Q: I have ______(Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Fibromyalgia, Diabetes, Insomnia, Sciatica, Heartburn, Rheumatism, Depression, Hyperactivity, Menstrual Cramps, Cancer, Migraines, you name it, etc. etc. etc.) Can Chiropractic help me?

A:This is one of the most frequent questions that we get at our speaking engagements. Someone will come up to us and give us a list of what their symptoms are, or what their doctor told them they have, or their disease that they are taking medications for. They will go at length in discussing how it first happened, the details of their car accident, or the particulars of their injury or dysfunction. What we find is that most people just want to be listened to, not only heard.

Your story is important. Your symptoms will be listened to, but it is our duty to tell you that they are not the focus. They will help to guide us, but they are not what we’ll be addressing. Nor will your disease.

How do you remove darkness from a room? Not by an endless study of the dark or by an external light source. You do this by turning on the light. In the same way, you don’t get rid of a disease or ache/pain by focusing on it. You do so by turning on the power from within you to reshift you towards health. This process automatically brings with it the means to get rid of the problem. Chiropractic isn’t a specific treatment for these specific diseases, however, if you have them, or think that you do, it’s a good idea to make sure your body is functioning at 100% so that your innate healing potential can be released and you have a better chance at coping with it.

Have people with your (or your spouse’s/childs/friend’s/family member’s) specific condition been helped by chiropractic? Certainly. Have these conditions resolved while under chiropractic care? Absolutely! (See Research on Chiropractic to find out). Can Chiropractic help you? In a word, YES! Chiropractic is not only for aches and pains. If you do have a specific condition, (or even if you don’t!) make sure that you are under regular chiropractic care to give your body a chance to function at a higher level. Chiropractic isn’t an alternative for anything, and nothing is an alternative to chiropractic.

Q: What causes Subluxations?

A: Subluxations, or nerve interference, have 3 causes:

1 : Physical Stress, as in a slip, fall, injury, or even constant everyday repetitive motion will cause vertebrae to misalign, interfering with your Nerve System.
2 : Chemical Stress, such as a poor diet, or environmental toxins can also cause Subluxations.
3 : Emotional Stress, such as pressure from work, or family stress will cause your muscles to tighten (sometimes you aren’t even aware of it!) and pull your spinal joints out of alignment, putting pressure on your nerves.

Because most people in this fast-paced society can’t say they live without stress, chiropractic is for everyone! How do you know if you have subluxations? You don’t. Most subluxations are painless, like cavities in teeth. The only way to see if you have them is to have an examination at a chiropractic office.

Most don’t realize that your first Subluxation often occurs during the traumatic delivery process when you’re born.

This is a picture of a normal delivery. Unfortunately, interference can occur at birth. As you can see, this child’s head is pulled, bent, twisted around, and torqued, sometimes for over an hour. Even if this is done to an adult, it would cause a subtle injury. Newborns who suffer from subluxations to the upper cervical region often show up with symptoms such as colic, inconsolable crying, difficulty feeding to one side, frequent ear infections, failure to thrive, hyperactivity in childhood, and delayed development. That is why it is critical for newborns to get checked for subluxations, especially to the upper neck area. This is particularly important if they have had a difficult delivery, such as forceps, or vacuum extraction, C-section, or breech.

Q: Do Chiropractors work with Children?

A:Yes. As you can read from the previous link ‘What causes subluxations?’, significant spinal trauma can occur during the birth process. That’s the reason why many parents have their children and newborns checked for nerve interference. Adjusting procedures are adapted to a child’s spine. Children seem to get the same improvement in overall health as adults do, but often faster. This also helps prevent degenerative changes and other problems often seen later in adults.
As we start dental care in childhood to prevent cavities and other dental problems BEFORE their symptoms show up, the same holds true for children and chiropractic care.

Children are active and can fall, and are exposed to the same physical and chemical stresses we encounter as adults. Because the majority of subluxations are painless, and only show up as problems later on, it’s important to start with a checkup as soon as possible, and continue with a wellness-oriented schedule of care. This is an important part of the health equation to allow for the child to adapt better to his/her environment. If the twig is bent, so grows the tree!

Q: Do Adjustments hurt?

A:While it might seem logical to assume that if a joint hurts, any movement would cause more pain, however, the reverse is often true. An adjustment is often like removing the weight of a heavy box that has fallen on your toes. When the box is removed, there is often an instant feeling of relief. Most patients find the actual adjustment to be quite pleasant. Often, there is an invigorating ‘aliveness’ that is felt as the function and integrity of the spine is returned to a more natural state.

Q: Do I have to keep coming back?

A: This is a statement that is usually made when you hear someone refer to chiropractors: ‘Once you start going, you will get addicted, and have to go for the rest of your life’. In our office, we never tell patients that they have to come back for the rest of their life. The job of the chiropractor is to first EDUCATE about the damaging effects that subluxations have on our lives, how everyday stress can produce them, and the dramatic way to keep you clear of them.

Since tension and interference along the spine is caused by physical, chemical, or emotional stress, a program of regular care would keep you functioning at your best, THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFETIME. Just like going to the gym, or changing the oil in your car, a program of maintenance is always more wise and economical in the long run. Anything of value requires maintenance, but only if you choose to maintain it.

Chiropractic Wellness Care will enhance the quality of your life, and will ensure that daily stresses won’t cause a downward spiral in your health and vitality. However, Wellness Care is an ELECTIVE form of care, in other words, it’s a choice you make.
Since everyone’s idea of health and goals for health are unique and different, we will give you our best recommendations, and then YOU decide the plan that meets your needs .

P.S. How long do you plan on going to the dentist? How long do you plan on brushing your teeth? How long do you plan on going to the gym and exercising? How long do you plan on getting regular maintenance for your car? Are you addicted to these things? Usually, the answer to those questions gives an idea of what people’s goals are for health. However long you choose to benefit from chiropractic care is up to you. You will maintain all these above things for as long as you want to keep your teeth, body, and car functioning at their optimal levels. The same holds true for your Nerve System. You can always replace teeth or a car. Unfortunately we only get one nerve system for our brief moment on this earthly plane. The moment you decide you want to live with nerve interference in your life, my job is finished. If your body wears down, where else are you going to live?

Q: Can you be adjusted when you’re pregnant?

A:Yes. Any time is a good time for a better functioning Nerve System. Adjusting methods are always adapted to the patient’s size, weight, age, and condition. Pregnant mothers often find chiropractic adjustments improve lower back support and lessen the complications of delivery. Adjusting techniques are modified for expectant mothers to make their adjustments comfortable.

Q: Can an MD or Physiotherapist do the same thing as a Chiropractor?

A:Although medical doctors and physical therapists are valuable, their goals are quite different from a Chiropractor’s. Admittingly, some MD’s and physiotherapists are taking seminars and weekend courses in ’spinal manipulation’ innate healing power from within. This is the main philosophical difference which defines what a Chiropractor does. Chiropractors do not prescribe medications, rather we help the body heal from the inside out.

Q: I’m scheduled to see my specialist in a month’. I want to wait and see what he/she says about my condition.

A:We emphatically encourage you to investigate all avenues regarding your health care with an open mind and heart. After all, it’s your health, your healing, and your responsibility. Please understand a very important point: Chiropractic isn’t an alternative for anything, and nothing is an alternative to chiropractic! No matter what the tests or examination determines, no matter what the diagnosis by the specialist, you life will benefit from a healthy functioning Nerve System. If you are in such a state where you are being referred to a specialist, chances are, your body isn’t functioning at it’s full potential. Always give your body a chance to heal itself from within! Think Chiropractic FIRST, drugs second, and surgery, last. All too often, we see patients who finally come to our office after having turned to various specialists first, been prescribed a long list of medications, or even been placed under the knife. While these procedures are sometimes necessary, they should only be used as a LAST RESORT.

Q:If I go to a Chiropractor, what will my doctor say?

A:The jury is still out on this one. While our office often gets referrals from medical doctors, still there are some medical doctors out there who insist on being closed-minded. We have some physicians as chiropractic patients, and others who would rather resort to medications. There is even an MD in our town of Maple Ridge who has been practicing the art of ’spinal manipulation’ for over 40 years! At the same time, there are MD’s who wrongly believe that the practice is dangerous.

The point is, that some doctors will agree with your decision to start Chiropractic care, and some won’t. If your doctor discourages you from chiropractic care, please understand that it’s not the official recommendation of all medical doctors. According to the American Medical Association (2000), the number one recommended treatment for back pain is’. You guessed it’. Chiropractic! (Of course, they mentioned it was on par with Anti-inflammatory drugs, but you now hopefully understand the difference between masking symptoms and correcting the cause).

No matter what your doctor’s opinion is, it’s important to respect it, and remember that it’s YOUR health, YOUR healing, and YOUR responsibility. No one else’s, but yours. The final decision always rests with you. The more information you arm yourself with, the better your health-care decisions will be.

Q: My friend/relative had a bad experience…

A:Oftentimes, we will hear of someone who will be cheated out of chiropractic, refusing to begin care because they had a bad experience, or heard from a friend/relative or their doctor about somebody else’s negative experience.

As with any trade or profession, you can have good experiences and bad ones. We can go to a mechanic/doctor/accountant/dentist/lawyer, and leave feeling great about the situation, or lousy. If the latter occurs, what happens? Do we say we’re never going to the dentist or mechanic again? Or do we find another mechanic/doctor/accountant/dentist/ lawyer?

When choosing these professionals, if these are life-long relationships we are looking into, it then it makes sense to carefully consider the person who you choose. The same holds true with your family Chiropractor.
There will always be differences in personality and philosophy with whom you encounter. We are all human. There are a few common reasons for these bad experiences. The vast majority have to do with misunderstandings of communication:

Perhaps you or your friend/relative who had the bad experience didn’t like the personality or adjusting style of their doctor at the time. There are many different styles and techniques out there! Maybe you or they should find a doctor better suited for you/them.
Was the doctor extremely busy and didn’t take the time to explain their situation or outline their program of care? If so, were their feelings expressed to the doctor? They could have booked more time in advance to answer questions.
Did their doctor explain that it’s normal to be sore after your first few visits, like your first few times going to the gym to exercise? Maybe this wasn’t communicated, and the care of the patient was terminated prematurely.

Whatever the case may be, we hope that if our office personalities, adjusting styles or philosophy is not right for you, you will let us know so we can refer you to another office better suited for you. Don’t cheat yourself out of your body healing itself from within!