How long will my treatment take?
Chiropractic treatment may require multiple visits in order to reach the goals outlined by the treatment plan. To be treated by a chiropractor, a patient needs to be in his or her office. The nature of your injury, your health history, and your treatment goals will all be used to develop your treatment plan. Often treatment plans are based on whether the complaint is acute, subacute, or chronic. Other time there is no specific complaint and the patient is seeking palliative maintenance care. For cases that require more visits, we perform routine evaluation and monitoring to ensure that you are receiving the proper care necessary to resolve your complaint.
How are chiropractic adjustment performed?
Chiropractic adjustments (sometimes called chiropractic manipulative treatments) are a manual procedure for moving joints and other tissues. The chiropractic physician typically uses their hands, table, or an instrument to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, in order to restore or enhance joint function. The goal is to resolve joint inflammation and reduces the patient’s pain. Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled and specialized procedure that does not often cause discomfort. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. Patients often note positive changes such as increased range of motion and decreased pain symptoms immediately following the adjustment. Our chiropractors are individually trained in a number of different techniques for delivering adjustments and will adapt them for your comfort.
Do insurance plans cover chiropractic?
Most insurance plans have chiropractic benefits and we will bill any insurance plan. We are in-network with Premera Blue Cross and AETNA. We are also participating providers for Medicare, Medicaid, VA and ChiroHealth USA. For questions about your specific policy and benefits, please call our office at (907) 222-2100.
Does chiropractic treatment require a referral from an MD?
No. Chiropractors are primary portals of entry for any patient looking for diagnosis and treatment. Occasionally, a chiropractor will discover a condition that is outside of their scope of treatment. At that point, we will work with you to refer you to a practitioner that will be equipped to treat your condition. We work with many different practitioners across many disciplines (MD, DO, APN, PA, ND, PT, etc.) and are accustomed to handling referrals both from and to other practitioners.
Is chiropractic treatment safe?
Chiropractic care is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies for the the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Your doctor of chiropractic will utilize a number of methods to deal with your condition including, but not limited to, chiropractic manipulative therapy, exercise rehab, and soft tissue work. A small percentage of patients will feel some additional soreness, similar to the feeling one gets after some forms of exercise, after their 1st few visits. Most patients feel better after their treatments. Additional soreness after a treatment does not typically last longer than 24 hours.
Chiropractic treatment (including all of the aforementioned treatment options) has been shown to be safer than many medications and surgeries for the same condition. We try to use the most conservative methods possible in order to help your body heal itself. Of course there are some risks with any treatment (including opting to not have any treatment), but the relative risks are small with chiropractic care. Additionally, there are options for alternative treatment types in our office should a patient have preference. An example would be that some patients prefer the softer touch of an instrument based adjustment over a manual “hands on” approach. Your chiropractor will work with you in order to set your treatment preferences to your liking. For more information on the risks associated with care, please consult one of our doctors in the office.
How much will my care cost?
The total cost of care impossible estimate before any investigation of the problem has begun. An examination will need to be performed prior to treatment in order to get an accurate diagnosis. X-ray films (or other special studies) are occasionally needed to confirm or rule out a diagnosis. Conservative chiropractic treatment should begin to produce benefits relatively soon and it is our goal that only necessary care is provided. Chiropractic care has been shown in numerous studies to be among the most cost-effective treatment options for common musculoskeletal complaints.
What conditions can be treated in your office?
The Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) of Community Chiropractic Clinic are educated and experienced in treating a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. You care, directed by your doctor, may include chiropractic manipulative treatments, soft tissue work, myofascial release, massage therapy, physiotherapeutic modalities (muscle stim, ultrasound, etc.) and exercise rehabilitation. Chiropractors are especially well known for their highly skilled manipulations, exercise rehabilitation and soft tissue work. We treat patients for a number of disorders of the musculoskeletal system, involving the muscles, ligaments, and joints. Often times these disorders will have referral pains to other areas of the body as well. In addition to musculoskeletal disorders, your chiropractor is qualified and experienced to counsel patients on diet, nutrition, exercise, occupational and lifestyle modification.
