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General
Questions
What
is chiropractic?
The Warren Clinic of Chiropractic considers chiropractic as whole body
wellness. Whole body wellness is the state of health where your body
is free of spinal nerve interference.
Your body depends on the free flow of nerve
communications from the brain, through the spinal column, to
every part of the body. When any of these nerves become twisted,
the vital communication system is interrupted. These neurological
interruptions are called “subluxations.” These
subluxations interfere with your nervous system and your body’s
ability to function properly, which gets in the way of you
enjoying your life.
Is
chiropractic really safe?
Chiropractic is very safe for all people including children and women
in term pregnancy. The Warren Clinic of Chiropractic utilizes the latest
equipment, and committed to bringing you and your family the highest
quality health care available today.
How
much will chiropractic cost?
Initial consultation with the doctor (which is always the most expensive)
is given at no charge. If it is determined chiropractic is right for
you,
our doctors and staff will go over in detail what your choices are, including
all costs involved.
How
long will it take?
The length of the first office visit depends on each individual's case
and time needed to answer any questions. We recommend that you set aside
one hour for your time with the doctor in order to assure that all of
your questions are answered. Subsequent visits are much quicker as most
questions are answered on the first visit.
Is
lower back pain really a serious problem?
First of all, if it makes life more difficult
for you, that's serious in itself. Even it goes
away in a few days you haven't really gotten rid
of the problem. It will most likely return and
if left untreated, could be more debilitating the
next time. Which is why we recommend seeing a chiropractor
at the first sign of back pain.
Lower back pain can also be accompanied
by a variety of symptoms, some of which indicate very serious
problems. Do you currently have or have you ever had:
- Leg pain with numbness, tingling and/or weakness?
- Back or leg pain with coughing or sneezing?
- Difficulty standing up after sitting for any
period of time?
- Morning stiffness?
- Pain after extended walking?
- Pain in hip, buttock, thigh,
knee or foot?
If you've answered "yes" to any
of these symptoms, its time you got help from a doctor. A doctor
of chiropractic.
What
will a chiropractor do at my first visit?
On your first visit to the doctor's office, your chiropractor will:
- Review your health history
- Learn important information about any surgeries,
major illnesses or events in your past that could
contribute to your current health problem
- Conduct a thorough neurological, orthopaedic,
and chiropractic examination
- Perform essential diagnostic physical tests,
such as reflexes and muscle strength
- If necessary, take an appropriate x-ray
Why
Chiropractic?
Why
should I see a chiropractor?
Ask yourself the following questions to find out why chiropractors can
help you:
- Are you suffering from lower back pain? Or, do your headaches
never seem to go away?
- Have you been injured at work or in a car accident
and are having trouble dealing with the pain?
- Are you active in sports, but after the game
have stiff joints and shooting pains?
- Are you pregnant with an aching back?
- Are you in your Golden years and having trouble
enjoying retirement because those aches and pains
are getting in the way?
- Are you concerned with the health of your whole
body, and are looking for a different approach
to health care?
- Are you concerned with your newborn's
or child's long term well being and growth?
If you answered yes to any of
these questions, you should visit your local chiropractor.
Every day in Canada, over 120,000 people receive treatment
from Doctors of Chiropractic.
Your chiropractor is a doctor
with over 7 years of university education in the art of hands-on
healing. Chiropractors use a combination of treatments for
your condition. They are specialists in using exact, gentle
manipulations of your spine to make you feel great. Chiropractic
treatment also includes diet and exercise programs to get you
back into tip-top shape.
Are
there actually different kinds of chiropractic care?
Just as there are different reasons for visiting
a chiropractor, there are different types of care. Which
approach you take depends on what you're trying to achieve.
Some patients simply want relief from pain. Others are
looking for a way to stay healthy. In either case, chiropractic
care works.
I
thought chiropractors were just for back pain!
Chiropractic care addresses spinal problems (called
subluxations) anywhere in your spine, not just in your
low back. A subluxation exists where spinal bones become
misaligned or lose their normal range of movement. These
problem sites irritate or put pressure on local nerves
which interferes with communication between your brain
and body (and vice versa). Using highly skilled, gentle
adjustments the unhealthy effect on your body is reduced
and corrected. In time, the spine and its nervous system
can function normally again. To help you accomplish this,
there are different types of chiropractic care available.
What
types of chiropractic care are there?
All chiropractic care begins with an initial
examination, after which x-rays may be recommended
to determine the seriousness of your condition. In
addition to being adjusted, you may be given exercises
to do, diet suggestions and ways to improve your
posture.
Relief Care is provided for acute
pain and discomfort. Depending on the diagnosis, your age and
physical condition, frequent visits over a relatively short
period of time may be required.
Corrective Care treats long term
spinal problems. Because they have existed for some time they
require a longer period of care, similar to crooked teeth slowly
improving with braces.
Maintenance Care helps you retain
the benefits you've achieved from the relief and corrective
care. Continuing to work with your chiropractor and having
periodic adjustments will keep you as healthy as you can be
in your particular lifestyle.
Chiropractic visits, exercise
and a sensible diet will help you enjoy the best of health
well into the future. So now, if you do happen to become a
grandparent, it really can be grand.
What will a chiropractor do?
Chiropractors use highly specialized hands-on healing techniques
(called adjustments) to correct spinal problems and offer long
term relief. Your first visit will include neurological, orthopaedic
and chiropractic examinations, and if necessary, an x-ray may
be recommended to assist in diagnosing your problem. Once your
chiropractor fully understands your condition he'll give you
a complete explanation of your test and x-ray results along
with an effective plan of treatment. Next Step? Relief.
Through chiropractic adjustments your body is given the
opportunity to heal itself. That's because once the spine is
properly aligned your entire nervous system can work the way
it was intended. Health is restored naturally to your lower
back and your whole body.
But long-term relief from back pain
is a team effort. There's plenty you can do as well. Consider
a healthier lifestyle, moderate exercise, a well-balanced diet
and improving your posture. Your chiropractor will do the rest
by providing your body with the necessary adjustments to help
your spine be healthier and stay healthier
Headaches & Migraines
Can
a chiropractor really get rid of my headaches?
It will help to understand what causes most headaches.
Your spine protects your nervous system which starts
with the brain and becomes the spinal cord. When
the vertebrae in your neck are unable to move properly,
it irritates or puts pressure on the nerves in that
area. That can cause headaches. To correct this problem
(called a subluxation) a chiropractor gently adjusts
the vertebrae. Since most headaches are caused by
subluxations, they will soon disappear.
Why would I have spinal
problems in my neck?
There are many reasons. They can originally occur
during the birth process, and as your body grows
and matures. Also, falls, sports activities, motor
vehicle accidents, bad posture or simply the stresses
of daily living can cause spinal problems. It is
also very common for headache sufferers to experience
neck pain and stiffness.
But my headaches are
migraines?
Migraine headaches are usually severe and sharp, throbbing
in nature, and generally affect one side of the head. Tension
headaches tend to occur frequently, last a long time and are
characterized by a dull, steady pain that feels like a band
of pressure around the head. But despite these differences
they are closely related. Chiropractic care has been proven
to be extremely effective in treating migraine and tension
headaches as well as neck pain and stiffness.
What
will the chiropractor do to treat my headaches?
Your first visit will include a consultation,
examination and possibly an x-ray to help diagnose
your problem. Once your condition is fully understood,
your chiropractor will explain your test and x-ray
results and outline a treatment plan that is tailored
to your needs. Your chiropractor will use highly
skilled, gentle manipulations to adjust the spine.
Once
my headache stops, does the chiropractic care end?
Your body continues to heal after the pain has
gone. Continuing to have chiropractic adjustments
helps to retrain your vertebrae to hold their healthy
positions. Your nervous system will function more
efficiently and your body will be better able to
heal itself. In time, exercise, a healthy diet, and
periodic visits to the chiropractor will help you
stay healthy, pain free, and live life to the fullest.
About
Chiropractors
What type of education do chiropractors
receive?
Chiropractors must pass a very intense and demanding
7 years of education in order to graduate. The science of chiropractic
requires doctors of chiropractic to put a special emphasis
on anatomy, biomechanics, neurology, pathology, physiology,
spinal adjusting techniques, X-ray and related subjects.
I've heard that chiropractic really
doesn't have a scientific basis ?
The practice of chiropractic is based on sound scientific
principles.
The existence of the nervous system as the primary control mechanism
of the body is an undisputed scientific fact. Its relationship with the
spine is the focus of the practice of chiropractic. The spine develops
to provide two primary functions - to allow for freedom of movement and
to house and protect the spinal cord. The spine can become misaligned
through trauma or repetitive injury.Interruption of nerve flow will lead
to pain, disability, and an overall decrease in the quality of life.
The removal of this interruption has been shown to have significant,
lasting health benefits. Through adjustments, the doctor of chiropractic
restores normal nerve expression, and the body is then able to respond
appropriately to any imbalances, thus relieving symptoms and restoring
health.
Why won't my doctor refer me to
a chiropractor?
Find another doctor who will. The relationship
between the medical & chiropractic professions
has improved vastly over the past years, but there
still remains some medical doctors who will continue
to refuse to believe the benefits of chiropractic
care.
Can I have chiropractic
care if I have had back surgery?
Yes. It's an unfortunate
fact that up to half of those who had spinal surgery
discover a return of their original symptoms months
or years later. They then face the prospect of additional
surgery. This too common occurrence is known as "Failed
Back Surgery Syndrome." Chiropractic may help prevent
repeated back surgeries. In fact, if chiropractic
care is initially utilized back surgery can often
be avoided in the first place.
Subluxations
What
are subluxations?
Subluxations are problem areas of the spine that affect
your entire nervous system. In these problem areas the spinal
bones are misaligned or have lost their normal range of movement.
This irritates or puts pressure on local nerves which interferes
with the communication between your brain and body (and vice
versa).
How
do subluxations happen?
The stresses and strains of everyday living such as housework,
gardening, desk work, lifting, or even sleeping on the couch
can cause spinal problems. So can falls, accidents (especially
car accidents), sports activities and injuries. In children
subluxations can initially occur during the birth process,
learning to walk, in play and from everyday childhood activities.
What
are some of the warning signs of subluxations?
Symptoms such as headaches, back pain, neck stiffness,
pain in your shoulders, arms or legs, numbness in your
hands or feet, or nervousness are the most common signs
of subluxations. But like a tooth cavity, most people
will have a subluxation long before they notice any
symptoms.
How
are subluxations corrected?
Your chiropractor will reduce and correct subluxations
with highly skilled adjustments to your spine. If the subluxations
have been present a short time, you may only need a few adjustments.
However long-term, chronic subluxations will require more frequent
adjustments to retrain the problem areas of the spine to hold
the vertebrae in their normal, healthy positions. As subluxations
are corrected, your nervous system starts to function properly
again and your body heals itself.
How
can I avoid subluxations?
If you want to keep subluxations from reoccurring, or new
ones from developing, it's best to have periodic adjustments.
Combined with a sensible diet and moderate exercise, chiropractic
care can help you enjoy the best of health for the rest of
your life. Seeing a chiropractor should go with everyone's
job!
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