Frequently Asked Questions
We know
you’re the one in charge of your health and recovery. And since
knowledge is power, we’re happy to answer your questions.
Don’t see your question here?
Please
email it to us, and it might end up here on the Frequently
Asked Questions page.
I've Already Had Spinal
Decompression. How Is Your Program Different?
Our Spinal Decompression service is unique for
several reasons. First, we are constantly learning from the
best instructors in the country regarding how to apply this
state-of-the-art therapy. This knowledge is constantly evolving
and so are we. Secondly, our spinal decompression is part of a
comprehensive approach that incorporates other critical
supporting systems. For many patients, it is simply not enough
to decompress the disc. Critical rehabilitation and neurology
programs must be utilized for full and sustained recovery. (For
more information about the NSI System,
click here.)
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What Is Spinal
Decompression?
Spinal decompression is a non-surgical,
non-invasive therapy procedure that regenerates disc by
restoring the fluids to the disc. Decompression returns normal
function of the disc by intermittently expanding the space and
between the bones to create a vacuum inside the disc. This
promotes nutrients and fluids to be sucked into the disc which
promotes healing. Research has shown decompression to have a
very high success rate for low back and neck conditions. (For
more information on Spinal Decompression,
click here.)
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What Conditions Does
Spinal Decompression Help?
Spinal decompression helps symptoms related to
the lower back and includes pain in hips, buttocks, legs, knees,
feet and low back. It helps bulging discs, herniated discs,
spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, and facet syndrome.
(For more information on Spinal Decompression,
click here.)
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Can Spinal Decompression
Help If You've Already Had Surgery?
We have treated many patients that have had
surgery in the past and still have pain. The goal is to prevent
surgery and to avoid the second, or third, surgery.
Post-operative patients can benefit from introduction of kinetic
activity, improved strength, decompression and stretching of
scar tissue.
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What Is Chiropractic?
Many people experience chiropractic as a
natural, drug-free way to get healthy. Specific chiropractic
adjustments improve spinal health and the nervous system
allowing your body to function without pain or disease.
Chiropractic treats the “cause” of the symptom by adjusting the
vertebra and restoring the spinal alignment.
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How Does Chiropractic
Work?
In our office, we utilize specific chiropractic
adjustments along with rehabilitative exercises to correct
spinal misalignments, and to strengthen the supporting soft
tissues. When the spinal misalignments improve, your posture
improves, and you have increase function of your body.
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What If I Don't Want To
Have My Spine "Cracked?"
First of all, we don’t crack anybody’s spine. We
specifically and gently adjust the spine. In addition to
adjustment techniques that do produce a light “pop”, there are
many methods of adjusting the spine (which we practice) which
don’t produce any noise at all … just relief, increased motion
and better function. The adjustment style we use will be what
best fits your comfort. It is also possible that chiropractic
adjustments will not be part of your therapy. Again, this
depends on your needs and the results of your exam.
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How Can I Tell If My Spine
Is Healthy?
If you answer yes to any of these
questions, we can help you find out why.
- One leg appears shorter than
the other
- You have poor posture
- You feel stiffness in your
back and neck
- You have low resistance to
disease
- You have poor concentration
and are often fatigued
- Your jaw clicks
- You can’t turn your head or
hips to either side equally
- You can’t take a satisfying
deep breath
- Your heels wear out unevenly
- You have a constant
stressful feeling and tension in muscles and joints
- You have headaches, back
aches, sore or tender spots in muscles or joints
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What Can Cause Spinal
Misalignment?
Many things can contribute to
causing spinal misalignment. Here are several
possibilities:
- An auto or work injury
- A fall no matter how long
ago
- Bad posture
- Surgery
- Being a couch potato!
- Using the same body position
over and over at work or at play (repetitive strain injury)
- Intense emotional stress
- Chemical stress (eating a
lot of junk food or taking medications)
- Can even be traced by to a
difficult birth or delivery
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Is Chiropractic Safe?
Chiropractic is among the safest of the healing arts. Simply
compare the malpractice rates between chiropractors and other
health professionals. Chiropractor's malpractice premiums are a
small fraction of those for medical doctors, especially
orthopedists and surgeons.
Chiropractic care does not add anything to the body (such as
medication and adverse side effects), or remove anything from
the body (as in surgery). There are volumes of research
available to support the success that chiropractic care has had.
Please Email us with your specific concerns.
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How Can Chiropractic Care Help Me?
Chiropractic adjustments to the spine can help restore spinal
alignment and normal body mechanics and reduce nervous system
interference caused by spinal subluxations. Spinal subluxations
often cause a dysfunctional nervous system resulting in impaired
or diseased body functions. Correcting subluxations helps allow
the nervous system to correct and coordinate the body’s natural
ability to heal and maintain itself.
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Can I Wear My Own Clothes?
Yes! Most patients
come right from work or school, but come dressed comfortably.
It’s important to be comfortable in your own clothes.
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Can Children Get
Chiropractic Care?
Yes! As we like to say, “The earlier detected
the easier corrected.” Children usually respond well because of
their age and flexibility. If your child’s school has detected
scoliosis, the sooner the child receives treatment, the less
problematic the scoliosis will be. To have your children tested
for spinal changes that are not picked up by routine school
screening, contact our office. We can help.
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What Kind Of Exercises
Should I Expect To Do At Home?
You will be given specific rehabilitative
exercises to help correct the areas of concern and improve the
whole spine. Obviously, neck and back exercises will differ
depending on your exam findings.
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What's Wrong With Taking
Pain Killers?
We are focusing on finding the cause of your symptoms.
Painkillers and medications are often used to mask or simply
control real health problems. In many cases it’s like a teenager
turning up the radio so they don’t hear the car making that
grinding noise. If they can’t hear the noise the problem seems
to be gone.
Taking drugs to cover up pain or other symptoms may give the
illusion of health, but often leads people to put off finding
and fixing the cause of the problem and may allow a person to do
physical things that might increase the injury. In addition,
studies show that a high percentage of symptoms, diseases,
kidney failures and deaths are caused by the side effects of
medication.
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How Much Care Will I Need?
The amount of care is based on several factors such as prior
health, prior injuries, arthritic spinal changes, and
degenerative diseases, and the results of the examination /
evaluation findings. Each patient presents with a variety of
concerns and conditions, thus the patient’s condition dictates
the level of care needed to help correct the cause of the
problem.
Some patients respond very well within a few days of care
while others with advanced or chronic problems may take more
time for their bodies to respond and heal. In short, I will not
know until we meet and I learn more about your specific
situation. Fortunately you will likely be eligible for a
complementary consultation. This will be the first step for you
to take in order to determine what is necessary for your
healing. No costs will be incurred without you being consulted
first. Call our office to find out more – 360 705 0900.
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How Much Does Care Cost In Your Office?
This entirely depends on your condition, the results of your
complementary consultation and a thorough exam. This will tell
us what services you need.
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Will Insurance Cover My Chiropractic
Care?
Most insurance policies cover chiropractic care. Some
insurance companies cover some rehabilitating procedures. At
your first visit, after your complementary consultation, our
specialist will verify your insurance benefits to help discover
what services are covered. When treatment recommendations are
made, your insurance benefits will be reviewed with you so you
know exactly what is covered.
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