1. How do chiropractic treatments work?
Unlike most other types of medicine that treat symptoms, chiropractic treats the root cause of injuries by helping patients regain normal function of their spine and joints.
If the spinal joint is misaligned or damaged due to poor posture, lifestyle, stress, everyday injuries, sports injuries, and/or auto accidents, it can put pressure on nerves and cause inflammation, chronic pain and a host of debilitating medical problems. Chiropractic adjustments of the spine at the point where nerves emerge from the spinal cord through the vertebra can remedy such problems by enabling freer, more normalized range of motion.
2. Is chiropractic treatment safe?
Yes! Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest, drug-free and non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. The risks associated with chiropractic are very small. In most cases, patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise. Current studies show that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal adjustment typically fade within 24 hours.
3. What types of conditions does chiropractic treat?
Chiropractic has been proven to be safe and effective in the treatment of a wide array of chronic and acute musculoskeletal ailments, including:
* Everyday injuries
* Sports injuries
* Auto accident injuries
* Neck, back and spinal injuries
* Shoulder pain, arm pain and leg pain
* Chronic pain from fibromyalgia
* Myofascial pain
* Severe and chronic headaches
* Stress-related illness and pain
* Muscle cramping, spasms and strains
4. Is chiropractic care ongoing?
Chiropractic care typically involves a series of visits. Like a regular workout at the gym, each visit builds on the ones before. As a result, many patients continue their chiropractic care long after they recover from their injuries in order to maintain optimum health and well-being on a full-time basis.
5. Does chiropractic care require a referral from my PCP?
No. Chiropractic care is available with or without a referral from your primary care physician (PCP).
6. How long does it take to get better?
Over the years, we've found that each injury is unique, differing from patient to patient, and requiring specialized treatment for immediate and lasting relief from neck, back and joint pain.
Although our patients typically report a sense of well-being and ease-of-motion after receiving chiropractic adjustments, recovery time depends upon your age, existing physical condition, severity of the trauma, the extent of your injury, and other physical and emotional conditions.
7. Is it better to use heat or ice for an acute injury?
If you’ve experienced an acute everyday injury , sports injury or auto accident injury, Fugate Family Chiropractic recommends ‘RICE’, an acronym for rest, ice, compression and elevation. If started immediately after a minor injury, ‘RICE’ can help relieve your pain and keep the affected area from swelling. The earlier the ‘RICE’ treatment is started, the better it works. When used appropriately, recovery time is usually shortened and discomfort is minimized.