropractic has become an experienced master. Years of practice make these spinal adjustments safe and effective. Much safer than common aspirin or muscle relaxers!

18. How does chiropractic care help my disc problems?
The purpose of chiropractic care is to locate and correct areas of the spine that interfere with the proper nervous system control of your body. Because the intervertebral discs are so close to the spinal cord and nerve roots, disc involvement is quite common in chiropractic cases. Chiropractic adjustments help restore proper motion and position of malfunctioning spinal bones, reducing nervous system involvement. If caught before permanent damage occurs, disc tissue often returns to a more normal size and shape.

19. Isn't spinal decay just part of the aging process?
Because spinal decay is often (but not always) seen in the elderly, some people are misled into believing that it is merely part of the aging process. Not true. It seems clear that it is the result of long-standing, uncorrected spinal stress.

20. Can chiropractic care help those with advanced cases of spinal decay?
Absolutely. While chiropractic care cannot help areas of the spine already fused together, areas of the spine not yet affected can often benefit from chiropractic care.

21. Can spinal decay be reversed?
When spinal decay is detected at an early stage, chiropractic intervention can produce remarkable benefits. In the first phase of spinal decay, many patients see the restoration of spinal curves and improved mobility. Chiropractic care at later stages shows promise, but results vary from patient to patient.

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