FAQ.

You can expect your first visit to the office to last 30-45 minutes. During your first office visit, you will receive a complete chiropractic examination that includes a health history, physical exam, and range of motion testing followed by the specific chiropractic adjustments. We will also explain our findings and inform you of what our care plan is for you moving forward. Please feel free to ask any questions during your first office visit, as we want you to feel comfortable as you begin your care with us.

Your first visit will generally take between 30-40 minutes, depending upon the extent of your presenting condition. You can learn more details about this here. Subsequent visits will take 10-15 minutes and they will be similar to the first visit, without the consultation and orthopedic tests. Besides the adjustment of your specific subluxations, there will be some muscle stretching and trigger point therapy to help relieve any spasm and/or discomfort.

You should not be scared of the sounds that are produced during a chiropractic adjustment. The sound is not coming from the bones, but rather from the joint capsules surrounding the vertebrae. The capsules are filled with a lubricant called synovial fluid. When the vertebrae are misaligned, a pressure build-up in the capsule is created and when the adjustment is performed, the joint is re-aligned and the pressure is released. A good analogy of this pressure release is similar to when you crack your knuckles. Not all patients and/or adjustments “crack” or “pop”, but this does not mean that the adjustment was not effective or correct. Increased motion, decreased muscle spasm and relief of discomfort are indicative of an effective and correct chiropractic adjustment.

It is important to remember that spinal adjustments, as well as your health are ongoing processes. The length of your care plan and number of times you will need to be seen are based on the specific nature and history of your condition. Chiropractors treat mostly acute injuries and chronic structural problems. It takes some time for soft tissues to heal after injury. Many structural problems have been present in the body for a long time. In this time, your body has adapted around these spinal misalignments and structural problems with improper joint motion and muscle imbalance. Since it has taken years to get to this state, it may take weeks or possibly months for the body to return to a properly aligned and balanced state.

After the initial care plan has been completed and a patient is back on their way to proper nervous system function and health, they often continue with maintenance care. They will come into the office once a week, every 2 weeks or once a month to get adjusted. Most often, those that continue care realize the health benefits of regular chiropractic adjustments and like the way they feel when adjusted regularly.

No, chiropractors are not allowed to prescribe medication. Instead, chiropractors believe that the body has the ability to heal itself. By correcting and removing subluxations, the nervous system is allowed free-flowing communication with the rest of the body and the self-healing can take place.

Chiropractic care can be utilized from the moment of birth well into old age. It is especially important for infants to be under care to deal with any subluxations that are a result of trauma during the birthing process. It is important to have children adjusted regularly to ensure a healthy nervous system for proper growth and development. As we get older, we become more susceptible to illness, disease, and physical ailments. By continuing chiropractic care into the “golden years”, the nervous system is better equipped to cope with the effects of advancing age.

The reactions after an adjustment vary from person to person. Most patients experience instant relief of pain and muscle spasm along with a clearer sense of well-being. Sometimes patients feel aching or soreness in muscles or joints following an adjustment, which is a natural response of the body. Most of these reactions will subside within several days and you will begin to feel beneficial effects of your adjustment. You should not feel such reactions with subsequent adjustments, as your body will begin to adapt to the adjustments and begin the process of correcting the misalignments and restoring nervous system function. If you experience any reactions that are unusual or are of concern to you, do not hesitate to call the chiropractor or please inform them at your next visit.

We are non-network providers for all health insurance companies except Blue Shield, however we can bill insurance if your policy has out-of-network chiropractic coverage. We also accept Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA). For patients without insurance or chiropractic coverage, we offer affordable payment options. If you have any questions regarding insurance or other payment options, please feel free to contact us via text 650-761-7953 or info@westsidechiros.com.