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Frequently Asked Questions
What Chiropractic Can Do
For You?
Chiropractic
is the branch of the healing arts that deals with structure and function.
Chiropractors have found that if there is pressure along the spine,
irritating and interfering with the nerve, it will cause pain (function).
It is highly probable that it will affect muscles, joints, blood vessels
and even organs and glands (structure). It is the chiropractor's job to
determine if such a problem exists and if it can be relieved. Advanced
technology and extensive diagnostic training assure the chiropractic
physician - and you - that the findings are valid and the prognosis
reliable. No potentially harmful substances are introduced into the body,
nor is any part of the body cut away. If your chiropractor cannot find the
cause of your problem, you will be referred to another specialist.
Statistics reveal that 85% of the patients treated chiropractically become
symptom free or show improvement. It is possible that some conditions may
have progressed to the point where the body's natural recuperative powers
have become ineffective. Chiropractor can help maintain or restore
your good health.
How Does the Chiropractor
Know If You Can Be Treated Successfully?
During
your first visit to the doctor of chiropractic, a professional will take a
rather extensive history. To obtain the best care possible, be honest and
explain your problems in detail. Don't try to pre-determine whether a
certain pain or symptom is important to the doctor making a complete
determination of your case. The chiropractor relates various levels of the
spinal column to various organs and conditions. For example, if tenderness
is found at the base of your skull, it may be related to headaches, sinus
problems or to your jaw. Lower down in your neck may be found
displacements (subluxations) that relate to problems of pain, tingling or
numbness in your shoulder, arm or hands. Your doctor knows that people
suffering from chest and stomach problems may have a displacement of the
bones between the shoulder blade affecting those organs. Lower back pain
and leg tingling and numbness is often associated with problems with
intestines, bladder and prostate, because of the same nerve supply.
Orthopedic and neurological testing are a part of a chiropractic
examination. Today, your chiropractor is aided by many helpful forms of
testing and instrumentation to arrive at the underlying cause of your
problem. Remember, your doctor of chiropractic knows that it is just as
important to know what to treat as what not to treat.
Will It Hurt?
In the
early days of chiropractic, practitioners used methods that were "firm,"
to say the least. While they were effective, they were often considered
uncomfortable. Today's modern chiropractor is so gentle that there should
be no discomfort to speak of with any treatment. The percentage of female
doctors is growing. A female doctor weighing one hundred pounds can
administer treatment just as effectively as a large man. Usually the most
discomfort comes from getting on the examination or treatment table. The
treatment itself is normally a most pleasant experience. Of course, if a
patient is experiencing muscle spasm, any movement or pressure at all is
uncomfortable. The doctor of chiropractic collects a complete history,
examines the patient, and performs tests to determine how to treat the
problem painlessly. Therefore, pain is unlikely when the precise treatment
is given.
Physical conditions may readily respond to
chiropractic care, including including pain of the neck, shoulder, arm, hand,
lower back, rib, hip, leg, knee,
ankle or foot. Other responsive conditions are headaches, migraines,
jaw problems (TMJ), sinus problems, allergies, asthma, bursitis, neuritis,
tingling and numbness, sciatica, loose bowels, stomach disorders, constipation,
menstrual cramps, prostate issues and bladder problems.
When Can I Expect To Get Well?
Chiropractors
have the best training and are the most qualified to seek out and treat
chiropractic conditions that are spinal related. Your chiropractor seeks
out the cause of your problem and teats it. Correction of the cause of
migraine headaches, for example, will take longer than merely taking
strong medicine to temporarily cover it up. Correcting the cause of a
shoulder problem to resolve the symptoms will usually take longer than a
shot to temporarily relieve it. Correcting the cause of leg or knee pains,
which may have their origin in the lower back, may take longer as well. We
have been schooled, as a society, that absence of pain is proof of absence
of problems. WRONG. Think about it. Just because you don't have the
toothache does not mean you do not have a dental cavity. Dormant pressure
upon nerves in the spine can be like a clicking time bomb. It may take
years for a problem to identify itself in the form of a pain or disease.
Many bodily conditions have been months or even years coming on.
Therefore, it is reasonable to allow at least weeks for them to be
reversed. This is not to say that you will not get some symptom relief
sooner. However, absence of pain does not necessarily indicate absence of
the problem. Let your doctor determine when you should be discharged or
your treatment schedule reduced. Be loyal to yourself and to your
treatment schedule. Arrange to make up any visit you have to miss.
Will I Have To Keep Going To My
Chiropractor Forever?
Let's
explore this a little. If you go to your dentist and get all of your teeth
restored, do you ever go back? Of course. You brush and care for your
teeth on a daily basis. Every few months you return for a check-up and
receive any necessary care. Why should your spine, which protects your
most valuable asset - your health - be any different? Once your doctor
discharges you from regular treatment, it is a good idea to return
periodically. These periodic adjustments of the spine are cost efficient
and pay big dividends. Pressure upon nerves can be likened to something
eating away at your joints, organs, and health without you even being
aware of it. Many noted and famous people use chiropractors on a regular
basis to stay well. PLEASE
NOTE: Most insurance policies cover chiropractic care, including
automobile, med pay, group, workers' compensation and Medicare.
The Adjustment (Treatment)
The
manipulation of specific bones (vertebrae) that make up your spine is
called "an adjustment." The adjustment of displaced vertebrae interfering
with normal nerve supply and causing a disturbance to the nervous system
will be your primary treatment in many cases. The adjustment is usually
done by hand in some instances, by a hand-held device. The patient is
placed on a specially designed table. Then, the doctor uses techniques
learned through years of study, and applied pressure to areas of the spine
that are misaligned or fail to move correctly within the normal range of
motion. Remember the premise of chiropractic? Many illnesses are the
result of improper nerve supply. Your doctor restores that essential nerve
supply through the "adjustment." Some doctors use physical therapy along
with other forms of treatment, depending upon the correction being made
and the type of technique employed. Your treatment may include therapy to
enhance healing. If you are experiencing pain prior to your first visit,
therapy may lessen your pain as well as increase circulation to the
designated area.
Why The Spine?
The
spine is the body's "switchboard." Just as the trunk and branches of a
tree transfer nutrients to the leaves, the spine transfers nerves and
nerve impulses to all parts of the body. The human body is the most
intricate mechanism known in the world. It is a series of systems, each
more complex than any system ever devised by man. And ALL THE SYSTEMS ARE
RELATED TO THE SPINE. Your chiropractor is a specialist in their
interrelationship. Many people think in terms of today: "Today I developed
a heart attack; today I developed a stomach ulcer; today my kidney stopped
doing its job; today I developed a migraine; today I have tingling and
numbness." The chiropractor knows that it is possible that any of your
present medical problems could have been caused by a long-forgotten fall
or accident which may have caused nerves to be pinched. Even twisting and
turning of the neck during birth can have far-reaching effects on your
health. When you have or wish to prevent a health problem or when you have
a fall or other accident, your chiropractor maybe able to restore normal
function immediately by corrective manipulation of your spine.
Causes
Your
present condition is a mirror of injuries, stresses and indiscretions
imposed upon your body. Starting with the birth process, your neck may
have been misaligned. The cause of problems such as headaches, sinusitis,
allergies, eye problems, neck, shoulder, arm and hand pain may have
started even then. Injuries are cumulative and add up to degenerative
bodily changes. Each time a part of your body is injured, it becomes
weaker, with the exception of bone. Bone is usually stronger at the site
of fracture; but soft tissues, ligaments, muscles, nerves and blood
vessels become weaker. This is one of the reasons that everything short of
surgery should be tried. Surgery further weakens ligaments and muscles,
and can further dispose you to spinal weakness and injury. Poor posture
positions assumed over long periods of time, whether at work or play, can
have far-reaching spinal and general health effects. (This is called
physical stress.) Mental stress serves to tighten your muscles and affects
the spine, nerves and blood vessels. This in turn can affect general body
and organ functions. The body has wonderful recuperative powers; but, if
abused, it will let you know. Rare is the person who does not ultimately
pay for abuse of his/her body.
What About That Pain In
The Neck?
We’ve all
heard the expression “you give me a pain in the neck,” meaning that stress
can effect us in a painful way, especially if there is weakness in one’s
neck. The neck is the most delicate part of the spine and the most easily
injured. It is comprised of seven separate bones that are loosely
connected together by ligaments and muscles. The laxity allows for great
mobility but also predisposes it to injury. Poor posture, occupation,
falling asleep in a chair, falls, twists and strain take their toll on the
neck (Cervical spine). The part of the nervous system housed within the
bones of the neck is an extension of the brain. Displacements affect these
nerves and cause many seemingly bizarre symptoms that may not be
associated with the neck. Some of the common symptoms of irritation or
pinched nerves in the neck are: headache, sinusitis, dizziness; painful
ear and face; shoulder and arm pain and tingling; hand and finger numbness
and tingling; difficult breathing and chest pain; throat discomfort.
Health Checklist
Take just two
minutes to check for any symptoms you may have. Following an accident,
always get checked by a chiropractor to avoid future, possibly serious
health problems.
If you have any symptoms call immediately for an appointment: Migraine
headache, numbness in limbs, stiff or painful neck, nausea, dizziness,
double vision, painful back, muscle spasm, nervousness, tingling in limbs,
insomnia, pinched nerves, ringing in ears, poor circulation, mental
dullness, tremors, rapid heart beat, constipation, early arthritis,
painful joints, tension, ache all over, fatigue, bursitis, neuritis,
tendonitis, loss of neck motion, blackouts, muscle swelling, night
blindness, loss of balance, loss of hearing, cold hands or feet, shortness
of breath, poor memory, anxiety, eye strain, period of depression,
diarrhea and any change from pre-accident condition.
Nutrition
Your
doctor can help guide you to good health by doing more than adjusting your
spine. Chiropractic colleges teach in-depth courses in nutrition which
allow your doctor to advise you on a healthy diet plan. To be able to
function over a long period of time, you should eat as close to nature as
possible. Avoid smoking, alcohol, coffee and tea, and all caffeine and
carbonated drinks. Also, try not to eat a lot of spicy, greasy or fried
foods. One of the keys to longevity is not to overeat. Always consult your
doctor before changing your diet if your health problem is affected by the
foods you eat. Lifestyle, including food habits that are too rich, too
highly processed or preserved, is often a big factor in poor health.
A
Minor Accident?
Doctors of
chiropractic are the undisputed experts when injuries of a spinal nature
are involved. This includes automobile accidents as well as job-related
falls and strains. Even a minor automobile accident can have major ill
effects on your health. It may be weeks, months, even years before the
problem appears. But, by then, it may be too late to prevent your greatest
loss – your health.
How To Stay on Your Feet Without Tiring
Your Back
To
prevent strain and pain in everyday activities. It is restful to change
from one task to another before fatigue sets in. Check body position
frequently, drawing in the abdomen, flattening the back, bending the knees
slightly.
- Use of a footrest relieves swayback.
- Never bend over without bending at the knees
- Hold heavy objects close to you
- Bend the knees and hips not the waist
- HOW TO SIT CORRECTLY
Impact And Your Spine
Consider for a moment that the average head weighs between 7 and 11 pounds
and sits on the most flexible – and fragile – part of the spine: the neck.
Although the neck is relatively short, it contains 32 joints and is easily
stretched and injured if it’s thrown in any direction. If these joints are
stretched or strained beyond their normal limits, they can lose their
ability to return to their original length, much like a rubber band that
has been stretched too far. This often occurs in so-called “whiplash”
injuries.
Low Back And “Slipped
Discs”
Lower back
pain and “slipped discs” are almost synonymous. To get a general picture
of how that area of your back is designated, think of a child’s building
blocks piled on top of one another with a cushion which is cartilage
(shock absorber) in between. There are 24 of these blocks (bones) with a
cartilage in between. Nerves also come out from between these bones.
Falls, twists, strains, poor posture, excess weight, jumping and just
living have degenerative effects on the discs and the bones. A disc can be
ruptured or it may have slipped. Usually, a bone (vertebrae) is displaced
along with the disc. When the bones is displaced, it is called a
subluxation. Most of the time surgery is not necessary. Even ruptured
discs can respond to chiropractic treatment. It makes good sense to
consult a chiropractor before submitting yourself to a traumatic procedure
like surgery. The back is always weaker once muscles and ligaments have
been cut. With chiropractic, you have much to gain and nothing to lose.
Good Posture Is The Key
Whatever the cause of low back pain, part of its treatment is the
correction of faulty posture; but good posture is not simply a matter of
“standing tall.” It refers to correct use of the body at all times. In
fact, for the body to function in the best of health it must be so used
that no strain is put upon muscles, joints, bones and ligaments. To
prevent low back pain, avoiding strain must become a way of life,
practiced while lying, sitting, standing, walking, working and exercising.
When body position is correct, internal organs have enough room to
function normally, nerve impulses are not impeded, and blood circulates
more freely. With the help of this guide, you can begin to correct the
positions and movements which bring on or aggravate backache. Particular
attention should be paid to the positions recommended for resting, since
it is possible to strain the muscles of the back and neck even while lying
in bed. By learning to live with good posture, under all circumstances,
you will gradually develop the proper carriage and stronger muscles needed
to protect and support your hard working back.
Mature Bodies Need Help
Too
Our bodies
have marvelous recuperative powers. This is evidenced by the fact that
older people are going to chiropractors more than ever and receiving more
than temporary relief from symptoms. Even the more sever degenerative
types of conditions often respond amazingly well. In any chiropractor’s
office will be found people in their 70’s and 80’s who attribute their
continuing ability to remain active and “feel great” to chiropractic
treatment. In this same age group are those who continue to participate in
golf, tennis, jogging, dancing, and a multitude of vigorous exercises. The
aging process allows for relatively easy misalignment of the bony
structure of our body because the ligaments and muscles lose some of their
strength. It’s amazing what chiropractic can do to retard this process.
It’s never too late to being seeing a chiropractor, but the earlier the
better. Partial payment through Medicare helps pay the cost. Gentle
mobilizing adjustments can be the catalyst that allows for an active
enjoyable life over a sedentary lonesome existence.
Low Back and Age
As we
grow older, the curve in the back may increase, and the bones and discs
lose some of their height. This is why we get shorter as we age. Some of
us, however, show greater wear than our years because we do not take
proper care of our spine. Falls, strains, poor posture, subluxations and
aging cause the spine to appear like Diagram B rather than Diagram A. Here
are some general instructions to help you with your low back pain until
you can get to your chiropractor. It is best to call him first, if
possible.
- Apply cold – not heat
- Use back support if available
- Sit sparingly (sitting increases spinal pressure)
- Do not lie on your stomach
- Sit on car seat and then move your legs inside.
- Do not bend from the waist – stoop
- Do not lie on soft bed or sofa
- Avoid stairs
- Do not wear high heels excessively
- Always consult your chiropractor after a fall or strain, even if you do
not think you are hurt.
Back Pain Measures
A
back’s best friend is a straight, hard chair. If you can’t get the chair
you prefer, learn to sit properly on whatever chair you get. To correct
sitting position from forward slump, throw head well back, then bend it
forward to pull in the chin. This will straighten the back. Now tighten
abdominal muscles to raise the chest. Check position frequently.
- Relieve strain by sitting well forward, flatten back by tightening
abdominal muscles and cross knees.
- Use of footrest relieves swayback. Aim is to have knees higher than
hips.
- Correct way to sit while driving, close to pedals. Use seat belt or hard
backrest, available commercially.
- TV Slump leads to “dowager’s slump” strains neck and shoulders
- If chair is too high swayback is increased.
- Keep neck and back in as straight a line as possible with the spine.
Bend forward from hips.
- Driver’s seat too far from pedals emphasizes curves in lower back.
- Strained reading position. Forward thrusting strains muscles of neck and
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