FAQs

Q: Can chiropractic help me? Can chiropractic help me if I am pregnant?

A: Chiropractic care will benefit almost everyone in some way, just as dental care will benefit almost everyone in some way. The degree of response may vary due to the length of time the condition has existed, the lifestyle of the patient, and one’s compliance to the care plan. Pregnant women usually benefit a great deal from chiropractic. Most women under care report a more comfortable pregnancy and birth process after being under chiropractic care.

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Q: Is chiropractic safe?

A: Chiropractic has a very good track of safety, especially Gonstead Chiropractic. It is the result of biologically sound, specific adjustments without the use of drugs or surgeries that has given Gonstead Chiropractic care an excellent safety record. According to the July 15, 2003 issue of Spine: – Chiropractic care is safer than back surgery, muscle relaxants and aspirin. – For the treatment of chronic spinal pain, chiropractic is superior to acupuncture and medication.

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Q: What is a subluxation?

A: A subluxation occurs when a joint becomes misaligned and fixated, causing the nervous system to be dysfunctional. This nervous system interference may remain hidden for a long time or cause noticeable symptoms in the areas of the body supplied by that nerve. Chiropractors specialize in the detection and removal of subluxations by adjusting the spine and allowing the joint to heal. Dr. Hoyle has been  trained in the art of finding both symptomatic and asymptomatic subluxations.

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Q: How do I know if I have a subluxation?

A: Often times you can have a subluxation and not even know it! They can be present before you have obvious symptoms. The best thing for you and your family is to be checked in our office with a thorough examination for the presence and severity of subluxations. After being adjusted, you may find you are able to listen to your body and know when you are in need of future care.

 

Q: Are you going to “crack” my whole back?

 

A: As a Gonstead Chiropractor with over 40 years experience, Dr. Hoyle will carefully analyze your spine to determine what segments need to be adjusted and which should be left alone. With Chiropractic care, more is not better. “Cracking or manipulating” your entire spine is not specific and does not provide the lasting results that carefully adjusting specific segments does. The goal is to correct the exact cause of the problem and let your body do the rest of the healing.

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Q: How long until I feel better?

A: Happily, many patients have reported immediate relief. Others experience slow progress over a period of days or weeks. There are many factors that play a role in your healing process, including the severity or length of your injury. Other factors include proper rest, nutrition, exercise, keeping your appointments, and closely following your doctor’s recommendations. The timing of your appointments are determined based on your need for re-adjustment while allowing time for healing.

 

Q: How many visits will I need?

A: It is impossible to predict exactly how many visits a new patient will need to resolve their initial condition because each injury is different and each individual’s healing response is different. Dr. Hoyle will give each patient an estimate on how long their recovery may take after the initial exam and will have an even better idea after 2-3 visits. We believe in the body's innate ability to heal itself, therefore we do not put people on long  and often "prepaid" programs.  Each visit you will be re-evaluated through the nervoscope to let Dr. Hoyle when your next visit will be.  We do not use the same “2 times a week for 3 weeks” approach for each patient. Visits will be spaced out based on the rate of improvement. Once we have improved or resolved your initial complaint(s), many patients decide to come in for regular check-ups for maintenance of their spine to reduce future episodes and for better overall health.

 

Q: Can I adjust myself?

A: No. Turning your body or neck in one direction and/or the other may make your joints “pop”, but that sound is not correcting the problem and certainly is not an adjustment. The pressure and gases released during that “pop” may immediately feel like relief, but only a licensed Chiropractor is able to adjust the actual misaligned vertebra that’s really causing the tension.

 

Q: Does the adjustment hurt?

 

A: Typically, no. If one is in so much pain that simply touching the spine hurts, the doctor will apply ice for 10 or 15 minutes and that will reduce the discomfort for the procedure. An adjustment is felt and heard like cracking one’s knuckles. There could be some stretching sensation felt when the lower back or pelvis is adjusted, and that is normal.

 

Q: What should I expect after an adjustment?

 

A: Often times a patient will feel tired after the first adjustment. The release of the adjustment to a fixated and inflamed segment is like releasing a great weight from your shoulders. The body says “ahhh” and wants to rest. This is normal. Some patients feel a little general soreness like they “used muscles they didn’t know they had”. This is because some muscles have been tight or spastic for so long in response to the subluxation that they go unnoticed until they start to relax. Only then do we realize how tense the muscles were. About 3-5% of people may experience a sensation like their arms or legs are tingling as the nerves start to work properly after the adjustment. This is a good thing. If this occurs it typically lasts a couple of hours or less and does not occur again. This is similar to your arm or leg “waking up after it falls asleep”.

 

Q: Why do newborns get adjustments?

 

A: The birth process, no matter how natural, can affect an infant’s spine. Some studies suggest that colic, unusual crying, poor appetite, ear infection or erratic sleeping habits can be signs of spinal distress. Newborns also become subluxated in the same physical, emotional or chemical ways an adult does as well. An infant is also examined very carefully to determine if there is a subluxation and, if needed, receives a gentle Gonstead adjustment involving very little pressure.

 

Q: I’ve had back surgery, can you still help me?

 

A: Yes. Surgery often leads to instability in your spine above or below the area operated on. Your Gonstead Chiropractor will be very specific to your problem areas and will avoid the surgically altered segments.

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