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Will
I have to have X-rays?
X-rays
and other types of images can be helpful. Pictures
of your spine can confirm your Chiropractor's other findings and
make your care more precise. Your D. C. will tell
you if X-rays are needed after completing the other examinations.
How
long until I feel better?
Some
patients experience almost instant relief. Others
discover it can take a few weeks, but your chiropractor
will tell you how long your healing process will
take at the time of evaluating your x-rays. Every
patient recovers at their own pace. Factors which
can affect the healing process include your age,
your overall health condition, muscle tone,
sitting lifting bending habits, diet
and even your attitude.
When
will I get my first adjustment?
It
depends upon your complaint and how long it may
take to study your examination findings. This
is a clinical decision and varies from patient
to patient. Most Chiropractors will perform an
adjustment on the first visit if pain level is
high.
Will
I receive any medication for my pain?
No.
Chiropractic doctors don't dispense drugs. Because
we rely on natural methods, ask for directions
on how to use ice to control any painful symptoms.
Ice, when properly applied, can have an analgesic
effect without the side effects associated with
pain medications.
What
does treatment consist of?
Chiropractic
treatment consists of spinal adjustments and therapy.
An adjustment takes less than 5 minutes. You lay
on an adjustment table fully clothed while the
D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic) turns your hips
a certain way like a twist. The patient will be
able to feel the spine move. The same is done
for the neck, mid back and low back, depending
on your symptoms and x-rays. It does not hurt.
It feels good. Think of moving your neck from
side to side. The vertebrae are suppose to be
completely flexible. Some patients have limited
range of motion on one side of their neck. For
lack of a better word, one of two vertebrae "stuck"
in the wrong position, a chiropractor gets it
"unstuck" by "adjusting" it.
People come out of the office with full range
of motion in their neck (for instance) smiling
saying things like "It feels like I'm floating
on air"... For the first time they can move
their neck in any direction without that pain.
The second part of your treatment will be 15-20
minutes of therapy. This usually consists of electrical
stimulation (TENS unit). The patient lays on therapy
table and small pads are placed on the tension
area with light electrical pulses radiating deep
into the muscle tissue. Its meant to increase
circulation, relax the muscles and tendons.
Other therapies include ultrasound, hot/cold packs,
massage therapy, etc.
(Also
see "Correcting Subluxations" section
under What is Subluxation?)
Does
it hurt?
Spinal
Adjustments DO NOT HURT. The spinal adjustment
itself does not hurt, however you may be sore
after the first adjustment similar to starting
an exercise program.
Is it dangerous?
Chiropractic
is NOT dangerous. With over 20 million adjustments
given every month in this country, the risk factor
of an injury is roughly one in several hundred
million. The fact is the chiropractic profession
has the least number of malpractice suits than
any other medical profession. Chiropractic malpractice
insurance ranges 5 to 20 times cheaper than all
other medical doctors' simply because a malpractice
lawsuit is so rare within chiropractic.
Are Chiropractors Quacks?
Chiropractors
are indeed real doctors licensed by the state
in which they practice, and actually have more
classroom hours than medical doctors.
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