530-577-5433
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should go to a chiropractor?
At Safe Haven we have helped many people of all ages and from all walks of life with many different complaints, including migraines, menstrual problems, asthma and allergies, bedwetting, digestive problems, fibromyalgia, depression, and ear infections just to name a few, in addition to wide-range of back, neck and joint pain. And yet, surprisingly, we do not treat any of these conditions.
The goal of chiropractic relies on bringing the body to normal function by gently correcting spinal nerve stress. Spinal nerve stress interferes with your nervous system, brain, spinal cord, and nerves, therefore, the ability of your body’s ability to function normally. Removal of this interference reconnects the inborn healing ability, to each and every cell. Promoting natural balance, vitality, and optimal wellness.
Are Children Welcome?
Absolutely, in fact we have hundreds of children in our practice. Children love visiting the office, both for our large play area and for the care they receive. We encourage chiropractic to be a family affair because it’s never to early to live without nerve interference. Children need to be checked regularly to insure proper neurological development. It’s also just as important for the developing fetus and expecting mother which provides for a safer easier delivery.
Can I Afford it?
We firmly believe that the cost of living without nerve interference and the resulting decrease in health is greater than the cost of chiropractic care. We believe you have a undeniable right to health and living your highest potential. With this principle in mind we also believe that everyone in our community should have access to a natural health care option which is why we offer a unique fee structure designed around a community committed to living healthy.
Chiropractic Adjustment How Does It Work?
Spinal joints that are "locked up," fixated or not moving right can affect your health by "choking" or irritating nearby nerve tissue. Chiropractic adjustments add motion to these stuck areas. This helps restore nervous system integrity and can improve the healing process. Like an experienced piano tuner, your chiropractic doctor has become a master at fine tuning the way your spine works. Several areas of the spine may be adjusted or just one area. Each adjustment builds on the ones before. Keep your appointments for the best results!
There are many ways to adjust the spine.
Sometimes the doctor's hands deliver a quick, highly accurate thrust. Or an instrument directs a repeatable force to a fixated spinal joint.
Other times a slow, constant pressure is used. Some chiropractic doctors use special tables with moving sections. Several areas of the spine may be adjusted or just one.
The key is to use the precise amount of energy. At the exact spot. In the right direction. At just the right time, to get spinal joints moving again. Chiropractic is truly an art. Your chiropractic doctor has become a master at one or more adjusting techniques.
Just about anyone can get adjusted. Newborns, infants, children, seniors and even failed back surgery patients can benefit. Naturally, your doctor tailors your chiropractic care to your size, age and unique health problem. With the intent of reducing nervous system irritation, chiropractic adjustments are specific. Targeted. Focused. And more precise than spinal "manipulations" or "mobilization." It is this precision, combined with the purpose of reducing nervous system irritation, which has helped so many people.
What do adjustments feel like?
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.
Are adjustments safe?
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.
Will adjustments make my spine too loose?
No. Only the spinal joints that are "locked up" receive adjustments. This allows weakened muscles and ligaments to stabilize and heal.
What makes the sound?
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 much like opening a soda can or removing a suction cup. The sound is interesting, but isn't a guide to the quality or value of the adjustment.
Can I adjust myself?
No. Some patients can make their joints "pop" but that's not an adjustment! Even your chiropractic doctor must consult a colleague to benefit from chiropractic care.
Safe and Natural
Chiropractic is a team approach to better health. As you enjoy results, tell those you love. This year millions will enjoy relief and better health by restoring the integrity of their spines and nervous systems with safe and natural chiropractic care.
How Come I've Never Heard of Subluxations?
Maybe you've never heard of subluxations. That's OK. There probably was a time when you'd never heard of AIDS or Alzheimer's. You have more than 200 bones in your body. Whenever two bones come together at a joint, there can be movement. Since joints in your spine are so close to your spinal cord and nerve roots, too much or too little joint motion can have serious effects. If spinal bones get "stuck" and don't move right, they can irritate or chafe delicate nerves. If a joint moves too much, spinal bones can press against adjacent nerve tissue. This can interfere with the vital "life force" transmitted over your nervous system that helps keep your brain in touch with your body. The result is the vertebral subluxation complex, or more simply, a subluxation. More than bones and nerves are involved. Muscles can become too tight or too weak. Discs, ligaments and other connective tissues can become inflamed. Bone spurs and arthritic degeneration can set in.
Subluxations are serious!
However, the most important aspect of a subluxation is its affect on your nervous system. Compromising the way your nervous system controls and regulates your body can have grave consequences. Distorted communications between your brain and your body can cause all kinds of health problems beyond just headaches and backaches.
Your chiropractic doctor is the only licensed health care professional dedicated to the detection, reduction and prevention of spinal subluxations.
How do you get subluxations?
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.
How do I know if I have a subluxation?
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.
Can subluxations clear up on their own?
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!
Can children get subluxations?
Your first subluxation probably occurred from the birth process. Even "modern" childbirth methods can put tremendous pressure on an infant's spine. Poor appetite, unexplained crying and sleeplessness can be signs of spinal subluxations. Since the birth process can be a common cause, wise parents have their newborns checked for subluxations. Like a cell phone that disconnects, a subluxation causes your brain and your body to lose vital communications. Subluxations can be caused by physical trauma, chemical toxins, or emotional stress. Like a puppeteer, your nervous system controls every cell and tissue. A disruption of nerve impulses can have serious consequences!
What Makes It So Different?
The focus of traditional health care is on germs and blood. Chiropractic is different. Chiropractic produces results by helping your nervous system work the way it should. An emphasis on blood overlooks the role of the nervous system, which controls your blood, your blood pressure and millions of other details.
Chiropractic care focuses on your spine because it is the most vulnerable part of your nervous system.
Doctor's don't heal. The very best doctors remove interferences to your healing ability. That's the purpose of chiropractic. Today's chiropractic doctor is well educated and passes stringent licensing examinations before earning the right to practice. Chiropractic is the natural choice for those who want to be their best while avoiding drugs and surgery.
It's a scientific fact that your brain, spinal cord and the rest of your nerves control every aspect of your body. Hinder the vital nerve links between your brain and your body, and ill health can result. A common source of interference comes from the moving bones that encase the "information super highway" of your spinal cord. These subluxations can produce a variety of health problems. Nerve pressure can cause numbness, weakness or the under-performance of organs and tissues. Or, spinal misalignment can cause nerve tissue to stretch, chafe or become irritated. This can distort nerve messages between your body and your brain. The result? Hyperactive organ function, high blood pressure or even pain.
The medical approach puts chemicals into your bloodstream to artificially change the way your body works. Laxatives to speed up elimination. Antacids to reduce stomach acid. Besides the fatal mistakes, side effects and possible kidney damage, drugs often ignore the real cause of the problem. Instead, the focus of chiropractic care is on the integrity of your nervous system. A thorough examination helps locate areas of nervous system compromise. The moving bones of the spine are common culprits. Then, specific chiropractic adjustments help reduce these interferences. The intent is to restore your body's ability to regulate and heal itself. Without drugs. Without surgery. Chiropractic is simple. It's natural. It honors the wisdom of your body. And it has helped millions enjoy relief and better health for more than a century.
Who can chiropractic help?
Improved nerve communications between your brain and your body can help everyone. So, if you have subluxations, you could likely benefit from chiropractic care. Modified adjusting approaches can help children, the elderly or those with special needs.
How long will it take?
Since chiropractic care depends on the healing abilities of each patient, results are hard to predict. Every patient responds differently. Some detect changes in a few short days or weeks. Others may take weeks to months before showing progress.
Will I have to go for the rest of my life?
Like your chiropractic doctor, 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.
What if my insurance company doesn't cover chiropractic?
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.
What Can I Expect?
By consulting our office, you're taking an exciting first step toward better health. Chiropractic care is different. It is this difference that offers new ways to get well and stay well. We've helped a wide variety of people. So the first thing we offer is hope. You'll receive plenty of that here! We've prepared this information so you'll know what to expect on your first visits to our office.
You'll meet the doctor after filling out some brief paperwork describing you, your health history and your health goals. We offer this initial consultation so we can both get to know one another. If you're a good candidate for chiropractic care and we think we can help you, an examination follows. We'll study the way you turn and bend. We may test your reflexes. These and other physical, orthopedic and chiropractic tests help us locate areas of your spine that could be the cause of your problem. Our examinations are thorough and will put you at ease.
We'll study the results and give you a complete report of our findings. We'll show you what we found and the conclusions we've reached. If we find that you'd benefit from consulting a different practitioner, we'll make the proper referral. Otherwise, we'll recommend a program of specific chiropractic adjustments. With a plan in place to fulfill your health goals, future visits will take just minutes.
The purpose of these frequent visits will be to locate and reduce your vertebral subluxations and monitor the healing process. You join millions who have enjoyed better health--without drugs or surgery.
Welcome to our office!
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.
How long until I feel better?
Some patients experience almost instant relief. Others discover it 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.
When will I get my first adjustment?
It depends upon your examination findings. This is a clinical decision and varies from patient to patient. Usually the first day, but in some cases a few days may be necessary for appropriate natural healing to occur.
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. Good news! Our paperwork is brief, easy to complete and helps us to get to know you. We'll conduct a thorough examination to uncover the possible cause(s) of your health problem.
After we explain what we've found and conclusions we've reached, we'll make our recommendations and offer you some choices.
What Causes Neck Pain?
Your neck is the most vulnerable part of your spine. Not only does it support your 10- 12 pound head, maintain a gentle forward curve, and permit head rotation, but it must also allow the free flow of nerve impulses to the head, face, hands and the rest of your body. Besides discomfort and annoyance, chronic neck pain is a sign that something is wrong.
Many everyday things can cause neck pain, such as watching TV, improper telephone use, using your computer, reading a book or falling asleep in a chair or on an airplane. The temporary pain that results can resolve on its own, especially when the offending activity is discontinued. When it doesn’t, a more serious underlying problem may be indicated.
A thorough examination can determine if you’re a good candidate for chiropractic care. These tests may involve your ability to turn and bend. Muscle tone of the supporting muscles in the neck may be tested. Diagnostic imaging to reveal the underlying structure of the spine may be requested. These and other tests are designed to identify the cause and location of your neck pain.
The most common cause of neck pain is functional distortions in the spine resulting from vertebral subluxations. These subluxations are seen in cases of reverse cervical curve, whiplash and joint instability. The body responds by tightening muscles in the neck, "splinting" the joint to protect it from further insult. Chiropractic care can help
Most of the pain-sensing nerves in the neck are located in the pairs of facet joints on the back side of each vertebra. These smooth, interlocking surfaces allow you to rotate your head and bend your head up and down. If these joints become locked or fixated, neck pain can result. Chiropractic care can help restore proper joint motion.
A more difficult problem to correct is the degenerative changes that result from neglect. Years of uncorrected spinal problems can cause bone spurs, disc thinning and other forms of spinal decay. These types of problems respond more slowly, and some type of on-going supportive chiropractic care may be necessary.
Our response to stress is another common cause of neck pain. Deadlines. Rush-hour traffic. Overcommitments. Work pressures. Family obligations.
Ever meet someone who was a "pain in the neck"? Each of us is susceptible to our body’s unconscious response to people and circumstances. These perceptions can show up as episodes of neck pain. If the weakest link in our bodies is our neck, stress shows up there. While chiropractic care cannot reduce the stress of your busy life, it can help improve your ability to handle and tolerate it. Without drugs or surgery!
Why did the chiropractor exam my lower back?
Many patients are surprised when their chiropractic examination involves other areas of their body besides the local site of their symptom(s). Some neck pain cases can be a compensation to problems in the feet, knees, hips and lower back. Your chiropractor sees you as a whole person, not just a collection of "parts."
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 chiropractor has become an experienced master. Years of practice make these spinal adjustments safe and effective. Much safer than common aspirin or muscle relaxers!
Back Pain Will I Have To Live With It?
Pain is a warning sign. Like the piercing sound from a smoke alarm, the alarm isn't the problem. The alarm has a cause, just like every ache or pain has a cause. Some people choose to cover up the pain instead of correcting the cause. What's your approach? It makes sense to correct the cause instead of treating the symptom.
The nerve-rich facet joints on the back side of each spinal bone are a common cause of back pain. If these pairs of interlocking "fingers" aren't moving right, they can cause painful symptoms. The discs between spinal bones can be a source of back pain, too. These rings of fibrous tissues act as spacers, connectors and "shock absorbers" for the spine. Trauma can cause the soft, pulpy material in the middle to bulge or herniate, putting pressure on delicate nearby nerves. Once you know the cause, you have several choices. One approach is bed rest. But research shows that prolonged bed rest can actually delay recovery and make the problem worse!
Physical therapy is another option. But exercising spinal joints that aren't working right is like continuing to drive your car with misaligned tires! Another choice is to numb or cover up the pain with drugs. While drugs can offer temporary relief, they can't correct functional problems of affected spinal joints.
The most drastic measure is surgery. A laminectomy cuts off the offending facet joints, leaving the spinal cord exposed! A spinal fusion cuts out the disc tissue and immobilizes the joint. While there may be times when surgery makes sense, it's expensive, risky and more than half of all back surgeries fail. More and more people are choosing chiropractic care first, Specific chiropractic adjustments can help improve spinal function. Better yet, chiropractic care is safe. Chiropractic is natural. And chiropractic looks to correct the underlying cause of the problem.
Headaches Can You Make Them Go Away?
There are many types and causes of headaches. Regardless of the cause, if you have a headache, you want it to end. Fast!
This has produced a huge market for medications that cover up the symptoms of headaches. Powerful drugs can numb your nervous system so the pain doesn't register. While these approaches may be convenient, they can cause adverse effects and kidney or liver damage. Worse, they don't correct the underlying cause of the headache.
Headaches may be common, but they're not normal.
A cause of headaches can be from spinal bones in the neck that aren't supporting your head properly. They're not moving right. This can affect nerves, muscles and even the blood supply to your head.
Chiropractic doctors locate areas of the spine that aren't moving properly. They notice if proper spinal curves are present. They look at your posture and your ability to turn and bend. These and many other examinations can help determine if you are likely to benefit from chiropractic care.
If you're a good chiropractic candidate, your care will consist of a schedule of chiropractic adjustments. These help normalize spinal function, help restore essential spinal curves, improve circulation and reduce nerve irritation. Many patients report fewer and less severe headaches.
While we can't guarantee results, our office has a high success rate with patients who get headaches.
What causes headaches?
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.
How long will it take?
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.
What if I don't have a headache when I come in?
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.
What if chiropractic doesn't work?
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.
Headaches can be related to vision problems and other causes. Our examinations can show if you are likely to be helped with chiropractic.
Your body does not have an aspirin shortage! Medications merely numb your body, ignoring the underlying cause. Just as the foundation affects a building, headaches and neck pain can be a reaction to problems in the pelvis or lower back. Many headaches are the result of a loss of curve in the neck, affecting nerves, muscles and blood supply to the head.
Spinal joints that are "locked up," fixated or not moving right can affect your health by "choking" or irritating nearby nerve tissue. Chiropractic adjustments add motion to these stuck areas. This helps restore nervous system integrity and can improve the healing process. Like an experienced piano tuner, your chiropractic doctor has become a master at fine tuning the way your spine works. Several areas of the spine may be adjusted or just one area. Each adjustment builds on the ones before. Keep your appointments for the best results!
- Adjustments help reduce nervous system interferences and "reconnect" the vital communication link between your brain and your body.
- Adjusting approaches are modified to suit the specific needs of each patient.
- Adjustments use the least amount of force possible to get fixated joints moving again.
There are many ways to adjust the spine.
Sometimes the doctor's hands deliver a quick, highly accurate thrust. Or an instrument directs a repeatable force to a fixated spinal joint.
Other times a slow, constant pressure is used. Some chiropractic doctors use special tables with moving sections. Several areas of the spine may be adjusted or just one.
The key is to use the precise amount of energy. At the exact spot. In the right direction. At just the right time, to get spinal joints moving again. Chiropractic is truly an art. Your chiropractic doctor has become a master at one or more adjusting techniques.
Just about anyone can get adjusted. Newborns, infants, children, seniors and even failed back surgery patients can benefit. Naturally, your doctor tailors your chiropractic care to your size, age and unique health problem. With the intent of reducing nervous system irritation, chiropractic adjustments are specific. Targeted. Focused. And more precise than spinal "manipulations" or "mobilization." It is this precision, combined with the purpose of reducing nervous system irritation, which has helped so many people.
What do adjustments feel like?
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.
Are adjustments safe?
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.
Will adjustments make my spine too loose?
No. Only the spinal joints that are "locked up" receive adjustments. This allows weakened muscles and ligaments to stabilize and heal.
What makes the sound?
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 much like opening a soda can or removing a suction cup. The sound is interesting, but isn't a guide to the quality or value of the adjustment.
Can I adjust myself?
No. Some patients can make their joints "pop" but that's not an adjustment! Even your chiropractic doctor must consult a colleague to benefit from chiropractic care.
Safe and Natural
Chiropractic is a team approach to better health. As you enjoy results, tell those you love. This year millions will enjoy relief and better health by restoring the integrity of their spines and nervous systems with safe and natural chiropractic care.
How Come I've Never Heard of Subluxations?
Maybe you've never heard of subluxations. That's OK. There probably was a time when you'd never heard of AIDS or Alzheimer's. You have more than 200 bones in your body. Whenever two bones come together at a joint, there can be movement. Since joints in your spine are so close to your spinal cord and nerve roots, too much or too little joint motion can have serious effects. If spinal bones get "stuck" and don't move right, they can irritate or chafe delicate nerves. If a joint moves too much, spinal bones can press against adjacent nerve tissue. This can interfere with the vital "life force" transmitted over your nervous system that helps keep your brain in touch with your body. The result is the vertebral subluxation complex, or more simply, a subluxation. More than bones and nerves are involved. Muscles can become too tight or too weak. Discs, ligaments and other connective tissues can become inflamed. Bone spurs and arthritic degeneration can set in.
Subluxations are serious!
However, the most important aspect of a subluxation is its affect on your nervous system. Compromising the way your nervous system controls and regulates your body can have grave consequences. Distorted communications between your brain and your body can cause all kinds of health problems beyond just headaches and backaches.
Your chiropractic doctor is the only licensed health care professional dedicated to the detection, reduction and prevention of spinal subluxations.
How do you get subluxations?
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.
How do I know if I have a subluxation?
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.
Can subluxations clear up on their own?
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!
Can children get subluxations?
Your first subluxation probably occurred from the birth process. Even "modern" childbirth methods can put tremendous pressure on an infant's spine. Poor appetite, unexplained crying and sleeplessness can be signs of spinal subluxations. Since the birth process can be a common cause, wise parents have their newborns checked for subluxations. Like a cell phone that disconnects, a subluxation causes your brain and your body to lose vital communications. Subluxations can be caused by physical trauma, chemical toxins, or emotional stress. Like a puppeteer, your nervous system controls every cell and tissue. A disruption of nerve impulses can have serious consequences!
What Makes It So Different?
The focus of traditional health care is on germs and blood. Chiropractic is different. Chiropractic produces results by helping your nervous system work the way it should. An emphasis on blood overlooks the role of the nervous system, which controls your blood, your blood pressure and millions of other details.
Chiropractic care focuses on your spine because it is the most vulnerable part of your nervous system.
Doctor's don't heal. The very best doctors remove interferences to your healing ability. That's the purpose of chiropractic. Today's chiropractic doctor is well educated and passes stringent licensing examinations before earning the right to practice. Chiropractic is the natural choice for those who want to be their best while avoiding drugs and surgery.
It's a scientific fact that your brain, spinal cord and the rest of your nerves control every aspect of your body. Hinder the vital nerve links between your brain and your body, and ill health can result. A common source of interference comes from the moving bones that encase the "information super highway" of your spinal cord. These subluxations can produce a variety of health problems. Nerve pressure can cause numbness, weakness or the under-performance of organs and tissues. Or, spinal misalignment can cause nerve tissue to stretch, chafe or become irritated. This can distort nerve messages between your body and your brain. The result? Hyperactive organ function, high blood pressure or even pain.
The medical approach puts chemicals into your bloodstream to artificially change the way your body works. Laxatives to speed up elimination. Antacids to reduce stomach acid. Besides the fatal mistakes, side effects and possible kidney damage, drugs often ignore the real cause of the problem. Instead, the focus of chiropractic care is on the integrity of your nervous system. A thorough examination helps locate areas of nervous system compromise. The moving bones of the spine are common culprits. Then, specific chiropractic adjustments help reduce these interferences. The intent is to restore your body's ability to regulate and heal itself. Without drugs. Without surgery. Chiropractic is simple. It's natural. It honors the wisdom of your body. And it has helped millions enjoy relief and better health for more than a century.
Who can chiropractic help?
Improved nerve communications between your brain and your body can help everyone. So, if you have subluxations, you could likely benefit from chiropractic care. Modified adjusting approaches can help children, the elderly or those with special needs.
How long will it take?
Since chiropractic care depends on the healing abilities of each patient, results are hard to predict. Every patient responds differently. Some detect changes in a few short days or weeks. Others may take weeks to months before showing progress.
Will I have to go for the rest of my life?
Like your chiropractic doctor, 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.
What if my insurance company doesn't cover chiropractic?
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.
What Can I Expect?
By consulting our office, you're taking an exciting first step toward better health. Chiropractic care is different. It is this difference that offers new ways to get well and stay well. We've helped a wide variety of people. So the first thing we offer is hope. You'll receive plenty of that here! We've prepared this information so you'll know what to expect on your first visits to our office.
You'll meet the doctor after filling out some brief paperwork describing you, your health history and your health goals. We offer this initial consultation so we can both get to know one another. If you're a good candidate for chiropractic care and we think we can help you, an examination follows. We'll study the way you turn and bend. We may test your reflexes. These and other physical, orthopedic and chiropractic tests help us locate areas of your spine that could be the cause of your problem. Our examinations are thorough and will put you at ease.
We'll study the results and give you a complete report of our findings. We'll show you what we found and the conclusions we've reached. If we find that you'd benefit from consulting a different practitioner, we'll make the proper referral. Otherwise, we'll recommend a program of specific chiropractic adjustments. With a plan in place to fulfill your health goals, future visits will take just minutes.
The purpose of these frequent visits will be to locate and reduce your vertebral subluxations and monitor the healing process. You join millions who have enjoyed better health--without drugs or surgery.
Welcome to our office!
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.
How long until I feel better?
Some patients experience almost instant relief. Others discover it 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.
When will I get my first adjustment?
It depends upon your examination findings. This is a clinical decision and varies from patient to patient. Usually the first day, but in some cases a few days may be necessary for appropriate natural healing to occur.
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. Good news! Our paperwork is brief, easy to complete and helps us to get to know you. We'll conduct a thorough examination to uncover the possible cause(s) of your health problem.
After we explain what we've found and conclusions we've reached, we'll make our recommendations and offer you some choices.
What Causes Neck Pain?
Your neck is the most vulnerable part of your spine. Not only does it support your 10- 12 pound head, maintain a gentle forward curve, and permit head rotation, but it must also allow the free flow of nerve impulses to the head, face, hands and the rest of your body. Besides discomfort and annoyance, chronic neck pain is a sign that something is wrong.
Many everyday things can cause neck pain, such as watching TV, improper telephone use, using your computer, reading a book or falling asleep in a chair or on an airplane. The temporary pain that results can resolve on its own, especially when the offending activity is discontinued. When it doesn’t, a more serious underlying problem may be indicated.
A thorough examination can determine if you’re a good candidate for chiropractic care. These tests may involve your ability to turn and bend. Muscle tone of the supporting muscles in the neck may be tested. Diagnostic imaging to reveal the underlying structure of the spine may be requested. These and other tests are designed to identify the cause and location of your neck pain.
The most common cause of neck pain is functional distortions in the spine resulting from vertebral subluxations. These subluxations are seen in cases of reverse cervical curve, whiplash and joint instability. The body responds by tightening muscles in the neck, "splinting" the joint to protect it from further insult. Chiropractic care can help
Most of the pain-sensing nerves in the neck are located in the pairs of facet joints on the back side of each vertebra. These smooth, interlocking surfaces allow you to rotate your head and bend your head up and down. If these joints become locked or fixated, neck pain can result. Chiropractic care can help restore proper joint motion.
A more difficult problem to correct is the degenerative changes that result from neglect. Years of uncorrected spinal problems can cause bone spurs, disc thinning and other forms of spinal decay. These types of problems respond more slowly, and some type of on-going supportive chiropractic care may be necessary.
Our response to stress is another common cause of neck pain. Deadlines. Rush-hour traffic. Overcommitments. Work pressures. Family obligations.
Ever meet someone who was a "pain in the neck"? Each of us is susceptible to our body’s unconscious response to people and circumstances. These perceptions can show up as episodes of neck pain. If the weakest link in our bodies is our neck, stress shows up there. While chiropractic care cannot reduce the stress of your busy life, it can help improve your ability to handle and tolerate it. Without drugs or surgery!
Why did the chiropractor exam my lower back?
Many patients are surprised when their chiropractic examination involves other areas of their body besides the local site of their symptom(s). Some neck pain cases can be a compensation to problems in the feet, knees, hips and lower back. Your chiropractor sees you as a whole person, not just a collection of "parts."
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 chiropractor has become an experienced master. Years of practice make these spinal adjustments safe and effective. Much safer than common aspirin or muscle relaxers!
Back Pain Will I Have To Live With It?
Pain is a warning sign. Like the piercing sound from a smoke alarm, the alarm isn't the problem. The alarm has a cause, just like every ache or pain has a cause. Some people choose to cover up the pain instead of correcting the cause. What's your approach? It makes sense to correct the cause instead of treating the symptom.
The nerve-rich facet joints on the back side of each spinal bone are a common cause of back pain. If these pairs of interlocking "fingers" aren't moving right, they can cause painful symptoms. The discs between spinal bones can be a source of back pain, too. These rings of fibrous tissues act as spacers, connectors and "shock absorbers" for the spine. Trauma can cause the soft, pulpy material in the middle to bulge or herniate, putting pressure on delicate nearby nerves. Once you know the cause, you have several choices. One approach is bed rest. But research shows that prolonged bed rest can actually delay recovery and make the problem worse!
Physical therapy is another option. But exercising spinal joints that aren't working right is like continuing to drive your car with misaligned tires! Another choice is to numb or cover up the pain with drugs. While drugs can offer temporary relief, they can't correct functional problems of affected spinal joints.
The most drastic measure is surgery. A laminectomy cuts off the offending facet joints, leaving the spinal cord exposed! A spinal fusion cuts out the disc tissue and immobilizes the joint. While there may be times when surgery makes sense, it's expensive, risky and more than half of all back surgeries fail. More and more people are choosing chiropractic care first, Specific chiropractic adjustments can help improve spinal function. Better yet, chiropractic care is safe. Chiropractic is natural. And chiropractic looks to correct the underlying cause of the problem.
Headaches Can You Make Them Go Away?
There are many types and causes of headaches. Regardless of the cause, if you have a headache, you want it to end. Fast!
This has produced a huge market for medications that cover up the symptoms of headaches. Powerful drugs can numb your nervous system so the pain doesn't register. While these approaches may be convenient, they can cause adverse effects and kidney or liver damage. Worse, they don't correct the underlying cause of the headache.
Headaches may be common, but they're not normal.
A cause of headaches can be from spinal bones in the neck that aren't supporting your head properly. They're not moving right. This can affect nerves, muscles and even the blood supply to your head.
Chiropractic doctors locate areas of the spine that aren't moving properly. They notice if proper spinal curves are present. They look at your posture and your ability to turn and bend. These and many other examinations can help determine if you are likely to benefit from chiropractic care.
If you're a good chiropractic candidate, your care will consist of a schedule of chiropractic adjustments. These help normalize spinal function, help restore essential spinal curves, improve circulation and reduce nerve irritation. Many patients report fewer and less severe headaches.
While we can't guarantee results, our office has a high success rate with patients who get headaches.
What causes headaches?
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.
How long will it take?
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.
What if I don't have a headache when I come in?
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.
What if chiropractic doesn't work?
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.
Headaches can be related to vision problems and other causes. Our examinations can show if you are likely to be helped with chiropractic.
Your body does not have an aspirin shortage! Medications merely numb your body, ignoring the underlying cause. Just as the foundation affects a building, headaches and neck pain can be a reaction to problems in the pelvis or lower back. Many headaches are the result of a loss of curve in the neck, affecting nerves, muscles and blood supply to the head.
