We receive many questions from patients and from friend’s with in the community wondering what chiropractic can do for me. How many treatments will I need to feel well, do I need to continue coming back forever? If chiropractic treatments could fix the problem after one visit then we would be one happy clinic. While this can sometimes be the case, the majority of our patients may require multiple visits. The first thing to take into consideration is that our body is signaling to us that something is bio-mechanically wrong. Pain and inflammation are the first signs of a bio-mechanical misalignment also known as a vertebral subluxation. The pain that our bodies perceive from the inflammatory process is called “Nociceptive” pain which is derived from intercellular activation. Our bodies main response to an injury is inflammation but to much inflammation can cause joints and surrounding soft tissue to erode. The inflammatory process is very acidic and hard on tissues over time. The inflammatory process may follow an injury, or simply be the cause of chronic degenerative changes. Restoring motion to the segments that are involved helps to ease pain, improve cellular function allows for proper tissue healing and also helps to create reservoirs for drainage and removal of stagnant inflammatory matter.
As we age we begin to cause wear and tear within our joints including our spinal column – so it is vital to restore function to the specific joint that has become misaligned. With that being said, chiropractic still takes time. It is important to understand that this misalignment or degenerative change process did not accumulate over night. Some patients respond very fast to treatments, and in this case the number of visits will be reduced. However, other patients respond a bit slower to treatments but the outcomes are essentially the same, relief from pain especially throughout our spine. We will assess your progress after each treatment and tailor your care plan as needed. The biggest key to our assessment is how you feel and are our treatments helping you appropriately. Our bodies are constructed with bone, muscle, ligaments and everything in between. You cannot build a roof without the walls and you surely couldn’t build walls with out a foundation, our supporting beam is our spine, we must correct and re-build the foundation and all else will follow.
Phase 1: Relief Care
If you are in pain when you come into our office, the first objective is to diagnose the problem. Secondly is to help you feel better. Depending on the severity of your problem, it is typical to need care 2-3 times per week for 4-12 weeks. This isn’t always the case. Many patients see improvement before there personalized care plan date ends. Once this happens care can be scaled back allowing for less office yielding more personal time for you and your family.
Phase 2: Corrective/Restorative Care
During the corrective care phase, muscles and other tissues are allowed to heal more completely, thereby helping prevent injury. It is typical to need care 4-8 times per month for 6-24 months, depending on your overall health and the severity of your problem. Patient goals are also taken into account as it is from the first day of care. Our goal is to provide you with the care that you desire.
Phase 3: Wellness Care
Once your body has fully healed, it is important to come in for periodic maintenance to avoid problems in the future. Usually, this only requires a quick visit to the chiropractor 1-4 times per month, based on your lifestyle and goals. We like to think that the spine is just as important as our teeth. A few check ups a year may be all that is needed.
