Many people who are suffering from pain would like to get to the root of their problems rather than just masking their symptoms with more and more pills. For those who are interested in more of a natural, long term solution to better health, some have probably considered chiropractic care, but may not be sure they can trust it.
We end up hearing a lot of these concerns when people first visit our office, so we’d like to address some of the most common myths about chiropractors.
Myth – Chiropractors Are Not Real Doctors
The truth is that chiropractors must complete a Bachelor’s Degree with at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. After that, they attend a chiropractic school for a minimum of 4200 hours of training and instruction.
This generally takes 3-5 years, depending on the program schedule. This includes a residency with hands-on training. Upon completing this rigorous education, they receive a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree.
Then they must pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners exams and earn a state license. In some states, chiropractors must also complete continuing education requirements to stay certified.
Myth – It’s Not Based On Actual Science
The truth is that chiropractors study biology in-depth in order to correct spinal dysfunction and realign the spine. Patients can suffer from all kinds of pain throughout their body, not just backaches. This includes neck aches, headaches, nausea, wrist pain, shoulder issues, and even dizziness.
Chronic pain can also contribute to mental health concerns. When you are injured or hurting, your body adjust trying to protect you. That means muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves may either overstretch or tighten to prevent further wear and tear.
The injured part of your body trying to protect itself can lead to other parts of your body being overused, which in turn can contribute to even more pain and discomfort.
Chiropractors adjust your spine so it is in proper alignment. This helps keep your body in place and working as it was intended and relieves nerve pain from misalignment.
Myth – Once You Start Seeing A Chiropractor You’ll Never Stop
The truth is that many people go to the chiropractor due to chronic or acute pain, while others just go in for a checkup. If your body has been overcompensating for a long time, you will find that some muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves will need a bit of time to adjust to a healthier baseline.
You may want to see your chiropractor a few times initially so that your body can get used to staying in alignment. This doesn’t mean you’ll have to visit your chiropractor constantly.
It’s possible that after your body has returned to a healthy state you will be relieved at how good you feel. If you feel pain again you will probably want to get a tune-up in order to nudge your muscle patterns back into health.
As you become more aware of feeling better you will recognize when your body feels off. You might trace this back to habits like poor posture. Your chiropractor can help you with this.
Myth – Chiropractic Care Is Too Expensive
The truth is that many insurance plans often cover a number of chiropractic treatments each year, so it’s worth doing some research on whether your insurance plan covers chiropractic care. Most insurance companies have websites where you can search for chiropractors in your network and choose someone locally.
Many chiropractors offer specials for new patients that you can use to see if you like the chiropractor that you visit. Some chiropractors also provide fees on a sliding scale based on income.
Even if your chiropractic visit isn’t covered by insurance, your total cash out of pocket payment could be less than a co-pay for a traditional doctor’s visit that is covered by your insurance.
We’re Here To Help
If you’ve been considering chiropractic care and would like to learn more about our approach, we invite you to schedule an appointment and find out for yourself if chiropractic treatments are the solution that would work best for your body.
Call 417 Spine to schedule an appointment and get started on your path to optimal health.
