General
What conditions do chiropractors treat?
Chiropractors treat problems with nerves, muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, joints and overall function and movement pattern problems in the body. Some examples include: sciatica, whiplash, neck pain, back pain, headaches, TMJ or Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD), neuropathy, sacroiliac (SI) joint pain, hip pain, knee pain, ankle pain, shoulder pain, wrist pain, elbow pain and toe or finger pain.
How do I select a doctor of chiropractic?
You should select a DC (Doctor of Chiropractic) by their accolades. You should also consider their reviews online. The best chiropractic college is Palmer and should be taken into consideration when choosing your provider.
Is chiropractic treatment safe?
Chiropractic care is much safer than many other treatment options like drugs or surgery.
Does chiropractic treatment require a referral from an MD?
You do not need a referral from an MD to see a chiropractor! A chiropractor can diagnose your musculoskeletal problem and treat it or refer you to the proper specialist if needed. Chiropractors can also order imaging like x-rays and MRI’s if necessary, without having to go through your MD.
Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children?
Chiropractic care is appropriate for people with neck or back pain of all ages. Children commonly have small injuries like falls and chiropractic adjustments can help to re-align their spines and reduce pain without any medications.
Are chiropractors allowed to practice in hospitals or use medical outpatient facilities?
Some chiropractors practice in a hospital setting, but most are in a private practice. The VA hospitals have recently started to incorporate Chiropractors into their hospitals nationally.
Do insurance plans cover chiropractic?
Almost all health insurance plans now cover chiropractic care, because it is a safe and effective way to treat neck and back pain without drugs or surgery.
What type of education and training do chiropractors have?
Chiropractors typically complete 4 years of undergraduate training towards a degree in a premed type of scientific education, such as a health ecology, biology, or chemistry degree. They then go on to complete 3 1/2 – 4 years of year-round chiropractic college focusing on all aspects of health before graduating with a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree. Some classes include histology, microbiology, biochemistry, cardiology, pulmonology, pathology, gastroenterology, neuromuscular physiology, spinal anatomy, geriatrics, and pediatrics along with many others.
How is a chiropractic adjustment performed?
Chiropractors perform an adjustment by thoroughly evaluating the spine for abnormal joint motion and alignment issues. Once a mis-alignment is identified in the spine, we carefully position the patient into a set-up position that allows us to use the least amount of force possible to effectively move (or adjust) the mis-aligned vertebrae back into a more optimal position and restore a more normal movement pattern to the area.
Is chiropractic treatment ongoing?
Chiropractic care does not have to be ongoing, but most patients would benefit from more than one treatment in the same regard that if you go to see a physical therapist, they are probably going to need to see you more than once to fix your problem. Physical medicine treatments like chiropractic care and physical therapy focus on changing your alignment, muscle tone, tension, and posture and sometimes this can take some repitition with the treatments.
Why is there a popping sound when a joint is adjusted?
When a spinal joint becomes injured or mis-aligned it becomes more fixated, meaning it does not move as well as it should. This lack of motion in the joint causes nitrogen gas bubbles to accumulate within the synovial fluid (lubricating fluid) between your joints. When a chiropractor adjusts (moves) a fixated or mis-aligned vertebrae those nitrogen gas bubbles cavitate and create a popping noise.
For personal injury
How long after an injury should you see a chiropractor?
This depends on the severity of the injury. You should go to the hospital or emergency department if you suspect any serious injuries like broken bones, internal bleeding, head injuries, etc. If you have already been evaluated at the hospital and you were told that most of your injuries are soft tissue related, or if the injury was more minor to begin with, then you should schedule an appointment with a chiropractor as soon as you can after an accident to evaluate your injuries and discuss a treatment plan to get you on the road to recovery.
Why is my lawyer sending me to a chiropractor?
Attorneys will commonly refer their clients to Chiropractors after an injury or car accident, because they know that Chiropractors are experts in treating and evaluating neuromusculoskeletal injuries. These are injuries to your nerves, muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones and joints and are unfortunately commonly injured in motor vehicle collisions.
Should I go see a chiropractor after an accident?
Most people would benefit from seeing a Chiropractor after an injury. Chiropractors can evaluate your problem and offer treatment options to help fix it. If they can’t fix the problem, they can refer you out for imaging or to see the appropriate specialist.
What injuries can be treated with chiropractic care?
Chiropractors can treat many different neuromusculoskeletal injuries after an accident. Injuries to your muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia, bones, and almost any joint in the body can be effectively managed by Chiropractors. Whiplash, muscle spasms, tears, joint restrictions and headaches are some of the more common car accident-related problems that Chiropractors treat on a daily basis.
How many times should you go to chiropractor after accident?
How many Chiropractic treatments you will need after an accident depends on many different variables, such as the severity of your injuries, if you have had prior injuries, and how healthy you were before the accident? It goes without saying that a 70-year-old person that is 80 pounds overweight that smokes 2 packs a day and has severe arthritis and a history of several other car accidents in the past may require more treatments than a 20-year-old that was in perfect health before their accident.
How can chiropractic care help after a car accident?
Chiropractic care can help to restore a more normal spinal alignment and range of motion after an accident. It can also help with soft tissue remodeling and rehabilitation through corrective exercises, soft tissue work, and nutritional recommendations. These treatments can greatly reduce post-accident pain and muscle spasm and improve overall joint health and function to your spine and extremity joints.
How do I increase my personal injury settlement?
A personal injury settlement is always based on the extent of your medical bills and injuries so the best thing you can do after an accident is get evaluated for your injuries and get the treatment necessary to recover from your injuries.
Should I see a chiropractor for whiplash?
Chiropractors are specifically trained to evaluate and treat Whiplash Associated Disorders.
How does a chiropractor fix whiplash?
A chiropractor can help you to heal from a whiplash injury by gently re-aligning your spine and helping your muscles, ligaments and tendons recover by implementing different soft tissue treatments and specific exercise and stretching recommendations to get you back to normal as quickly as possible.
How long after an injury should you see a chiropractor?
The sooner you can get evaluated after an injury the better. This allows us to order imaging if needed and to start you on a treatment program that will help you to heal with the least amount of scar tissue as possible and will generally result in better treatment outcomes.
How long does it take to feel pain after a car accident?
Pain is very subjective so some patients will experience it sooner than others, but it is not uncommon for patients to feel pain that comes on 1-2 days after the accident. This is usually due to a gradual build up in inflammation and a decrease in your immediate post accident adrenaline response.
DOT Physical
Do you have to disrobe for a DOT physical?
We do not require patients to disrobe for a DOT physical. Males are sometimes asked to remove their shirts so we can evaluate for surgical scars.
What disqualifies a DOT physical?
A driver can be disqualified on a DOT physical for many different reasons, but the most common health conditions that disqualify drivers are: 1) Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure, 2) Poorly managed Diabetes, 3) Vision being worse than 20/40, 4) Uncontrolled Sleep Apnea. There are other conditions that are disqualifying like epilepsy and other seizure disorders, but those are seen more rarely.
Can a chiropractor sign a physical?
Chiropractors are one of 5 types of providers that can sign a DOT physical if they have taken the special classes and testing necessary to become a Nationally Registered Certified Medical Examiner through the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA). Medical Doctors, Doctors of Osteopathy, Physician Assistants, Chiropractors, and Advanced Nurse Practitioners are the only providers that can sign DOT physicals as long as they have a National Registry Number.
What does a DOT physical and drug test consist of?
A drug test is not technically part of a DOT physical, but urinalysis is a required component of a DOT physical. An employer or motor carrier can request a pre-employment drug test. A DOT physical involves a review of the drivers’ personal health and medical history including prior surgeries and current medication use. Then the drivers’ vision and hearing are tested along with blood pressure, pulse, height, weight, and reflexes. The medical examiner may do other testing if other health conditions are suspected.
Can you fail a DOT physical for being overweight?
While you cannot fail a DOT physical for being overweight, many drivers are failed for the conditions that tend to run more prevalently in the obese population such as, high blood pressure, diabetes and sleep apnea.
How do I prepare for a DOT physical?
Drink enough water so that you are prepared to pee in a cup for the urinalysis portion of a DOT physical. Bring a list of any medications that you are taking along with prescribing doctor information and dosages. If you are diabetic bring in a copy of your most recent blood work showing your A1c and a copy of your eye doctors notes to show that you do not have diabetic retinopathy. If you have any other medical conditions that you think may influence your ability to drive safely it is always a good idea to get a letter from your doctor stating that they think you are healthy enough to drive.
What is the difference between a DOT physical and a non-DOT physical?
A DOT physical is a physical that follows specific regulations and guidelines set forth by the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME) to operate a vehicle for work related reasons.
A non-DOT physical could be any other form of medical testing that goes outside the scope of what is required for driving under NRCME guidelines. Examples could be drug testing, laboratory (blood) work, or sending a patient out for an EKG if they have a history of heart disease.
What are the DOT medical requirements?
There are many DOT medical requirements, all of which can be looked up online by searching for the “NRCME Medical Examiners Handbook.” Some of the most common requirements that we see drivers having problems with include: 1) Maintaining a blood pressure below 140/90. 2) Having vision that is worse than 20/40. 3) Not bringing in a list of their medications. 4) Having untreated Diabetes. 5) Having untreated Sleep Apnea.
What does DOT physical urine test for?
A urinalysis test for DOT tests to see if you are hydrated or dehydrated and looks for blood, sugar (glucose), and protein in the urine. These should not be in the urine and if they are it could be an indication of a more serious underlying medical condition.
What is the highest your blood pressure can be to pass a DOT physical?
DOT requires that drivers maintain a blood pressure below 140/90 with or without medication. A Medical Examiner may be able to pass you with blood pressure above 140/90, but it would be for a shorter duration. No DOT driver can be passed if they have a blood pressure that is above or equal to 180/110.
How can I lower by blood pressure to pass a DOT physical?
You can lower your blood pressure by eating a healthy diet that is low in sodium and saturated fat and high in vegetables. Regular cardiovascular exercise, where you get your heart rate up for at least 20 minutes a day at least 3 days per week can also help.
The two biggest contributors to high blood pressure that we see in DOT drivers though are being overweight and smoking. So if you can quit smoking and get closer to your ideal weight based on your height, this would probably help to lower your blood pressure the most.
The quickest way to lower your weight for a DOT physical would be to talk to your Medical doctor and get on blood pressure medication if your blood pressure is too high.