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Q: WHY WOULD KIDS BENEFIT FROM CHIROPRACTIC CARE?
A: The most common complaints for children are headaches. Research has shown chiropractic care is the most beneficial treatment for headaches of any age. By treating the spine, which may be creating the headaches, we treat the cause of the headache because it a headache is only a symptom. Secondarily, children complain of back pain. It has been said children fall around 3,000 times by the time they learn how to walk. Can you imagine the stress and trauma to the spine? A subluxation (vertebra out of place) can occur easily in children. Chiropractic care can correct the subluxation, which will relieve the symptoms. Recently, many parents are bringing their children to our office for relief from inner ear infections. Research has shown it may not necessarily be an infection as much as fluid accumulation in the child´s ear. Chiropractic care can alleviate the blockage that may be preventing the child´s ear from draining, thus relieving them of "ear infections". Research has also shown chiropractic care stimulates the body´s physiological systems, organs, blood flow and nerves and can possibly correct or improve any symptoms whether it is back pain, headaches or digestive disorders such as colic or diarrhea. Treating children is no different than treating an adult, except that children have far less abuse to their spine so therefore they do not have degenerative changes, osteoporosis or history of fractures.
Q: DOES IT HURT?
A: Obviously, if you are injured and in pain you will have discomfort with any care given to you. My adjustments are as gentle as possible. Far more people will tell me "Boy, that was not bad" versus "Oh, that was terrible". Under the Gonstead technique, we are only adjusting the symptom-producing vertebrae; therefore, we are not snapping and cracking your entire spine creating undo stress for you. It is much easier to be treated with the Gonstead technique.
Q: DO I HAVE TO GO OVER AND OVER AGAIN?
A: Chiropractic care is a series of treatments to correct the spinal dysfunction, not an instantaneous cure. Although you have heard the terminology "in and out of place" there really is not such a thing. You will not receive one adjustment and you are "in place" and you are cured. It is difficult for me to tell you on your initial visit what you will require for care or a "number" of treatments. It is an ongoing process. You may recover in as few as two or three treatments but others will require several months of care, which may be on a weekly to biweekly basis. Your frequency of care will decrease as you show improvement. You will be recommended to partake in mobility exercises to do at home decreasing the amount of chiropractic care. One of the biggest misconceptions of any treatment is a cure. In the health profession, there is not any cure. After we have corrected your spinal symptoms, you need to maintain your health. A good chiropractor will recommend continued care on a monthly to bi-monthly basis to ensure good health. However, patients will recover and not return for care until six months or one year later with a recurrence of symptoms. The best example I can give is this: if you change in the oil in your car every 3,000 miles, why would you not maintain your spinal health? Yet people abuse their spine and get upset when the symptoms reoccur. To ensure spinal health, you should continue chiropractic care for a lifetime.
Q: WHAT CAN I DO AFTER AN ADJUSTMENT?
A: Research has shown after an adjustment your ligamentous structure and musculature adapt to your adjustment and should hold in place. If you have a golf match scheduled immediately after care, you should be able to continue. However, if you are in intense pain this may not be the best idea. You should be able to do what you would like post care but you need to be reasonable. Remember, the reason you are thinking about chiropractic care is to improve your health so you can do activities you enjoy.
Q: DOES PREVIOUS BACK SURGERY, PREGNANCY OR OSTEOPOROSIS HINDER ME FROM SEEKING CHIROPRACTIC CARE?
A: No. Pregnancy puts a heavy amount of strain to your spine as your pregnancy progresses. Chiropractic care would be beneficial for you to relieve the stress placed on your spine. Previous back surgery does not limit the adjustments. The neurosurgeon has corrected what needed to be corrected and we can treat as necessary. There are considerations to be made and if I have questions I will consult with your neurosurgeon for input to adjust an area surgically repaired. Osteoporosis does not restrict me from adjusting you. In order for osteoporosis to be seen on an x-ray, you have 75% bone loss. However, I will be more conservative with your care and I will alter my care for your comfort.
Q: WHY DO YOU HAVE TO TAKE AN X-RAY?
A: X-rays are taken for two reasons at this office. One reason is to rule out pathologies or fractures that may show on an x-ray. The most important reason to take an x-ray is for the analysis of your spinal structure. I need to know the curvature of your spine (posture) and what direction your vertebrae are twisting or bending. I need to see the amount of degeneration that may be present. All of these findings benefit me in your diagnosis and treatment of the one vertebra that is responsible for the symptoms you are experiencing. The expression I have used many times is would you take your car to a mechanic to fix the engine but tell him not to open the hood? No, I don´t think you would. Therefore, x-rays are required of all of my patients so I can properly diagnose your condition.
Insurance FAQ´s
Q: WILL MY INSURANCE COVER CHIROPRACTIC CARE?
A:
Most insurance companies do cover chiropractic care. Of course, you will have to meet your deductible before your insurance will begin paying for your care. Keep in mind not all insurance companies cover chiropractic services the same and you may be responsible for certain charges. Ultimately, your best source for verifying insurance coverage is simply by calling them directly or checking your insurance handbook. Your insurance company´s phone number is listed on back of your insurance card.
Q: WILL MEDICARE, HUMANA AND UNICARE PAY FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE?
A:
Medicare, Humana and Unicare do cover chiropractic care with limitations. The only service covered at this office is manipulation of the spine. Medicare does not cover x-rays, ultrasound therapy, extremity adjustments (knee, wrist, ankle, shoulder, etc), examinations or any other services or supplies. Medicare will pay 80% for the spinal manipulation once you have met your deductible, based on medically necessary. Typically, your Medicare supplemental insurance will not pay for any services that are not allowed by Medicare.
With Humana and Unicare you are responsible for a co-pay. However, this co-pay applies only to the spinal adjustment. All non-covered services are in addition to your co-pay. With Medicare, only covered services (spinal adjustment) will be applied to your deductible. All non-covered services are in addition as well.
Q: I DON´T HAVE INSURANCE!
A: We offer our patients a Time of Service fee schedule to make the cost of your care affordable for you and your family. Payment at time of service reduces cost for all parties. Payments can in the form of check, cash, Visa or Mastercard. |
