Frequently Asked Questions

Q: "Why choose chiropractic for spinal pain?"

Chiropractic can be a safe alternative to potentially harmful pain medications like Vioxx, Celebrex, and Ibuprofen. Recent studies suggest that common prescription medications such as these can damage heart tissue. Ibuprofen (an over the counter anti-inflammatory) has been shown to have harmful effects on the kidneys.

Many cases of spinal pain develop from improper spinal movement or alignment (biomechanics). Abnormal spinal biomechanics can usually be traced to one or more previous traumatic incidents, such as a car accident/fender bender, slip, fall, athletic injury, or other high impact force to the spine. On the other hand, repetitive movements or habits such as carrying a laptop on one shoulder, tennis, machine/equipment operation, data entry, and sleeping on your stomach can also gradually lead to abnormal biomechanics. The abnormal movement of the spinal joints cause wear and tear to the cartilage and bone, and can even press on spinal nerves that exit the spine, causing symptoms (pain, numbness, or weakness) in the arms, buttocks or legs. Surrounding muscles tend to stiffen as the body naturally attempts to stabilize the weakened area. Sometimes it can take decades for the abnormal biomechanics to generate enough pain to cause the patient to visit a doctor.

Chiropractic treatment attempts to improve abnormal biomechanics by employing spinal adjustments and supportive modalities such as light therapy, heat, ice, electrical stimulation, traction, therapeutic massage, stretches, and exercises. Sometimes devices are prescribed, like back supports, braces, heel lifts, orthopedic pillows, and ergonomic equipment for the work station. If the abnormal spinal biomechanics are improved, then oftentimes the body can regenerate and heal injured tissues, and pain can resolve.

In short, chiropractic is appealing because of its non-invasive nature and its emphasis in addressing the source of pain rather than the symptom itself. It is also a very safe form of treatment when done by a licensed practitioner.


Q: "Does insurance cover chiropractic?"

Many group health insurance plans have chiropractic benefits. If your plan is a PPO type plan, there is likely to be some coverage. If you have an HMO plan, you must first see your Primary Physician (an MD) to see if you can be referred for chiropractic treatment. If your condition developed as the result of your employment, you are entitled to medical treatment under Workers Compensation, which can include chiropractic. If you sustained injuries from a car accident, and you have Medical Benefits under your auto policy, you can use that to cover chiropractic treatment. We will be happy to help you with the insurance paperwork in any of these cases.


Q: "I have chiropractic coverage under my insurance, buy you aren't listed in the network."

Not to worry! Just about all PPO plans have "out-of-network" benefits, which means you can go outside the network. There may be a deductible or co-pay for using an out of network provider, but these expenses can be paid in small portions. Please call our office for details.
For a doctor to be listed in the network, he/she usually has to agree to a capitated fee from the insurance company, which in many cases is barely enough to cover operating expenses. As a result, there is an incentive for these doctors to not utilize important treatment modalities, and to spend less time with the patient. If you are willing to pay a small co-pay to see an out-of-network doctor, you are rewarded by receiving more comprehensive care.


Q: "I heard that if you go see a chiropractor, you will need to go many times and may even get addicted to the treatment."

For most cases of spinal pain, a chiropractor will likely recommend a series of treatment that spans several weeks. This has to do with the time required for the spine to acclimate to the changes being imposed on it, with minimal discomfort. The best approach, therefore, is to spread treatment out over time. On the contrary, continuous chiropractic treatment with no measurable goal or objective is not necessary or recommended; however, people whose jobs or activities place undue stress to the back and joints have more of a need to get their spine checked for developing problems. Regarding addiction, there are no studies that suggest that people can become "addicted" to chiropractic. Some people are drawn to the tactile, human touch aspect of chiropractic, which leads them to visit a chiropractor more often, but this can hardly be called addiction. In any case, chiropractors who follow established treatment guidelines will not allow a patient to over treat.


Q: "What is the difference between chiropractic and physical therapy?"

The main difference is that chiropractors' expertise is in manual adjusting of the articular joints of the spine and extremities using short-lever adjusting techniques. Physical Therapists (PHT degree) are skilled in using exercises and stretches and a variety of physiotherapy procedures such as electrical stimulation, traction, ice, and heat for the purpose of improving function in a limb or joint. Physical therapy is usually prescribed for post-surgical rehabilitation. Physical therapists are not considered doctors and must have their patients referred to them by a medical doctor or chiropractor. They are not licensed to diagnose conditions. Chiropractors are licensed as doctors of chiropractic (DC degree) and are trained to diagnose musculoskeletal conditions.


Q: "What benefit can come from cracking the neck or back?"

The proper term is spinal manipulative therapy, or SMT. There are studies that show that SMT is more effective in treating spinal pain than bed rest, medications, acupuncture, and in some cases, surgery. SMT is a procedure that involves manually moving a joint segment through its anatomical range of motion. It is done to areas that exhibit pain, restriction, and/or muscle spasm. The procedure is done by hand and usually employs a high-velocity, short amplitude thrust into the joint. Oftentimes a "crack" or "pop" is heard, which is simply the shifting of dissolved gases in the synovial fluid of the joint. The benefits are increased range of motion and decreased pain over time. Some researchers believe that SMT has beneficial effects to the nerves that mediate muscle tone and pain (proprioceptors and nociceptors), which is one of the models that attempts to explain how SMT lessens pain and restores motion.


Q: "What is the success rate of chiropractic treatment?"

The success rate varies from case to case. Straightforward musculoskeletal cases that have no complicating factors tend to have a higher rate of success while others have a lower rate. Complicating factors include obesity, smokers, arthritis, spinal stenosis (narrowing of neural canal), and circulatory problems. Most people try chiropractic because it is conservative in nature and comparatively safe. If desired results aren't achieved with chiropractic treatment, the patient is typically referred to an orthopedic surgeon or neurologist for second opinion.


Q: "I read an article in the news that said neck adjustments can cause a stroke."

All medical procedures carry some degree of risk. The incidence of stroke following neck manipulation by a chiropractor is extremely rare. Although there are documented cases of neurologic complications following cervical manipulation, when compared to the number of cervical manipulations performed (an estimated 50 million per year in California alone), the incidence is statistically remote. Basically, all medical procedures carry some degree of risk; some much more than others. Chiropractic adjustments carry a very low risk; in fact, much lower than taking aspirin.