FAQ

What’s Wrong With Me?

Accurately identifying the cause of spinal pain or other discomforts almost always requires a thorough consultation and examination. Individuals should not assume their pain stems from the same problem a neighbor had. What helped that neighbor will not necessarily help them. Every individual is unique and different from the next. The same is true of the health conditions they suffer and the treatments they require.

Chiropractic doctors are highly trained in the diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue injuries. They also treat abnormalities common to the spine, extremities, and rest of the body. You may be suffering from back or neck problems, extremity problems, or other health-related ailments. In each case chiropractic can provide the effective professional relief you demand. Your condition may be outside the chiropractic scope. It may also be better managed by another healthcare specialist. In either case we will gladly and promptly make the necessary referral.

Can Chiropractic Help Me?

Chiropractic has helped millions of people worldwide suffering from all types of problems and not just back and neck ailments. Chiropractic works with the spinal column and its intimate relationship with the nervous system. The nervous system is the major controller of all bodily functions. By optimizing spinal column structure and biomechanics, irritation and stress are removed and health can once again be achieved.

You may be surprised by what research studies have found. There is scientific evidence that chiropractic care is effective in treating back and neck ailments. Studies also point to relief for children suffering from ear infections. The same is reported for women suffering from dysmenorrhea (painful menses). A number of other seemingly “non-spinal” conditions have been studied as well. It is not prudent to guarantee relief from such conditions or to claim to “treat” them. Even so, chiropractic has helped millions of individuals with all sorts of health conditions. It does this by positively affecting the nervous system.

Of course, doctors of chiropractic are best known for their success in treating back and neck problems. Chiropractors use spinal adjustments and other highly specialized chiropractic techniques. Through these they have established themselves as back and neck injury specialists. Many medical experts are now coming to understand the true effectiveness of chiropractic care. They are recommending major changes in the way our healthcare system manages common spinal problems. According to a recent Ontario Ministry of Health commissioned study on low-back pain,

“A very good case can be made for making chiropractors the gatekeepers for management of low-back pain…”

How Long Will It Take?

Treatment lengths vary somewhat from person to person and from condition to condition. Even so, there are a few rules of thumb you can follow.

First, newer injuries tend to respond to fewer visits when treated appropriately and immediately. That assumes major tissue injury has not occurred. Many of these first-time injuries can be effectively managed in as little as 3 to 4 visits. Some conditions have been present for greater than 3 months. These and recurring conditions are generally more stubborn and difficult to manage. Resolution may require 12 visits or more.

The only sure way to determine how long your treatment will take is to schedule a consultation and/or examination.

Some people believe in just waiting for the problem to “go away” on its own. Understand that the longer your condition has been around, the more treatments it will eventually require to resolve.

How Much Will It Cost?

Costs vary and generally depend on the number of treatments required to effectively treat your condition. A number of studies have looked at the cost of chiropractic care. It is extremely cost-effective compared to other “medical” forms of care for similar conditions. According to the 1993 Manga Report,

“There would be highly significant cost savings if more management of low-back pain was transferred from physicians to chiropractors. Users of chiropractic care have substantially lower health care costs, especially inpatient costs, than those who use medical care only.”

Do I Have To Keep Coming Back For Treatments?

You may have heard the notion that once you go to a chiropractor you have to keep going back. Before we answer that question, ask yourself how many times you have visited a dentist. Like most people, you’ve probably gone dozens of times. Why? Quite simply, to prevent your teeth from literally rotting out of your head.

First we work to eliminate your pain and rehabilitate the injured tissues. After that we do recommend a schedule of periodic spinal checkups. Your dentist and many medical experts are now recognizing the value of prevention. Prevention is the key to reducing recurrences of existing health conditions. It also minimizes new injuries in the future.

So the answer is yes, we want you to keep coming back, but just periodically. Periodic chiropractic care minimizes spinal and nerve stresses. It reduces recurrences of old injuries and prevents new ones from developing. It also minimizes degenerative processes, which enhances overall health and wellness.

Are Chiropractic Treatments Safe and Do They Hurt?

Chiropractic care has a strong safety record and is used for patients of all ages, from infants to seniors. Chiropractic care at TriMed is non-invasive and drug-free. As with any form of care the risks are not zero, but serious complications are rare. The most common reaction is temporary soreness or stiffness for a day or two after an adjustment. It is similar to how you feel after starting a new exercise routine.

Some conditions change what we do or rule out certain techniques altogether. These include severe osteoporosis, spinal fractures, and bone tumors or infection. They also include inflammatory arthritis affecting the upper neck and some vascular conditions. That is why we take a full history, examine you and review your imaging before beginning care.

The treatments themselves are generally not painful. Most patients look forward to them and many feel relief right away. If you arrive in moderate to severe pain you may feel some discomfort during the visit. Care is always gentle and non-invasive. We adjust our approach to what you can tolerate.