What is a chiropractic adjustment?

A chiropractic adjustment is a gentle, quick thrust to a particular joint, typically in the spine, intended to restore normal position and movement. Adjustments are important for releasing adhesions in the joint and reducing stress on the nervous system. Because of the fact that the nervous system is that master controller of all muscles and organs in the body, removing stress on the nervous system through chiropractic adjustments will frequently lead to improved health in the entire body.

How many adjustments will I need?

The total number of adjustments you need depends on five main factors:

1. Your age
2. Your overall health
3. The severity of your condition
4. How long you have had your condition
5. Your ultimate health goals

If you are young, in good health and have a mild condition that occurred very recently, you will need far fewer adjustments than if you are older, in poor general health and have struggled with a problem for many years. The total number of adjustments you will need also depends on whether you are just interested in reducing the pain you are currently experiencing, or are interested in creating optimal long-term health.

Will adjustments hurt?

Usually not. There are some patients of mine who experience mild soreness after being adjusted, but this is more of the exception. Most people feel better very quickly after being adjusted.

Do patients ever report side effects or problems after using chiropractic?

Patients may or may not experience side effects from chiropractic treatment. Effects may include temporary discomfort in parts of the body that were treated, headache, or tiredness. These effects tend to be minor and disappear within one to two days.

Do I still need to see the chiropractor if my pain is gone?

It is very common for pain to disappear long before the total correction of your condition is attained. Pain is not a very good indicator of health. Often times, people are completely unaware of developing health problems because there is no pain associated with them. Consider heart disease, cancer, diabetes – the three top killers – they don’t cause any symptoms until they are very advanced. The same is true with cavities in your teeth – there is usually no pain until a cavity becomes severe. The point is that just because you are no longer experiencing pain does not mean that your problem no longer exists. It is important to continue treatment until the underlying cause of the pain is corrected.

Routine chiropractic care is one of the simplest ways to maintain the health of your body. Numerous research studies show that people who receive regular chiropractic care suffer fewer illnesses, injuries and degenerative diseases, and they report a better overall quality of life.

Chiropractic care is a safe, effective treatment for a wide range of physical complaints, such as headaches, neck pain, low back pain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, stomach and gastrointestinal complaints, wrist, elbow and shoulder pain, knee, hip and ankle pain, scoliosis, otitis media, and a host of other problems. While most of these disorders resolve within a few weeks or months, routine chiropractic care help ensure optimal health for life.

Can Chiropractors prescribe medication?

Currently, chiropractors do not prescribe medications, although we may refer someone to another provider for prescription medication if necessary. However, in most cases, patients are better off with physical, rather than chemical, treatments for physical problems.

An allergy is a condition of unusual sensitivity of an individual towards one or more substances which may be harmless or even beneficial to the majority of other individuals. In other words, an allergy is an energy imbalance between the energy of the person and the substance causing unpleasant physical, physiological and/or psychological reactions.

Sources of allergies include:

• Toxins from various sources: food, bacteria, fungus, virus, neurotoxins like mercury, MSG, radiation, etc.
• Post-injuries, accidents, surgery, etc.
• Genetically transmitted: inherited from grandparents or other family members
• Deficiency and malabsorption disorders
• Emotional traumas

How does an energy disturbance (allergy) in the body cause disease?

An allergen initiates an energy disturbance in the weakest part of the tissue in the body (e.g., muscle, bone, organ, etc.). The affected tissue is connected with one of the major twelve meridians (energy channels according to Chinese medicine) in the body. The affected tissue will initiate an energy blockage. This blockage then affects the other 11 meridians in a cyclical fashion leading to the circulation of less than optimal energy throughout the body.

If, however the involved allergen is located and deactivated with N.A.E.T., all the meridians will clear their energy disturbances.

To gain a better understanding of these concepts, we suggest that you read Good-bye to Illness by Dr. Devi Nambudripad, which is available for purchase in our office.

MYTH ONE: Chiropractors are not real doctors

False. In fact, chiropractors actually attend more hours of education than a typical M.D. The course studies are actually very similar at their core. Later on in their studies, medical doctors study pharmacology and chiropractors study adjustment techniques and physiology. Typically, a chiropractor must have a Bachelor’s Degree as well as a Doctorate. Chiropractors must be licensed in the same way as any other doctor. He or she has to pass four Board tests and often a State exam after that. If the chiropractic doctor wants to add a physical therapist to their practice, they must take another Board exam.

MYTH TWO: There is no scientific research to back up chiropractic medicine

False. Unfortunately, lots of people believe this myth. The truth is, however, that chiropractic is supported by empirical data that proves it is beneficial in reducing injuries, surgeries and overall medical costs for a growing number of people. Independent research is very supportive of chiropractic medicine. Paul G. Shekelle, M.D., M.P.H., of the prestigious RAND Corporation, a non-profit research organization that conducts research on important and complicated issues, made the following statement on ABC’s 20/20: “There are considerably more randomized controlled trials which show benefit of this (chiropractic care) than there are for many, many other things which physicians and neurosurgeons do all the time.”

Chiropractic medicine has progressively accumulated more and more scientific research supporting its effectiveness and safety.

MYTH THREE: Chiropractic medicine is too expensive and it is not covered by health insurance

False. Studies that have proven the scientific foundation of chiropractic medicine have also proven the cost-effectiveness of the practice. Particularly in the area of low back pain and injuries, chiropractic medicine has been shown to reduce overall costs of treatment, and prevention of relapse that cause time out of work and a higher number of insurance claims.

Most major insurance plans accept chiropractic medicine as a mainstream health care choice for primary care and treatment. Because chiropractic medicine is now routinely covered by insurance, under most insurance plans a client no longer needs to first obtain a referral from a medical doctor before seeking chiropractic care. Check your own health insurance policy and you may be pleasantly surprised that your chiropractic health care is a permitted expense.

MYTH FOUR: Chiropractic adjustments will cause you to have a stroke.

False. This myth is not only false; it creates unnecessary fear and reluctance to try chiropractic health care. In fact, your chances of having a stroke from chiropractic care are about the same as your chances of being hit by lightning. Your risk of having a stroke from the daily aspirin you may take to prevent a heart attack is about 70,000 times greater than your risk of having a stroke from a chiropractic adjustment. You are 37,000 times more likely to have a stroke for no known reason at all than you are from chiropractic health care.