What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a conservative and natural healing paradigm based on the art, philosophy, and science that concentrates on keeping people well. While chiropractic in the American perspective is more than 115 years old, the basic wellness premise dates back to spinal “manipulations” first used by the Father of Healing, Hippocrates, in the 4th Century B.C.“Get knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite for many diseases”
Though a symptom such as pain may be the reason why a patient initially comes to a chiropractic office, Doctors of Chiropractic do not treat symptoms or conditions. What the Doctor of Chiropractic does is attempt to get to the root cause of the health problem. The primary focus of Chiropractic is the detection, reduction, and correction of subluxations, also known as segmental dysfunctions, with resultant nervous system interference.
The spinal column houses a critical part of the body’s nervous system, the spinal cord, which is responsible for the transmission of nerve impulses to and from the brain. This flow of impulses is necessary to allow the body to function properly. A subluxation can disrupt this flow of information by exerting tension and affect the body’s nervous system causing pain, muscle and organ dysfunction, and other imbalances.
Does every Chiropractor adjust the same way for every person?
No, adjusting methods are always adapted to a patient’s size, weight, age, and condition of health. The Doctors here, at Heart of Florida Chiropractic, focused on learning multiple Chiropractic techniques to accommodate their patients, young and old.
Why do I need Chiropractic?
Doctors of Chiropractic believe it’s much more important to prevent diseases than wait until some disease occurs. Being proactive about your healthcare is essential to your vitality. Too often, healthcare is a RE-active approach rather than a PRO-active one. The Doctors at Heart of Florida Chiropractic would like to assist you in becoming proactive about your health and lifestyle!
Is it okay to see a chiropractor if I’m pregnant?
Anytime is a good time for a better functioning nervous system! Pregnant mothers often find that chiropractic adjustments improve their pregnancy and make delivery easier for themselves and their baby. One of the most common complaints of both pregnant women and their birth providers is that they have nagging low back pain. At our office adjusting methods are always adapted to a patient’s size, weight, age, and condition of health. We have special tables and pillows we can use to help accommodate a pregnant mother’s changing body. Both Doctors are certified in the Webster Technique and Dr. Douglas C. Gagnon, Jr. also holds a Perinatal Certification through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA). The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and diversified adjustment. The goal of the adjustment is to reduce the effects of sacral subluxation and/or SI joint dysfunction and improve the neuro-biomechanical function of the pelvis.
Is it okay for babies and newborns to receive chiropractic treatments?
Yes! Chiropractic treatments are adjusted appropriately based on the patient’s age and condition. Chiropractors use a very gentle technique when handling infants, toddlers, newborns, and children. Children often respond very fast to Chiropractic care. Parents will often present to Chiropractors for a variety of reasons from torticollis and limited range of motion to colic and chronic ear infections. We focus on the function of the nervous system and your child’s ability to function optimally. Dr. Douglas C. Gagnon, Jr. has completed 200 hours of coursework through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association.
Why would my child need to see the Chiropractor?
When you want to give your child a head start in good health and all the benefits of a conservative, drugless approach to health care, you should take your child to a chiropractor. Spinal trauma can occur during birth, as well as from tumbles while learning to sit up, crawl, or walk. Improper lifting and carrying can also contribute to spinal stress. Your child’s spine grows almost 50% in length during the first year. That’s like a 6 foot tall man growing to 9 feet in just 12 months. It just makes sense to want your child to function at an optimal level during such a critical time in their life!
Do chiropractors take care of patients with conditions other than back pain?
Yes! Chiropractors reduce interference to the nervous system. An optimally functioning nervous system is critical for the musculoskeletal system and not just back and neck pain and headaches. This also includes the joints of the extremities. Many chiropractic patients see improvement in a host of other conditions as well such as dysmenorrhea (painful periods), migraine headaches, ear infections and colic in children. Often times, patients notice improvements that are secondary to their reason for seeking care. By correcting subluxation of the spine and extremities, chiropractic helps the whole body function at it’s best!
I have heard that once I start chiropractic care, I’ll have to continue with it for the rest of my life. Is this true?
Before we answer that question, ask yourself how many times you have visited a dentist? Like most people, you’ve probably gone dozens of times. Why? Quite simply, to prevent your teeth from rotting away. More often than not, patients WANT to continue Chiropractic care because once they have seen and felt the benefits they recognize Chiropractic as a vital part of their health regimen much like getting their teeth cleaned. We do generally recommend that you maintain a schedule of periodic spinal checkups.
Like your dentist and like many of the medical experts are now recognizing, prevention is the key to reducing recurrences of existing health conditions and minimizing new injuries in the future. So the answer is yes, we want you to keep coming back, but just periodically and like any decision about your health, that choice is always up to you. Periodic chiropractic care can help minimize spinal nerve stresses, reduce recurrences of old injuries, prevent new injuries from developing, and minimize degenerative processes, which can enhance overall health and wellness.
Do you take insurance?
Currently, Dr. Felton and Dr. Gagnon, Jr. are participating providers for Medicare and a number of major medical insurances. We aim to keep our fees affordable and with patient deductibles continuing to rise we have found that being an in network provider is not always particularly beneficial for our patients. We are happy to submit in network claims on your behalf to your insurance provider or provide you with a bill to submit should we be out of network. We are also a contracted provider for a discount medical plan which helps keep care affordable for many people; please contact our office for more information about this program.
What if I don’t have insurance?
We accept self pay patients. We have options for you that can help make care affordable for those without insurance or with limited chiropractic benefits. We’d be happy to speak with you about how this works in more detail.
You also have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
• You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any nonemergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs,
equipment, and hospital fees.
• Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1
business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider,
and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or
service.
• If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute
the bill.
• Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit
www.cms.gov/nosurprises.