Thinking about trying Chiropractic for your pain, but someone told you they tried it and “It didn’t work” for them? Apparently, this happens a lot. I was curious why so many people thought Chiropractic had failed them, so I started asking questions.

My first question was, “How many times did you go? Usually the answer was a very small number of times, normally 3 or fewer visits. Ok, people, let’s be real here. Chiropractors are not members in the Order of Merlin. If you broke your arm, would you only leave the cast on for 3 days? Um, no. You need to actually listen to what the Doctor (yes, a Chiropractor is a Doctor, they have studied anatomy, musculature, and the Chiropractic Method and know how the body works; the minimum requirement is 4,200 hours of study to become a Chiropractor), and then follow through with your visit schedule. It may seem like a lot, but we’re talking about retraining your spine to align the way it’s supposed to after however long you’ve been ignoring it. Which leads to my second question…which is really a two-fer.

“Ok, so you went 3 times. How long have you been in pain and what was the period of time that those three visits spanned?” Here’s the part where I have to physically look away for fear that my facial expression will belie my disbelief that this person would actually think that 3 visits to a Chiropractor over whatever time period they state [I’ve heard everything from 3 days in a row (and then never again) to 3 times in 6 months] could fix anything that was so clearly causing pain for 3 weeks/months/years.

Question #3: “Why did you stop going when there was clearly more to the treatment plan than just those 3 adjustments?” Usually the answer is “Well, it stopped hurting.” Ugh. Back to the broken arm thing … you don’t just saw the cast off when it stops hurting; it needs time to set, to truly heal. Yes, healing your spine takes time. Your spine is a complex set of joints that all need to fit together to work without pain. Until the vertebrae are accustomed to being where they belong (i.e. they “set”), your pain will come back. The reason Chiropractic takes time to work is because 1) as previously mentioned, it is not magic, 2) the human body does not spontaneously heal (geez, even a sea star takes a few months to grow back a limb, and they are practically magic!), 3) the Doctor knows about how many adjustments over an extended period of time it will take to retrain your spine, because they went to school to learn all about the spine (again, minimum of 4,200 hours of study) to learn all about it!, 4) just because the pain dissipates after a few (sometimes even just one!) adjustment(s), doesn’t mean it’s healed (but it’s getting there, so stick with it!) 

Still not sure? Read some of our patients' testimonials to understand a little more.

So here’s the thing, I know it seems daunting sometimes when someone tells you that healing takes time; it costs money, too, but check with your Chiropractor to see if they accept your insurance. Insurance companies started paying for Chiropractic visits years ago because after doing cost/benefit analyses, they determined it ends up costing them less in the long run. After all, surgery isn’t cheap. If your spine subluxations continue to cause pain, and nothing is done to realign the vertebrae, often surgery is the last recourse. You’re worth it. Your spine is worth it.

Schedule a Complimentary Initial Assessment with Gulph Mills Chiropractic today; the assessment includes x-rays, so you’re already saving some moola. If you have insurance, the remarkably intelligent Office Manager will check to see what’s covered; if you don’t have insurance, we (yes, the fabulous Office Manager is yours truly) will work out a reasonable payment plan after Dr. Roger determines what treatment you need. Have no fear … click that big yellow button today: www.gulphmillschiro.com