"Greeted as a Friend & Treated Like Family"

 What is a Chiropractor and what is their specialty?

         The short answer is that a chiropractor is a doctor that specializes in dealing with musculoskeletal problems of the spine, and sometimes other joints, and their relationship to the nervous system.

         To explain it further...  If your joints are not aligned correctly, particularly in the spine, it will cause that area to not work properly.  That sounds kind of simple, but what some people don't realize is that those same joints that allow us to move also protect the very delicate nerves that control our body. 

        When these joints stop working properly we get 3 main types of problems.

1- The nerve can get pinched and cause lots of PAIN.  Sciatica is an example of this and it can be very painful.  Of course this type of problem is not only limited to the leg, and can be present anywhere a nerve is pinched.  If these nerves are not released this can lead to muscle spasm, loss of sensation, and muscle weakness that can all get worse over time. 

 

(This will folow the path of the yellow or red

lines representing nerves in the picture below.)

 

2- The longer a joint is not working properly the more that joint will break down.  This is what we call arthritis or more specifically Osteoarthritis.  This can then lead to bone spurs, degenerative disc disease, and herniated discs.  To explain what is happening think of a car tire.  If that car tire is in proper alignment, meaning it is running flat and smooth, the tire will last a long time.  On the other hand, if the tire is running on its edge the tire will wear out faster and need to be changed more often.  Unfortunately, we can't change our joints when they wear out.  This is why arthritis always continues to get worse until the joint is fixed to its proper alignment.  It is also important to keep in mind that most arthritis starts off with no pain and tends to get progressively worse.  Therefore, many people have some degree of arthritis but aren't doing anything to stop it until it is a larger problem.

 

(As seen below in the 2 pictures)

                                  

 

3- If a joint is not fixed in time and the arthritis has time to get more severe the nerves can be affected and cause problems other then just pain. According to Gray's Anatomy (the book not the TV show) the job of the nervous system is "To control and coordinate the actions and reactions of all other systems of the body." So if the controller of the body is not working correctly then the other systems of the body will not function as they are supposed to either. This is also not always a painfull process, but any organ, structure, or area of the body controlled by the affected nerve can show problems. This is NOTto say that all problems are caused by this, but it can be a contributing factor in making any problem worse.

 

(These nerves generaly feel no pain but can still be affected)

 

        What chiropractors do is restore normal function to joints through a variety of methods that include; manipulation, soft tissue procedures, electrotherapy, decompression, traction, physical therapy, lifestyle modification, as well as diet and nutrition.  This will allow a person to return to an active, and healthy life.

What Education Does a Chiropractor have?

       A Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine must have a bachelors degree followed by 4 years of chiropractic school from one of the 16 accredited schools in the USA, or one of the 16 schools located overseas in countries such as Australia, Japan, South Korea, England, France, Denmark, and several others.  During chiropractic school the following subject requirements must be met (See table 6 below) as well as many quotas of patients seen in an outpatient clinical residency setting, and lastly 5 parts of national chiropractic boards covering subjects ranging from basic sciences to physical therapy and practical care.  Only then can a doctor enter private practice as a Licensed Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine.

How long will it take for me to get better?

         This depends on many factors, but as a patient you should always look at chiropractic care as a process and not a one visit fix.  The following factors will all be considerations in how long it takes for your care to be completed.

1)  What kind of care you desire?  Some people only want to be free of their symptoms and return to the office each time their symptoms recur.  Others want to correct the underlying problems.  Focusing on the underlying problems can take longer and will extend beyond when the symptoms are gone.  The advantage to corrective care is to not have the problem return in the future.

 

2) How long the problem has been there?  This does not mean when the symptom first appeared, but when the actual structural misalignment happened.  The longer it has been there, the longer it will take to correct.

 

3) Is there arthritis or degeneration that has already occured?  We will see this very clearly on x-ray.  If there is degeneration we can still help you, but it will slow the process.

 

4) What is the severity of the problem?  Some problems are fairly minor and others are complex and have several variables.  This will also play a large role in the progession of your care.

 

5)  How healthy of a lifestyle do you have?  People who have healthy lifestyles that include good nutrition and exercise tend to recover from injuries faster then those who don't.  We will be happy to aid you in obtaining a more active lifestyle if we think it will help your care.           

            When you have your report of findings, following the exam and x-rays, the doctors will do their best to inform you of an estimated treatment plan.

How much does it cost?

            Today, most major insurance companies cover chiropractic care.  If you are using insurance you must consult your insurance plan to determine your benefits.  In many cases a person may only be responsible for their co-pay for the number of visits allowed by the insurance plan.  In other cases there may be a deductible that may need to be met before insurance coverage begins.  This can vary greatly from one insurance plan to the next.  If you are unsure of your coverage please call the office and we can verify your insurance benefits for you.

             If a person has no insurance then "care plans" are the most common method of paying and are designed to help a patient receive the care they need at an affordable price.  Care plans are not combined with insurance coverage ever.

            No matter the case, or problem, we try to do everything we can to make treatment as affordable as possible for our patients while still providing the best care we can.