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What is Chiropractic?
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Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your body is
a self-regulating, self-healing organism, controlled by the brain, spinal
cord and nerves of the body. The vertebrae, which protects the brain and
nervous system, when misaligned or subluxated, cause malfunction of the
tissues and organs throughout the body. Chiropractic is based on a vitalistic
philosophy and backed by science since its discovery over 105 years ago by
Daniel David
(D.D.) Palmer.
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How Does Chiropractic Work?
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Chiropractic works by restoring your own God-given ability to
be healthy. By restoring spinal function with Chiropractic adjustments, nerve
interference by misaligned vertebrae is removed, thus allowing optimal
nervous system function and normal health. The Chiropractic objective is to
locate these vertebral subluxations, analyze and deduce the gentlest way to
help the body correct them using a Chiropractic Adjustment; thus releasing
the pressure on the spinal cord and nerves involved restoring healthy
communication between the brain and the body. Renewed health is the natural
result as the body returns to a more optimal state of performance. Your
chiropractor will place their hands on the patient's spine, directly over the
subluxation, and apply a gentle direct force. This does NOT "put the
bone back into place"; but rather unlocks jammed or fixated vertebrae
from its position and permits it to move where the body needs it to go. Only
the body's innate wisdom knows exactly where the vertebra should go.
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Who needs Chiropractic Care?
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Anyone who wants to have optimal health, and a way to get
there. Just like anyone with teeth should see a dentist; infants, children, seniors,
and everyone with a spine should see a chiropractor.
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What to expect on your Initial Visit to our Office?
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The first thing you'll be asked to do is to complete your
“Personal Health History Questionnaire”. During your consultation, we will
ask questions regarding your present health concern as well as your overall
past and present health stresses, which may have caused Vertebral
Subluxations. Once the doctor has acquired all necessary information, he will
explain to you exactly what will follow in the examination. He will educate
you on exactly what he is looking for, why he is looking for Vertebral
Subluxations, how they are possibly related to your health concerns and any
follow up procedures if Vertebral Subluxations are found. Your consultation
will be followed by a complete chiropractic examination. This will include,
but not limited to, Thermography (the latest in Chiropractic technology),
Postural Evaluation, and Spinal Examination. If any of the above reveal the
presence of Vertebral Subluxations, Dr. So may recommend a x-ray series be
taken of your spine. Dr. So only recommends x-rays if he feels they are
absolutely necessary. Dr. So will need time to review the x-rays and compare
them to the chiropractic examination findings. The staff will schedule you
for your personal “Report of Findings”, as soon as possible. The fee for this
follow up visit is included in your examination fee. At your Report of Findings
(ROF), Dr. So will explain to you where he has found nerve interference,
Vertebral Subluxations, and how severe the situation is. He will outline a
course of action, BASED ON YOUR NEEDS, which may include, but not limited to,
Spinal Adjustments, exercises and lifestyle recommendations.
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What
is a Subluxation? How do you get them?
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Subluxation
is a misalignment of the spinal bones that result in nerves getting choked or
irritated and cause your body to mal-function. Subluxations have a multitude
of causes. From the moment we are born we are subjected to a wider variety of
physical, chemical and mental stressors. The first subluxation can occur as
early as the birth
process or very early in life. As a newborn infant is pulled from the
birth canal, tremendous strain and traction is placed on the delicate
structures of the spine in the neck as it is stretched and twisted. This can
be one of the first causes of early vertebral subluxation. Other causes
include poor sleeping habits, poor posture, strenuous exercise, sports
injuries, stress, tension & anxiety, chemical exposure (i.e. drugs and
medications), injuries at work, automobile accidents, and stumbles and falls.
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How
do I know if I have a Subluxation?
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You can have several but never know it. Like the early stages
of tooth decay, heart disease, or cancer, subluxations can be present before
warning signs appear. Your body only can sense 10% of any pain you have, so
when you feel pain that is warning you that something is wrong, the
subluxation itself may have been there a long time. For example, you may feel
pain in your back today, but after getting examined by a chiropractor you may
see in your x-ray that you have had subluxations since an injury when you
were younger.
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Can
Subluxations clear up on their own?
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The body is always trying to heal itself, but in today's
hectic lifestyles there is a constant source of subluxations. Fortunately,
our bodies have the ability to self-correct many of these problems as we bend
and stretch, or when we sleep at night. When subluxations don't resolve
themselves a chiropractor is needed to correct the subluxation and give the
body a better chance to heal itself. Unfortunately, we cannot tell if
we are subluxated by how we feel, we need to get checked for subluxations
regularly by a chiropractor. Even Dr. Freddie has his own chiropractor
that checks his spine regularly.
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What is an Adjustment?
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Chiropractic adjustments usually involve a gentle but quick
thrust that helps add motion to spinal joints that aren't moving right. Some
methods use the doctor's hands, an instrument, a special table or the force
of gravity. There are many ways to adjust the spine and they vary for infants
to adults to seniors.
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What
is the sound I hear during an Adjustment?
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Lubricating
fluids separate the bones of each spinal joint. Some adjusting methods can
produce a sound when the gas (mostly nitrogen) and fluids in the joint shift.
It's much like opening a bottle of champagne or removing a suction cup. The
sound is interesting, but it isn't a guide to the quality or value of the
adjustment.
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Can I adjust myself?
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NO, some people can make their joints "pop", but
that's not an adjustment! Worse, damage can occur by mobilizing a joint with
weakened muscles and ligaments. Adjustments are specific skills that take
years to master and only a licensed chiropractor can perform a specific
chiropractic adjustment. Even your chiropractic doctor must consult a
colleague to benefit from chiropractic care.
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Why
does it seem that medical doctors don't like to refer patients to
Chiropractors?
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That's changing. Years of prejudice and bias
are giving way to research showing the benefits of chiropractic care.
Attitudes are slow to change. However, as the public demands alternatives to
drugs and surgery, more and more medical practitioners are referring their
patients to seek chiropractic care.
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Are
Drugs or Medications involved?
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No. Chiropractic doctors don't dispense drugs, because we rely
on natural methods. Drugs and medications usually band-aid the symptom but
don't really help heal or fix the problem. There are also dangerous
side-effects with medications. That is where chiropractic comes in.
Chiropractors find the source of your problem and work on helping your body
to return to being able to repair itself.
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Why
Do Children Need Chiropractic Care?
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If you understand how we get subluxations, you will realize
that it can take years to repair damages that you received as a child. So if
children are checked regularly further damage can be avoided and health
maintained. Think of how many falls and bumps and stumbles children receive.
About 4000 by their 4th birthday! Each can cause a subluxation that if not
treated will only grow worse.
A recent study by Nilsson in Denmark
reports that children under chiropractic care are healthier than other
children, miss less school, are more attentive and have less need for drugs.
Children with conditions such as earaches, colic, bed wetting, scoliosis,
"growing pains", torticollis, and asthma respond wonderfully to
chiropractic care. Click here for more information on children and infants and
chiropractic care.
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Can I have Chiropractic Care After Back Surgery?
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Yes. Rest assured that your chiropractic doctor will avoid the
surgically modified areas of your spine. Surgery often causes instability
above or below the involved level. These areas will be the focus of your
chiropractic care.
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Can
Patients With Osteoporosis receive Chiropractic Care?
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Of course. When developing a care plan, your chiropractic
doctor considers the unique circumstances of each patient. There are many
gentle ways to adjust the spine. The method selected will be best suited to
your age, size and condition. (This is for every patient).
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How Long Until I'll Feel Better?
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Some patients experience almost instant relief. Others
discover it can take many weeks or months. Many factors can affect the
healing process. How long have you had your problem? Are you keeping your
appointments? Are you getting the proper rest, exercise and nutrition? Do you
smoke? Are you in otherwise good condition? Within a short period of time,
most patients sense enough progress to fully carry out their doctor's
recommendations?
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How Long Will I Need Chiropractic Care?
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Depending on the degree of damage in your spine there may be
weeks to months to years of corrective care to correct the cause of the
underlying muscle weakness, soft tissue damage, and degenerative
changes. This is followed up by wellness or maintenance care. Similar
to brushing teeth, tuning up your car or regularly visiting a dentist,
wellness care is important for maintaining optimal health, saving money, and
enjoying a healthy lifestyle. How long you decide to benefit from
Chiropractic is always up to you.
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What
Type of Education Do Chiropractors Get?
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Today's Doctor of Chiropractic is well educated with an
educational curriculum similar to medical school. Special emphasis is placed
on anatomy, neurology, biomechanics, nutrition, x-ray, physiology, diagnosis,
and spinal adjusting. Post graduate education totals 7 years and demanding
national and provincial board examinations must be passed. A chiropractor is
a specialist in your spine and nervous system and subluxations - something no
other health practitioner is trained in.
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How
much do visits cost?
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As every person may require different
durations and frequencies of care, a specialized program of care is designed
for each patient as well as an affordable payment plan. All fees are
discussed prior to any services being provided. As our office sees
patients of all backgrounds, including retired seniors to unemployed
individuals, no patient is ever turned away because of their financial
situation, as long as their health is their priority.
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Do I Need a Referral to Visit a Chiropractor?
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Absolutely not! A Doctor of Chiropractic is a primary contact
provider, meaning you do not need a referral. If yours is not a Chiropractic
case, the doctor will refer you to the appropriate health care provider.
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Can
I Get More Information?
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If you have any other questions, or comments, please e-mail
Dr. Mackay at drcolin@cfoctpc.com, drcolin@wcwclinic.com.
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About Chiropractic
Common Questions