Chiropractic: Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chiropractic Treatment?
-Chiropractors use localized spinal manipulations, called adjustments to release stresses on the spinal joints, thereby decreasing the strain on adjacent soft tissue such as discs, muscles and nerves. In doing so, it decreases the progression of degenerative disc disease (osteoarthritis). By mobilizing spinal joints, adjustments also allow the spine to achieve optimal alignment, decreasing stresses on the discs and the incidence of common disorders such as disc bulge, herniation and spinal stenosis.
My coworker said that Chiropractic Treatment can cure constipation. Is that true?
-Since nervous tissue conducts messages from the brain to various organs through the spine, altered nerve signals due to faulty spinal biomechanics can cause disease. When adjustments are applied to the bony spinal column, pressure is often relieved from the adjacent nervous tissue, improving the nerve signals to the organs. This is the mechanism that physicians believe explains the phenomenon of improvement of gastrointestinal complaints, allergy symptoms and many non-descript ailments that are sometimes reported following chiropractic care.
Is Chiropractic Treatment Safe?
-A noninvasive treatment method, chiropractic treatment is safer than taking an aspirin. There are some rare conditions in which chiropractic care are not appropriate. Chiropractic physicians are trained to rule out these conditions prior to each adjustment.
Do Chiropractic Adjustments hurt?
-Generally speaking, adjustments do not hurt. Sometimes there are sensitive muscle tendons and ligaments surrounding the joints being adjusted stemming from acute injury or fibromyalgia for instance. There are low force chiropractic instruments that will allow the chiropractor to move the offending joint with minimal aggravation of surrounding soft tissue.
I am seeking relief but I don't like the idea of having my neck "cracked."
-You are not alone. As safe as chiropractic treatment is, many are put off by the "popping" sound that arises on manual adjustments of the neck. Luckily, there are effective ways to adjust the spine and soft tissue without the offending sound. Request the alternatives prior to your treatment.
Will all of my pain go away with treatment?
-The level of pain-relief you will experience depends largely on the nature of your condition and how long the condition has been affecting you. Other factors of significance include age and whether your activities of daily living contribute to your condition.
Once I start getting adjustments, will I have to keep coming back?
-The Chiropractic Physician's first goal is to help reach the maximum pain relief and pain-free flexibility. Depending on the nature of disorder, this can be achieved in weeks or months. Following maximal recovery, the patient may opt to return for maintenance (tune up) treatments to improve neuromusculoskeletal health and to decrease the likelihood of re-injury.
Sometimes I can make my own back "pop." Should I still receive chiropractic care?
-Unfortunately, not all manipulations of the spine are helpful. Some joints in the back are easily "popped" because of the fact that they are so unstable. The hypermobility that comes with forcing movement can cause even more instability, misalignment of the spine and pain down the road. Chiropractic physicians are trained to carefully determine which joints have aberrant motion and are able to adjust them in the correct plane of movement necessary for proper healing. More likely than not, with chiropractic treatments for maintenance care, the urge that you have to "pop" your back will greatly diminish.
I had a bad experience with chiropractic treatment years ago but I am in a lot of pain. Should I try it again?
Perhaps you had a disagreement with the physician's diagnosis, technique, office procedures or treatment plan. Your best option may be to find a different chiropractic physician who is a better fit for you. If you had to have surgery and didn't like the demeanor of the surgeon, you would switch surgeons, not forgo the procedure altogether.
Would my Primary Care Physician approve of Chiropractic care?
-More than likely, the answer is yes!!! Seeking pain relief or wellness care from a chiropractic office should not be a covert operation. Feel free to discuss your desire to go, as well as the results of your treatments with your PCP. Decades ago there was a turf war of sorts between the medical and the chiropractic communities. But as the population is now moving toward a desire for non-invasive and cost effective health care, more and more research is also surfacing, highlighting the positive effects of chiropractic care. Therefore, chiropractic treatment is now considered a mainstream option and the first line of treatment for musculoskeletal pain relief.
What is Chiropractic Treatment?
-Chiropractors use localized spinal manipulations, called adjustments to release stresses on the spinal joints, thereby decreasing the strain on adjacent soft tissue such as discs, muscles and nerves. In doing so, it decreases the progression of degenerative disc disease (osteoarthritis). By mobilizing spinal joints, adjustments also allow the spine to achieve optimal alignment, decreasing stresses on the discs and the incidence of common disorders such as disc bulge, herniation and spinal stenosis.
My coworker said that Chiropractic Treatment can cure constipation. Is that true?
-Since nervous tissue conducts messages from the brain to various organs through the spine, altered nerve signals due to faulty spinal biomechanics can cause disease. When adjustments are applied to the bony spinal column, pressure is often relieved from the adjacent nervous tissue, improving the nerve signals to the organs. This is the mechanism that physicians believe explains the phenomenon of improvement of gastrointestinal complaints, allergy symptoms and many non-descript ailments that are sometimes reported following chiropractic care.
Is Chiropractic Treatment Safe?
-A noninvasive treatment method, chiropractic treatment is safer than taking an aspirin. There are some rare conditions in which chiropractic care are not appropriate. Chiropractic physicians are trained to rule out these conditions prior to each adjustment.
Do Chiropractic Adjustments hurt?
-Generally speaking, adjustments do not hurt. Sometimes there are sensitive muscle tendons and ligaments surrounding the joints being adjusted stemming from acute injury or fibromyalgia for instance. There are low force chiropractic instruments that will allow the chiropractor to move the offending joint with minimal aggravation of surrounding soft tissue.
I am seeking relief but I don't like the idea of having my neck "cracked."
-You are not alone. As safe as chiropractic treatment is, many are put off by the "popping" sound that arises on manual adjustments of the neck. Luckily, there are effective ways to adjust the spine and soft tissue without the offending sound. Request the alternatives prior to your treatment.
Will all of my pain go away with treatment?
-The level of pain-relief you will experience depends largely on the nature of your condition and how long the condition has been affecting you. Other factors of significance include age and whether your activities of daily living contribute to your condition.
Once I start getting adjustments, will I have to keep coming back?
-The Chiropractic Physician's first goal is to help reach the maximum pain relief and pain-free flexibility. Depending on the nature of disorder, this can be achieved in weeks or months. Following maximal recovery, the patient may opt to return for maintenance (tune up) treatments to improve neuromusculoskeletal health and to decrease the likelihood of re-injury.
Sometimes I can make my own back "pop." Should I still receive chiropractic care?
-Unfortunately, not all manipulations of the spine are helpful. Some joints in the back are easily "popped" because of the fact that they are so unstable. The hypermobility that comes with forcing movement can cause even more instability, misalignment of the spine and pain down the road. Chiropractic physicians are trained to carefully determine which joints have aberrant motion and are able to adjust them in the correct plane of movement necessary for proper healing. More likely than not, with chiropractic treatments for maintenance care, the urge that you have to "pop" your back will greatly diminish.
I had a bad experience with chiropractic treatment years ago but I am in a lot of pain. Should I try it again?
Perhaps you had a disagreement with the physician's diagnosis, technique, office procedures or treatment plan. Your best option may be to find a different chiropractic physician who is a better fit for you. If you had to have surgery and didn't like the demeanor of the surgeon, you would switch surgeons, not forgo the procedure altogether.
Would my Primary Care Physician approve of Chiropractic care?
-More than likely, the answer is yes!!! Seeking pain relief or wellness care from a chiropractic office should not be a covert operation. Feel free to discuss your desire to go, as well as the results of your treatments with your PCP. Decades ago there was a turf war of sorts between the medical and the chiropractic communities. But as the population is now moving toward a desire for non-invasive and cost effective health care, more and more research is also surfacing, highlighting the positive effects of chiropractic care. Therefore, chiropractic treatment is now considered a mainstream option and the first line of treatment for musculoskeletal pain relief.