Frequently Asked Questions
Do you adjust the patient on the initial appointment?
If you have an upper cervical misalignment, no. We take very specific x-rays to analyze your upper cervical spine. Our analysis allows us to measure your misalignment down to the millimeter. We come up with a formula that tells us exactly how to correct your misalignment. This type of analysis take time however, we can typically schedule your first adjustment the following day. If you are pregnant, yes. We use special analysis on pregnant individuals that do not require x-rays. If x-rays are not warranted, yes.
Do you take insurance?
We are out of network with insurance because they often do not cover our specialty treatments. Additionally, many companies limit what we can treat and how often treatment is necessary. We do not want an insurance company to interfere with the quality of our care for you. However, we do provide superbills that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. A superbill is an invoice that lists what treatments were done (aka CTP codes) on each visit and what diagnosis codes are associated with each treatment. You can find out if your insurance company accepts superbills for chiropractic by calling the phone number on the back of your insurance card and asking.
How long does each appointment take?
The first two appointments are the longest ones. Plan for around 50-60 minutes. The first New Patient appointment requires a thorough examination, taking any necessary x-rays, and perhaps laser therapy. The second appointment is the Report of Findings. This is when the doctor discusses all the exam and x-ray findings with you and gives you your specific treatment recommendation. Additionally, we have you rest for 10-15 minutes after your first atlas adjustment. Yay nap time! 🙂 The atlas adjustment will change the alignment of your entire body, all the way down to your feet. This rest time allows the body to begin integrating the adjustment. After this, we treat the full spine, take post x-rays of the atlas to verify the correction, and do any recommended laser. The following appointments range from 10-30 minutes depending if laser or other therapies are recommended.
Why do you need to take x-rays?
We take very specific x-rays to measure your unique misalignment. We use these measurements to calculate a formula we later use to align your upper cervical spine. We are able to measure down the degree and millimeter of your misalignment. This allows us to know exactly how to put your bones back into place. We take x-rays of your lumbar spine so we can see exactly how your pelvis is misaligned. This gives us additional information about the compensations in your spine and/or information about why you are feeling the pain you are experiencing.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
If you have any recent (within the last 2 years) MRI’s please bring the disc as well as any reports you may have. If you do not have the disc, the reports will be helpful as well. Feel free to bring any other recent x-rays that you think may be helpful for your intake.
How do you know if you have a good chiropractor?
A good chiropractor will be very transparent with your findings and take the time to explain to you, your condition and how they will help you. They will have a rough plan in place with goals of care for you and objective tests to track your progress. They will also take detailed notes and do a thorough examination. At Anatomy, we practice an upper cervical chiropractic technique called Atlas Orthogonal. Part of the procedures are to take pre-adjustment x-rays to measure your misalignment down to the millimeter. We then take a post-adjustment x-ray after your first treatment to verify the correction. Additionally, we do Activator chiropractic to treat the rest of the spine. We also take thorough examinations of the symptomatic areas. We perform re-exams after your first month to make sure you are on track with your goals.
How long does it take for chiropractic adjustments to work?
At Anatomy, we take post x-rays immediately after your first treatment to verify the correction. We can see the change immediately. However, how long it takes for the patient to “feel better,” is subjective. Some patients feel better within the day. Others start feeling better after 2 weeks. Many factors such as age, chronicity of symptoms, how many symptoms are present, and the patient’s overall health contribute to how fast the patient responds to treatment.
When should you stop chiropractic treatment?
You should stop chiropractic treatment if you feel that you are no longer benefiting from care. Remember, healing takes time. At Anatomy, we schedule a re-exam around one month of care to assess your progress. At this point of care, if there hasn’t been significant improvement in your symptomogly, then we will discuss other options and refer out to other healthcare providers.
How long does it take to realign your spine?
At Anatomy, we take post x-rays of the C1 and C2 immediately after the first treatment. We can see the realignment of the bones immediately. The ideal cervical curve is supposed to be 30-40 degrees. Realigning the bones into this “ideal curve,” can take 3 months - years. In general, we expect most people to get to a realigned state between 3-6 months.
What should you not do after a chiropractic adjustment?
In general, we do not recommend doing any intense activity after a chiropractic adjustment. This is because the muscles and ligaments need time to adjust to the new alignment. We also recommend being mindful of your posture - not sitting with your legs crossed, not looking down at your phone for long periods of time. The patient’s current activity level, job requirements, as well as current level of stress are all considered when making these recommendations.
How do you know when your back is out of alignment?
Most people know that their back is out of alignment because they experience pain when doing a movement that wasn’t painful in the past. For example, they used to be able to work all day at the desk but now experience low back pain after sitting at a desk for a few hours. Or they experienced a traumatic event and pain resulted after the event. For example, they may have lifted something heavy, heard a pop, and now get numbness down their leg. These examples could also be applied to experiencing headaches and dizziness. For example, a car accident results in headaches months or years afterwards. For others, it’s much more subtle. Some people simply feel like something is not quite right. Or they cannot pinpoint a singular event but they feel their symptoms getting progressively worsening.
What is the average cost of a chiropractic adjustment?
Chiropractic adjustments can vary in cost depending on the specialty in practice. A general practitioner can cost as low as $40 an adjustment. A more specialized clinic can charge up to $300 an adjustment. Not all adjustments are the same so the best strategy is to first find a specialty that caters to your specific pain area or diagnosis. Once you have done this it is best to find out how many adjustments you may need for the condition. A clinic may charge $40 an adjustment but require 30+ adjustments costing closer to $1,200 and a clinic charging $200 an adjustment could only require 6 adjustments equating to $1,200 as well. The biggest saving in this scenario would be the time that was spent treating the condition. The best strategy would be to call the clinic and find out exactly what specialty they practice, the cost per adjustment, and how many treatments they think you may need for your condition. Some clinics may have a good estimate, others may need an examination to determine what you may need.
How do I know I need a chiropractor?
Generally an individual that has experienced a traumatic event should seek a consultation to determine if they need care. Pain is not always the first complaint to show up for a patient. The saying is “it’s easier to prevent a fire rather than put out a fire.” Many patients also seek care when they have not experienced any trauma when they are experiencing the symptoms that chiropractic can treat. These symptoms are not limited to neck and low back pain. They can be headaches, migraines, vertigo, seizures, chronic pain conditions, and prenatal care. The first step is finding out what conditions the chiropractor specializes in before the consultation to see if you are a good candidate for their clinic.
How long does a chiropractic visit last?
Typically an initial appointment can last up to 1 hour. This appointment consists of a consultation, exam, and any diagnostic tests and/or imaging. The second appointment can also last up to an hour for the doctor to go over your findings and give you a plan for your treatment. The first few adjustments usually take longer, up to 30 minutes. This is where the practitioner is learning how to best adjust your body based on your unique anatomy. As time goes on the adjustments will become faster and easier on your body. The adjustment time can vary depending on your conditions of course but as the practitioner gets more comfortable adjusting you the adjustment can take only 10 minutes.
How long do chiropractic adjustments last?
The chiropractic adjustment varies from clinic to clinic and person to person. A patient that is older with much more degeneration in their spine from multiple traumas may need more frequent adjustments that only last a few days. A younger patient that takes good care of themselves may find they can go months between adjustments. The results vary depending on many factors. Ask your chiropractor what they think works best for your unique body.
How much does it cost to go to a chiropractor near me?
The average cost of a chiropractic appointment in San Diego, California is $101.91.
Are Chiropractors worth seeing?/ Are chiropractor adjustments worth it?
Chiropractors treat a variety of neurological and musculoskeletal conditions. They do this in a non-invasive and safe way. Patients are able to avoid side effects from various pharmaceuticals and at times treat the root cause of the issue instead of masking the pain medications that can have a harmful effect to their gut lining, liver, and/or kidneys. If you have a condition that a chiropractor can help with then they are absolutely worth seeing!
How many times a week should you see a chiropractor?
How often you should see a chiropractor varies from patient to patient and the stage of care you are in. Everyone is unique and their history is often unique. The treatment should be determined by your chiropractor. Different stages of care determine frequency. Often if you are starting care you may see your chiropractor more often. Severe conditions may take up to 4 times a week. As time goes on you may hold your adjustments well and can go anywhere from 3-6 months between check ups. This all depends on the patient and what stage they are in care. Ask your chiropractor how often you need to be seen.
Which chiropractic method is best?
The best chiropractic method is the one that works best for you, the patient. Everyone is unique and different techniques have been developed to suit the needs of each and every patient type and the condition they come in with. At Anatomy we utilize 3 techniques. The first technique is Atlas Orthogonal which focuses on the most neurologically important part of the spine, the first two cervical vertebrae. The next technique that is utilized is Activator technique which is used to adjust not only the rest of the spine but also the extremities as well. The final technique that is utilzed is Byle Cranial technique for the cranial bones of the skull. This last technique is rarely utilized but when patients require it, it is a low force technique that gets powerful long-lasting results. These techniques were chosen not only because of the incredible results they produce but also because of the reproducibility of the results. Dr. Sweat, the inventor of Atlas Orthogonals old saying was, “I can’t push this button any better than you can.”
