Will I have to have X-rays?
X-rays and other types of images can be helpful. Pictures of your spine can confirm other findings and make your care more precise. Doctor Sawyer will tell you if X-rays are needed after completing her examination.

How long will I need chiropractic care?
Every patient recovers at their own pace. Factors which can affect the healing process include your age, your overall health condition, muscle tone, sitting lifting bending habits, diet and even your attitude. Some patients experience almost instant relief. Others discover it can take a few weeks.

Most patients find that periodic chiropractic checkups help keep them in tip-top shape, while others seek care only when their aches and pains become unbearable. Whichever it is, our office stands ready to help all patients, regardless of their health goals. How long you decide to benefit from chiropractic care is always up to you.

What is an adjustment
A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific force applied to a joint that is fixated, or not moving properly via the doctor’s hands or a specially designed instrument. This adds motion to the joint, helping the bones gradually return to a more normal position and motion. It improves spinal function, nervous system function, and health.

What makes the sound during the adjustment?
Each spinal joint has lubrication fluids that separate the bones. Some adjusting techniques can produce a sound when the gas and fluids in the joint shift.

Can I have chiropractic care after neck or back surgery?
Yes! Usually the adjacent areas surrounding the surgical region become modified or unstable. Those areas will be the focus of your chiropractic care, not the actual surgical region.

Do I have a pinched nerve?
A pinched nerve caused by direct pressure of bone on nerve tissue is rare. More frequently, nerves are irritated when nerve tissue is stretched or rubbed by malfunctioning spinal bones or subluxations which can often result from physical trauma or emotional tension. This can produce unhealthy alterations to organs and tissues connected by the affected nerve.

Do I have a slipped disc?
Since each disc is attached to the vertebrae above and below, it cannot “slip”. The disc is a pad of cartilage type material situated between spinal bones and serves as a spacer and shock absorber for the spine. Healthy discs help allow normal turning and bending. Should it become injured, it can bulge, herniated, tear, or rupture. This can be quite painful, as the disc can put pressure on the adjacent nerve roots and spinal cord.