Patient Information

FAQs

If you want to learn more about chiropractic treatment, or are interested in booking an adjustment but have some questions first, we want to help you. Look through our frequently asked questions to learn about treatment benefits, processes, and our clinic as a whole.

Common answers to top questions:

• What makes our care different?
  • Our goal is to educate you on the benefits of chiropractic care and proper movement. We will never pressure you into care you do not want or need.
  • Our initial visit lasts approximately 45 minutes to one hour, including a full chiropractic examination, movement assessment, and treatment.
  • Follow up visits last approximately 20-30 minutes, including the chiropractic adjustment, soft tissue treatment, and rehabilitation to help you stay pain-free long after your visit.
  • Our costs are affordable and we spend time with all of our patients with a goal of helping you reach optimum recovery and wellness.
• What should I expect on my first visit?

  On your first visit, you can expect to have a conversation with the doctor about what’s bothering you and your goals with chiropractic care. Next you will receive a complete chiropractic, orthopedic and neurological examination, as well as a movement assessment, to evaluate your health and function. Dr. Tracey does not x-ray her patients, as in her experience most complaints are musculoskeletal and can be successfully treated without imaging. If the examination reveals red-flags, an appropriate referral for imaging or to another physician will be made.

  At that point, she will discuss her findings and make an appropriate recommendation on treatment. If you are a candidate for chiropractic care, she will perform your first adjustment. Depending on the patient and the complaint, treatments may also include soft tissue treatments, stretching programs and/or rehabilitation.

• What should I wear to my appointment?

  Please bring the proper change of clothing, shorts or tank tops, related to the area of complaint.

• I have seen Chiropractors in the past but they didn’t help, or the relief did not last. Why should I give you a try?

  Typically, when people think of going to see a Chiropractor, they envision getting their spine “cracked” or “manipulated” but that’s pretty much it. They think the “adjustment” is the main purpose for the whole appointment. That’s because most Chiropractic offices are set up so that once you check in with reception, you go into a treatment room to have a heating pad or e-stim applied for a few minutes, sometimes by an assistant, before the doctor comes in to adjust you. At some offices, appointments are even shorter—you might be in a room with several other people and the doctor will go down the line adjusting everyone. You might spend 10-15 minutes there and be asked to return up to 3x/week for months receiving practically the same exact treatment.

  Does this sound familiar? If you have had treatments like these, you wouldn’t be alone: the majority of our patients who make their way to see us have described these scenarios as their only other experience with a Chiropractor.

  You might feel better for a few hours after treatment, but the truth is, by only adjusting the joints, this type of treatment does not address the underlying muscular issues that are actually what causes joint restrictions and pain in the first place. After all, the joints are a “passive” system, meaning they do not move on their own. It’s the muscles that control the movement of your joints in the first place. So, if you have been told that your spine is “out of alignment,” the real culprit is typically dysfunctional muscles causing joint restriction.

  THIS is where our philosophy of care and treatment style deviates from the norm…

  We know that painful conditions are rarely isolated in the joints, which is why Dr. Tracey always looks at the bigger picture by:

  • Connecting what muscles are involved (just because you feel pain somewhere does not mean it’s from that spot—sometimes it is “referred pain” from up or down the kinetic chain)
  • Recognizing when (and what) muscle(s) requires stretching, strengthening, or stabilizing to improve the patient’s condition
  • Treating the involved muscle dysfunctions with therapies such as Myofascial Release Technique, Soft Tissue Mobilization (including Instrument Assisted like “Graston”), and PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) stretches—basically, a fancy way of pre-fatiguing the muscle to get a better stretch reflex
  • Assessing problematic movement patterns and educating patients on corrective exercises to restore mobility and reduce pain
• Does the chiropractic adjustment hurt?

  Under normal circumstances, chiropractic adjustments are painless. In cases of recent trauma, such as whiplash, mild discomfort may be experienced due to inflammation. It is also common to feel a brief sensation in the extremities immediately following an adjustment due to the sudden decompression of the affected nerve root.

  What if I experience some discomfort or unusual symptoms after an adjustment?

  A small minority of people may experience discomfort, pain, or awkward symptoms after an adjustment. These responses are typically short-lived, occur primarily when the vertebra was significantly subluxated (out of place) prior to being adjusted. There are a few possible causes of such responses:

  • Some people experience a detoxification of the body after an adjustment. When poisons leave the system, there may be discomfort such as headache, sniffles, a slight fever, drowsiness, or lethargy.
  • Muscles will realign in coordination with the spine after an adjustment. Often, these are muscles that haven’t worked properly for years, and may have been weakened. This condition is temporary and will disappear after the muscles have strengthened themselves.
  • Sometimes, nerves that were impinged for years are now “coming back to life,” and becoming more sensitive again. Unlike the majority of drugs, chiropractic adjustments aren’t designed just to “make you feel good,” but to “make you FEEL.” Improved sensitivity and awareness are necessary and desirable. Old injury pains may be reawakened in order for healing to occur.

  How long until I feel better?

  Some patients experience almost instant relief. Others discover it can take many weeks or months. Many factors can affect the healing process, including:

  • The severity of the structural misalignments causing your problem.
  • How long you have had them.
  • How rapidly your body responds to chiropractic care, influenced by age, mental attitude, elasticity of the muscles and ligaments.
  • Your ability to avoid additional stress and strain while your body is healing.
• How long will it take to fix my problem?

  Each patient is unique, but most cases resolve completely within 4-8 visits. Most patients begin to feel better immediately after their first treatment. We spend more time with you than other chiropractors and therefore need to see you less.

• Why don’t you take my insurance?

  We understand that not taking all insurance can be an inconvenience. However, we work for our patients, not for insurance companies.

  Being out-of-network allows us to offer the range of services and in-depth care we do without being limited to only what insurance would pay us for. We are therefore able to provide higher-quality, personalized, and patient-centered care.

  Operating independently of insurance also allows us to keep costs lower for our patients by not needing to hire additional employees or a third-party to take on the administrative work required to file insurance claims.

  If you have out-of-network insurance that covers our services, we are happy to accommodate by providing you with receipts that you can submit for reimbursement. Many patients also choose to apply their receipts towards their deductible. About half of our patients pay up-front for our services and accept these receipts afterwards because they appreciate getting quicker results, lasting relief, and an elevated patient care experience when working with us.

• Can I use my HSA?

  Yes, we accept HSA and can provide you with itemized receipts.

• Do you accept motor vehicle accidents?

  If you have been injured in a motor vehicle crash, we will directly bill your insurance company for the medical options portion of your car accident insurance. Often referred to as “Med Pay”. Please speak to Dr. Tracey immediately if you have been involved in an accident and she will walk you through the entire process and answer any questions you may have!