Frequently Asked Questions

How does chiropractic work?

Chiropractors assess the movement between the vertebrae (the bones that make up the spine) and the function of the spinal nerves, muscles and soft tissue. They identify areas of reduced or abnormal joint motion, nerve interference and reduced or abnormal function of muscles and soft tissue. These areas are called vertebral subluxation complex by chiropractors.

Chiropractors correct these areas of dysfunction by using a sudden thrust onto the joint to correct the motion within the joint. This restores joint motion, reduces the nerve interference, reduces muscles spasm, normalises soft tissue function and reduces pain and inflammation.

Will the treatment hurt?

Chiropractic is a safe and gentle form of treatment, the adjustment itself is generally not painful. Many report more discomfort with soft tissue massage to release the muscle spasm than the adjustment itself.

Occasionally following chiropractic treatment some patients may feel a mild ache or soreness as the body adapts to the changes that have been made. This is usually short lived and resolves within 24 to 48 hours. Most patients feel immediate benefit following the treatment.

If the area is very inflamed, for example in an acute complaint, it is quite possible that there may be some discomfort during the treatment and for a short while after. Using an ice pack for 10 to 15 minutes every hour should help to relieve this.

Is it safe?

Spinal manipulation has been used for a number of years, it is thought as far back as 2700-1500 BC in ancient Chinese and Greek civilisations. It is a well established form of treatment, and has been known as chiropractic since 1895.

Chiropractic treatment carried out by a qualified chiropractor is generally considered a very safe, drug-free, non-invasive form of treatment.

However, most forms of medical and alternative healthcare do carry a degree of risk. Estimates of the proposed risk of a serious adverse event or complication with chiropractic treatment varies widely between 1 in 1 million or even 1 in 5.4 million cervical adjustments. A qualified chiropractor will do a full examination of the patient and will alter the treatment plan and techniques used accordingly to minimise the risk of injury to the patient.

Alternative treatments for musculoskeletal pain such as Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) also carry their own risk, in fact research shows that cervical manipulation is several hundred times safer than Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatories for the treatment of neck pain (Dabbs et al, 1995).

What do chiropractors treat?

See What do we treat?

How many treatments will I need?

The number of treatments that a patient may need depends greatly on the individual. There are a number of factors that can influence this. These include how severe the complaint is, how long it has been present, whether there are any degenerative changes or structural changes in the area of complaint, whether there are many different complaints or just a single area of complaint, whether their occupation is an aggravating factor and whether the patient is compliant with the treatment plan and follows the advice and exercises given by the chiropractor. In general, a course of chiropractic treatment is recommended and the number of treatment sessions required for the individual patient will be discussed during the initial consultation.

How quickly will I get better?

Some patients feel immediate relief after only one treatment session, other patients will need a few sessions before feeling the benefit of the treatment. Although benefit may be noticeable after only a few treatment sessions, a course of treatment is recommended to ensure full recovery, just like you finish a course of antibiotics even when the symptoms have resolved. Whether the improvement is sudden or slow depends on a number of factors which is why each patient is treated as an individual. See How many treatments will I need?

If the patient is not responding to the treatment as expected a review will be carried out and the treatment plan will be amended or the patient will be referred for further investigation as necessary.

Will the symptoms come back?

Some people are more likely to develop a recurring complaint than others. If this is the first episode of the complaint and it started a short while ago then it is likely that it will not recur. However complaints that have been present a long time, or have been recurring for a long time are more likely to come back. Other factors that can predispose patients to recurring symptoms are degenerative changes in the joints, bad posture, occupational strain such as heavy lifting, repetitive movements and prolonged time in a bad position, for example, bending. Regular chiropractic care (maintenance or preventative treatment) can help to reduce the frequency of recurrences and in some cases can prevent them altogether.

How can I prevent the complaint from returning?

Often people are tempted to stop treatment once the pain has gone away however it is important to complete the course of chiropractic treatment recommended to you by your chiropractor. Your chiropractor can tell when the function of the spine has been restored fully and only at this point has the complaint resolved completely.

The chiropractor may recommend that you continue with occasional chiropractic check-ups (called maintenance or preventative care). See What is maintenance or preventative care? This can help to maintain optimum function of the spine and therefore reduce the chance of recurring problems.

Carrying out the exercises that have been recommended to you daily, improving your posture and avoiding or modifying activities that aggravate the complaint will all help to prevent further problems. Even drinking water and eating a healthy diet will also have a positive effect on the health of your spine.

However in some cases recurring symptoms may be unavoidable, for example, if there are severe degenerative changes present. In these cases it will help to carry out exercises, lifestyle changes and have regular chiropractic treatment (maintenance care) in order to reduce the impact of the degenerative condition on day to day life.

What is maintenance or preventative care?

Maintenance or preventative care is a term used to describe ongoing care at regular intervals to prevent recurrences of the complaint and maintain a healthy functioning spine. Chiropractic check-ups can be compared to a car service to identify mechanical problems and correct them before they cause further damage. Some chiropractic patients are recommended maintenance check-ups every 3 to 4 months and other patients who have a long history of chronic complaints, have a particularly poor lifestyle or have occupational factors that aggravate their complaint may benefit from more regular treatment.

How much does the treatment cost?

The cost of the initial consultation will be £45 and each treatment session thereafter will be £30.

How long will the treatment take?

The initial consultation will take 1 hour. This includes a case history, examination, report of findings and in most cases treatment. Follow up treatment lasts for 20 minutes. Please allow an extra 10 to 15 minutes for getting changed, payment and arranging the next appointment.

Can you help me?

Everybody is different and that is why each patient is treated as an individual. It is impossible to say without taking a full history, carrying out a full examination and looking at the patient as a whole whether chiropractic can help with the complaint. An initial consultation gives the chiropractor the opportunity to decide whether chiropractic is a suitable form of treatment for the patient. If not, the patient will be advised to try an alternative form of treatment or referred to their GP if necessary.

Will I need an X-ray?

The majority of chiropractic patients will not need an X-ray. However, a small percentage of patients will require an X-ray before chiropractic treatment can commence. Various factors will determine whether an X-ray is needed. The decision will be made based on the individual's case history and findings of the examination.

Can I have chiropractic treatment after having back surgery?

Yes. Many patients experience relief from chiropractic treatment even though they have had back surgery in the past. The chiropractor will carry out a full history and examination and the treatment will be tailored to suit the individual patients need.

Do I need to take painkillers?

If at all possible it is best to manage without pain medication as masking the pain may result in one 'over doing it', therefore making the complaint worse. The pain is there as a warning that the body is not functioning correctly. We need to listen to this warning and take action to restore function to the joints. Sometimes if the pain is severe, a short course of pain medication may be beneficial as long as care is taken with activities. Never stop taking prescribed medication without first consulting your GP.

Should I use ice or heat?

Many people are familiar with the first aid procedure of Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation (RICE) for ankle sprains. In most cases of back and neck pain, particularly in cases of acute pain (onset less than 6 weeks ago), an ice pack should be applied to the area. Heat, although comforting, may cause an increase in inflammation within the joints. Ice however, helps to reduce this inflammation and therefore will help to reduce the pain and speed up the healing process. An ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas or ice cubes) should be wrapped in a tea towel and applied to the area for up to 20 minutes every hour for the first few days following the onset of the complaint.