Myths
Once you start going to a chiropractor you have to keep going back forever.
In my office you are in control of your health care and you make the decisions. It is my job to reform and educate you as well as give you my recommendations. Then it is up to you to make the health care choice that is best for you. However it is true that many patients continue to come in and get adjusted on a regular basis. It is just like anything else that has a beneficial effect on you body like exercising, eating well, drinking water, stretching, dental check ups... all of these things help keep your body working at its highest level. Chiropractic is the same way. Once a patient reaches an improved level of health, many want to do something to keep themselves at that level. Continued adjustments help keep the body at that level.
Adjustments are painful.
There may be some discomfort from adjusting the part of the body that is injured or from working with the muscle to get them to relax so the adjustment can be performed easier but for most of my patients there is no pain associated with the adjustment.
The popping and cracking sound you hear is damaging to your back.
The popping sound you hear is nothing more than gas escaping from the joints. It is the same phenomenon that happens when you crack your knuckles only it sounds louder because it is much closer to your ears. There are also techniques that I can use where you will not hear the popping at all.
Before you have an adjustment you have to take X rays.
When a patient comes into my office they fill out a confidential patient information form. Then I conduct a detailed consultation, history and exam which includes orthopedic tests, neurological tests, range of motion tests and palpation. After I have gathered all of this information, I then make a determination as to whether X rays are necessary.
Chiropractic is not covered by my insurance.
Most of the insurance companies cover chiropractic care to some extent. There are many different companies with many different policies. The best thing to do is either call my office and they will take down the information from your insurance card or copy both sides of your card and fax it to me at 404.231.8760 and I will verify the coverage for you. This way you will know exactly what is covered and the limits before you come in.
I'm pregnant, so it isn't safe for me to see a chiropractor.
There are many different ways to adjust people and I can accommodate pregnant women even if they are in their late trimester. Many women report receiving relief from the low back pain associated with pregnancy
The medical circles don't like chiropractors.
This was true in the past but many Medical Doctors are now referring patients to Chiropractors on a regular basis. I think the reason they didn't refer to Chiropractors in the past is because they didn't understand what we do. I feel there should be an open dialogue between any and all health care providers that a patient sees and I am always willing to discuss the care I give in my office with other members of the health care community as long as the patient agrees and has given me permission.
Facts
The chiropractic principle was discovered by Dr. Daniel David Palmer in 1895, in Davenport, Iowa, while he was on a course of self-directed study and research.
The chiropractic profession was developed by Bartlett J. Palmer (B.J. Palmer), the son of the founder.
Doctors of chiropractic are considered primary health care providers by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Chiropractic is the second largest primary health care provider in the western world.
Chiropractic is practiced internationally and has membership of more than 50,000 doctors of chiropractic in the world today. There are approximately 36,000 chiropractors in the United States; 3,000 in Canada; 2,000 in Australia; 1,000 in Japan; 300 in France and 100-300 each in Belgium, Denmark, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand and South Africa. The profession is established in a lesser extent in other European countries, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America.
Specific legislation licensing the practice of chiropractic exists in all U.S. states, the Canadian provinces, the Australian states, New Zealand, South Africa and Switzerland. Common features in all of these jurisdictions include (a) primary care (direct contact with the patient), (b) the right and duty to diagnose, and (c) the right to use diagnostic X-ray.
Federal programs such as Medicare, Mailhandlers Benefit Plan, Government Employees Hospital Association Benefit Plan, and Postmasters Benefit Plan all provide benefits for chiropractic care.
All modern government inquiries into chiropractic - the most thorough being in New Zealand (1979), Australia (1986) and Sweden (1987) - have recommended government funding for chiropractic services.
Workers are entitled to elect chiropractic care under Worker's Compensation board legislation in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Chiropractic care is now covered by many HMC (Health Maintenance Organization) and PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans.
Most private health insurance companies provide coverage for chiropractic services. In North America, large unions have negotiated unlimited coverage for their members. Generally speaking, there is full coverage for diagnosis and treatment to a maximum dollar amount
In North America, entrance to chiropractic universities requires two years of university study in qualifying sciences. Government inquiries and independent investigations by medical practitioner have affirmed that today's chiropractic undergraduate training is of an equivalent standard to medical training in all preclinical subjects.
There are presently more than 23 chiropractic colleges throughout the world. Major colleges exist in the United States, Australia, Canada and England, with newer colleges in France, Japan and South Africa.
More than half of the doctors of chiropractic practicing today graduated since 1977, and have therefore, fulfilled the most up-to-date professional requirements.
Chiropractors consistently attend postgraduate courses to ensure updating of technical advancement in order to be eligible for annual renewal of their licenses to practice.
