Accurately identifying the cause of spinal pain or other discomfort almost always requires a thorough consultation and examination. Individuals should not assume their pain stems from the same problem, for example, their neighbor had, and thus what has helped their neighbor will help them. Just as every individual is unique and different from the next, so too are the health conditions they suffer and the treatments they require.
Chiropractic doctors are highly trained in the diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue injuries and abnormalities common to the spine, extremities and rest of body. Rest assured that if you are suffering from back or neck problems, extremity problems or other health related ailments chiropractic can provide you with the effective professional relief you demand. If your condition is out of the chiropractic scope or would be more appropriately managed by another health care specialist, we will gladly and promptly make the necessary referral.
Chiropractic has helped millions of people worldwide suffering from all types of problems and not just back and neck ailments. Chiropractic works with the spinal column and it’s intimate relationship with the nervous system – the major controller of all bodily functions. By optimizing spinal column structure and biomechanics, irritation and stress are removed and health can once again be achieved.
You may be surprised to learn that research studies have provided scientific evidence showing chiropractic care is not only effective in the treatment of back and neck ailments, but can also provide effective relief with children suffering from ear infections, women suffering from dysmenorrhea (painful menses), and a number of other seemingly “non-spinal” conditions. While it’s not prudent to guarantee relief from such conditions or claim to “treat” these conditions, chiropractic has successfully helped millions of individuals with all sorts of health conditions by positively affecting the nervous system.
Of course, doctors of chiropractic are best known for their success in treating back and neck problems. Through the use of chiropractic spinal adjustments and other highly specialized chiropractic techniques, chiropractors have established themselves as the back and neck injury specialists. Many medical experts are now coming to understand the true effectiveness of chiropractic care and are recommending major changes in the way our health care system manages many common spinal problems. According to a recent Ontario Ministry of Health commissioned study on low-back pain.
“A very good case can be made for making chiropractors the gatekeepers for management of low-back pain…”
While treatment lengths vary somewhat from person to person and from condition to condition, there are a few rules of thumb you can follow.
First, newer injuries, if treated appropriately and immediately, tend to respond to fewer visits assuming that major tissue injury has not occurred. Many of these first time injuries can be effectively managed in as little as 3 to 4 visits. Conditions that have been present for greater than 3 months and recurring conditions are generally more stubborn and difficult to manage. Resolution may require 12 visits or more.
The only sure way to determine how long your treatment will take is to schedule a consultation and/or examination.
For those of you who believe in just waiting for the problem to “go away” on it’s own – understand that the longer your condition has been around, the more treatments it will eventually require to resolve.
Costs vary and generally depend on the number of treatments required to effectively treat your condition. A number of studies have shown that chiropractic care is extremely cost effective when compared to other “medical” forms of care for similar conditions. According to the 1993 Manga Report.
“There would be highly significant cost savings if more management of low-back pain was transferred from physicians to chiropractors. Users of chiropractic care have substantially lower health care costs, especially inpatient costs, than those who use medical care only.”
You may have heard the notion that once you go to a chiropractor you have to keep going back. Before we answer that question, ask yourself how many times you have visited a dentist? Like most people, you’ve probably gone dozens of times. Why? Quite simply, to prevent your teeth from literally rotting out of your head.
Once we have eliminated your pain and rehabilitated the injured tissues we do recommend that you maintain a schedule of periodic spinal checkups. Like your dentist and like many of the medical experts are now recognizing, prevention is the key to reducing recurrences of existing health conditions and minimizing new injuries in the future.
So the answer is yes, we want you to keep coming back, but just periodically. Periodic chiropractic care minimizes spinal and nerve stresses, reduces recurrences of old injuries, prevents new injuries from developing, minimizes degenerative processes, which enhances overall health and wellness.
Nerve Impingement Syndrome (NIS), or a Subluxation, occurs when a misalignment of one or more of the joints in the spine places pressure on a nerve. Nerves communicate from the brain through the spinal cord and nervous system. Pressure on the nerves can cause interference with the transmitted signal. This can cause pain and/or discomfort, as well as other symptoms.
In addition to pain, other symptoms of Nerve Impingement Syndrome Include:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
Sleep Disturbances
- Sinus and Allergy Issues
- Mood Swings
- Digestive Problems
Are you among the thousands that are suffering needlessly because of a lack of understanding of your symptoms? If so, would not you like to relieve these symptoms and return to a happier, healthier lifestyle?
Cause… The misalignment of a joint is called Nerve Impingement Syndrome or a Subluxation. This can develop for a variety of reasons, including an accident trauma, poor posture or diet, lack of or incorrect exercise, a sports or repetitive motion injury, relationship or financial stress.
It is the Subluxation that creates the Nerve Impingement Syndrome that prevents you from enjoying all of life pleasures.
Nerve Impingement Syndrome Facts:
- 80% of all childbirths result in Nerve Impingement Syndrome.
40% of all children fall on their heads by age 1, according to OSHA; this can result in Nerve Impingement Syndrome.
- Between the ages of 2 and 5 years old, children fall over 200 times; this can be a major cause of Nerve Impingement Syndrome.
- Within 2 years of receiving a drivers license, 70% of all teens are involved in an auto accident. Car accidents often result in Nerve Impingement Syndrome.
- Because there are so many causes of Nerve Impingement Syndrome, everyone at some time or another will suffer from NIS. In many cases, the symptoms do not appear for months or even years.
- When the body detects a problem, over time it compensates for it. This compensation causes PAIN. If left untreated, this condition could lead to the destruction of the joint and irreversible damage to the nerve, causing chronic pain, or worse.
Are Chiropractic Treatments Safe and Do They Hurt?
Chiropractic treatments are extremely safe for individuals of all ages – from infants to 100 year olds. Our treatments are safe because we only use natural and noninvasive methods of care. Research consistently shows that care from chiropractors is among the safest care available and is literally light years ahead of traditional medical care in terms of “safeness.”
The treatments themselves are generally not painful. In fact, most patients look forward to their treatments as many experience instantaneous relief immediately afterwards. Individuals who present with moderate to severe pain may experience some minor discomfort for obvious reasons, however, care is always gentle, safe and non-invasive.
In most cases, your health, auto or worker’s compensation insurance will cover the cost of your physical therapy. We will confirm your physical therapy benefits at your first appointment and it is wise to contact your insurance provider personally to confirm your chiropractic and physical therapy benefits.
LaGrange Chiropractic is pleased to offer chiropractic and rehab services under contract with the following plans:
- ACN Group
- Aetna
- Anthem
- Assurant Health
- Automobile/Accident
- Beechstreet
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Bluegrass Family Health
- Cigna
- First Health
- Greatwest Healthcare
- Healthways
- Humana
- Medicare
- Medicare Railroad
- KY Medicaid
- Passport
- Private Healthcare Services (PHCS)
- Tricare
- United Healthcare
- Workers Compensation
Children are very active. They can spend an endless amount of time jumping, running and playing hard. But, sometimes all of this physical activity can put an undue stress on spinal nerves, which can lower a child’s resistance to a number of maladies.
We think nothing of having our children’s teeth and eyes checked on a regular basis, yet many times we neglect the importance of a spinal check-up. The spine is home to the spinal cord. It is the most amazing bundle of nerves that controls every function in the body. Even the slightest misalignment can cause interference in this process and leave the child vulnerable to a host of issues.
Childhood should be a time of fun, growth and preparation for a healthy adulthood. Many times children spend this joyous time plagued with adult-type problems such as fatigue, nervousness, poor concentration, headaches, back pain or irritability, just to name a few. Ask your dr. lee L. Petrucci how a natural approach to health can be a wise investment in your child’s future.
Chiropractic healthcare is a branch of the healing arts based on the scientific fact that our nervous system controls or influences the function of every cell in our body. Interference to the nervous system (caused by the Vertebral Subluxation Complex or Nerve Impingement Syndrome) will effect how the nervous system relates to the cells to which it travels.
The term “Chiropractic” comes from the Greek words “cheiro and praktikos” meaning “done by hand.” The Chiropractic model of health is centered on the philosophy that the human body, being knit together in a wonderful way, will heal itself given the right opportunity and circumstances. Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) essentially promote the healing process by minimizing nerve interference.
The purpose of the Chiropractic approach to healthcare (the wellness model) is to uncover your health conditions, not merely cover up your symptoms. The absence of symptoms (pain) does not equal good health! The clearest way to illustrate this is by reviewing the statistics on heart attacks. Research reveals that in approximately 33% of all heart attacks, the first symptom of the attack is death!
Wellness care encompasses several aspects of overall health, which can be physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
Chiropractic Education
Most people are unaware that today’s Doctors of Chiropractic undergo virtually the same intense education process as Medical and Osteopathic students for the first two years of professional school. Medical students and Chiropractic students alike, spend a tremendous amount of time studying anatomy, physiology, neurology and other basic sciences. The main difference during the first two years is that Medical students have a heavy emphasis on pharmacology (study of prescription drugs) and Chiropractic students emphasize nutrition and natural alternatives to drugs.
The programs take a different turn after the first two years. Medical students prepare for the “trade” by rotating each month to different medical specialties such as pediatrics, orthopedics and family medicine.
The second two years of education for Chiropractic students focuses on learning the tools of their “trade.” Chiropractic treatment today can be effective using manual and computer controlled care, such as with the ProAdjuster.
Both doctors of Medicine and Chiropractic are very well trained to treat their respective patients utilizing the skills of their professions. The most promising and encouraging change in today’s treatment environment is that many healthcare clinics provide both Chiropractic and Medical care for their patients.
The Chiropractic model of health is centered around the philosophy that the human body, being knit together in a wonderful way, will heal itself given the right opportunity and circumstances.
Chiropractic has demonstrated itself to be one of the most cost-effective forms of care in all of the heatlh care market.
As with any product or servie, fees vary by provider and location, but you can find more cost-of-care information at www.Costhelper.com.
Compared with complementary and alternative therapies as a whole (few of which are reimbursed), coverage of chiropractic care by insurance plans is extensive.
As of 2002, the following plans covered chiropractic treatment:
- More than 50% of health maintenance organizations (HMOs)
- More than 75% of private health care plans
- All state workers’ compensation systems
Chiropractors can bill Medicare, and more than 24 states cover chiropractic treatment under Medicaid.
If you have health insurance, you should check to see if chiropractic care is covered before you seek treatment. Your plan may require care to be approved in advance, limit the number of visits covered, and/or require that you use chiropractors within its network.