Expectations of Chiropractic Treatment
Delivering unrivaled patient care
Chiropractic treatment for chronic and acute pain can be a great option but choosing the right chiropractor can be confusing. Your experience at Core Health is a top priority, please do your research on our Google, Yelp, and Facebook reviews prior to coming to get a feel for our clinic. Below is more information on some common questions patients have prior to coming in.
How does chiropractic care work?
Chiropractic works by restoring your body’s inborn ability to be healthy or innate intelligence. When under the proper control of your nervous system, all the cells, tissues, and organs of your body are desinged to resist disease and ill health. The chiropractic approach locates 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.
What causes the sound during an adjustment?
Actually, adjustments do not always produce a sound. The sound is not coming from the bones themselves. It’s coming from a lubricant called synovial fluid that’s found in every joint. That fluid contains dissolved gases. During the adjustment the joints are slightly separated to move into proper position. This releases the built-up pressure on the fluid and gases and creates a pop similar to the release of pressure when the cork comes off a bottle of Champagne. Not all patients “pop” and not all adjusting techniques produce the noise, which means an adjustment can be proper and effective, even if you do not hear any noise.
Will my insurance cover this?
Chiropractors are primary care physicians, meaning you may receive treatment without a referral from another provider and you will be covered under your health insurance. Dr. Bronson and Dr. Taylor are in-network providers with all major insurance carriers including: Blue Cross Blue Shield MN, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Health Partners, Medica, UCARE, And Medicare. If you are unsure of your benefit coverage please call the office for more information.
Is it possible to 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 yourself correctly and accurately. It is possible to bend, turn, 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, often making an already unstable spine even more unstable, and can sometimes be dangerous. Even a trained Chiropractor cannot adjust him or herself.
Is Chiropractic care safe?
Yes. Chiropractic has an excellent safety record. It is the result of a conservative and natural approach to health that avoids invasive procedures or addictive drugs. As proof, one can compare malpractice rates between Chiropractors and other health care professionals. Chiropractors’ malpractice premiums are a very small fraction of those for medical doctors.
Is it okay to see a chiropractor if I am pregnant?
Anytime is a good time for a better functioning nervous system. Pregnant mothers find that Chiropractic adjustments improve their pregnancy and make delivery easier for themselves and their baby. Adjusting mothers is always adapted to a patient’s size, weight, age, and condition of health. Studies have demonstrated that pregnant women who are under Chiropractic care require less pain medications, less interventions, and also decrease their labor time up to 50%.
Can chiropractic be addictive?
No. If only it were, there would be more healthy people around and Chiropractors would not get patients who last saw a Chiropractor “a few years ago when their back went out.” It is possible to get used to feeling more balanced, less stressed, and more energetic as a result of chiropractic care. Chiropractic is not addictive, however, good health is.
Do children need chiropractic care?
A medical study performed in Germany found that due to how the fetus was carried in the womb and the birthing process itself, 80% of all children have Subluxations in their neck. A follow-up study found that 95% of the health conditions that were reported in the children evaluated were eliminated once the children were adjusted. Many parents opt to have their newborns checked for vertebral Subluxations right after birth and many others come to learn of the benefits from their friends and/or family members. Naturally, adjusting procedures are adapted for the child’s spine. Health problems that emerge in adulthood could often be prevented by having your children’s spine checked by a chiropractor early. Many parents report that their children enjoy chiropractic adjustments and are healthier than their peers. Adjustments remove nerve irritation that can lessen or eliminate childhood symptoms such as colic, ear infections, irritability, asthma, and allergies.
What exactly is a chiropractic adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is 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. Studies have shown that gentle, specific spinal adjustments boost your body’s immunity also!
What type of education is required for Chiropractors?
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 licensing board and are many times required to pass still another test before being granted the privilege to practice. A chiropractor’s education, however, never ends. Postgraduate courses are required for license renewal and to stay current on the latest research and adjustment techniques.
Is chiropractic safe if I have had back surgery?
Yes. It is 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. Chiropractic may help prevent repeated back surgeries. In fact, if chiropractic care is utilized initially, back surgery can often be avoided in the first place.
How often will I need adjustments?
That varies greatly with the nature and severity of your spinal condition and external factors that could affect your progress one way or the other such as the physical demands of your job or your personal lifestyle.
Are adjustments performed the same way for all patients?
No. At Core Health Chiropractic we recognize 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.
How long will it take to start feeling better?
The general nature of spinal conditions is pretty much the longer you have had the problem, the longer the amount of corrective care required. With this in mind, it is no surprise that children respond very quickly. Adults take longer in some cases because most spinal problems are the result of years of neglect. As with any healing process, every person’s progress is slightly different. Your personal lifestyle, diet, exercise, and regularly keeping your appointments all affect your progress.
Why do I need to keep coming back so often?
Retaining the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and spinal discs that support your spine and maintain the proper position and motion of individual vertebrae can be a time-consuming process. Since Chiropractors cannot rely on braces to move spinal bones like orthodontists use to reposition teeth, and since most people are often subjected to the same forces (ie. job, sleeping, and recreational habits) repeated adjustments over time may be necessary.