Here are some common questions that most patients have.
You can click on the questions or just scroll down to read the answers as they are listed.
If there are questions that you have and they are not listed please feel free to contact us
through our contact form or by phone

Can Chiropractic help me ?

We only accept cases that we honestly feel we can help. So if we accept you as a patient then the odds are in your favor that we can help you. 92% of the people who present to a chiropractor get well to both the satisfaction of the patient AND the doctor.

What will happen on my First Visit ?

--Brief Paperwork (First Visit)

Upon entering the office, we have some brief paperwork for you to fill out. The paperwork provides us with general information about yourself and your condition

--Consultation (First Visit)

Once the paperwork has been completed, you will have a consultation with the doctor to discuss your health-related problems, concerns, as well as potential treatment options.

--History & Examination (First Visit)

In order to determine what your actual problem is, the doctor will ask you various questions related to your condition. Next, a number of specialized tests will be performed to determine which tissues are affected and to what extent.

--X-ray Studies (First Visit)

Your specific condition may require us to take x-rays to either rule out more serious conditions or assist us in developing the most effective treatment plan for you.

--Home Instructions (First Visit)

Prior to leaving, patients will be given instruction on certain activities or procedures to be conducted at home. This may include ice or heat application instructions, avoidance of certain activities or positions, as well as home exercises and/or stretches.

--Schedule Your Next Appointment (First Visit)

You will be given a convenient appointment time for your follow up visit. On this visit we will go over the everything we found on your exam and x-rays. Treatment options for your condition will also be discussed during this time.

What is Chiropractic ?

Chiropractic is a natural form of health care. It is based on the scientific fact that one’s health is directly related to the health of one’s nervous system. Since the nervous system is contained within the spine, if any of the vertebra shift out of alignment it can adversely affect the nervous system and manifest with pain, sickness or disease. These misalignments are called subluxations. Chiropractors are trained to locate and treat these subluxations to remove the nerve interference and restore proper joint motion in these vertebra.

What are subluxations and how are they treated ?

Simply put, a subluxation is a vertebra that is out of alignment and pinching a nerve. It is actually more complex than this, but that is the most simple way to state it without getting too technical.

How long will it take ?

A typical chiropractic treatment (called an adjustment) usually only takes 2-3 minutes.

As far as how long will your particular case take to get you well: Spines come in Grades, depending how much degeneration or damage to the tissue has occurred. Grade 1 is early, Grade 2 is intermediate, Grade 3 is late and Grade 4 is irreversible, no one can help a Grade 4 case. Depending on the individual and what grade their spine is in will determine the number of visits to correct their condition.

What is an adjustment ?

An adjustment is the method of treatment a chiropractor uses to restore proper motion and alignment back into the spinal joints. It is a gentle, yet specific, controlled force delivered to an immovable or fixated joint (subluxation). The goal is to restore proper function of this spinal joint to reduce pain and increase mobility. At Brugger Chiropractic we offer a variety of different adjustment techniques. Each of these is different, yet very effective when customized to a patient’s individual needs.

How can Chiropractic help so many different conditions ?

Because the nervous system controls every function of the body, optimum nerve flow to all these organ systems is essential to health. While we do not claim to treat specific conditions such as asthma, infertility, stomach problems, etc. we certainly have seen many patients experience relief from these conditions when their subluxations are corrected and proper nerve flow is restored.

Do I have to keep coming back ?

Chiropractic adjustments usually do take multiple visits to correct the condition. Just as an MD does not prescribe one pill, or going to the gym one time does not get you in shape, so it is with correcting the spine. Most spines do not get out of alignment overnight and therefore are not usually corrected overnight.

How long before I feel better ?

Fast healers feel better in 1-6 visits, medium healers feel better in 6-9 visits and slow healers 10-16 visits. It doesn’t really matter if you are a fast or slow healer, just as long as you get better.

Will my Insurance cover this ?

That depends on the individual policy. Some policies cover 100% and others do not cover at all. Most policies nowadays just have a co-pay that ranges from $10 - $30. Other policies have a deductible and then cover 80%. We will call to verify benefits on the first visit.

What is a deductible ? What is a co-pay?

A deductible is a set amount of money determined by your particular policy. You must pay this amount out of pocket (for all your health care needs: medical, chiropractic, physical therapy, etc) before your insurance benefits will kick in.

A co-pay is a pre-determined amount of money (usually $10.00 to $35.00) that you must pay on each visit to a health care provider.

Why should I return and complete care if I’m feeling better ?

Symptoms are not a very accurate assessment of how well you are doing. (Examples: your teeth decay long before you ever have a toothache, your arteries clog long before you have a heart attack, and broken bones feel better long before they are fully mended).

When a person starts to feel better it does not mean they are well. The tissues around the spine still need time to strengthen and stabilize, joint functions still needs time to return to normal and the nervous system still needs to be re-trained to hold the joint in the proper alignment. Discontinuing care too soon does not allow full healing to take place and tends to invite failure.

Will I need surgery?

We will do all we can to prevent you from requiring surgery. If we feel yours is not a chiropractic case or if you are not responding at a rate that we feel is appropriate we will make a referral to the appropriate specialist.

What type of Education does a Chiropractor have ?

After completing a 4 year degree from an undergraduate college (usually with a degree in Biology, Chemistry and/or Physics) a student must then complete an additional 5 year program at a credentialed Chiropractic College. Chiropractic College has a strong emphasis on anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, neurology, pathology, radiology, functional biomechanics as well as spinal adjusting techniques. Before graduating from Chiropractic College chiropractors must pass a series of National Board Examinations. After this, chiropractors must pass State Board Examinations to get a license to practice. Then they must attend annual continuing education seminars to renew their license.