Crawfordsville Chiropractic Team

An MRI shows I have a disc problem. Do I need surgery?
Over half of normal adults with no symptoms will have a disc problem show on their MRI. Although each case is different, most problems respond well to conservative therapies such as chiropractic and massage. It’s your body. View surgery as a LAST resort.
Research shows: A bad disc doen't always mean back surgery.

What is a Chiropractor?
Chiropractors are biomechanics. A chiropractor frees locked joints and restores balanced body motion.

Over time, poor posture and unbalanced joint motion cause joint stress, breakdown, arthritis, and pain. Chiropractors help problems in the musculo-skeletal system (muscles, bones and joints). Pain is reduced when we relieve irritation and stress from nerves, muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues. Our goal is to restore normal motion and relieve pain.

Besides treating patients for back and neck pain, many chiropractors believe improving the body’s motion will relieve irritation of the nervous system. Since the body is controlled by the nerves, a well adjusted body functions better and is healthier.

Do adjustments hurt?
Most patients find chiropractic treatment makes them feel great. Occasionally, there may be soreness similar to how one feels after working out. Soreness from using muscle for the first time in a while is actually a good thing and resolves quickly. The soreness is caused by the stretching of scar tissue and the improved motion of the previously locked joint.

Most people report greater flexibility following an adjustment. A spinal adjustment is extremely safe when performed by a qualified doctor.

Why are so many MDs referring to Chiropractic Doctors now?
A tremendous amount of research has shown the effectiveness of chiropractic care for conditions such as low back pain. Medical Doctors who refer to chiropractors do so in the best interest of their patients.

Does insurance cover chiropractic? Is chiropractic care expensive?
Many insurance policies cover chiropractic services. Coverage varies from policy to policy.

Also, most doctors of chiropractic offer affordable payment plans.

Are chiropractors real doctors?
Yes. The degree that chiropractors hold is "D.C.", which stands for Doctor of Chiropractic. Becoming a chiropractor takes on the average seven years of school in a curriculum similar to a medical doctor's education (instead of training in pharmacology and surgery chiropractors have more training in radiology, neurology and spinal adjusting techniques).

Chiropractic colleges are accredited by the Council of Chiropractic Education (CCE), and are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

In order to receive a license to practice chiropractic, comprehensive State and National Board examinations must be passed and continuing education must be earned each year.

Should I ask my medical doctor's opinion before consulting a chiropractor?
You are certainly entitled to ask your MD’s opinion on chiropractic, but be aware that some general practitioners may still have limited knowledge on chiropractic manipulative therapies.

Chiropractors are trained to recognize disorders beyond a chiropractic scope of practice and when to refer a patient to the appropriate medical specialist.

What is a typical chiropractic treatment?
First, the cause of your problem is determined with a complete examination including physical, orthopedic, neurological, and chiropractic tests. X-rays are taken if necessary.

The doctor will then explain your problem, tell you whether or not he/she feels chiropractic care is indicated, and an appropriate treatment plan will be recommended.

Then, gentle manipulation (or adjustments) to spinal or extremity joints are performed. Physio-therapy such as Ultrasound, Electrical Muscle Stimulation, Cryotherapy, Hydrocollator, and/or Intersegmental mobilization may also be used.

How does chiropractic help athletes improve and maintain their best performance? What about sports injuries?
Chiropractors help athletes balance body and joint motion for optimal sports performance.

Chiropractic adjustments promote full range joint motion, stretch overly tight muscles, work underused muscles, and reduce stress from overused tissues.

An athlete who can move fully, with balance, and in control can perform his best.

I was in a car accident. Should I see a Chiropractor?
If you are involved in an auto accident it is important to be evaluated to determine if there is a soft tissue injury.

Chiropractors focus on proper function of posture and the spine, nerves, muscles and ligaments, so the first thing evaluated is evidence of serious trauma such as fractures, etc.

Because the symptoms from a soft tissue injury may not show up until 3-7 days after the trauma, a thorough chiropractic examination is very important. Pain changes how a body moves, therefore after the initial pain improves, the body may adapt to moving differently.

Pain medication and muscle relaxers can mask the pain, but unless normal motion is restored, body motion will be unbalanced. Left untreated, the body adapts to the unbalanced pattern of motion, creating a chronic problem.

What is a disc?
The spine, or backbone, is made of the vertebrae separated by the discs (IVD’s, or intervertebral discs).

A disc is a round pillow of cartilage between the vertebrae. The disc has a leathery outside and jelly in the center. It is the part of the spinal joint which cushions the motion between each pair of vertebrae.

What is the difference between a slipped disc, a herniated disc or a bulging disc?
They are all the same thing. A herniated, slipped or bulging disc is like a bubble in the sidewall of a car tire. The jelly in the center of the disc pushes the weakened part of the disc outwards creating a bulge. This bulge can press on a nerve or other delicate spinal structures.

Will I be able to resume normal activity after a disc herniation?
Most likely yes. Recovery time is often directly related to the amount of effort a patient puts into recovery and rehab.

Does medication help low back pain?
Occasionally, yes. Frequently, the relief is only temporary. Unless the cause of the injury is treated, the masking effects of the anti-inflammatory medication provide short term relief at the cost of continued tissue damage and adaptive patterns of motion.

Can chiropractic relieve back spasms?
Just like a fever is the result of an infection and not the cause of the illness, back spasms are a symptom, not the cause of a back problem.

The spasm is caused by irritation of nerves controlling the spinal joints and discs. These are the same nerves which control muscle contraction in the back. If the nerves are irritated, they produce pain and reflex spasm. A spasm is the body's way of stopping motion to protect an injured joint.

The body can sustain a spinal injury from one big trauma (such as an auto accident) or by the buildup of many small traumas (such as long term unbalanced posture from working on a computer, lifting, or other activity).

Everyone knows Chiropractic is effective for low back pain. What else can Chiropractic help?
Doctors of Chiropractic effectively treat headaches, neck problems, shoulder, elbow, and wrist problems. Hip, knee, ankle and foot conditions also respond well to conservative chiropractic manipulative therapy.

Chiropractors specialize in neuro-musculoskeleton (nerve-muscle-bone)and motion conditions.

What is sciatica?
Sciatic is pain in the back which runs down the back of the leg. It is caused from irritation of the sciatic nerve itself or from pinching of the spinal nerves which form the sciatic nerve.

Chiropractic care is a logical conservative approach to this condition. Reducing the irritation of the nerve by realigning the vertebrae helps many sciatic patients. Surgery is recommended when necessary, but can usually be prevented.

How will chiropractic care help arthritis?
Osteoarthritis/DJD is a mechanical irritation of the joint, usually due to unbalanced motion. The joint responds to the unbalanced and stressed motion with formation of bone spurs on the edges of the bone. Maintaining proper motion through a joint can reduce this mechanical damage.

Osteoarthritis is different than rheumatoid arthritis, which is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that attacks the synovium of the joint.

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I might have carpal tunnel syndrome. Should I see a Chiropractor?
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) usually begins with occasional hand and wrist numbness. Most people ignore CTS when it is in its early stages. Over time, the numbness persists and turns into pain and hand weakness.

People at risk for CTS include computer operators and anyone who performs a repetitive hand motion frequently.

Early detection and treatment is important. Since different people have different pain thresholds, it’s best to be screened by a trained professional. A doctor of chiropractic can help determine if a problem is on its way to carpal tunnel syndrome, or a temporary, mild ache from overuse.

My neck and shoulders are constantly tight. Can chiropractic help?
Long term overload of the balancing muscles of the neck and back causes chronic tight muscles, as well as pulling against vertebra of the neck causing nerve irritation, headaches, and other painful stress related symptoms.

Chiropractic helps reduce and relieve stress caused by poor posture, continuous standing or sitting, or muscle tension from mental exertion.

Yes. Many people who have had various kinds of spinal surgery often discover a return to their same back problems months or years later. There are so many of these people around that the condition has a special name: ‘Tailed Back Surgery Syndrome.” These people can usually receive chiropractic care without undue worry. Usually the chiropractic care will save them from future operations. It’s best to check with your chiropractor on a case-to-case basis.