Frequently Asked Questions.
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Will the treatments hurt?
Chiropractic treatment is usually painless unless an area is inflamed. If this is the case your treatment will be altered. Don’t worry if you hear a ‘clicking’ or ‘popping’ noise when one of your joints is being manipulated - this is perfectly normal with this form of treatment.
Some patients may have mild reactions, such as temporary aches and pains after their spine or joints have been manipulated.
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Do I have a slipped disc?
Technically a disc cannot “slip”. However, trauma or injury to the spine can cause discs to tear, bulge, herniate, or rupture. This is where the outer fibrous layers of the disc become weakened, causing the soft, jelly-like centre to be pushed outwards in varying amounts, putting pressure on the adjacent nerve roots.This can be quite painful and while results cannot be guaranteed, many patients have avoided the need for surgery or a dependency on pain killers, by choosing chiropractic care for their disc related problem.
Are all patients adjusted in the same way?
Each adjustment is tailored individually to suit the patient based on their age, and the nature of their condition.
What causes the bones in my spine to lose their normal motion or position?
Stress causes bones in the spine to lose their normal motion or position. Stress can be physical (e.g. traumatic, repetitive, postural), emotional (e.g. from work, lifestyle or relationship anxieties), or chemical (e.g. toxic surroundings, drug intake, poor diet). Everyone suffers from different degrees of each of these stresses. Patients benefit greatly by learning to recognise where their stresses originate so we can then recommend ways in which to help deal with them.
Can I still see a chiropractor after back surgery?
Certainly! Surgery can often place extra stress and tension on the spine and tissues. Leaving this extra stress unchecked can cause further problems in other areas.
Can I use my medical insurance to help pay for treatment?
I am registered with most of the major insurance companies. Please contact them directly to ask about referral policies.
How many visits will I need?
This will depend on:
- Your condition
- How severe it is
- How long you have had the condition
- How you respond to treatment
- How much of your chiropractor’s advice you follow
Do I have to keep coming back forever?
No! There are three types of care: pain relief, corrective and maintenance. Pain usually subsides relatively fast. However, correcting the cause of the problem takes longer. You have the option of discontinuing care when the pain subsides, when you have completed the corrective phase, or you can continue with maintenance care. It is completely up to you.
The purpose of maintenance care is to keep your spine healthy and to avoid reoccurrence of the problem. Just as you go to the dentist for regular check ups, having your spine checked by the chiropractor is as important, if not more so. But the choice is always yours.
Do I have to be referred by my GP?
No. Chiropractors are Primary Health-Care Professionals, like Dentists and opticians.
What education and training does a Chiropractor have?
A chiropractor’s education places special emphasis on anatomy, physiology, neurology, biomechanics, diagnostics, radiology, and spinal adjusting techniques. Before graduation, there is a closely supervised year’s internship at the chiropractic college clinic. Your Chiropractor will also have passed rigorous National Board Examinations, and applied to the licensing board (General Chiropractic Council) before being granted the privilege to practice.
Most Chiropractors complete many hours of post graduate instruction for their annual license renewal. They will attend seminars, and read professional journals to keep up with the latest research.
Can I help to speed up the healing process?
While there are not any short cuts to speed up your body’s natural healing process, there are things you can do to help achieve maximum healing benefits;
- Learn proper sitting and lifting techniques.
- Get the appropriate amount of rest that your body needs in order to give it the best chance of healing.
- Ensure that you:
- Eat regular, well balanced meals.
- Do the correct type and amount of exercise recommended by your chiropractor.
- Keep your appointments and follow the doctors recommendations for optimum results.
Am I too old for Chiropractic care?
More people are consulting chiropractors, especially in their later years. Restoring better spinal function can help improve mobility, vitality and endurance. This can help with many arthritic conditions and other chronic ailments associated with the ageing process.
The adjusting technique will be modified by your Chiropractor for maximum comfort and results.
Can I adjust myself?
Since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction, to a specific joint, it is virtually impossible to adjust oneself.
It is possible to move in a certain way to create a “popping” sound, similar to that heard during a chiropractic adjustment. Unfortunately, this type of joint manipulation is usually counterproductive, often making an already unstable area even more so!