Frequently Asked Questions in Troy MI

Chiropractic works because your bodily systems are controlled by your nervous system. Instructions flow from your brain, down your spinal cord to every organ and tissue. Your body sends signals back to the brain to communicate information about how the body is working. Improper positioning of the bones of the spine, which a chiropractor calls a subluxation, can interfere with this exchange of information. This can affect the function of organs and tissues throughout the body. Specific spinal adjustments can remove the interference. This often leads to improved health due to improved nervous system control of the body.

Stress! There are three types of stress that can cause a subluxation – chemical, emotional, and physical. Chemical stress could include alcohol, drugs, pollution, and poor diet. Emotions like grief, anger, and fear create stress. Physical causes may include slips, falls, accidents, and repetitive motions.

You may have a subluxation and not even know. Symptoms are often the last thing to show up, even when a disease process has been around for a long time. A spinal check-up by a chiropractor is the only way to truly tell if you have a subluxation.

The word pinched is often used because it is so descriptive. When a vertebrae is misaligned, the nerves may be irritated, compressed, or stretched. These would be more accurate terms, even though it can really feel like something is being pinched in there! These misaligned vertebrae can then interfere in the messages being sent back and forth between your brain and body.

A chiropractic adjustment is a quick thrust to a specific bone in a specific direction for the purpose of removing nerve interference. This adjustment is done by a doctor’s hands, an instrument, or a special table.

Chiropractic is a very conservative healthcare choice. We don’t put anything into the body and we don’t take anything out of your body. Studies show that adjustments are about 100 times safer than an over-the-counter pain reliever.

Fluid and air can build up in the joint spaces of a misaligned joint. When the joint is moved during an adjustment, a sound is sometimes produced as the fluid and air shift. The sound is not an indication of the quality or value of the adjustments.

No. Your joints may pop but this is not an adjustment. Adjustments are very specific movements to specific bones and it takes years to master the art of performing.

The number varies with each patient and their own personal health goals. Visits are usually more frequent in the beginning of care and become less often as your spine stabilizes.

Sometimes relief is almost instant. For others, it can take weeks or months. Many things affect the healing process. How long have you had the problem? Are you keeping your appointments? Do you smoke? Are you in otherwise good condition? Within a short per of time, most patients begin to notice progress.

This depends on what you want from your care. Some patients choose short-term relief care just until their symptoms subside. Other patients understand the value of continuing their care with periodic adjustments to maintain their health. These periodic visits may help detect and resolve new problems before they become serious. We offer the best care to everyone and you choose how much of it you want.

Yes. The doctor may have to avoid the areas you have had surgery on, but surgery can affect mobility and stability in areas above and below the involved level. These would be the areas of focus for your chiropractic care.

Yes. The doctor takes the unique circumstances of each patient into consideration when developing your care plan. There are many ways to adjust the spine and the doctor can chose the best method for your particular condition.

No. Chiropractors do not dispense drugs. We rely on natural methods for healing and pain relief.

If we are not able to find and correct the cause of your health problem, we will refer you to a specialist who may be able to help you. Your health is our primary goal.