Q: What exactly is chiropractic care? Chiropractic
is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the
musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these
disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often
to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to
back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and
headaches. Doctors of Chiropractic, often referred to as
chiropractors or chiropractic physicians, practice a drug-free,
hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination,
diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic
skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative
exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle
counseling.
Q: What can I expect during my initial visit? During
your initial visit, Dr. Gregor will inquire about your overall health,
including your current concerns and/or reasons for your visit, as
well as any pertinent family history. After your initial
consultation, he will conduct a chiropractic examination.
Diagnostic methods may include testing your reflexes, your
ability to turn and bend, as well as other standard orthopedic,
neurological, postural, and physical examinations. The
information gathered through this exam will provide key
information about your condition and the appropriate course of
treatment. Since each patient is unique, the doctor will
customize both testing and treatment.
Q: Do I need to have x-rays in order to receive chiropractic care? It
is not necessary to have x-rays to receive chiropractic care.
However, if you have x-rays or any other diagnostic images,
please bring them with you on your initial visit. If necessary,
Dr. Gregor will refer you to a laboratory for x-rays, and in certain
cases, for additional testing procedures (examples: M.R.I., Cat-Scan,
or blood work ensure that your condition is properly diagnosed).
Q: What conditions does chiropractic care effectively treat? Chiropractic
care focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous
system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. It
is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints,
including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints
of the arms or legs, shoulder pain, headaches and migraines,
sciatica, and overall soreness and stiffness. Q: Is chiropractic treatment safe? Chiropractic
is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive
therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal
complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record,
no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects.
Q: What is a chiropractic adjustment and does it hurt? Chiropractic
adjustment or manipulation, as it is sometimes referred to, is a manual
procedure whereby the doctor uses his hands to manipulate the
joints of the body, and particularly the spine, in order to reduce
pain, and restore or enhance joint function. Many patients
feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may
experience mild soreness or aching, just as they do after some forms of
exercise. Such minor discomfort or soreness
following spinal manipulation typically fades within 24 hours.
Q: Why is there a popping sound during an adjustment of the spine? Adjustment
of a joint may result in release of a gas bubble between the joints
that makes a popping sound, just like when a person "cracks"
their knuckles. The noise is caused by the change of
pressure within the joint that results in gas bubbles being
released. Q: Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children? Yes,
children can greatly benefit from chiropractic care, especially
those who are physically active and experience injuries from
activities of daily living as well as from participating in sports.
Injuries such as these may cause many symptoms including back and
neck pain, stiffness, soreness or discomfort.
Q: How much does chiropractic care cost and will my medical insurance cover the treatment? The
cost of your treatment will vary based upon a number of factors,
including but not limited to the exact nature and severity of your
ailment, your diagnosis, as well as the types and number of
modalities utilized in your treatment. During your initial
consultation, you will be provided with a proposed treatment plan,
including an estimate of your costs. While most medical
insurance plans do provide coverage for chiropractic care, patients are
ultimately responsible for all charges. We do offer specialized
package deals for patients who do not have medical insurance or whose
insurance does not cover chiropractic care.
Q: How many visits will I need in order to resolve my problem? The
exact number of visits required will depend on the nature and extent of
your ailments, but like most other forms of treatment,
chiropractic care does require a certain commitment and level of
patience to be fully effective. While many patients feel some
immediate relief following their initial treatment, in order to
truly address the underlying cause of the problem, a series of
visits, usually 12 to 15 is recommended. In most cases, the
initial 5 to 10 visits will be scheduled with a higher level of
frequency, and then further apart, as the patient's condition improves
and becomes stabilized.
Copyright 2008 Dr. Ted Gregor. All rights reserved. This site is hosted by Datahal, LLC