Butler Chiropractic and Wellness "WHAT... "You Should Know and Ask" before going to the Chiropractor" 1. What is chiropractic care? There's nothing mysterious about chiropractic. It's a natural method of health care that focuses on treating the causes of physical problems, rather than just treating the symptoms. Chiropractic is based on a simple but powerful premise. With a normally functioning spine and healthy nerve system, your body is better able to heal itself. That's because your spine is the lifeline of your nervous system. It controls feeling, movement, and all functions throughout your body. 2. How does chiropractic work? Chiropractic works by restoring your body's inborn ability to be healthy. When under the proper control of your nervous system, all the cells, tissues, and organs of your body are designed to resist disease and ill health. The chiropractic approach to better health is to locate and remove interferences (subluxations, misaligned vertebrae) to your nervous system. With improved spinal function, there is improved nervous system function. The goal of the chiropractor is to remove interference that may be impairing normal health through specific chiropractic adjustments, allowing your body to heal itself. A healthy spine and a healthy lifestyle are your keys to optimal health! 3. 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. 4. What is a chiropractic adjustment? A chiropractic adjustment is the practice 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 may boost your body's immunity, too. 5. Do children need chiropractic care? Since significant spinal trauma can occur at birth, many parents have their newborns checked for vertebral subluxation. Naturally, chiropractic adjusting procedures are adapted for the child's spine. Many childhood health complaints that are brushed off can be traced back to a misalignment of the spine. And having the spine checked by a chiropractor during childhood may help to prevent health problems that emerge in adulthood. Most parents report that their children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and are healthier than their peers. 6. Are all patients adjusted the same way? No. The doctor evaluates each patient's unique spinal problem and develops an individual course of care. Each chiropractic adjustment builds on the one before. The resulting recommendations are based upon years of training and experience. Each patient's care is uniquely different from every other patient. 7. Is chiropractic safe? Chiropractic treatments have an excellent safety record. It is the result of a conservative and natural approach to health that avoids invasive procedures or addictive drugs, as evidenced by comparing malpractice rates between chiropractors and other health care professionals. Chiropractors' malpractice premiums are a small fraction of those for medical doctors. 8. Is chiropractic care expensive? Doctors of chiropractic provide effective, low-cost health care for a wide range of conditions. Scientific studies published by organizations not affiliated in any way with chiropractic institutions or associations continue to show the clinical effectiveness of chiropractic care for a wide variety of conditions. 9. What causes the sound during an adjustment? Chiropractic adjustments do not always produce a sound. Often, however, adjustments produce a spinal "release" or "popping" sound. This is caused by gas rushing in to fill the partial vacuum created when the joints are slightly separated. This sound is painless and totally harmless.
10. Can I adjust myself? No. Since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction to a specific joint, it is virtually impossible to adjust oneself correctly and accurately. It is possible to turn or bend or twist in certain ways to create a "popping" sound that sometimes accompanies a chiropractic adjustment. Unfortunately, this type of joint manipulation is usually counterproductive, and can make an already unstable spine even more unstable. This can sometimes be dangerous; adjusting the spine is not for amateurs! 11. Is chiropractic care addictive? No. If it were, there would be more healthy people around! It is possible to get used to feeling more balanced, less stressed, and more energetic as a result or regular chiropractic care. Chiropractic is not addictive, however, good health is. 12. Can a person who had back surgery see a chiropractor? Yes. It's an unfortunate fact that up to half of those who had spinal surgery discover a return of their original symptoms months or years later. They then face the prospect of additional surgery. This too common occurrence is known as "Failed Back Surgery Syndrome." Chiropractic may help prevent repeated back surgeries. In fact, if chiropractic care is initially utilized, back surgery can often be avoided in the first place. 13. Does chiropractic work for all types of health problems? No, however chiropractic care is successful with a very wide variety of health problems not necessarily considered "back" problems because of improved nerve system function. With a normal nerve supply the body's natural healing capacity can improve a variety of health problems. 14. Is it OK to see a chiropractor if I'm pregnant? Anytime is a good time for a better functioning nerve system. Pregnant mothers find that chiropractic adjustments improve their pregnancy and make delivery easier for themselves and their baby. Adjusting methods are always adapted to a patient s size, weight, age, and condition of health. 15. What is the difference between a chiropractor and an osteopath? Chiropractors base their care on the detection correction, and prevention of vertebral subluxations (spinal misalignments). We use specific spinal adjustments to correct the spine, to improve nerve system functions and reduce nerve interference. Osteopaths use drugs, surgery, and other
traditional medical therapies and only occasionally use manipulative procedures. 16. Why do chiropractors take x-rays? Chiropractors take x-rays to reveal the internal structure and alignment of the spine. They are also concerned about underlying disease processes and disorders of the spine such as spinal deterioration, arthritis of the spine, abnormal development, bone spurs, disc disorders, tumors, and spinal curvature or scoliosis. X-rays also provide a blueprint for correcting the spine back to optimal health and alignment. 17. Is a good workout the same as getting adjusted? No. Exercise is an important part of good health, but without normal spinal function a physical workout puts additional wear and tear on your improperly functioning spinal joints. 18. What are your qualifications? Even though chiropractors are highly skilled and highly trained healthcare practitioners, many opt to improve the quality of care for their patients even farther by studying and training with peers at one of several accredited institutes or by travelling even farther distances to voluntarily provide chiropractic care beyond our national borders. Ask your chiropractic doctor to tell you more about his or her experiences. They would be glad that you asked. 19. Do you practice a specialty that is related to my condition? Many chiropractors have additional training in several other specialties; such as Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Holistic Healthcare, just to name a few. During your consultation, discuss your specific needs and ask him or her what they are experienced in handling. 20. Do you commonly treat my condition? Chiropractors with more experience relevant to treating your condition are better than those with little or no experience treating your condition. While many conditions are similar, a doctor who sees a lot of the type you are seeking to correct will have more knowledge of what works, and what works more effectively. 21. What type of diagnostic testing is needed? The majority of testing procedures in chiropractic offices are similar. In addition to a physical exam, the typical patient will have an X-ray exam and various postural and functional exams. Some patients will be referred out for MRI, NCV, or other high-tech exams that are usually performed in a
diagnostic imaging center. Although not common, these additional test are reserved for more severe cases/conditions. 22. How can chiropractic care help me? If your desire is to have a properly functioning nervous system, you can expect to have terrific results at the chiropractic office. By detecting and correcting vertebral subluxation, your chiropractor will remove areas of interference to your nervous system. It is remarkable how your condition(s) can improve, simply by restoring the proper function of your nervous system to those affected areas. In time, most patients are extremely satisfied with chiropractic care and many experience a 25%, or even greater, improvement overall in under two weeks of care. 23. How many times a week must I come for an adjustment? That depends on the severity of your condition. It can vary from 3 times per week to one time per month. Sometimes, an adjustment can hold its correction for an indefinite amount of time. However, if muscles, tendons, ligaments, or bones have been out of place for an extended period of time, it might take a greater number of visits for the correction to maintain and the chiropractor will probably need to see you more frequently. Expect to see your chiropractor more often (early on) and less frequently as your muscles, tendons, and ligaments relearn to maintain your vertebrae (spinal bones) in this better position. 24. Do you use your hands or an instrument for the chiropractic manipulation? Considering the fact that patients respond differently to specific techniques, it is essential to be aware of every situation. Our office is well equipped with instruments for cases that the chiropractor recommends instrument adjusting and for patients that prefer them. And, of course, we manually adjust (by hands) for the same reason(s). 25. Do you employ deeper, joint-popping adjustment or low-force, adjustments? Depending on the technique recommended and discussed with the patient, we have many methods of adjusting the spine and extremities and will do what is appropriate at each visit. The patient s preference is always taken into consideration. 26. How long does each session last? A chiropractic adjustment only takes a few minutes; however, sessions that involve additional therapy may last anywhere from 15-60 minutes, depending on what was scheduled for that visit.
27. Will I need care from other health care professionals? Coordinating your care between different offices and specialties is not usually required and is not all that common. When appropriate, your healthcare records may be shared between offices to keep up-to-date on what work may have been done for a specific condition. This often saves time and reduces unnecessary cost. 28. What techniques do you practice? The correct answer is: It depends on what is wrong with you. Some chiropractors are only proficient in only one technique, but not every condition that chiropractic care can help responds to just one technique. There are many chiropractic techniques that can be used to successfully treat and relieve your condition, and a lot of natural ways to relieve pain and restore optimal range of motion, flexibility, and function! 29. Do you have payment plans available? Successful Chiropractors usually allow patients to make payments. This allows them to get the care they need and want without financial stress. Many successful practices are able to work with you on payments, whether you re covered by insurance or not. 30. Do you have criteria for determining how many visits I need? Some Chiropractors do not have an objective method to determine how many visits are necessary to relieve your pain, and to maintain your newly found state of excellent health. They make subjective guesses about your initial treatment and progress. Make sure to find out how the doctor you re talking to measures progress, and whether it s routine or not. 31. Will you show me ways of preventing what you are treating? There s a sign in my dentist s office that reads, Support your dentist, eat more candy. Although he is only joking, your doctor whether dental or chiropractic should spend some time customizing simple and easy ways for you to stay healthy, regardless of what caused your problem. This prolongs the benefits of the care you ve received; and helps prevent reinjuring yourself. Any competent Chiropractor will want you to avoid future problems. 32. Do you offer free consultations? There s no way a Chiropractor should expect a patient to choose him or her without first visiting the office to see if the office, staff, and doctor is a good fit. A free consultation will give you a chance to talk to any of the patients while they are coming in and leaving, as well as to observe the office staff, talk with the doctor, and ask about office policies.