FAQ Page

Patients of all ages and with many types of conditions come to see Chiropractors.  Doctors of Chiropractic (DC’s) often are well known for helping patients with neck pain, back pain, headaches, and numbness and tingling.  They do this by delivering a chiropractic adjustment to remove a subluxation in the spine.  A subluxation of the spine is when one vertebrae is not moving correctly according the one above or below it.  Subluxations place tension on nerves causing a slower impulse traveling to and from the brain and tissues.  DC’s also see patients with injuries of the musculoskeletal system, involving muscles, ligaments and joints such as knees and shoulders.  Since the nervous system controls every function of the body the benefits of chiropractic care extend to other general health issues in the body.  DC’s counsel patients on nutrition, exercise, healthy habits, and occupational and lifestyle modification.

It is not usually necessary to need a referral from an MD to see a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC).  If you have questions about this then contact your insurance company to ask about referral requirements.

Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an extremely low risk of potential adverse effects, no therapy is completely without risk. The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small. Most patients feel relief instantly following chiropractic treatment, but occasionally mild soreness, stiffness or aching may result, just as you might feel after some forms of exercise. Current research shows that minor soreness following spinal adjustments typically fade within a day.

A neck adjustment, also known as cervical manipulation, works to improve joint mobility in the neck, restoring range of motion and reducing muscle spasm, which helps relieve pressure and tension. Spinal adjustments, when performed by a skilled and well-educated professional such as a doctor of chiropractic, are remarkably safe procedures.

Some reports have attributed a high-velocity upper cervical manipulation with a certain rare kind of stroke, or vertebral artery dissection. However, evidence suggests that this type of arterial injury often takes place spontaneously in patients who have pre-existing arterial disease. These dissections can also occur with everyday activities such as turning the head while driving, swimming, or having a shampoo in a hair salon. It is important to note that patients with this condition may have neck pain or headaches that lead them to seek care—often at the office of a doctor of chiropractic or family physician—but that care is not the cause of the injury. The best evidence indicates that the incidence of artery injuries associated with high-velocity upper cervical manipulation is extremely rare—about one to three cases in 100,000 patients who get treated with a course of care. This is basically the equivalent to the incidence of this type of stroke among the general population.

If you have neck pain or headaches, be sure to be very specific about your symptoms. This will help your chiropractor offer the safest and most effective treatment, even if it means referring you to another specialist.

When comparing the risk of injury to other types of medical treatments Chiropractic often times is safer.  For example, the risks associated with some of the most common treatments for musculoskeletal pain—over-the-counter or prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and prescription painkillers—are significantly greater than those of chiropractic manipulation.

According to the American Journal of Gastroenterology, people taking NSAIDS are three times more likely than those who do not to develop serious adverse gastrointestinal problems such as hemorrhage (bleeding) and perforation. That risk is more than five times among people over 60 years old.

Moreover, the number of prescriptions for powerful drugs such as oxycodone and hydrocodone have tripled in the past 12 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) these commonly prescribed painkillers are among the leading causes of accidental death in the United States.  Around 15,000 deaths per year occur because of overdoses to these highly potent pain killers; that’s more than the number of deaths from cocaine and heroin combined.

Doctors of chiropractic are well trained professionals who provide patients with safe, effective care for a variety of common conditions. They are highly trained to know when it is safe to treat a patient and when it is best to refer them to a specialist.

Yes, children can benefit from chiropractic care.  The average child experiences around a thousand injuries before they are 13 years old due to birth trauma, falls, sports injuries etc. Increasingly common today is a condition termed “text neck” which children experience neck pain or headaches from looking down constantly at cell phones or electronics.  Chiropractic care is always adapted to the individual patient. It is a highly skilled treatment, and in the case of children, very gentle.

Yes. Chiropractic care is included in most health insurance plans, including major medical plans.  Our office is in network with CIGNA, Golden Rule, Signature Wellness Plan, Stratose, Health Allies, Access On Consumer Health, Medical Resource LLC, United Healthcare, United Healthcare Medicare Solutions (FL), Premera Blue Cross, most Florida Blue plans and Medicare.  We do not accept Medicaid.  We are also a part of the Veterans Choice Program for military Veterans. Currently the military insurance Tricare does not cover chiropractic.  If we are not in network with your insurance, as long as it is not an HMO, in most cases we can still bill your insurance.

Yes. Doctors of Chiropractic (also known as chiropractors) are not medical doctors, but go through a similar education process to become licensed in the field of chiropractic care. In fact, educational requirements for chiropractors are among the most stringent of any health care profession.

Chiropractors are educated as primary health care providers, with an emphasis on diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to the musculoskeletal system (the muscles, ligaments and joints of the spine and extremities) and the nerves that supply them. Educational requirements for doctors of chiropractic are among the most stringent of any of the health care professions.

Prior to applying for chiropractic college there must be acquired nearly four years of pre-medical undergraduate college education and a bachelor’s degree, including courses in biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology and related lab work. Once accepted into Chiropractic College a chiropractic student is educated in orthopedics, neurology, physiology, human anatomy, clinical diagnosis including laboratory procedures, diagnostic imaging, exercise, nutrition rehabilitation and more.

Because chiropractic care includes highly skilled manipulation/adjusting techniques, three and a half years is spent in clinical technique training to master these important manipulative procedures.

In total, the chiropractic college curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience. It includes 200 more classroom hours than a typical Medical School education.  The course of study is approved by an accrediting agency that is fully recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

The Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is usually a manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed during the doctor of chiropractic’s intensive years of chiropractic education. Dr. Julie uses her hands, the Arthrostim instrument and the drop table to adjust the joints of the body, particularly the spine, in order to restore or enhance joint function. This helps relieve joint inflammation and reduces the patient’s pain. Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort. It is not the same as “cracking” your own joints.  The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. Patients often note a decrease in their symptoms immediately following treatment.

Each patient’s care is specifically tailored to their unique needs. Dr. Julie will modify adjustments based on your size, weight, age and health condition.

It depends on your goals.  We offer relief care or corrective care.  Relief care is that care necessary to get rid of your symptoms or pain, but it doesn’t address the lifestyle patterns of destruction you may have that could be making your condition worse.  If your goal is corrective care then understand that just as you would not expect to see results going to the gym one time only the same applies to Chiropractic often times.  The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what requires patients to visit the chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a chiropractor, a patient needs to be in our office. In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves a pre-established plan that is to be carried out at home (i.e. taking a course of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks).  Your doctor of chiropractic will usually tell you in advance how many visits is appropriate for your condition.

Adjustment (or manipulation) of a joint may result in the release of a gas bubble between the joints, which makes a popping sound. The same thing occurs when you “crack” your knuckles or click your tongue against the roof of your mouth. The noise is caused by the change of pressure within the joint, which results in gas bubbles being released. There is usually minimal, if any, discomfort involved.

Yes!  Many pregnant women find that chiropractic adjustments improve the pregnancy experience and make delivery easier. Adjustments are adapted to accommodate the stage of pregnancy and the unique needs of each patient.

No.  Only Chiropractors are trained to adjust in a very specific location and direction. It takes them three and a half years to perfect this art.  As a result, it is virtually impossible to adjust oneself correctly and accurately.