FAQs

1. How does chiropractic care work?

Chiropractic is an overall way of looking at the human body. It's based on the idea that the body is self-sustaining and self-healing. The body is in essence completely controlled by the brain through its connection via the spinal cord and the vast networks of nerves that make up the body. When this system is not functioning at its peak, the overall performance of the human body is lacking.

In the chiropractic world, drugs and medicine are not utilized as a form of treating a patient. While supplementation and nutrition are almost always a part of the bigger picture, drugs and prescriptions can be viewed as band-aids to treat symptoms rather than going to the source and treating the real problem.

While it's often perceived that the chiropractor is solely here to treat back and neck pain, this is simply a small piece of what the profession really is capable of handling. Chiropractors not only treat soft and hard tissue problems such as sciatica and joint pain, but are largely called on to deal with more significant issues. Some of these issues include allergies, insomnia, headaches and many more.

2. What is Chiropractic & how does it work? 

Chiropractic is based on the idea of removing imbalances both structural and postural in an effort to allow our body to heal itself. For this to happen, the network of nerves and signals from your brain down your spinal cord to the network of nerves must be allowed to flow freely without any interruption. Chiropractors have the ability and skill to remove these interruptions or misalignments and allow the body to perform as it was meant to.

If you've ever been in a car accident, played a sport, fell down or just bumped into something too hard, it's very possible that you are not functioning at your best due to a misalignment. While there are many potential mechanical or structural causes for misalignment, there are also chemical reasons. For instance, if you smoke or drink excessively or even just have a poor diet, the chemical issues in your body can eventually cause underlying conditions and disease to appear.

Allowing a chiropractor to get you back on track both chemically and structurally will bring your body back to the proper state it should be in to perform at its peak.

3. Why should I see a Chiropractor? 

Seeing a chiropractor is not only for back pain and neck pain. Chiropractic care is an excellent way to keep your body at its peak performance through nutrition, adjustment and overall wellness. In addition, chiropractic care has been known to help a wide range of conditions from fibromyalgia to diabetes.

Headaches80% of all headaches originate from tightness in the neck and shoulders despite popular beliefs. If you usually feel pain starting at the base of your skull radiating into the temples, eyes and forehead, give us a call and see how we can help. We may be able to eliminate the root cause and not just offer temporary relief from the symptoms. 

Sciatica - Bulging discs, spinal subluxations, and muscle spasms can all cause increased pressure on the sciatic nerve causing the condition: Sciatica. Let us help diagnose the cause of your condition and how to properly treat it to get you feeling back to yourself.

Fibromyalgia - If you're dealing with chronic pain throughout the body - mainly located in the joints, give us a call. We may be able to uncover what may be causing the pain and a quick adjustment may be just what you need to relieve pain from affected areas. 

Pinched Nerves - Pinched nerves can also be caused by spinal misalignments, bulging or herniated discs, or other factors resulting in inflammation, pain and sometimes muscle spasms. An adjustment might be just what you need to alleviate the pain and address the root cause.

Carpal Tunnel SyndromeWith the spine being the center of your nervous system, misalignment can even have an affect on your hands and wrists. If you’re experiencing pain, numbness, weakness or a burning in your fingertips or wrists, give us a call to see if we can help. 

AllergiesChiropractic can help reduce the severity and the frequency of your allergies allowing your body to be better equipped to fight against allergies. If your nervous system is under stress and not functioning properly, your immune system cannot work at an optimal level - this could be due to your spine being misaligned and impinging on your nervous system. Let us help you find relief today. 

Disc ProblemsIf you struggle with disc problems, come visit us today and let’s see what we can do. Our discs serve many purposes, including allowing movement of the spine, creating space between the vertebrae, and acting as shock absorbers. By properly aligning the spine, pressure may be relieved on nerves and on the discs themselves. This will reduce and hopefully eliminate your pain and discomfort and allow you to live a normal lifestyle.

Whiplash - This is a common injury for people involved in car collisions, which causes the neck to snap back violently, which can overextend, strain or tear the muscle and ligaments. In addition to stiffness and soreness, whiplash may put unwanted pressure on the discs and nerves, which proper spine alignment can relieve. Try an alignment as an option before you feel you must rely on pain medication and surgery to help.

OsteoarthritisChiropractic may also help with arthritis as it may help alleviate pain by releasing pressure on the nervous system with proper alignment. This also ensures that the affected areas as well as other areas that may try to overcompensate function properly. Ensuring proper joint movement as a whole, will help restore and maintain proper movement to increase overall well being. 

Joint DysfunctionJoint dysfunction occurs when joints become stiff and full movement is restricted. It can be caused by an injury, poor posture, overuse/underuse of a joint, muscle imbalance, as well as other factors. Like arthritis, joint dysfunction can cause pain in the joint and the surrounding muscles, and can also cause problems in other parts of the body due to overcompensation. Using specific adjustments for the affected joint can return proper mobility and relieve pain. If you have joint pain, visit us for relief.

Neck/Back PainPain along the spinal column in your neck or back is usually caused by subluxations, or misalignments of your vertebrae. A small misalignment can cause pain by causing pressure on nerves. Left untreated, these subluxations can cause muscle spasms and increasing pain. Chiropractic adjustments properly align your spine so that pressure on joints and nerves is released. It is a direct treatment for the cause of the pain, not temporary relief like pain relievers or a massage. 

4. What is a chiropractic adjustment? Is it safe?

Adjustments, or manipulation as they're sometimes referred to, are the minor movement of vertebrae in the spine. The objective of this movement is to realign vertebrae that have moved out of place for a number of reasons ranging from normal daily activity to trauma such as a car accident.

When these vertebrae are out of place, it has an overall systemic effect from muscular to the central nervous system. Without proper alignment and flow of all nerves and systems in the body from the brain, we can't function at our peak.

An adjustment is often a pressure from the chiropractor utilizing the hands or an instrument to move a vertebrae back into place. This happens with a quick movement and is often without discomfort. You may hear a noise that sounds like you're cracking your knuckles referred to as joint cavitation. It is the release of gases such as oxygen and nitrogen from the joint.

5. What are the benefits of a chiropractic massage? 

Chiropractic massage is an excellent method for improving overall health and musculoskeletal efficiency. Massage has a number of beneficial effects on the body and the mind. Some of these include removal of toxins that can build up in the muscles of the body, increased circulation, and increased flexibility in not only the muscles, but also the connective tissue within the body.

Massage also can help with muscle spasms as well as soft tissue injuries. Increasing the movement and reducing the overall recovery time by helping the body in the healing process. In addition, consistent massage has been known to increase balance.

Chiropractic Massage has proven to assist in the healing of a large number of conditions including back pain, surgery recovery, eating and sleep disorders as well as high blood pressure and diabetes among others.

6. What is a Subluxation? 

When a vertebrae becomes misaligned or moves out of its normal position, this is referred to in the chiropractic profession as a subluxation, or more precisely, the Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC). VSC can be caused by a wide range of issues ranging from a minor slip or bump to a car accident or any sudden trauma. When a vertebrae is subluxated, it begins to put pressure on nerves, blood vessels and other surrounding structures.

The subluxation interrupts the natural nerve pathways that carry messages to and from the brain. In addition, as time goes by and the subluxation remains untreated, the spine and surrounding features such as discs can begin to degenerate.

This degeneration becomes more difficult to reverse as time goes by and the surrounding muscles, nerves and bones begin to adjust to the new shape. Because the body is a remarkable machine, it will start to accommodate these changes by compensating in other areas. The longer the subluxation is untreated, the longer it will take for treatment to return the vertebrae to its normal position.

7. What is Spinal Degeneration?

Degeneration Phase 1The first stage of spinal degeneration is when there is a minor loss of normal spine balance and spinal curvature. The surrounding features of the spine such as nerves, discs and joints begin to age quicker and are continually more stressed. This stage of the degeneration process rarely is accompanied with any major pain. At this point, there is a good chance that with the proper care, you can return to normal.

Degeneration Phase 2In the second stage of spinal degeneration, there is a often narrowing of the discs and potentially deformation in the bones. Your posture is often beginning to degenerate as well at this point. As the spinal canal, or opening begins to narrow, there are often significant aches and pains associated. Fatigue and stress are more common at this stage. There is a good chance of improvement at this stage with the proper care.

Degeneration Phase 3In the third stage of spinal degeneration, there is significant physical and mental involvement due to the level of issues here. There is most likely nerve damage as well as deformation of the bones and discs. There would a significant loss of energy and height at this point. Some reversal is possible.

Degeneration Phase 4In the fourth stage of spinal degeneration, most damage is permanent including scar tissue, nerve damage and deformation. At this point, the condition is irreversible. Management of pain and discomfort is the best option here.