Frequently Asked Questions 

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. Others may take weeks to months before showing progress.

Each of us has the freedom to place a different value on our health. Ultimately, good health is about personal responsibility. 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. Find out how we make chiropractic care affordable for just about anyone

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.

No. Chiropractors 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.

Some patients experience almost instant relief. Others discover that the healing process can take months, sometimes even years. Every patient recovers at his or her own pace. Factors which can affect the healing process include your age, your overall health condition, muscle tone, diet an even your attitude.

It depends upon your complaint and how long it may take to study your examination findings. This is a clinical decision and varies from patient to patient.

There are three basic causes of subluxations. Physical causes include slips and falls, accidents, repetitive motions, and improper lifting. Stress, anger, and fear are examples of emotional causes of subluxations. Alcohol, drugs, pollution, and poor diet can be chemical causes of subluxations.

You can have subluxations and not even know it. Like tooth decay or cancer, subluxations can be present before any warning signs appear. The results of a thorough examination can show the location and severity of any subluxations you may have.

Sometimes. Today’s hectic lifestyles are a constant source of subluxations. Fortunately, our bodies have the ability to self-correct many of these minor problems as we bend and stretch, or when we sleep at night. When subluxations don’t resolve, you need a chiropractic doctor!

Your first subluxation probably occurred form the birth process. Even “modern” childbirth methods can put tremendous pressure on an infant’s spine. Poor appetite, unexplained crying, and sleeplessness may be signs of spinal subluxations.

After the brief thrust, many patients report a sense of well-being or a feeling of calmness. Others feel improved mobility. Inflammation or muscle spasms may delay these positive effects. Chiropractic doctors excel at making adjustments comfortable and effective.

Yes. A New Zealand government study concluded that chiropractic adjustments are “remarkably safe.” Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever is about 100 times more risky.

No. Only the “locked up” spinal joints receive adjustments. This allows weakened muscles and ligaments to stabilize and heal.

Lubricating fluids separate the bones of each spinal joint. Some adjusting methods can produce a sound when the gas and fluids in the joint shift. It’s like opening a soda can or removing a suction cup. The sound is interesting, but isn’t a guide to the quality of value of the adjustment.

Whether you’ve been in an accident, stressed at work or overexerted yourself in the garden, your body is constantly adapting to the environment. When your capacity to adapt is exhausted, symptoms can appear. This can take days, weeks, months, or years to occur.

Because the nerves to the arms and hands exit the spine through the injured area of the neck, numbness and tingling are common. Even lower back pain can result directly from the trauma or as a reaction to the loss of proper spinal curves.

Many chiropractic patients report improved spinal curves and an end to their symptoms. Those who delay seeking appropriate care often discover that scar tissue and spinal instability require periodic chiropractic checkups.

Since car accidents are the major cause of acceleration/deceleration injuries, defensive driving skills can help. Be sure your taillights and turn signals are properly working. Allow enough stopping distance in front of you. When you slow down or stop, always check your rearview mirror to see if the driver behind you is paying attention.

Patient results vary depending upon many factors. How long have you had your problem? Do you keep 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 following through with our recommendations.

Insurance companies make two mistakes by limiting or denying coverage. First, they ignore current research showing the superiority of chiropractic care in these types of 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.

After patients get the relief they want, many choose to continue with some type of periodic care. These chiropractic “checkups” can help support the final stages of healing and help detect and resolve new problems before they become serious. How long you go to receive chiropractic care is up to you.

The most common causes are physical trauma, emotional stress, nutritional deficiencies or chemical toxins. Sometimes there may be a combination of these and other factors. Our examination process helps identify the most likely cause.

Some patients enjoy results quickly. Others notice a slow decline in their symptoms after several weeks or longer of chiropractic care. It’s impossible to predict. If you’ve had chronic headaches for many years, improvement can take time.

Chiropractic isn’t an aspirin! Repeated visits, even when you’re feeling better, can help retrain and strengthen the muscles that support your spine. Just as it takes more than one or two workouts at the gym to get in shape, it takes time for your spine to heal.

Headaches may be common, but they’re not normal. Every headache has a cause. If we’re unable to find and correct the cause of your headaches, we can refer to other specialists who may be able to help. Your health is our only goal.

Patient results vary depending upon many factors. How long have you had your problem? Do you keep 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 following through with our recommendations.

Insurance companies make two mistakes by limiting or denying coverage. First, they ignore current research showing the superiority of chiropractic care in these types of 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.

After patients get the relief they want, many choose to continue with some type of periodic care. These chiropractic “checkups” can help support the final stages of healing and help detect and resolve new problems before they become serious. How long you go to receive chiropractic care is up to you.

It’s easy to trace some spinal problems to an event, such as a car accident. Yet, sciatica is often the result of cumulative poor muscle tone, excess weight or countless other causes set the state. Then, something simple like bending overt to tie your shoes, can trigger and episode.

Spinal decay can be another culprit. Instead of disc thinning that puts pressure on the sciatic nerve roots, arthritic bone spurs can intrude into the space normally reserved for the nerve.

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.

Most sciatica patients are delighted with the results they get after several weeks or months of care. Naturally, this varies from patient to patient. Many discover that years of neglect have produced spinal instabilities that never fully heal. These patients elect to continue with periodic chiropractic checkups. It’s up to you.

Any type of sideways curvature is abnormal. From the back, the spine should appear straight. When scoliosis is present, there are usually two curves: A primary curve in one direction and a compensatory curve in the opposite direction.

No. However, there are a growing number of authorities who believe uncorrected spinal damage from the birth process may be involved. Others suggest that using walkers to encourage early waking may be a culprit.

As with the case of many health problems, early detection can improve the likelihood of correction. Wise parents consult our office soon after the birth of their child. Then the follow up with periodic chiropractic checkups throughout their child’s developing years.

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.

When spinal decay is detected at an early stage, chiropractic intervention can produce remarkable benefits. In Phase 1 cases, 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.

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.

Even today’s “natural” childbirth methods can affect an infant’s spine. Preliminary studies suggest that colic, unusual crying, poor appetite, ear infections or erratic sleeping habits can be signs of spinal distress. Relax. Newborns adjustments are gentle. As a rule, no more pressure than you’d use to test the ripeness of a tomato is involved.

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.

Yes. Your chiropractor will avoid areas of your spine surgically modified. However, surgery may produce compensation reactions either above or below the involved level. If necessary, these other areas will be the focus of your chiropractic care.