Frequently Asked Questions

What's Wrong With Me?

Accurately identifying the cause of spinal pain or other discomfort requires a thorough consultation and examination. Just as every individual is unique and different from the next, so too are the health conditions they suffer and the treatments they require.

Chiropractic doctors are highly trained in the diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue injuries and abnormalities common to the spine, extremities and rest of body. Rest assured that if you are suffering from back or neck problems, extremity problems or other health related ailments chiropractic can provide you with the effective professional care you need. If your condition is out of the chiropractic scope or would be more appropriately managed by another health care specialist, we will gladly and promptly make the necessary referral.

Can Chiropractic Help Me?

Chiropractic works with the spinal column and it's intimate relationship with the nervous system - the major controller of all bodily functions. By optimizing spinal column structure and biomechanics, irritation and stress are removed. Chiropractic has helped millions of people worldwide suffering from all types of problems and not just back and neck ailments.

You may be surprised to learn that research studies have provided scientific evidence showing chiropractic care is not only effective in the treatment of back and neck ailments, but may also provide effective relief with children suffering from ear infections, women suffering from dysmenorrhea (painful menses), and a number of other seemingly "non-spinal" conditions. While it is not prudent to guarantee relief from such conditions or claim to "treat" these conditions, chiropractic has successfully helped millions of individuals with all sorts of health conditions by positively affecting the nervous system.

Of course, doctors of chiropractic are best known for their success in treating back and neck problems. Many medical experts are now coming to understand the true effectiveness of chiropractic care and are recommending major changes in the way our health care system manages many 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?

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

First, newer injuries, if treated appropriately and immediately, tend to respond fairly quickly assuming that major tissue injury has not occurred. Conditions that have been present for greater than 3 months and recurring conditions obviously take longer.

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

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 shown that chiropractic care is extremely cost effective when 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 medical doctors 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 have probably gone dozens of times. Why? Quite simply, to take care of your teeth. You can get false teeth but you cannot replace your back!

Once we have eliminated your pain and rehabilitated the injured tissues we do recommend that you maintain a schedule of periodic spinal checkups. Like your dentist and like many of the health care 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.

Are Chiropractic Treatments Safe and Do They Hurt?

Chiropractic treatments are extremely safe for individuals of all ages - from infants to 100 year olds. Our treatments are safe because we only use natural and noninvasive methods of care. Research consistently shows that care from chiropractors is among the safest health care available.

The treatments themselves are generally not painful. In fact, most patients look forward to their treatments as they are comfortable and relaxing. Individuals who present with moderate to severe pain may experience some minor discomfort as muscles and joints get into their proper alignment. This is often similar to how it feels after doing a strenuous exercise workout.