Wondering if chiropractic care and functional medicine are right for you?
Read on to find answers to some commonly asked questions.
What conditions can you help me with?
Chiropractic care is mainly concerned with disorders relating to the spine and musculoskeletal system, including low back pain, neck pain, nerve pain syndromes, herniated discs, muscle spasms, sciatica, numbness and tingling in the arms or legs, arthritis in the neck and back, carpal tunnel syndrome, and pain in the hip, knee, ankle or foot. Through a functional medicine approach, I help patients manage symptoms of chronic inflammatory conditions such as Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroiditis, Celiac disease & gluten sensitivity, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia. In many cases, this approach is also helpful for those suffering from chronic headaches, anemias, lethargy and hormone imbalances. Still not sure if I can help? Email me to set up a free-15 minute consultation.
Does it hurt to be adjusted?
Most people receive a deep feeling of relief from chiropractic manipulation. However, manipulation is not right for all people all of the time! Many of my patients prefer the gentle, non-force techniques that I offer instead of traditional ‘adjustments.’ Some even prefer a combination of both! Please know that if you do not like to have a certain area adjusted in a certain way, I will always respect that! I will not force or try to convince you otherwise. Also know that even if you do not prefer manipulations, I have several non-force techniques at my disposal to help you!
Is chiropractic care safe?
Yes, chiropractic care is very safe! Serious complications occur in 1 in every 5.85 MILLION adjustments. Compare that to the rate of serious complications that can occur with taking ibuprofen for that pain- up to 16% of users! On your first visit, an orthopedic, neurological and physcial exam will be performed. Part of the reason for performing this exam is to insure that a patient has no risk factors for undergoing chiropractic treatment. Appropriate referrals will be made in the event that these risk factors are present on examination.
Do you take my insurance?
Probably not. I am “in network” with very few insurances. The reason for this is two-fold: for one, my most sincere desire is to give each of my patients the very best care I can give them- not just what their insurance company will pay for! Which is part of reason number two- my combination of chiropractic care and functional medicine is unique. Most insurance companies will only pay for the adjustment, which is why some clinics will see literally hundreds of patients a day. I prefer to spend more time with my patients- usually 30 minutes. This gives me a chance too really listen to what is going on and to spend plenty of time doing hands-on work. In the end, this is actually more affordable then most people initially think. The regular visit fee is $47. Since I accomplish so much in a 30 minute visit, I rarely need to see a patient more then once a week. If you’ve had chiropractic care or physical therapy before, you know that often care is prescribed for 3 visits a week initially. With a $20 co-pay, you could be out $60 by the end of the week, not to mention all the time spent schlepping to and from the office three times a week! In this case, $47 a visit once a week is actually more economical then using one’s insurance. I’m also happy to provide patients with a superbill for the services they have paid for in the event that they would like to submit it to their insurance for reimbursement via out of network benefits. However, I do understand that not everyone can afford to pay out of pocket. If this is your situation and you are in need of the unique care that I offer, please contact me. We can discuss the possibility of using your insurance or doing a sliding scale fee.
How long will it take to get relief from my symptoms?
The answer to this depends on many factors, but in general, patients seeking care for musculoskeletal problems will see significant relief in 1-4 visits. The longer a condition had been present, the longer it often takes to relieve, so please bear this in mind if you are delaying getting the care you need! While my goal is to always get patients to the point that they no longer need my services, many chose to continue a maintenance schedule of care, having problems checked out and addressed once every 4-6 weeks, before they become bigger problems and possibly lead to more pain, time off from work, etc.
What kind of credentials do chiropractors have?
As a licensed chiropractor in the State of New York, I have completed both a bachelor’s degree as well as over 4,500 hours of training to earn my Doctor of Chiropractic degree. Chiropractic education is very similar to medical school training, with the exception that we take more anatomy and nutrition, and learn how and when to perform adjustments instead of prescribe medications. My undergraduate degree is in Biochemistry from Messiah College, where I graduated cum laude. I received my D.C. degree in 2007 from New York Chiropractic College, having graduated summa cum laude. Since then I completed many post-graduate training seminars in aspects of functional medicine and continue to work towards earning a diplomate in functional neurology. I have been practicing as a licensed chiropractor in the State of New York for over 6 years.
