Q. What is a subluxation?
A. Subluxation literally means an action or instance of less light (sub = less. Lux = light. ation = an action or instance of it). When Chiropractors talk about this we are literally talking about an interference within your nervous system, aka the power supply of your body. When you have decreased motion in your spine, it causes the nerves to be in an irritated state and cause symptoms such as pain, heat, swelling, tenderness, tingling, burning, and numbness. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you may be suffering from a very correctable subluxation.
Q. Can a subluxation cause symptoms other than musculoskeletal pain?
A. Yes! 100% of our nerves carry function, only 20% of them carry feeling! We see patients who experience relief from migraines, numbness, digestive issues, allergies, colds and flus and many report better sleep, better moods, and a more positive outlook on life! The first chiropractic patient was a deaf man who had his hearing restored from a chiropractic adjustment. The man who adjusted him, DD Palmer he had found the cure for deafness but quickly realized that what he was doing had a tremendous effect on the nervous system and resulted in a multitude of benefits that expressed differently in each person once their “power was fully turned on.” A healthy spine = a healthy nervous system.
Q. How do I know if Chiropractic care is for me?
A. If you have a spine and a nervous system, you are an excellent candidate for Chiropractic Care! Chiropractic care is about releasing subluxation so that your brain and body can communicate better and so that the innate intelligence of your body can flow freely. Common side effects of getting adjusted are less pain, more energy, better sleep, and better mental focus.
Q. Is Chiropractic safe?
A. Yes, Chiropractic care is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. In the grand scheme of things, when we have pain and symptoms we have multiple options, and we are positive that Chiropractic care is far safer NSAID (ibuprofen/Advil, etc) or pharmaceutical use which only addresses symptoms. In our office, we look at the root cause of your issues and our goal is to help figure out what is blocking your body from being at its healthiest and most vibrant expression. First and foremost, we adjust the spine to ensure that your nervous system is at its best function because we know that 100% of our nerves carry function to our body (while only 20% carry feeling). We assess your posture and movement patterns and figure out what habits need to shift in your life to be able to achieve your health goals. We talk about all of those things on your first visit. We want to empower you to be involved in your health, and we want to get excited about it with you. The days of passive healthcare are over!
Q. What does a first visit entail?
A. The first visit is a 45-minute appointment that involves a consultation and a thorough Chiropractic examination with a customized care plan based on your specific goals and challenges. You may or may not receive your first adjustment on the first visit, as each person’s process and care plan is unique to their situation.
Q. What can I expect after my first adjustment?
A. Many people report feeling better immediately after receiving their first adjustment. For some, it can take a handful of adjustments before they begin to feel relief from their symptoms. It is also possible for you to feel worse immediately following your first adjustment. This is because your nervous system is re-calibrating and activating different muscle fibers to try and hold your adjustment and realign the spine on its own. These fibers can get sore, just like working out for the first time in a while. Dr. Lauren will often to call you after your first adjustment to check in on you and see if you have questions. It is always a great idea to drink lots of water. In our office, we like to say “Feeling is healing.” It is a sign that your body is responding to the adjustments. This soreness usually doesn’t last longer than the day and most people report feeling better than before by the next day.
Q. What role do symptoms play in how you provide care?
A. Symptoms such as pain are aids to our diagnosis of and care for any interference affecting your nervous system. Symptoms, however, are only pieces of a larger puzzle. We care very much about all of our patients, and wish for you to be comfortable; however, symptom removal is not our primary goal. Perhaps 90% of the time, symptoms will disappear as the neurological insult of the vertebral subluxation is alleviated. However, we have worked with people whose original symptoms never went away (particularly in cases of permanent injury), yet many other aspects of their health improved dramatically. They now receive regular chiropractic care just to feel great and function better.
Q. Why do we “pop” or “crack” when we get adjusted?
A. Not all adjustments make a sound happen, but when it does it is a release of nitrogen gas from within the joint space. This gas can be built up from aberrant biomechanics associated with vertebral subluxations. Also released are various chemicals which reduce muscle tension, create a sense of ease in the body and also increase the immune function.
Q. Why would a baby or child see a Chiropractor?
A. Simply put, because they have a nervous system too. Birth is an incredibly stressful (and beautiful!) event for the mother and the baby, in any situation. As babies get older and learn to crawl and walk it is common for them to fall and get bumps and bruises. Overall, children are very resilient, but even their bodies can hold onto stress and create tension and compensation patterns that can lead to pain and dysfunctional movement patterns. This is especially true for children who are active in sports. When Dr. Lauren adjusts babies and newborns, there are no cracking or popping sounds, and it is nothing like when an adult is getting adjusted. There are no quick movements. Babies and children have very soft bones, therefore, their adjustments are extremely soft and gentle. Chiropractic adjustments can have effects on growth, feeding, bladder and bowel function, mood, immune function, ability to sleep, colic, ear infections, torticollis, and many other things. The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association webpage is an excellent source to see all of the research that has been done not only on Chiropractic but also on Pediatric Chiropractic. We recommend that children get checked from birth and throughout childhood to help keep kids in alignment through their growing and changing years.
Q. Do you take insurance?
A. Lux Vitae does not work directly with insurance. The reason for this is that insurance companies attempt to regulate the type of health care that their clients receive. The justification is not based on science nor is it agreed upon by individuals who hold doctoral degrees. When an individual uses their insurance they are allowing the insurance companies to dictate the type or duration of care which is received which in most situations less than what is appropriate for an individual’s healing.
Q. Do you work with pregnant women?
A. Yes! Many mothers come in for common conditions related to pregnancy such as spine or joint pain, acid reflux or pubic symphysis pain, sciatic pain, round ligament pain, or simply to assist in their body to function at its best and to assist with optimal baby positioning. We have special pillows and tables for all stages of pregnancy. Getting adjusted can create better birth outcomes, easier, faster labors, and optimal positioning and nerve supply for baby as he/she grows and develops.
Q. Do I have to keep going to the chiropractor once I start?
A. Chiropractic should only be utilized for as long as it serves you to become a better, healthier, and more vibrant you. Our first stage of care is called relief care. This is a short-term period in which you will receive more frequent adjustments and your current symptoms will quickly disappear. The second stage of care is called corrective care, in which your body begins to unwind the patterns and tension that caused your symptoms in the first place and your body restructures itself in a more balanced way. After corrective care, it is your choice to continue receiving Chiropractic adjustments for “wellness care.” Many patients choose to continue staying with us for general well-being because they like the way they feel and function following a chiropractic adjustment. An interference-free nervous system with optimal communication and connection is essential for health throughout a lifetime. Getting adjusted ensures that you stay ‘tuned up’ and can better avoid the big ‘breakdowns.’ We believe Chiropractic care is the most preventative form of health care that keeps us at our best function rather than “reactive care” that addresses symptoms more than the cause.
Q. I am sick, should I reschedule my appointment?
A. No. If you can get yourself to the office you should come in as it is an important time to get adjusted. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to boost your immune system and help you to get well sooner. The only exception to this is if you have a fever, please wait until after the fever breaks as you are more contagious at that time. It’s best to get adjusted at the first sign of a cold or flu.
Q. Is everyone adjusted in the same way?
A. No. Each practice member’s care and treatment plans are specific and unique to them based on their consultation, health history, exams, and response to adjustments and home care exercises.
Q. I have had back surgery, can I still see a chiropractor?
A. Yes, absolutely. It is very important for those who have had spinal surgeries to be under regular chiropractic care as surgeries are a major trauma to the body and the spine compensates greatly in response. It is an unfortunate fact that more than half of people who had spinal surgery will have a return of their original symptoms months to years later and will require additional surgeries. Chiropractic care is the best thing to avoid surgeries in the first place.
Q. Can I adjust myself?
A. No. Since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force that is applied in a specific direction to a specific joint, it is virtually impossible to adjust yourself safely, correctly and accurately. It is possible to turn or bend or twist in certain ways to create a “popping” sound that sometimes accompanies a chiropractic adjustment. Unfortunately, this type of joint manipulation is usually counterproductive, often making an already unstable spine even more unstable, and can sometimes be dangerous. Adjusting the spine is not for amateurs!
Q. Is a massage or acupuncture the same as getting adjusted?
A. No. Exercise is an important part of good health, yet without normal spinal function, a physical workout merely puts additional wear and tear on improperly functioning spinal joints.