Frequently Asked Questions
What types of problems or conditions are treated at this office?
Chiropractic care has been used to treat many different types of problems including but diffidently not limited to low back pain, headaches, migraines, scoliosis, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel problems, sciatica, Auto and Workers Comp. injuries, shoulder problems, knee and elbow problems, neuropathies, neck pain, pregnancy back pain. We have even seen patients with visual problems, asthma, bed-wetting, earaches, colic and many, many, many more.
What is Chiropractic and how does it work?
Chiropractic is the healing art of treating the cause of your body's symptoms. We use no pain medication to cover up your pain, rather we correct dysfunctions in your body to help you heal much quicker. Think of it like this (an extreme example); If you had a broken leg and all that you did was to take pain pills to cover up the pain, do you think that your leg would heal correctly? No! You have to treat the cause of the pain by casting the area. The same goes for other areas of your body. We do this with thorough examination and testing to find the cause of your pain. If we remove the cause, we remove the pain. We use spinal manipulation and soft tissue therapies to correct problems in your body to remove their symptoms which are pain. The spine is treated because that is where the nervous system is centrally located and alot of the interference that occurs with the nervous system occurs where the nerves exit the spine. Remember, it is the nerves that control all of the muscles, vessels, organs and senses within our bodies. If the nervous system is not functioning correctly, the entire system functions incorrectly.
Is my treatment going to hurt?
Patients do sometimes report discomfort after receiving treatment, but the overwhelming majority report relief. For those patients that are more sensitive we offer the Activator adjusting tool. This usually more than satisfies patients with concerns of having manual spinal manipulation performed.
Is my insurance accepted at your office?
We accept just about every major insurance, ones like Blue Cross, Highmark, UPMC, Aetna, Cigna, United & Medicare. There are many other smaller companies that we are In-Network with. Call with any questions as this info can change.
Is chiropractic care expensive?
Studies conducted according to the highest scientific standards and published by organizations not affiliated in any way with chiropractic institutions or associations continue to show the clinical appropriateness and effectiveness of chiropractic care. One of the most recent, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health, stated emphatically that:
"On the evidence, particularly the most scientifically valid clinical studies, spinal manipulation applied by chiropractors is shown to be more effective than alternative treatments for low back pain...There would be highly significant cost savings if more management of low back pain was transferred from physician to chiropractors. A number of studies have also supported these findings. In one such study, spinal manipulative therapy was compared with standard medical treatments in the treatment of duodenal ulcers. The researchers Pikalov, MD, and Kharin, MD, found those subjects receiving spinal manipulations took an average of 16 days to heal vs. 26 days to heal in the standard medical treatment group. JMPT 1994;17(5):310-313
Can a person who had back surgery visit a chiropractor?
Yes. It's an unfortunate fact that up to half of those who had spinal surgery discover a return of their original symptoms months or years later. They then face the prospect of additional surgery. This too common occurrence is known as "Failed Back Surgery Syndrome." Chiropractic may help prevent repeated back surgeries. In fact, if chiropractic care is initially utilized back surgery can often be avoided in the first place.
Is it OK to visit a chiropractor if I'm pregnant?
Anytime is a good time for a better functioning nervous system. Pregnant mothers find that chiropractic adjustments improve their pregnancy and make delivery easier for themselves and their baby. Adjusting methods are always adapted to a patient’s size, weight, age, and condition of health.
I have heard that once I start chiropractic care, I'll have to continue with it for the rest of my life. Is this true?
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. Once chiropractic care eliminates your pain and rehabilitates the injured tissues we do recommend that you maintain a schedule of periodic spinal checkups. Like your dentist and like many of the medical experts are now recognizing, prevention is the key to reducing recurrences of existing health conditions and minimizing 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, reduces recurrences of old injuries, prevents new injuries from developing, minimizes degenerative processes, which enhances overall health and wellness.
What is my "deductible"?
A deductible is an amount of money that the patient is responsible for paying before the health insurance company will begin to coverage or pay for services rendered. Not all insurance plans require a deductible and not all of these amounts are the same. Please check with your insurance company with questions or ask our office for help in this area.
What is "Co-Insurance" or "co-pay"?
Co-insurance is a portion of money that a patient is responsible for each time services are rendered. These fees differ for each insurance company and some do not have them at all. When a plan includes co-insurance, it is often around 20%.
No statement on this site is designed to diagnose or treat a condition. A thorough exam at our office is necessary to give you an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
724-495-3313 or text 724-462-6179
