Common QuestionsWill my insurance company help? Yes our chiropractors are covered by major insurance companies including BUPA, PPP and HSA, etc. Check with the chiropractor and/or your insurance company. Often a referral letter can be written by the chiropractor to the GP if his referral is necessary for your insurance company. This helps in getting a referral for insurance where needed. Will my doctor approve? Increasingly, GPs are recognising chiropractic as an effective complementary treatment, particularly for back pain. We do receive referrals from GPs to help patients. However, some are less keen to refer patients but this is rare. You do not need a GP's referral to visit a chiropractor. Our Chiropractor is fully recognised by major insurance companies. How long does treatment take? The first consultation takes, on average, about half an hour, and a treatment session about 15 minutes but can be longer when needed, this will vary according to your condition and your needs. You are given what you need to repair. How long will it take to get better? Your recovery is dependent on many factors - the problem, the length of time you have had it and your own commitment to any rehabilitative exercises and maintenance visits which your chiropractor may recommend. For whom is chiropractic suitable? Chiropractic treatment is suitable for everyone, including new-born babies, the elderly, pregnant women and sports enthusiasts. Once you are better, your chiropractor will help you to maintain your own health, and keep your body working as it should, by offering exercise and lifestyle advice for you to follow in the future. What is the popping noise of the adjustment? When the two surfaces of a joint are moved apart rapidly, as happens in a chiropractic adjustment, there is a change of pressure within the joint space. This may sometimes cause a bubble of gas to 'pop' - but this sound is not significant, and does not hurt. Will treatment hurt? Adjustments (chiropractor equivalent to manipulation), when carried out correctly by a qualified chiropractor, is not painful. If you have acute muscle spasm, when even the lightest touch hurts, there may be some discomfort after the muscular knots are released. Sometimes, if you have had a problem for some time, you may feel sore whilst your body starts to adjust after the treatments but not during the adjustment. Your chiropractor will tell you if this is likely to happen. The beginning of care can be likened to going to the gym for the first few times, it aches but overall your body is healing and improving and you feel better for it. Are all patients adjusted in the same way? No. Your treatment programme will be tailored to your specific needs. Should I bring my family for chiropractic checks? Yes. The strength of chiropractic is that it can help prevent discomfort, pain and even disease, and is suitable for everyone. It is entirely appropriate to visit a chiropractor even if you have no pain, as restrictions in movement can often be detected before symptoms appear. What is the difference between chiropractic and osteopathy? There are differences in technique and approach, but both treat with their hands. The important factor is that the practitioner is well-qualified. Both professions now have statutory regulation. In Chiropractic College, Chiropractors are trained to take and analyse x rays which can help in diagnosing conditions otherwise not located just by the hand. Is chiropractic treatment safe, even if I've already had surgery? Chiropractic is remarkably safe when treatment is carried out by a properly qualified practitioner. Your chiropractor is trained to recognise conditions which require referral elsewhere, and can treat you even after surgery. In many cases Chiropractors can prevent unnecessary spinal surgery. Why should I return if I'm feeling fine? Your chiropractor has treated you, so allowing your body to heal, but if you continue the lifestyle which caused the original condition, regular treatment should also continue. Would you maintain your car with tune ups or teeth with check ups or wait until full breakdown and then hope to fully resolve the problem? Or would you make sure all stayed well and required much less finance and time to fully restore and enjoy good joint and muscular health? Can I adjust myself? Is there anything wrong with me 'cracking ' my neck or back myself? You cannot properly control an adjustment to yourself and your relief may only be temporary. If you feel you want to 'crack' your joints, it is because you need an adjustment. Consult your chiropractor! Adjusting yourself can sometimes cause harm. Is there scientific proof that chiropractic works? Yes and mostly for low back pain, neck pain and headaches. The Clinical Standards Advisory Group recommended in 1994 that there should be earlier access to the manipulative therapies and a redistribution of resources within the NHS to make this happen. In September 1996 the Royal College of General Practitioners issued guidelines for GPs which recommend manipulative treatment within the first six weeks for patients with low back pain. They also state that the risks of manipulation are very low in skilled hands. GPs are advised to refer to chiropractors. Now research is beginning to concentrate on how chiropractic affects other areas of the musculo-skeletal system, including a trial at the University of Odense in Denmark 1 on the effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of neck-related headache and a Canadian patient satisfaction study 2 which shows chiropractic as an effective means of resolving or improving back and/or neck pain. Researchers all over the world, including the Anglo European College of Chiropractic and the British College of Chiropractic are also investigating the effect chiropractic has on pain and disease in the organs of the body. There is a Chiropractic research book located in this office, when you come in you can have a read of it. It is written for the general public to read and not just the doctor. References: 1. Nilsson N, Christensen HW, Hartvigsen J, The Effect of Spinal
Manipulation in the Treatment of Cervicogenic Headache, J Manipulative
Physiol Ther 1997; 20:326-330
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