What You Need To Know About Your Chiropractic Care

Every health care professional has his or her place, and we want you to know that we are thrilled to be a part of your health care team. This packet is designed to give you some very important information about how your body works, how chiropractic works, how drugs work, and what you can do to get and stay healthy for life – so you don’t have to be dependent on taking unnecessary medications every time you feel sick or feel a pain. Please read on!

Innate Intelligence

Before we get into how the body and chiropractic works, we have to establish and explain one very important component of functional physiology, Innate Intelligence.

Dr. Lewis Thomas M.D. said, “…a kind of super intelligence exists in each of us, infinitely smarter and possessed of technical know-how far beyond our present understanding.” What Dr. Thomas is talking about is what chiropractors call Innate Intelligence.

What is Innate Intelligence?

Innate intelligence is the inborn wisdom of the body…or the intelligence that allows your body to constantly adapt to our ever-changing environments. This intelligence knows how to digest your food after you’ve eaten – without you having to think about it, and heals the cut (No, your band-aid doesn’t do the healing) on your finger, and beats your heart, or kicks your immune system into high-gear when it is being invaded by bacteria that you just inhaled, etc.

This innate intelligence is everywhere in your body and is actually generated by your brain and communicated out to every muscle, gland, organ and cell in your body via the spinal (peripheral) nerves (Your brain, spine and spinal nerves make up your nervous system).

Chiropractors are the only doctors (as a profession) who recognize that the human body has this inborn wisdom or intelligence and work on and with the body so that it can fully express this intelligence in order to function as close to 100% as possible.

A 2002 study in the Annals of Internal Medicine reported that patient use of chiropractic has tripled in the last two decades.

Here’s How The Body Works

Your nervous system is the master control system of your body. It is made up of your brain, spinal cord, and spinal nerves (they come off the spine) called peripheral nerves. Your brain is the power source and control center of literally every function in your body. If it dies, you die. Your brain sends 100% of your body’s information and energy down your spinal cord first. Your spine is protected by 24 moveable vertebrae (which act like circuit breakers) and the spinal nerves exit between each vertebrae and go out to deliver the messages sent from the brain to each muscle, gland, organ and cell in your body. As long as there is no interference to your brain, spinal cord and spinal nerves, your body has the ability to function at its optimum level...in other words, as close to 100% as possible.

Here’s How Chiropractic Works

Chiropractic is the only healing profession in the world that recognizes that your body has the ability to function at its optimum level, as long as there is no interference to the master control system (the nervous system). Makes sense, don’t you think? As a chiropractor, it is my job to locate, analyze and remove any interference to the nervous system. These blockages or misalignments are called VERTEBRAL SUBLUXATIONS. When a spinal nerve is being choked because of a vertebral subluxation, the muscle, organ, or gland that is attached to it can only receive 40% of the information that the brain is trying to send to it.

When a circuit overloads in your house and it “blows”, you go down to the circuit breaker box and check all of the circuits. You examine all of them to make sure they are all in perfect alignment, and when you come to the one that is out of alignment, you simply adjust the circuit and turn the power back on. The body works in the same way. I simply check your spine to make sure that all of the vertebrae are in perfect alignment.  When I come to a vertebrae that is out of alignment (called a subluxation), I use my hands and adjust the vertebrae so that the “power” can be turned back on to the muscle, organ, or gland that it controls.

“A body that is free of nerve interference has more power to heal, think, and metabolize. 90% of the stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated by movement of the spine.”  - Dr. Roger Sperry, Nobel Prize winner for brain research.

What About Symptoms?

This is VERY important. You have been brainwashed!

Most people judge their health based on symptoms. This is how the medical and pharmaceutical professions want you to think. There is more money ($70 BILLION) in treating the problem than in preventing it.  Unfortunately, symptoms are the last sign your body gives you to tell you that something is wrong.  It’s like having a bad shingle on your roof. You don’t know you have a bad roof until you see the stain on your ceiling. That is why waiting for symptoms to appear is the worst way to take care of yourself and your family.  Fact: A cavity usually doesn’t hurt for 2 years. Fact: Cancer usually doesn’t hurt at all, until the end. Fact: 36% of all heart attack victims have their fatal heart attack as their very first symptom.

Chiropractic care allows your body to function at its highest level, and can prevent problems from developing in the first place. Just like brushing your teeth will prevent tooth decay, maintaining a healthy strong spine will prevent spinal decay. Chances are good that you are here because you never maintained your spine in the first place.

You have made a wise decision in choosing chiropractic for a healthier life.

Research (Spine 1994;19 (7):858-86)  on management of cervicogenic (caused from the neck) and tension-type headache (HA). This study found that spinal manipulation "appeared to result in immediate improvement in headache severity when used to treat episodes of cervicogenic HA compared to a placebo."

What You Can Expect From Us

By choosing our office, you can expect to receive the highest level of professional care, service, respect and attention. There is a very good reason for this. We run a “By Referral Only” practice...and that means you had to be referred by an existing patient in order to be accepted into our practice. We do no external advertising because we want to have a very close-knit group of patients. We want to create an extremely warm “family like” environment. We welcome you to our family.

If you are interested in correcting your spinal/health problem, you will receive a detailed Chiropractic Corrective Care Plan that will describe for you in detail, the exact course of care needed to correct your spinal/health problem. Your first two visits give us all of the necessary information needed to assess the severity of your spinal/health problem. By reviewing your orthopedic, neurologic, and spinal examination findings, x-rays, personal history, and first adjustment results, we will be able to determine exactly what you will need - from the number of adjustments to the exact cost.  You will never be “in the dark” about any aspect of your care, or our relationship.

In another 2002 study, (Spine 2002; 27(3):291-298) a survey of 1,257 chiropractic patients from six locations found that overall satisfaction with care was 87%, (Ann Intern Med. 2001;135:262-268).

What I Don’t Do

It is not my job to treat your symptoms, or relieve them. That’s what medicine does. My job is to find and correct the exact spinal/health problem that is causing your symptoms. Once I do, I can correct the problem, much like orthodontic braces do for crooked teeth.  But, like braces, spinal correction takes time. Imagine if you never brushed your teeth, and then decided you wanted a perfect smile. Since you probably never took care of your spine, you must be patient as healing takes time.

Chiropractic College has more hours of classroom education than medical college (4,800 hours vs. 4,667 hours); chiropractic students on average receive 200 hours more in anatomy, and 60 hours more of physiology than medical students (Alternative Therapies 1998;4(5):64-75.).

What We Expect From You

In order for you to get the maximum results from your Chiropractic Corrective Care Plan, you must listen and follow all instructions from the doctor, keep all of your appointments (and if you miss one, make it up within the same week), make all necessary payments on time (we run a zero balance clinic), and commit to achieving “wellness” status. “Wellness” status means that you have completed your Chiropractic Corrective Care Plan, and that you only need a minimum amount of post corrective care adjustments to maintain your new level of health.

Also, this office is as much of a learning institution as it is a healing one. You will learn more than you ever thought imaginable about how to keep your body functioning at its highest levels. You will learn what makes your immune system strong and weak; how to increase your energy and quality of sleep without medication; and most importantly, how you can allow the master system of the body (the nervous system) to function at its optimum level.

We expect you to tell others about your new found knowledge of the body, how it works, and how it heals itself. We expect you to help us in our quest to get as many kids and adults off drugs, so that they lead healthier, happier lives. It is for this reason that we empower our practice members to give FREE EXAM & X-RAY cards to those they care about.

These cards allow any friend or family member to come into our office for a FREE first visit. It’s our way of saying thanks for trying to make a difference.    

In the fall of 2001, two studies authored by researchers from Harvard Medical School (Ann Intern Med. 2001;135:344-351; Ann Intern Med. 2001;135:262-268)  noted that complementary and alternative care (CAM) were perceived to be more helpful for chronic, disabling conditions (such as headache, neck and back conditions) than conventional medical care by patients who had used both medical and CAM services in the previous year.

Payment Policy

You must start your chiropractic care with the end in mind. In other words, don’t start unless you plan on finishing. I am committed to doing everything I have to do to correct the cause of your spinal/health problem, but if you only plan on going halfway through, then you are wasting your time and money.

Our policy is to accept cases based on our ability to correct your spinal/health problem, and your commitment to want to correct it. We do not base your care on your financial position or what your insurance company will pay.

We do not participate in many of the HMO’s and PPO’s because they are extremely restrictive and do not allow their patients to receive the care they need. We do not treat insurance companies - we treat people. Insurance companies are in the business of making money, not in getting people healthy.

As a courtesy, however, for those who have insurance that covers a portion of their care, we will bill the insurance company directly for you.  The estimated insurance benefits will reduce your care plan fee accordingly.

Our Chiropractic Assistant, Gabbi will explain everything you need to know about your insurance plan (if there is one). We will work out a payment plan that is best for you. Your health is priceless. Your Chiropractic Corrective Care Plan is NOT an EXPENSE - it is an INVESTMENT! Without your health you have nothing. Investing in your health wisely will give you health AND happiness for as long as you live.

On your third visit, you will be presented with your Chiropractic Corrective Care Plan. With that plan, you will also receive a financial payment plan that will show you many ways in which you can pay for your chiropractic care.

We have never turned away anyone for financial reasons, but we have turned people away for not being committed to their Chiropractic Corrective Care Plan.  

YOUR FIRST FEW ADJUSTMENTS

YOUR FIRST 72 HOURS:

There is a good chance that you will feel a little stiff after your first few adjustments. Your muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints are used to being in a different position and all of a sudden they have been moved slightly. This is normal. Once your spine and all of the soft tissue start getting accustomed to the new, corrected position, all of the stiffness (most of the time) will go away.

ACTIVITY:

At first, take it easy and try to avoid any straining. You can feel free to ask me about exercises or any other strenuous activity, but for the first couple of weeks, just relax.

ICE PACKS:

Rather than taking medication, use ice to reduce inflammation. If you feel the need, use cold or ice packs to help reduce pain. Use frozen peas in the package or crush ice cubes and put the ice into a zip-lock bag. You can use this on the affected area for about 20 minutes every 40 minutes. This should help, not hurt. If the ice feels too uncomfortable, don’t use it as often.

SMOKING:

Remember, smoking reduces capillary blood flow. We advise you not to smoke at all or to start to cut down to accelerate the healing process.

ALCOHOL:

Alcohol dilates the blood vessels and could increase swelling.

YOUR APPOINTMENT SCHEDULE:

It is very important that you follow the schedule of appointments we establish for you. Your Corrective Care Plan is designed to correct the CAUSE of your problem and not just RELIEVE your symptoms. Healing and Correction take time, and we have developed this plan of action based on experience with other cases just like yours.

If you can’t make an appointment, please reschedule to make up for the missed appointment. Each adjustment is like a step in the direction of spinal correction. Each adjustment builds on the one before it. Spinal correction and good health is a cumulative process.

MAINTENANCE:

What happens when your Corrective Care Plan is over? I will recommend a Wellness Plan. This Wellness Plan will tell you how to keep your spine in great shape and how to prevent your problem from coming back. You will have invested a lot of time, money and energy into correcting your spine; you should want to maximize your investment by keeping your spine (and health) functioning 100%.