Have you ever been in a situation where you have had to defend your decision to go to a chiropractor because of myths that your friends have heard? It can be frustrating, but it happens more than it should. Our health care system has trained people to seek care with the medical community only. But that isn’t always best for your health and we should try to overcome some of those biases. We need to look at all options available, including alternative care and its benefits. Here are some common objections to chiropractic care and the information you need to have an objective conversation with someone who believes these common myths.
Myth #1: “All chiropractors do is crack backs. I can do this on my own.”
Chiropractors are specially trained, and their methods are applied to specific joints in specific directions. It is not possible to align or adjust yourself correctly, safely, and accurately without proper training. It is not recommended to adjust your own back.
Myth #2 “My insurance probably doesn’t cover a chiropractor. It is way too expensive.”
Almost 90% of all American insurances cover chiropractic visits in their health plans. Any practice worth visiting will make their care available for everyone no matter the circumstances and will be willing to work with a patient wherever they are to ensure that the patient gets the treatment that they need. Give our front office a call if you have any questions about your insurance coverage.
Myth #3 “Once you let them work on you once you can never stop going.”
Every patient is different. When you visit a chiropractor, you might need pain relief, corrective care, or therapeutic care. All these issues would result in a different care plan. Serious abnormalities like scoliosis may require more care while a minor sports injury might only take a few visits.
Dr. Prom will establish a care plan with the purpose of helping you obtain your optimal health.
Myth #4 “I want to see a REAL doctor. A chiropractor isn’t a real doctor.”
The educational requirements for a chiropractic degree include hundreds of classroom hours covering specialized courses in rehab, nutrition, public health, and physiology.
FYI Chiropractors spend more classroom hours in their colleges, learning about the human body than MDs.
The “DC” following the doctor’s name stands for Doctor of Chiropractic. Your chiropractic physician is licensed to practice by the state chiropractic board. Chiropractors have a broad scope of practice that play an important role in the healthcare system.
Myth #5 “No one is adjusting my body. They are dangerous and can kill you.”
Chiropractic is a safe and gentle therapy. It is drug-free, and most patients feel immediate relief following an adjustment. Dr. Prom will perform a full intake examination to evaluate if an adjustment is the right treatment for your situation. This will cover medical history, current complaints, hands on palpation of the problem areas, and possibly x-rays if they are appropriate. He will also refer you for additional diagnostic imaging, lab test, or to see a general practitioner if chiropractic is not ideal for your current condition.
Chiropractic is also an excellent response to the opioid crisis in this country because chiropractic adjustments can alleviate much of the chronic pain that many people who take pain killers experience. People who try a chiropractor as part of a pain management regiment before they try opioids have a better chance of avoiding addiction.
Now that you have seen all the ways that a chiropractor can help you, it is important that you try to spread awareness about the myths. If you have had pleasant experiences with a chiropractor, share them with your family and friends! Help break the stigma. If you haven’t tried chiropractic before give Springwater Chiropractic a call today. 503-465-9100. Let us introduce you to gentle and effective care.