FAQ’s

What symptoms do I need to see a chiropractor?

Pain is nature's way of telling us something is wrong. It is the result of your body dealing with tissue damage or breakdown, infection and poisons. Many people consult chiropractors seeking relief from all sorts of symptoms, the most common being back and neck pain, shoulder and arm pain, low back, buttock and leg pain and headaches. The objective of chiropractic care is to enhance the natural healing abilities of the body by correcting a malfunction of the spine. If you are in pain, remember theses five dangerous words..."Maybe it will go away!"

Will treatment hurt?

Generally, a chiropractic adjustment does not hurt - although there may be some minor short-term discomfort which quickly passes for most patients. You will normally find that follow-up treatments are much more pleasant, as your symptoms improve and you feel more at ease with your chiropractor.

Are there any risks?

Chiropractic has far fewer risks than many other treatments for your problem. Serious side effects are extremely uncommon. Very rarely, manipulation of the neck has been linked with strokes, although research shows that chiropractic is one of the safest and most effective forms of treatment available. A 2003 study published in the journal Neurology claimed that a cervical adjustment led to a vertebral artery dissection (VAD) in a patient. VAD is a rare type of stroke associated with may common activities such as sleeping, talking on the phone, swimming, or overhead work. According to the American Chiropractic Association a recent biomechanical study found that the forces transmitted to the vertebral artery are less than one ninth the forces necessary to damage a normal vertebral artery. Based on this study many experts believe it is physically impossible for a competently performed neck adjust to cause a VAD unless the artery already has a significant preexisting weakness. Your chiropractor will be happy to discuss all your concerns regarding treatment.

Do chiropractors use X-rays?

Any decision to take X-rays will be made in consultation with you. At all times, your chiropractor will weigh the risks against the benefits and advise you accordingly. Typical circumstances where an X-ray may be necessary are recent injuries, older patients whose bone structure may have altered over time, unusual examination findings or a history of serious diseases.

How often should check-ups be given?

Chiropractors practice in two main ways. The first is to minimize the recurrence of your pain through supportive care. The practitioner may recommend a check-up every two to six months depending on your original complaint and your lifestyle. The second approach is known as wellness care. Here, the chiropractor may wish to check you more frequently, as well as exploring with you further ways you can enhance your wellbeing.

Isn't too much chiropractic bad?

Your chiropractor is trained and qualified to diagnose your problem, evaluate when it is appropriate to give treatment and, in particular, when not to. Your case will be assessed on an individual basis.

How long will chiropractic take to work?

Guidelines for medical practitioners state that spinal manipulation can help back pain, especially if carried out within the first six weeks after injury. The longer you have been in pain, the longer it will take to heal. Your chiropractor will advise you of your likely recovery time, and how to minimize the chances of the problem happening again. Early treatment is important but chiropractors are also effective at treating long-standing or chronic pain.

Do Chiropractors treat only back pain?

Chiropractors do more than manipulate the musculoskeletal parts of the body and are qualified to provide a myriad of services. Patients with chronic headaches, sinus problems, hypertension, arthritis, ear infections, and many other ailments, have found relief through chiropractic.

Who sees Chiropractors?

Making sure the spine and nervous system are working in harmony for good health is just as important for a newborn baby as it is for a senior citizen.

The benefits of Chiropractic care also are realized during pregnancy. An expectant mother needs all systems working optimally to help ensure baby's development is not hindered.

The birth process can place great stress on the newborn's delicate spine. Toddlers and children frequently fall and play rough games. All this may result in a vertebral subluxation, which hinders the body's effort to maintain organs and systems working in harmony (homeostasis).

Correcting vertebral subluxations in the young has been shown to help recovery from a wide range of diseases and disorders including infantile colic, ear and throat infections and general irritability. However, it is rare for vertebral subluxations in babies and children to cause back and neck pain. If in doubt have your child checked out.

Adults frequently have stressful occupations and recreational activities and repetitively strain the spine and its supporting ligaments and muscles. Vertebral subluxations may result. Many adults consult chiropractors for back and neck pain, headache and sciatica. However chiropractic care enhances the ability of any body to deal with its injuries, resist disease and maintain optimum health.

Is chiropractic treatment possible after surgery?

Most likely. Your chiropractor has the training and experience to treat each patient as an individual. You will receive treatment and adjustments appropriate for your specific condition, while areas not suitable for treatment will be carefully avoided. Many chiropractors are able to offer post-surgical exercise, advice and rehabilitation.

What's wrong with taking painkillers?

Painkillers can dull your pain, but it may well return as they do not necessarily deal with the cause and they may also have side effects. Regularly taking painkillers to treat headaches, for example on more than 15 days a month, every month, can actually cause more headaches.

What if it's something serious?

If your chiropractor feels that chiropractic treatment is not appropriate for the cause of your pain or other symptoms, you will be referred to your general practitioner or to a suitable specialist.

Is it safe to adjust the neck?

Yes, 66-69% of visits to a chiropractor include cervical (neck) adjustments. Recent publications suggest that chiropractic treatment to be extremely safe, when carried out by a skilled individual.

How about wearing a cervical collar?

Although in the acute stage a soft collar may be worn for a short time, collars should not be relied upon. If you become reliant on a collar, the muscles of your neck will become weaker because their job is being done by the collar. It is important, therefore, to have an active treatment plan that involves your chiropractor, ergonomic advice and an exercise/rehabilitation program to help support and strengthen the muscles and joints of your neck.

How can chiropractic help joints that are already degenerated?

Degenerated joints are sometimes the result of the surrounding joints not doing their fair share of work, so that the load is not managed equally. This results in too much wear and tear on the affected joint. Chiropractic aims to restore your normal joint function spreading the load and taking excessive strain away from degenerated joints. Your chiropractor can also give you advice on exercise for maintaining joint function.

Can chiropractors help osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis happens when the amount of calcium in the bones is very low and leaves them weak and easily breakable. This is particularly common in women past the menopause. However, having osteoporosis doesn't mean that you will have a fracture. Your chiropractor will be able to use various modified treatment methods to cater to someone with osteoporosis as well as advise on other available treatments. Chiropractic also helps to keep your joints mobile and improve your balance to minimize the risk of falling.

How can a recurrence of a problem be prevented?

This, of course, will depend upon the problem itself, but many types of back pain are caused by a poor approach to activity or sport as well as poor body mechanics during daily activities. It is very important that you warm up before you start, and stretch when you have finished. If you been away from your sport or exercise for a long time, your body will be less fit and supple, making injury more likely. Likewise in either case if body mechanics are an issue in repeat injury, your chiropractor will be able to advise you in ways to avoid the injury.