FAQ | waipiochiro2

FAQ

Here is a short list of some of the most common questions asked about chiropractic care and my office. If your question is not listed, please feel free to call the office and I will be glad to answer it for you.

Does my insurance cover chiropractic care?

Depends on your plan. Some plans cover chiropractic care and some do not. I recommend that you call your insurance company directly to verify your coverage. I am a provider of most insurance plans including, HMSA, BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser, HMAA, UHA, HMAA, American Specialty Health Network and Chiroplan Hawaii. If you have no coverage, I accept cash, check and credit card for services.

Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor?

In most cases, no referral is needed to see a chiropractor. Kaiser Medicare patients currently need a referral from their Kaiser primary care doctor. If you have a worker's compensation claim and your medical doctor is the primary care physician for your case, you will need a referral for chiropractic treatment under the the worker's compensation claim.

Is chiropractic treatment safe?

Yes. Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of back pain, neck pain, joint pain of the arms or legs, headaches, and other neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects.

The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may sometimes experience mild soreness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise.

Do I need an x-ray prior to treatment?

It depends on the findings of your examination. In most cases, x-rays are not needed to be treated. If the findings of your examination determine that imaging is necessary, prior to treatment, I will refer you to a near by imaging center.

What is chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.
Doctors of Chiropractic, practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.

The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic is known as “spinal manipulation,” also called “chiropractic adjustment.” The purpose of manipulation is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become hypomobile – or restricted in their movement – as a result of a tissue injury. Tissue injury can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a heavy object, or through repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an awkward position with poor spinal posture for an extended period of time. In either case, injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation, pain, and diminished function for the sufferer. Manipulation, or adjustment of the affected joint and tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, and allowing tissues to heal.

Chiropractic adjustment rarely causes discomfort. However, patients may sometimes experience mild soreness or aching following treatment (as with some forms of exercise) that usually resolves within 12 to 48 hours.
In many cases, such as lower back pain, chiropractic care may be the primary method of treatment. When other medical conditions exist, chiropractic care may complement or support medical treatment by relieving the musculoskeletal aspects associated with the condition.

Chiropractors will readily refer patients to the appropriate health care provider when chiropractic care is not suitable for the patient’s condition, or the condition warrants co-management in conjunction with other members of the health care team.