Frequently Asked
Questions:
Questions about arthritis, osteoarthritis,
vertebral subluxation, whiplash, headaches, and sports performance?
Do I have to have
X-rays taken? What if I do not want X-rays taken?
X-rays are the most
important testing tool we use to determine the cause of your complaints.
Following a consultation and history review, the Doctors will determine
if you can be accepted as a patient without the necessary X-rays.
Can I
bring X-rays from another office or doctor?
Yes, provided they were
taken within the last year at a chiropractor’s office. Additional views
may be necessary if more information is needed. X-rays taken at a
medical office are often different views than may be needed for
chiropractic. However, you are welcome to bring them with you; the
Doctors will determine if they can be effectively used to isolate your
problems for proper treatment.
I may
only want to come for one visit. What if I don’t want to keep coming
back?
That’s fine; the
Doctors will give recommendations for care based on their findings. You
can choose how much you wish to benefit from chiropractic care.
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Can
chiropractic therapy cure common ailments such as asthma, colds, and
stomach problems?
Chiropractic is not a
treatment or cure for any of these problems. However, chiropractic does
help your spine and nervous system function better, which can lead to
extended health benefits. Many patients report improvement with various
conditions, such as respiratory and gastrointestinal, after receiving
chiropractic care.
How long
does a visit usually take?
Your initial visit will
last approximately one hour and help determine the cause of your
problems and to decide the appropriate treatment. If we feel we can help
your condition, your next two or three visits will be about 15-20
minutes. We understand that your time is valuable; for your convenience,
we make every effort to limit the length of your treatments. Your
waiting time will be minimal and we will perform only services that are
truly necessary to assist in your healing process.
How much
do you charge for a visit?
This may vary depending
on your insurance coverage. Please visit our insurance page for
coverage. If you do not have insurance, Welsh Chiropractic Clinic offers
the WCC Wellness Plan. Please visit our insurance page to learn more
about the WCC Wellness Plan.
What
techniques and adjustments do our Doctors use?
The Doctors use a
variety of techniques based on your individual needs. They concentrate
on full spine diversified, Cox flexion distraction, Activator, Gonstead,
and Acupuncture. (Contact us for more information pertaining to these
adjustments.) And please inform the Doctors during your consultation if
you are accustomed to a certain type of adjustment.
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When
will I see my X-rays?
Usually, on your second
visit your X-rays will be reviewed and all questions pertaining to your
course of treatment will be answered.
Do I
have to make appointments or can I just come in?
After your treatment
plan is chosen, we do require scheduled appointments to keep track of
your progress and make sure you receive the number of visits recommended
by the Doctors. Scheduled appointments also ensure that your treatment
visits can be performed in a timely manner.
Can I
take my X-rays to my MD or another DC for a second opinion?
Yes, you may take your
X-rays for the purpose of a second opinion or consultation with another
doctor, but the x-rays should be returned to the facility from where
they were originally taken.
Should I
bring my spouse or children in to have their spines checked?
Absolutely! People of
all ages can benefit from chiropractic care. Spinal problems often
develop from an injury or fall at an early age and may go unnoticed
until they are more severe and painful.
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How many
times am I going to have come in?
Everybody responds
differently to chiropractic care, but the doctor will make specific
recommendations for correcting your problem. Ultimately, it’s up to you
to decide how much chiropractic care you wish to benefit from.
How long
will it take before I am better?
Statistically, it takes
between one and 20 visits to feel relief from the pain that brought you
to our clinic. However, health is not merely the absence of pain. To
achieve true wellness and realize your body’s optimum health potential,
your care should not end when your pain does. With continued care,
long-term changes can occur – which will make you feel great!
What
kind of education does a Doctor of Chiropractic have?
Doctors of Chiropractic
are required to have four years of pre-chiropractic education that is
similar in content to pre-med courses. After that, four and a half years
of chiropractic college is required before graduation. These guidelines
are very similar to the educational requirements of a medical doctor or
an osteopathic.
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Can I
bring in my X-rays from my MD?
Yes. However, depending
upon when and how the films were taken, we may have to refer for extra
views in order to see all of the structures pertinent for proper
chiropractic analysis.
Will you
accept my insurance plan?
We accept many
insurance plans that cover chiropractic. Please check our insurance page
to check for coverage or give us a call at (813) 962-2489.
Why do I
have to use ice?
Surface cooling
restricts blood vessels, numbs painful areas and helps relax muscle
spasms. Cold temperatures reduce aberrant nerve transmission from nerve
interference, thus allowing for a better adjustment. Along with the
adjustment, cooling also helps retrain your nervous system to work
properly.
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Why
can’t I use heat instead of ice?
Heat applied to the
skin enlarges blood vessels below the surface, which actually promotes
inflammation. Heat is used for temporary relief of the symptoms
associated with chronic muscle pain. Therefore, it is not recommended by
the doctor in the early phases of treatment. Heat is also less effective
in training, or retraining, your nervous system.
Is
Chiropractic safe?
The answer is
absolutely? Chiropractic is arguably the safest form of healthcare.
Literally safer than taking an aspirin. A good measurement of the safety
and effectiveness of Chiropractic is looking at malpractice insurance
rates. Chiropractic malpractice rates are one of the lowest of all
health professions. This reflects the fact that any adverse problems are
extremely rare if at all.
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Further Information
What is
Arthritis?
What is Osteoarthritis?
What is Vertebral Subluxation?
What is Whiplash?
What do I need to
know about Headaches?
Can
Chiropractic help Sports performance?
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Arthritis
Arthritis is considered by many as an illness of aging and affects
millions of older Americans every year. However, older people are not
the only ones affected; younger adults can also experience the symptoms
of arthritis.
Arthritis is the inflammation of a joint which causes heat, redness,
swelling and pain. This often happens when a joint is strained, injured
or irritated in some way. Symptoms range from no symptoms, occasional
mild stiffness or pain, to severe pain. In severe cases permanent joint
damage can occur.
Although pain is one symptom of arthritis, only certain nerves carry
pain messages. Unless these nerves are affected no pain will be felt.
Pain is a warning that something is not right in the body, but not all
people will have this warning and may not be aware they have arthritis.
Arthritis can cause degenerative joint damage for years without pain.
Standard medical procedure to treat arthritis is to treat the symptoms.
Anti-inflammatory drugs are extensively used to reduce swelling,
stiffness and pain. However, drug therapies cause a broad range of
undesirable side effects. In some case physical therapy are prescribed
to relieve joint stiffness. Surgery is recommended as a last resort.
Delaying diagnosis and treatment only prolongs pain and can cause acute
damage to the affected areas. This in turn will affect the whole body
and cause further health complications. For the sake of your health,
schedule a chiropractic examination to rule out spinal problems that may
be contributing to your arthritis.
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Osteoarthritis
As the most widespread type of arthritis, osteoarthritis is also
known as degenerative joint disease and hypertrophic arthritis. This
degenerative disease affects people later in life and is thought to be
caused by too much wear and tear on the joints. Million Americans over
the age of 50 suffer from osteoarthritis mainly affecting the hands,
knees, hips and spine.
Frequently, osteoarthritis is the result of an old injury where lipping,
spurring or bone growths often seen on x-rays are caused by additional
calcium deposited in the joints. In defense the body tries to splint or
stabilize the area by adding calcium to the bone. This can lead to joint
problems and nerve irritation.
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Vertebral Subluxation
Vertebral Subluxation Complex is when spinal bones lose
their normal position and motion through trauma, stress, or chemical
imbalances, caused by falls, auto accidents, incorrect lifting, slumped
posture, athletic injuries, sitting too long, chemical or emotional
stress, lack of exercise, or even hereditary factors. This spinal
disturbance can profoundly affect the surrounding soft nerve tissue
resulting in interrupted nerve flow that starts a degenerative
chain-reaction that may seriously affect the health and function of the
entire body. Among other diseases, Vertebral Subluxation can cause
arthritis. Doctors of Chiropractic are the only professionals trained
and educated in the diagnosis and correction of the Vertebral
Subluxation Complex. Among other diseases, Vertebral Subluxation can
cause arthritis.
Chiropractor’s primary treatment of Vertebral Subluxation Complex is the
use of spinal manipulation and adjustment. By applying precise direct
pressure to a joint that is out of alignment, or not moving properly,
original position and function are gradually restored. Alternate
therapies to spinal adjustment for elderly patients can be accommodated
by the use of flexion and distraction. The Chiropractic approach greatly
reduces pain, stiffness, and damage while it restores joint mobility and
function.
Many health conditions seemingly unrelated to “back problems” can often
be traced back to nervous system impairment and Vertebral Subluxation
Complex.
Make a commitment to your own recovery. Discontinuing treatment
prematurely not only delays full recovery, it can cause a relapse of the
original health complaint.
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Whiplash
Whiplash is a common injury from automobile accidents. Impact from
the front or rear during a car collision tosses the head viciously in a
direction beyond its usual confines, the neck muscles then react by
“whipping” the neck in the other direction. Muscles, tendons and
ligaments can be overstretched or damaged. The spinal cord and nerve
endings in the neck can be stretched and pinched, leading to irritation.
Discs between spinal bones can rupture, swell and herniate.
Early signs of whiplash may include a sore or stiff neck accompanied by
a headache within a few hours of the accident. Pain, numbness or
tingling in the back, arms, shoulders and hands may also occur.
Flexibility is greatly reduced. Ringing in the ears, dizziness, hearing
loss, or blurred vision may also be symptoms. Some symptoms appear much
later, even weeks after the accident.
Any trauma to your spine can upset its normal alignment and mobility.
Muscles, ligaments, and discs are affected interfering with nerve
messages from the brain to other areas of the body, affecting the
healing process. This is known as “vertebral subluxation”. Vertebral
Subluxation can go unnoticed for years causing damage and negatively
affecting your health.
In severe whiplash, the brain is violently banged against the inside of
the skull. Concussion may occur and symptoms include headache,
irritability, restlessness, insomnia, depression and mood-swings that
may last for hours or even days.
Most problems are more easily treated within the first month when
symptoms appear. Get a spinal checkup with your chiropractor whenever
you have suffered a whiplash injury. Your health history, physical exam
and x-rays help your chiropractor determine the extent of the damage as
well as the course of recommended treatment to follow. Spinal damage
should always be ruled out to protect your long-term health.
Frequent chiropractic visits may be needed to help relieve your
symptoms. So be patient. Give your treatment program time to work and
yourself time to heal. Make a commitment to your own recovery. Even
after your symptoms ease, regular treatment may be needed for complete
healing. Discontinuing treatment prematurely only delays and prevents
full recovery.
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Headaches
Headaches can be triggered by physical or emotional
stress, toxic fumes, food allergies, alcohol, bright light, hormonal
fluctuations, sleep patterns, blood pressure, weather changes, or new
eye-glasses to name just a few causes. Headaches can also be caused by
misaligned spinal bones in the neck and upper back.
A recurring headache is a sign that something is wrong. Pain-relievers
bring temporary relief but only mask the symptoms and don’t correct the
source of the problem. As long as the problem remains, the headaches
will come back... again and again.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are characterized by dull, steady pain on one or both
sides of the head. These headaches usually begin with physical or mental
stress that causes contractions of muscles in the back, neck, and head.
Prolonged contractions rob the muscles of oxygen, making them release
chemicals that transmit pain signals to the brain.
Vascular Headaches
These headaches are accompanied by intense throbbing and stabbing pains
when blood vessels to the scalp and brain dilate suddenly. It includes
migraines and cluster headaches. Migraine sufferers are often completely
debilitated, with nausea, sensitivity to noise and light. These
headaches could last a few hours or even days. Cluster headaches occur
in clusters, lasting from minutes to a few hours up to eight times a
day.
Vertebrogenic Headaches
These headaches caused by problems with the neck are felt in the back,
sides and front of the head or neck. The normal curvature of the neck is
changed by trauma, degenerative arthritis, or poor posture. The pain is
sudden and severe, possibly creating muscle tension and bringing on
tension headaches as well.
When headaches are frequent or recur over time, it is not wise to ignore
the signals and treat just the symptoms. Medical management of headaches
usually involves medications which are never risk-free. Remember, pain
is uncomfortable it is how the body tells us that something is wrong. A
Doctor of Chiropractic is highly experienced in finding the causes
behind headaches and can usually bring immediate pain relief. A
Chiropractor can also help to identify headache triggers and make
suggestions regarding therapy and lifestyle to prevent further
headaches.
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Sports and Chiropractic Care
Professional athletes in many sports arenas rely on
regular chiropractic care. Chiropractic benefits are: decreases recovery
time from injury, improves performance, and prevents potential problems.
If professional athletes benefit, so can everyone benefit from
chiropractic care.
Sports chiropractic is a specialized area. By applying chiropractic
principles biomechanical and muscular function is enhanced and
maintained. High impact sports such as football, hockey, basketball and
soccer benefit from chiropractic care, as well as golfers, bowlers,
joggers, tennis players, skiers and many others.
During contact sports such as football or hockey the body is subjected
to a forceful impact. When a vertebra is damaged or displaced in the
neck or back, it may not be apparent until later. Pressure then affects
the nerves and surrounding soft tissue and affects overall health.
Impact injuries are not the only concern, disc and soft tissue
involvement is common in sports such as golf and tennis. Joggers also
subject their joints to wear and tear with constant jarring.
When spinal bones lose their normal alignment (Vertebral Subluxation),
it can exert pressure on adjacent nerves, impair neural messages and
adversely affect the function of all tissues, organs, and systems in the
body. This in turn limits movement, strength, stamina and speed. Until
joint alignment is restored, complete recovery is not possible and
performance is also limited. Chiropractic care restores spinal function
with manipulation sessions that gradually realign the spinal bones.
Many of us, even without a sports injury, are not at our best potential.
Any malfunction in the neuromusculoskeletal system causes your body to
compensate by adapting the way other parts function with it. Because of
this change, your body uses more energy to achieve the same result it
did before. With chiropractic manipulation, the athlete could experience
greater range of motion, muscle function, coordination, balance, and
performance.
Before you begin serious conditioning for a new sport, speak to your
chiropractor. Many potential problems could be avoided or eliminated
with early detection and correction. Your Doctor of Chiropractic can
provide you with appropriate stretching and strength building exercises,
as well as therapies and treatments of all kinds of injuries. With
proper diagnosis and care, athletes and non-athletes alike can prevent
many sprains and strains and improve athletic and recreational sports
performance.
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Still have some questions?
Please contact us.
Dr.
Susan Welsh
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