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FAQ'S &
Health Links
Q -
My chiropractor prescribed a series of visits for me, why do
I have to keep coming back?
A -
Chiropractic care is like “orthodontics” for the spine.
Clinically, repeated chiropractic adjustments re-train the
vertebrae, muscles, and ligaments to their proper alignment
and range of mobility. Just as the time required for braces
to achieve correction depends on the condition of an
individual’s teeth and mouth structure, the time required
for proper spinal alignment to occur depends on the
condition of the individual patient’s spine, their job
duties, their hobbies, their posture, and many other
lifestyle factors.
Chiropractic results may vary. Some patients enjoy
immediate results while others find that their recovery
takes several months or longer. Some problems may have been
around for a long time and only recently may have become
symptomatic. These long-standing problems are often
associated with muscle weakness, soft tissue damage, and
degenerative changes to the spine. We cannot logically
expect a stroke patient to recover as quickly as someone who
lifted a wiggling child and sprained her back. It takes
time and dedication to make changes to our bodies. “Health
is a process, not an event!”
Q -
What is the “popping” noise sometimes heard during an
adjustment?
A -
The “popping” or “cracking” noise is simply the release of
gas from a joint when bones move, much like when you “pop”
the cork out of a bottle of champagne or when you remove a
suction cup from a window.
Q - Is chiropractic care safe?
A -
Yes. Here are some published facts: “The risk of a stroke
from a chiropractic adjustment is 1 in 2 million” (JMPT
1996; 19;371). You are more likely to be struck by
lightning than suffer permanent injury after a chiropractic
adjustment! Let us be clear about this as well: Medical
doctors and drugs can do wonderful things and we wouldn’t
want to live in a world without them, BUT…A study published in the April 15, 1998 issue of the Journal
of the American Medical Association found that more than 2
million Americans become seriously ill every year from
reactions to drugs that were correctly prescribed and taken;
106,000 Americans die annually from those side effects.
Complications from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
-- a group that includes prescription and non-prescription
pain medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen -- are
responsible for 16,500 deaths each year, according to the
New England Journal of Medicine. In addition, a more recent
study conducted by the Institute of Medicine revealed that
nearly 100,000 people die each year from medical mistakes
made by physicians, pharmacists, and other medical
professionals. To put this in perspective, that would be
the equivalent of 1 jumbo jet crashing every day for a
year! Instead of potentially risky drugs or surgery why not
try a natural and effective choice first?
Is chiropractic care safe? Yes.
Q - What is a chiropractic adjustment?
A -
A chiropractic adjustment is a specific force in a precise
direction applied to a joint that is "subluxated." This
adjustment adds motion to the joint, helping the bones
gradually return to a more normal position and motion. The
adjustment also activates certain position and motion
sensing nerves called "proprioceptors" and
"mechanoreceptors" which are found in abundance in your
spinal joints, your knees, and your feet and ankles. These
nerves are very powerful and important to your survival.
Without them you would have a hard time knowing which way
was up or down and whether or not your hand was moving
towards a hot stove or not!
When these powerful nerves are activated by a chiropractic
adjustment they can shut down or "reset" the nerves that are
causing pain or muscle spasm. This is one reason why some
patients experience immediate relief for certain
conditions. The overall purpose for the safe and natural
procedure is improved spinal function, improved nervous
system function, and improved health.
Q - Are all patients adjusted the same way?
A -
No, the doctor evaluates each patient's unique problem and
develops an individual course of care. The resulting
recommendations are based upon years of training and
experience. Some patients who suffer from headaches may
actually have a low back problem that is causing a
compensation reaction at the base of the skull. Other
patients my be experiencing numbness and tingling in their
fingers, when the actual problem is in the neck.
Many patients notice that their visits seem similar to the
previous visit because each visit builds on the one before.
And while visits may seem similar, each patient's care is
uniquely different from every other patient.
Q - Why am I hurting? Why am I in pain?
A-
Pain is defined as "an unpleasant, emotional, and sensory
experience associated with actual or potential tissue
damage." Pain is the most misunderstood aspect of illness
or disease. Most practice members and in fact, most doctors
regard pain a something bad to be eliminated. Notice that
all surgery is done in an area of pain, with the objective
of relieving that pain. Many medications are designed to
'kill' pain...get rid of it. In reality, we cannot rely on
absence of pain to mean good health. Ask the widow of the
man that never hurt a day in his life but dropped dead with
a heart attack at the age of 45. The heart disease had been
there at a sub-conscious or sub-clinical level.
Pain is not bad. It is certainly not to be 'killed' or
eliminated by artificial means. Pain is only an indication
of change, an 'unadapted' to condition. Pain is a "symptom"
of something wrong and unless the cause of the symptom is
addressed true healing cannot occur. Pain is the reaction
which brings you to the doctor in the first place, so
already it has served you in a useful way.
Health
Links
American Chiropractic Association
www.amerchiro.org
National Chiropractic Organization with articles and tips for
your health.
National Center for Complementary
and Alternative Medicine
http://nccam.nig.gov
Government site that researches and regulates "complementary
and alternative medicine."
ChiroFind
www.chiroweb.com/find
Everything you want to know about chiropractic and wellness.
The perfect starting point for chiropractic patients and
consumers.
Dynamic
Chiropractic Online www.chiroweb.com/dynamic
The Internet version of Dynamic Chiropractic. Clicking
here lets you read the latest news and other chiropractic
articles well before they appear in the print version of the
publication.
How does Acupuncture work?
www.acufinder.com
Brief look at how acupuncture works.
Spine Universe
www.spineuniverse.com
Site dedicated to back health and safety.
Chiropractic Biophysics Website
www.idealspine.com
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