Questions You May Have & Our Answers:
- Are Chiropractic adjustments safe?Absolutely! “Remarkably safe” according to a government study in New Zealand. It is the result of biologically sound, specific adjustments without the use of drugs or surgeries that has given Chiropractic care an excellent safety record. According to the July 15, 2003 issue of Spine:
- Chiropractic care is safer than back surgery, muscle relaxers and aspirin.
- For the treatment of chronic spinal pain, chiropractic is superior to acupuncture and medication.
- How do I know if I have a subluxation? It’s hard to know if you have a subluxation! They can be present before you have obvious symptoms, like the progression of tooth decay. The best thing for you and your family is to be checked in our office with a thorough examination for the presence and severity of subluxations. After being adjusted you may find you are able to listen to your body and know when you are in need of future care.
- Can I adjust myself? No. Turning your body or neck in one direction and/or the other may make your joints “pop”, but that sound is not correcting the problem and certainly is not an adjustment! The pressure and gases released during that “pop” may immediately feel like relief, but only a licensed Chiropractor is able to adjust the actual misaligned vertebra that’s really causing the tension. Even our chiropractors have to get adjusted!
- Are you going to “crack” my whole back? As a Gonstead Chiropractor, the doctors carefully analyze your spine to determine what segments need to be ADJUSTED and which should be left alone. With Chiropractic care, more is not better. “Cracking or manipulating” your entire spine is not specific in the least and does not provide the lasting results that carefully ADJUSTING only specific segments does. The goal is to correct the exact cause of the problem and let your body do the rest of the healing.
- Why do newborns get adjustments? The birth process, no matter how natural, can affect an infant’s spine. Research shows spinal distress can appear in babies as unusual crying or colic, gastrointestinal issues or poor appetite, ear infections or poor sleeping habits. Newborns also become subluxated in the same physical, emotional or chemical ways an adult does as well. An infant is also examined very carefully to determine if there is a subluxation and, if needed, receives a gentle Gonstead adjustment involving very little pressure.
- Do I have a slipped disk? No. The disc is a cartilage pad between each of your spinal vertebra that aides in your spine’s connection, flexibility, movement, weight bearing & shock absorbing ability. Motion in your spine produces a pumping action to each disc allowing nutrients to enter and waste to be expelled. Because of spinal subluxations or severe trauma a disc can bulge, swell, tear, herniate, thin, dry out or collapse BUT it’s can’t actually “slip” out from between the spinal bones it serves. The Gonstead Chiropractor pays special attention to your disc health. Our chiropractors gently correct the misaligned vertebra which restores it to a proper position in relationship to the disc, allowing the disc to heal.
- How many adjustments will I need? Many patients are concerned about having to come in all the time for Chiropractic care. In our office every patient is treated individually and specifically, according to their level of acuteness. When beginning Chiropractic care in an acute condition, you may need to be adjusted more often in a short period of time to begin the healing process. Every patient responds differently to care, but in general our goal is to get to the root of the problem quickly and leave it alone to heal. Our doctors will give you specific recommendations but usually suggest periodic evaluations to maintain proper spinal health. Each visit builds on the next, so remain hopeful… we are!
- Does insurance cover Chiropractic? Insurance companies are more widely understanding that with Chiropractic care, overall health care costs may be kept to a minimum, eliminating the need for expensive prescriptions and surgery. We accept most private insurances, as well as Medicare and Medicaid in our office. We will more specifically address your plan’s benefits at your first visit or you may contact us ahead of time.
- I’ve had back surgery, can you still help me? Yes. Surgery often leads to instability in your spine above or below the area operated on. Your Gonstead Chiropractor will be very specific to your problem areas and will avoid the surgically altered segments.
- How long until I feel better? Happily, a lot of our patients have reported immediate relief. Others experience slow progress over a period of days or weeks. The severity or duration of your injury may affect your healing time. Other factors include proper rest, nutrition, exercise, keeping your appointments and closely following our doctors’ recommendations. The timing of your appointments are carefully determined based on your need for re-adjustment and time for healing. Please let our chiropractors know how you are doing from visit to visit. They appreciate your honesty and it often facilitates a faster recovery!
Feel free to call or email us your specific questions! See our ‘Contact Us’ webpage or call 319-266-1119.