Check here to see if I can answer your questions beforehand! All information listed below are a compilation of Dr. Lance’s experience, opinion, knowledge, and other resources like the American Chiropractic Association and other research!
Can chiropractic help my pain?
It depends… After performing a thorough examination your chiropractor will determine if chiropractic care is something that can help with your condition(s). Generally speaking, if your pain is related to the muscle, joint, or nervous system the answer is yes!
What conditions does a chiropractor treat?
That also depends on what chiropractor you ask. I practice what is called Evidence-Based Chiropractic. Meaning I will treat conditions that evidence shows responds well to chiropractic care with methods that evidence says are effective. I commonly treat low back pain, sciatica, neck pain, headaches, pain between the shoulder blades, shoulder pain, knee pain, hip pain, ankle pain, foot pain, arm pain, and wrist pain. It’s my job to find out if it’s something that is coming from the muscle, joint, or nerve.
Is chiropractic covered by insurance?
The easy answer is “yes”. The long answer is just because it’s “covered” doesn’t necessarily mean it will be paid for by insurance. It depends on if the provider is in-network or out-of-network, your deductible, if there are limitations to what services are covered, whether authorization is required, and if your chiropractor accepts insurance. Here at Maki Chiropractic we accept insurance and always check on coverage, but again that doesn’t mean insurance always pays.
How do i choose a chiropractor to see?
Google is probably the easiest way to see which chiropractor is closest to you. However, you can ask your friends and family for referrals, and that’s probably one of the best ways! Especially if they like the chiropractor they see and trust them. Yet another way is to check your insurance to find one that is in-network. As with every other service you use, it doesn’t hurt to do an “interview” process to make sure you like the chiropractor or maybe get a second opinion from another chiropractor!
What type of training/Education do chiropractors have?
A lot. A quick Google search will show you that chiropractors have very similar hours of education as an MD, somewhere around 4500 hours (depending on what source you use) of classroom and clinical hours. That’s only the required course load, most chiropractors take classes outside to become more specialized in the field. We’re also required to pass 4 different national board exams, and frequently at least 1 state board exam, to get our license. Additionally, varying by state, we’re required to participate in yearly continuing education.
Can chiropractors prescribe medicine?
No. Our scope of practice denies the ability to prescribe medication. We can recommend taking supplements and vitamins.
Does chiropractic require a referral from an M.D.?
Usually not, but you should always check with your health plan.
How many visits does it take?
That also depends on each individual case and person. What might take “Mary” 8 visits may only take “Joe” 4 visits. In my experience, it seems to be around 6 visits that patients either feel close back to 100%, or are feeling enough relief that they can perform activities of daily life without much pain.
What happens if chiropractic doesn’t help?
I believe in what’s called a “trial of care”, which means I will recommend a number/frequency of visits and if by the end of that you aren’t feeling better than either chiropractic isn’t working or I’m not targeting the right problem. If chiropractic care truly doesn’t help, then a good chiropractor should refer you to the appropriate provider… Whether that’s a massage therapist, acupuncturist, physical therapy, or recommend seeking care from your primary care physician.
What’s that popping sound when i get adjusted?
It’s called a cavitation. You have synovial fluid in your joints that give off a mix of gases over time, and when the adjustment occurs it creates a negative pressure which forms a bubble that eventually pops. While it may feel good, it is not necessarily an indication that the adjustment actually worked. Also, while I’m addressing this, I’m ok with people asking me to “pop” their back, but please don’t ask me to “crack” your back. If your back truly cracks, that’s a big problem and you should probably go to hospital…
Does chiropractic care hurt?
Another answer of “it depends”. Most of the time, adjustments are painless, if anything it’s very relieving. Sometimes the adjustment itself may have a brief moment of discomfort. However, there is a low risk of injury during the adjustment; including, but not limited to, bruising, strain/sprain, and fracture. If you experience pain every single time, then perhaps that adjustment style is not for you or perhaps that particular chiropractor is using too much force. Either way, address the pain with your chiropractor.
is chiropractic care safe?
Your chiropractor should do a very thorough examination to decide whether chiropractic care is safe for you or not. I’m sure you’ve seen in the news in that someone had a stroke after seeing a chiropractor, and it is truly tragic that it has happened. That being said, you have about a 1 in 10 MILLION chance of that happening… You have a better chance at getting attacked by a cow, getting struck by lightning, or visiting the ER because of a pogo-stick accident. Sorry, had to lighten it up a bit 😁
is it safe during pregnancy or for kids?
Yes, there are certain adjustment techniques that are very gentle and specifically for pregnancy and for newborns all the way to 100+ years old.
can I adjust myself?
I suppose you could try, but I advise against it. That would be like me asking, “Can I rebuild an engine by myself?” I could try, but mechanics would say I shouldn’t because I may end up damaging something or putting it together wrong. For those of you who just said, “Well I adjust myself all the time”, you don’t really. I’d be willing to bet you do that, and 30-45 minutes later you feel like you need to do that again. That’s because you didn’t move the right joint, you just moved a joint that provided some temporary relief.
How is an adjustment performed?
Within a range of motion you have 4 different “spaces”: active, passive, paraphysiological, and limit of integrity. During the adjustment chiropractors take the joint to the edge of the passive range of motion, and quickly thrust that joint into the paraphysiological space to get motion into the joint and get a muscular and ligamentous response to the input. This is what sometimes causes that pop, and ultimately helps your body to heal. When you pass the limit of integrity, you get injury like sprains and strains.
is chiropractic expensive?
That all depends on your subjective opinion. Some might find it very expensive, to others it’s affordable. It all depends on the value you place on your health, well-being, and function. It also depends on whether you choose insurance or not, and which services you are wanting during your chiropractic treatment. It could literally range from $20 all the way up to $250+.