Frequently Asked Questions

Chiropractic adjustments are safe if performed by someone trained and licensed.  Both the Mayo Clinic and The New Zealand government, as well as many other published studies, show that chiropractic adjustments are a safe and effective treatment choice. Complications are rare. Chiropractic care is a great choice for your healthcare, and avoids the dangers from medications or surgery.  After our comprehensive examination, if you are not a candidate for chiropractic treatment, we will gladly refer you to a medical specialist that can help you.

No. Only the spinal joints that are “locked” are treated with chiropractic adjustments. Unfortunately, many people “self-adjust” themselves and can cause the spine to become more problematic.  Only allow a chiropractor who is trained and licensed to perform adjustments to your spine.

The number of adjustments varies with each patient and their individual health needs. Many patients feel improvement very quickly with chiropractic care. Visits become less frequent as your spine improves and stabilizes. In chronic cases, complete healing may take longer.

Some chiropractic adjustments can produce a sound when the gas or fluids in the joints shift. It’s much like opening a bottle of champagne or removing a suction cup, but is not a guide to the quality or value of the adjustment.

Yes. When developing a care plan, our office will look at the unique circumstances of your needs. We have several methods of adjusting your spine. We have methods that we can use on newborns, as well as patients with osteoporosis.  Rest assured that the method we choose to help restore your spine will be safe and effective for YOU.

It can be. There are many reasons for headaches.  Our examination will identify the most likely cause or your headaches.  If chiropractic care would benefit your type of headaches, we will plan our care program accordingly. If chiropractic care is not right for you, we will refer you to a neurologist or other specialist that can help.

No. Chiropractic physicians don’t dispense drugs. Because we rely on natural methods, we utilize ice, heat and other homeopathic remedies to control pain and swelling. When properly applied, these methods can have an analgesic effect without the side effects of pain medications. If medication is necessary for your condition, we will refer you to the proper medical specialist for evaluation.

The good news is that chiropractic treatment is a highly effective option for disc injuries and, very often, back and neck surgery can be avoided. You will need a comprehensive examination to determine the extent of your injury and the specific treatment tailored to your needs.

In rare cases and usually as a last resort, surgery may be recommended.  We will help you navigate the complex world of spinal surgery by explaining your choices and offering you a referral to a specialist in spinal surgery.

That is our ultimate goal.  Before you begin care, we will explain to you our expectations of treatment.   Results will vary with each patient.   Those who neglect or “put off” following their plan often see delayed progress. Even after improvement, many patients discover that periodic chiropractic checkups can help avoid a recurrence of their problems.

Of course not! However, just like other healthy habits such as getting your eyes and teeth checked regularly, we do recommend periodic chiropractic checkups to keep your spine and joints in good health. Once the joints of the spine and body start to degenerate (arthritis, loss of disc height, bone spurring), there is no going back to the way it was…the best you can do at that point is to manage the problem to keep it from getting worse. Unfortunately, too many people wait until this happens before finally turning to chiropractic. And although many of these people still experience significant relief of their symptoms from treatment, often they will require ongoing care to keep it that way. Of course this is certainly better than not doing anything. Living in pain, and letting the problem worsen is not the answer. Many people with permanent spinal problems choose supportive chiropractic care to live an active and pain-free life.