Everything You Need to Know About Chiropractic

We often receive questions about what chiropractic care is, how it can help, if any risks are involved, etc. We decided to create a comprehensive article with the most commonly asked questions we receive from patients. 
 

When was Chiropractic Founded? Who Founded Chiropractic?

The term “chiropractic” comes from a Greek phrase “cheir proktos” which translates to “done by hand.” The name itself came from the man who developed chiropractic care, Daniel David Palmer.

Prior to his development of chiropractic care, manipulation, the use of pressure on specific areas of the body to adjust joints and the spine, was performed for hundreds of years. Yet, there was no formal science to it. That is exactly what DD Palmer did for the practice.

In 1895, he performed his first chiropractic adjustment on a janitor who said he stopped being able to hear after feeling something pop in his back. After an adjustment of the vertebrae in the upper back, his hearing was restored.

DD Palmer went on to develop a comprehensive program after extensive study of the physiology and anatomy of the body. He then established a school, Palmer School of Cure, which has been renamed to the Palmer College of Chiropractic. It operates in Iowa.

In 1913, the first state licensing chiropractors began and, by 1931, 39 states had put in place chiropractic licensing. And, today, licensing is present in all 50 states with more than 70,000 chiropractors actively registered.

What Pain Conditions and Injuries Can Chiropractors Treat?

Chiropractors provide a wide range of services. When you visit us in Jacksonville, our team will conduct a thorough examination to understand what your unique needs are. We diagnose and treat a variety of spinal disorders that cause nerve-related pain or musculoskeletal pain. Among those conditions and injuries are:

• Back sprains and strains including lower and upper back pain such as from lifting too much or tearing or overstretching a muscle. This includes burning, stabbing, aching, sharp, or dull pain.
• Headaches, including those that start in the neck such as those felt from the back to the front of the head, at the temples, or behind the eyes. These are often thought to be migraines or cluster headaches.
• Tail bone pain, called coccydynia, which often occurs when a person falls or sits for a long period of time.
• Degenerative disc disease, such as is common as people age where there is a breakdown of the cushions located between the vertebrae.
• Herniated discs which occur in the neck and low back as a result of pressure on the nerve passing in this area
• Myofascial pain, a type of chronic pain condition related to specific trigger points located in the muscles.
• Sciatica, a condition in which the sciatic nerve is compressed or inflamed, often with pain that seems to shoot out from the lower back, into the buttocks and down into the legs.
• Whiplash, a condition in which there is an over-extension of the neck muscles such as is common in a rear-end collision.

What Should I Expect During a Chiropractic Visit?

When you visit our offices, the first step will be to gather information from you about your needs. We will discuss symptoms and any medical history you have. Our goal is to understand the underlying cause of your pain. We will provide a full evaluation and exam for you. Then, we will create a customized treatment plan to address the specific cares of concern you have.

In some situations, we may recommend an adjustment or other type of service during your appointment. In other cases, we may need more information from diagnostic screenings. We will then make recommendations for the best treatment plan for you. This may include chiropractic treatments, massage therapy, spinal decompression, corrective exercises, or one of the more advanced techniques we offer in our offices.

It is important to know we provide only non-invasive treatment. We don’t recommend surgeries or use pain medications. We work to resolve the underlying cause of your pain.

Are Chiropractic Visits Covered by Insurance?

In most cases, yes! We work with a number of insurance providers. We recommend that you contact your health insurance carrier to learn more about the specific coverage you have. However, if you have been in an auto accident or have a personal injury claim, insurance is likely to cover your chiropractic visits. We take insurance from most providers including:

• Aetna (including most Coventry, First Health and Meritain Health plans)
• BCBS (In-State and Out-of-State)
• Cigna
• Medicare
• United Healthcare
• UMR
• All Personal Injury Protection auto insurance policies

How Much Does a Chiropractic Visit Cost Without Insurance?

Pricing varies significantly from one appointment to the next as a result of what type of services we provide and what type of screenings or diagnostic tools are necessary. We are happy to provide specific information about costs about your specific needs when you call our offices for an appointment.

We do offer self-pay options to help make paying for your chiropractic services more affordable. We also offer family health plans to help you and your family maintain the care needed. If you feel you do not have enough time or money to take care of yourself, please contact us at (904) 372-0623--we can help! 

Does a Chiropractor Take Medicare or Medicaid?

In general, Medicare Part B covers 80% of the cost for manipulation and medically necessary procedures for the correction of subluxation. Medicaid may cover your costs as well, but the amount depends on the type of care you need. As a licensed chiropractor, we meet most requirements.

Do I Need a Referral for Chiropractic?

Getting a referral for chiropractic care may be necessary, depending on the requirements of your health insurance plan. You don’t need one if you are coming in to see us without health insurance coverage. We are happy to help you learn if approval is necessary when you call our offices.

Benefits & Risks

Why does a chiropractor crack your back?

“Back-Cracking” is a term often brought to mind when people think of receiving chiropractic care. This is because of the cracking or popping sound that occurs when a chiropractor does a manual adjustment of the spine. Spinal adjustment consists of applying pressure to certain areas of the back in a very specific way that works to move and straighten the joints which are connected to the spine. Joint misalignment is one of the most common reasons for back pain. A spinal adjustment is meant to shift the spine and its affected joints back into their proper alignment, thereby relieving the pain. The cracking sound that occurs during the adjustment process is not actually the joints cracking -- it is the sound of small pockets of air being released once the muscle tissue has been stretched out.

Unfortunately, this cracking sound is one of the things that sometimes causes people to be anxious or hesitant about going to a chiropractor. They fear that something with crack, or break, irreparably. However, such an occurrence is far from the case. Nothing is in danger of being broken during a spinal adjustment and we at Integrated Healthcare Solutions work hard to ensure that your chiropractic experience, is safe, comfortable and focused on relieving your pain as quickly as possible.

Do chiropractic adjustments hurt?

Generally, no. Keep in mind, however, that when you come in to receive your adjustment and you are already in pain, it may feel momentarily intensified. More often than not, though, it is anxiety and not actually pain that you are feeling during the initial spinal manipulation. In most cases, the discomfort is quickly followed by a sense of physical relief as your muscles relax and your joints are put back into their proper alignment.

Just as with physical exercise, you may feel sore or tired for a couple of days after an adjustment, but that is a temporary condition. Many chiropractors will recommend drinking lots of water, doing stretches and using ice packs after an adjustment to relieve any soreness and to help your healing progress faster. Although you will typically need several sessions to completely heal your injury, it is common for people to feel some level of pain relief immediately following the first session.

Are adjustments safe?

Yes. As with any health treatments, there is always some level of risk, but chiropractic adjustments, as compared to other types of pain management, are considered to be extremely safe. One of the main reasons for this is that it is focused on a natural, non-invasive and drug-free approach to healing. In fact, it is one of the most widely used non-medicinal health treatments in the country.  One of the aspects that people love most about chiropractic care is that, although it is usually sought out for pain relief purposes, the goal for most chiropractors is to help their patients create a plan of ongoing wellness and prevention of future injuries.

Are chiropractic neck adjustments safe?

Although back adjustments are the most common type of manipulation that a chiropractor will administer, manual manipulation of the neck may be necessary to relieve chronic pain or stiffness. There are, however, some conditions that may give your chiropractor pause before proceeding with this type of adjustment. In extremely rare cases, neck manipulation may cause strokes or damaged blood vessels. Crucially, though, the information that your chiropractor gathers on your health history form and during your initial exam will help him to determine whether you are a high risk for these kinds of problems.

Are chiropractic adjustments safe during pregnancy?

Many pregnant women seek chiropractic treatment to help provide relief from such common pregnancy conditions as swollen limbs, sciatica, low back pain and knee strain. Chiropractors can use special gentle techniques and equipment to accommodate the delicate condition of expecting mothers. Ongoing chiropractic adjustments can create a much more comfortable pregnancy and are especially desirable during this time because of its focus on drug-free, all-natural healing and pain management.

Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children?

Chiropractic care is considered safe for children and it offers parents an alternative to expensive surgeries and drugs when they have active kids who sustain sports-related injuries. Examination by a chiropractor can also reveal posture or spine issues in teens that may be quickly addressed with a combination of proper nutrition, spinal manipulation and a series of regularly performed physical exercises. Additionally, chiropractic care has also been known to help soothe colicky infants and resolve problems with their sleeping patterns.

Many chiropractors offer family plans that allow everyone in the family to experience the benefits of chiropractic care at an affordable price.

When should chiropractic not be used?

Chiropractic adjustments are typically very safe when performed by a licensed chiropractor but this type of treatment may not be the best choice for people with certain physical limitations or health issues. If you suffer from conditions such as severe arthritis, bone fractures, bone tumors or joint infections, you probably should not undergo any kind of chiropractic adjustment without first consulting with your primary care physician.

Schedule a Consultation with Your Chiropractor in Jacksonville Today

We are here to answer all of your questions and provide you with the pain relief you need. Call and schedule a consultation with your chiropractor in Jacksonville today. Call Dr. Edgar Vesce today to learn more about how we can help you resolve your pain and get back to life: %CLIENT_PHONE%.