Frequently
Asked Questions About Chiropractic
How does
chiropractic work?
Chiropractic is all about getting and
keeping
you well and healthy.
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Chiropractic works by restoring your
body's
own inborn ability to be healthy. When under the proper
control
of your nervous system, all the cells, tissues and organs of your body
are designed to resist disease and ill health. The chiropractic
approach
to better health is to locate and help remove interference and return
your
body to your natural state of being healthy.
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A common location of interference to
the nervous
system is the 24 moving bones of the spinal column. A loss of
normal
motion or position of these bones can irritate or impair the function
of
the nervous system. This can disrupt the transmission of
controlling
nerve impulses.
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With improved spinal function there is
often
improved nervous system function. Your chiropractic physician can
help remove interferences that may be impairing normal
health.
Since the primary focus of your care is improved nervous system
function,
chiropractic care can have a positive effect on many health conditions
not normally thought of as "back" problems.
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What do
Chiropractic
Doctors do?
Today's chiropractic doctor looks for
the
underlying nervous system involvement's which can be the cause of many
health problems.
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Helping to restore proper spinal
biomechanics
and improved nervous system function begins with a case history. This
gives
the doctor a background about your health, such as surgeries,
accidents,
the onset of your condition and other details affecting your current
health.
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After reviewing your history and
discussing
your specific problem, a thorough orthopedic, neurological, and
chiropractic
examination is performed. X-rays may be taken to uncover
structural
and functional problems associated with the spinal column. These
examinations help identify areas of spinal malfunction and resulting
nervous
system deficit.
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The findings of these examinations are
explained
and a plan of chiropractic adjustments may be recommended. Progress is
monitored with periodic examinations and follow-up reports.
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Since the word "doctor" comes from the
Latin
word meaning "teacher", regardless of your doctor's unique clinical
approach,
he or she has a strong commitment to patient education.
Do I have
a
pinched nerve?
More common are nerves that are
stretched,
twisted, or irritated by spinal structures.
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Many patients consult a chiropractic
physician
because they think they have a pinched nerve. Because of the way
your spine is designed, abnormal spinal function caused from physical
trauma,
emotional tensions, or chemical toxins can affect the delicate tissues
of the spinal cord and nerve roots.
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While commonly associated with the
spine,
the pinched nerve (compressed lesion) is actually rare.
Researchers
suggest that only 10% to 15% of spine related problems are caused by
direct
pressure of bone on nerve tissue! This can result in numbness, burning,
or a "pins and needles" feeling.
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More frequently, nerves are irritated
(facilitative
lesion). This is caused when nerve tissue is rubbed, scraped,
stretched
by a loss of spinal curve, or irritated by malfunctioning spinal joints
Do I have
a
slipped disc?
Discs do not "slip", however like the
shock
absorbers on your car, they can leak or rupture.
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Technically, a disc can't
"slip". The
intervertebral disc is a pad of cartilage-type material situated
between
spinal bones. Each disc serves as a connector, spacer, and shock
absorber for the spine. A soft, jelly-like center is contained by
outer layers of fibrous tissue. Healthy discs help allow normal
turning
and bending.
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Because of the way each disc is
attached to
the vertebrae above and below, a disc cannot "slip". Trauma or
injury
to the spine, however, can cause discs to tear, bulge, herniate, or
worse,
rupture. This can be quite painful, as the soft center of the
disc
leaks, putting pressure on the adjacent nerve roots and spinal cord.
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While results cannot be guaranteed,
many patients
have avoided needless surgery or a dependency on pain pills, by
choosing
chiropractic care for their disc-related health problem.
What is
that
"crack" noise?
The crack heard commonly with
chiropractic
adjustment is not from the bone.
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The joints between your bones are
lined with
cartilage, this cartilage allows you to move your bones around smoothly
and without irritation to the bones.
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The cartilage however needs a
"lubricant"
so it will not wear out. This lubricant is a clear fluid that is
in all your joints. This is what swells up when you injure a
joint
like your knee or ankle.
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Therefore, when a chiropractor adjusts
a joint,
he/she momentarily separates the joint and pulls some gas from the
fluid,
and that little gas bubble then pops. This is the exact same kind
of "pop" or "crack" when you crack your knuckles.
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There is another type of crack your
body can
produce, it is the cracking commonly found when knees or elbows are
bent.
This is caused when tendons that attach your muscles to your bones snap
over a bump on your bone.
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What
type of education do Chiropractic Doctors get?
After undergraduate studies, today's
chiropractic
physician completes an additional four-year curriculum of over 4,500
college
classroom hours of health sciences.
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Today's Doctor of Chiropractic is well
educated.
The science of chiropractic requires a special emphasis on anatomy,
physiology,
pathology, neurology, biomechanics, X-ray, spinal adjusting techniques
and related subjects. This demanding curriculum prepares
chiropractic
doctors to locate the Vertebral Subluxation Complex and help correct
the
resulting nervous system dysfunction.
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To graduate with a Doctor of
Chiropractic
degree, each candidate passes the demanding National Board
Examination.
Then, doctors apply to a governmental or professional licensing board
and
pass a still more difficult test before being granted the privilege to
practice.
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A chiropractic education never
ends.
Most doctors complete postgraduate instruction for license renewal and
to stay current on the latest scientific research.
What is an
adjustment?
There are hundreds of ways to adjust
the
spine.
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A chiropractic adjustment is the art
of using
a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is
fixed,
"locked up", or not moving properly. This adds motion to
the
joint, helping the bones gradually return to a more normal position and
motion. The purpose of this safe and natural procedure is
improved
spinal function, nervous system function and health.
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There are many ways to adjust the
spine.
Usually, the doctor's hands or specially designed instruments delivers
a brief and highly accurate thrust. Some adjusting methods are
quick,
whereas others require a slow and constant pressure.
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After years of training and clinical
experience,
each chiropractic doctor becomes highly skilled in the delivery of a
variety
of adjusting approaches.
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Check out our section all about chiropractic
adjustments, you can even watch some adjustments.
Are all
the
patients adjusted the same way?
Regardless of the adjusting technique,
chiropractic care is tailored to each patient's age, condition and
spinal
problem.
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The doctor evaluates each patient's
unique
spinal problem and develops an individual course of care. The
resulting
recommendations are based upon years of training and experience.
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Some patients who complain of
headaches may
actually have a lower back problem that is causing a compensation
reaction
at the base of the skull. Other patients may be experiencing
numbness
and tingling in their fingers, when the actual problem is in the
neck.
Every patient presents a uniquely different spinal pattern.
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Patients notice that their
chiropractic care
is delivered with confidence and precision. Each visit
builds
on the one before. While visits may seem similar, each patient's
care is uniquely different from every other patient's.
Can I
adjust
my self?
You cannot effectively adjust yourself.
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Since a chiropractic adjustment is a
specific
force, applied in a specific direction, to a specific spinal joint, it
is virtually impossible to adjust oneself.
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It is possible to turn or
bend or twist
in certain ways to create a "popping" sound, like the sound that
sometimes
accompanies a chiropractic adjustment. Unfortunately, this type
of
joint manipulation is usually counterproductive, often making an
already
unstable area of the spine even more unsteady. Adjusting
the
spine is not for amateurs!
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The best way to enjoy the healthful
benefits
of chiropractic is to receive adjustments from a Doctor of
Chiropractic.
Even your doctor must seek out the services of another colleague to
help
restore and maintain proper spinal function.
Can I
just
get adjusted once and be all done?
When chiropractors adjust, there is
more
to the vertebral subluxation complex than just bones.
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The vertebrae in your back are
supposed to
move freely in all directions. There should not be any irritation
in the small pain sensitive facet joint that are up and down the spine.
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However, trauma or other injuries may
occur
that prohibit the spine from moving correctly. This also causes
irritation
in the muscles, ligaments, nerves, tendons, and other surrounding soft
tissues. Needless to say, usually the bone is never the only
thing
which needs to be fixed.
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This is why it takes some time for you
to
get better. Your body is a wonderful healer, it heals cuts,
scraps,
broken bones; it just takes some time. You do need to be patient
and follow your doctor's orders to heal quickly.
Can I
speed
the healing process?
Proper rest, exercise and good
nutrition
are especially important during the healing process.
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While there aren't any shortcuts to
speed
your body's natural healing process, there's a lot you can do to give
yourself
the best chance of a quick recovery.
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Learn proper sitting and lifting
methods.
Specific exercises may be suggested to help retrain the muscles that
support
your spine.
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Proper rest is an important aspect of
the
healing process, too. Get the appropriate amount of rest your
body
needs, and avoid sleeping on your stomach.
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During the healing process, proper
nutrition
is more important than ever. Make sure you get balanced meals,
and
if you're overweight, now would be a good time to slim down and reduce
unnecessary stresses to your spine.
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Perhaps most important of all, keep
you appointments
and follow your chiropractic doctor's recommendations for optimum
results.
Is
chiropractic
care safe?
Chiropractic care is safer than back
surgery,
muscle relaxers and even common aspirin!
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In the words of the New Zealand
government's
inquiry, chiropractic care is "remarkably safe".
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Chiropractic has an excellent safety
record.
It is the result of a conservative approach to health that avoids
invasive
procedures or addictive drugs.
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A thorough case history and
examination help
reveal areas of the spine that may be causing nervous system
malfunction.
This information will be used to determine the best course of care for
each patient.
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Chiropractic care is a natural
approach to
better health that is proven safe and effective.
Can
children
have chiropractic care?
Chiropractic has been shown to be
helpful
with scoliosis and many other so-called "normal" childhood health
problems.
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Since significant spinal trauma can
occur
at birth, many parents have their newborns checked for Vertebral
Subluxation
Complex.
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Later, learning to walk, ride a
bicycle and
other childhood activities can cause spinal problems. While a bandage
and
some comforting words can help a skinned knee, the unseen damage to the
child's spine is the unique domain of a chiropractic doctor.
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Many childhood health complaints that
are
brushed off as "growing pains" can often be traced to the spine.
Regular
chiropractic checkups can identify these problems and help avoid many
of
the health complaints seen later in adults.
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Naturally, chiropractic adjusting
procedures
are modified to a child's spine. Most parents report that their
children
enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and seem healthier than other
children.
Am I too
old
for chiropractic care?
Regardless of your age, chiropractic
care
can help improve mobility and maintain vitality.
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More and more people are consulting
chiropractic
doctors, especially in their later years. With growing concerns
about
over-medication and the side effects of combining various prescription
drugs, safe, natural chiropractic care is growing in popularity.
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Restoring better spinal function can
help
improve mobility, vitality, endurance and appetite. Many patients
report improvement with arthritic symptoms and other chronic ailments
often
associated with the aging process.
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The adjusting technique used by your
doctor
will be modified for maximum comfort and results.
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As we get older and wiser, the
simplicity
and effectiveness of chiropractic care becomes more and more obvious.
How long
will
I need chiropractic care?
Periodic chiropractic checkups, like
brushing
and flossing, getting regular exercise, and eating wholesome foods is
part
of a healthy lifestyle.
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Spinal problems, neglected since early
childhood,
may require ongoing supportive care for optimum spinal function.
These long-standing problems are often associated with muscle weakness,
soft tissue damage, and degenerative changes to the spine.
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Most patients find that periodic
chiropractic
checkups help keep them in tip-top shape. Those who are
active,
have stressful jobs, or want to be their very best, find that a
schedule
of preventive visits is helpful in the maintenance of good health.
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Some patients seek chiropractic care
only
when their ache or pain becomes unbearable. While this
style
of "crisis management" is usually more costly and time-consuming, our
office
stands ready to help all patients, regardless of their health goals.
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How long you decide to benefit from
chiropractic
care is always up to you.
Is
chiropractic
care expensive?
Chiropractic care is very affordable,
in
fact, you may not have to pay anything!
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Napoli Chiropractic accepts most
insurance and health
care plans.
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If you were injured at work or in car
accident,
you are free to visit a chiropractor. Also, if you qualify, the
treatment
will be at no cost to you.
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Napoli Chiropractic also has cash
plans which provide
affordable chiropractic care for people without insurance or for those
with high deductibles.