Frequently Asked Questions about Chiropractic & Our Practice
What can I expect from my first appointment?
Do you require X-rays before you treat?
How long does the treatment take?
How much does a treatment cost?
Do you accept insurance?
What is a chiropractic adjustment?
How do the adjustments work?
What is the doctor doing during the adjustment?
What technique do we use?
Do chiropractic adjustments hurt?
What should I expect after the 1st treatment?
How will I know if this is working?
How often do I need to visit the chiropractor?
Are chiropractic adjustments addictive?
Are chiropractic adjustments safe for children and infants?
Are chiropractic adjustments safe for pregnant women?
What if I have to miss an appointment?
Should I use heat or ice at home?
Are there any exercises I can do to at home to help this?
What can I expect from my first appointment?
The first appointment usually takes about an hour. During this appointment, you will fill out a brief form before speaking in more depth with one of our exam techs. Then the doctor will consult with you and perform an examination to determine the problem. After the examination, the doctor will sit down with you and recommend the best treatment option to reach your goals.
If you are a chiropractic candidate and choose to start treatment that day, you will receive your first adjustment.
Do you require X-rays before you treat?
Sometimes. We only take X-rays or MRI’s if the doctor finds it necessary to make a clinical decision.
How long does the treatment take?
1st appointment (exam and first treatment) – about an hour
A typical treatment – about 10-15 minutes
How much does a treatment cost?
Initial Exam – $57.
Adjustment – $43
Spinal Decompression (if necessary) – $30
Do you accept insurance?
We accept Medicare and a few other insurance plans.
Bring your insurance card, and we will verify if you have any benefits that will discount your treatment cost.
Unfortunately, more and more insurance companies are more concerned with protecting their bottom line than serving you. So we have opted out of insurances that require us to compromise our results in order to comply with profit-centered “insurance guidelines.”
As a courtesy to you, if we are out-of-network with your insurance plan, we will bill your insurance for you so you can be reimbursed for any out-of-network benefits you might have. But you will be responsible for the payment to us each visit.
What is a chiropractic adjustment?
An adjustment is a hands-on treatment where the bones that are misaligned in your spine and pelvis are gently moved or “adjusted” back into proper alignment.
How do the adjustments work?
Our adjustment aligns your spine into its best possible balance. Each adjustment builds on the last one. With time and repetition, the spine learns to maintain its new alignment and the problems that arose due to the misalignments resolve.
What is the doctor doing during the adjustment?
Each adjustment, the doctors are checking the balance of your spinal muscles. Depending on what areas are not working efficiently, the doctors will correct the imbalance using an instrument or hands-on adjustment. Over time the muscles will re-learn how to work correctly, and the body will begin to heal.
What technique do we use?
We use a combination of a hands-on, instrument-assisted, drop table, and flexion-distraction adjustments. Our analysis consists of manual muscle testing, palpation, and leg checks.
We also have spinal decompression traction (Triton DTS) for severe disc injuries.
Do chiropractic adjustments hurt?
No. But you may be sore after your first few treatments because new muscles are being forced to work again.
What should I expect after the 1st treatment?
After the first adjustment, about 50% of our patients feel the SAME. Around 30% feel WORSE (soreness or shifting of symptoms). And about 20% feel BETTER after the first adjustment. All of these variations are NORMAL.
Chiropractic adjustments take time to work. So how you respond to the first few adjustments does not predict the likelihood of success or failure of treatment.
How will I know if this is working?
The doctors will perform a re-examination every 2 to 4 weeks, depending on your treatment plan to determine exactly how fast or slow your body is responding to treatment. It’s important to understand that each adjustment builds on the last one and over the course of several weeks (or months in severe cases) the body will begin to overcome the damage that has been done to the joints, nerves, and muscles. Based on the re-examination results, the doctors will make any additional recommendations if necessary.
How often do I need to visit the chiropractor?
It completely depends on your specific problem and how severe it is. The doctor will always give you their best recommendation suited to your specific problem and unique needs. But, on average people are treated several times a week for a few weeks until they reach their goal.
After reaching your goal, you are free to come in for periodic tune-ups whenever you feel you need it. And many people like to schedule monthly maintenance adjustments, but it’s totally up to you.
Are chiropractic adjustments addictive?
No. Many people continue to get adjusted periodically throughout their life, but not because they are addicted. They simply prefer to feel their best and not live with aches and pains.
Are chiropractic adjustments safe for children and infants?
Yes, chiropractic is 100% safe for children, even newborn babies. Depending on the child’s age, we change our adjusting technique in order to safely and gently adjust the spine. In fact, all children benefit from occasional adjustments to balance their spines as they are growing to stay healthy.
Are chiropractic adjustments safe for pregnant women?
Yes, in fact, it is highly encouraged. Studies have shown that chiropractic care during pregnancy decreases labor time by 25-31%. Also, chiropractic is very helpful at reducing the increased back pain that most women suffer from as a result of a growing tummy.
What if I have to miss an appointment?
Life happens. If you have to miss an appointment just call and reschedule for the following day. Just be sure to get all your adjustments in for the week according to your recommended treatment plan to maintain your healing momentum. For example, if you typically come in Monday, Wednesday, and Friday but miss Monday’s appointment, re-schedule that appointment for Tuesday or Thursday, that way you still get all 3 adjustments in for the week.
Should I use heat or ice at home?
For most spinal injuries, it is better to use heat. Heat promotes healing and can speed the recovery time. Ice will slow down the healing process. So you can either use a heating pad or hot pack for 20 minutes on then 20 minutes off. Repeat this as often as you need. (If the heat causes extreme swelling, then discontinue and discuss this with one of the doctors.)
Are there any exercises I can do to at home to help this?
During the first few weeks of treatment, we don’t recommend exercise. Give your body time to heal, and when the time is right, the doctors may suggest some exercises to perform at home.
