Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care is a hands-on modality that involves manual manipulation of the body to treat the causes of physical problems, rather than just the symptoms. Pamela Bell, DC, addresses health problems associated with the body's muscular, nervous, and skeletal systems, especially the spine.

 

Your spine matters.

Your spine supports your weight and protects your spinal cord, the vital link from your brain to the rest of your body. Since the spinal nerves affect all parts of your body, problems in the spine can cause other issues as well.

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Vertebrae: Bones in your spine can become misaligned, irritating nerves, or causing muscles to stretch unevenly. The joints where vertebrae connect can lock up, causing symptoms of pain or discomfort.

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Discs: Cushioning discs between the vertebrae can bulge or rupture. These discs may put pressure on nerves or the spinal cord, leading to pain or numbness in your neck, back, arms, or legs.

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Nerves: Message-carrying nerves can become irritated, pinched, or stretched, causing pain, numbness, or tingling in your back or other parts of your body.

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Muscles and Ligaments: Supportive muscles and the vertebrae's connecting ligaments can become stretched, torn, or out of balance. When vertebrae lose this needed support, movement becomes restricted.

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How does Chiropractic work?

I like to say that chiropractic is "nothing more than engineering for the spine." Posture is the number one consideration and cause of pain and symptoms of discomfort. Curves in the spine are essential to the integrity of the structure and how they developed. In most cases, soft tissue structures (muscle, tendons, ligaments, and joint capsule) influence the curves, but less common, the shape of anatomy (e.g., vertebrae) may be the issue. Proper movement encourages good joint health. Restoring flexibility to a joint complex with manual manipulation (aka adjustment) and/or muscle therapy is the process of healing symptoms. Identifying areas of weakness will also be considered. We also offer suggested strengthening and stretching exercises you can do at home.

 

What is an adjustment?

An adjustment is a gentle realignment of a joint complex to normalize the function of the joints and muscles and to ease or remove the pain. A chiropractor uses their hands to move a joint a little further than one would be able to do on their own. The audible 'snap' that often accompanies a manipulation occurs when the adjustment overcomes the vacuum that exists in most joints in the body. This sound is the release of the small bubbles of gas in the synovial fluid between the joints, NOT the bones grating against each other or tearing something. Avoiding this manner of manipulation is critical in cases of severe injury, joint instability, or diseases such as osteoporosis or osteoarthritis. 

 

Can you adjust yourself?

It is possible to turn or bend or twist in specific ways to create "popping" sounds, like the sound that sometimes accompanies a chiropractic adjustment. Unfortunately, this type of joint manipulation is usually counterproductive, often making an already unstable area of the spine even more unsteady. Since the correction is a specific force applied in a particular direction, to one specific joint, it is virtually impossible to adjust oneself.

 

How long will you need Chiropractic care?

Long-standing problems will benefit from additional treatments to encourage complete healing and to find out if chiropractic is the right approach for you. Research suggests ligaments and muscles that support the spine takes longer to heal than indicated by how you feel. The body continues to improve these tissues after your symptoms are gone. Some conditions may benefit from supportive care to keep symptoms manageable. Treatments are specific to your age, physical condition, and health goals. Some find that crisis management works fine for them.

 

What will happen on your first visit?

I will ask questions to get as accurate a picture of the problem as possible; your health history, lifestyle, including recreational and work-related activities, and the medicine you take. Examination, along with orthopedic testing, will also be incorporated to decide whether the problem qualifies for chiropractic treatment and to make as precise a diagnosis as possible. If you have a condition that will respond to chiropractic treatment, I will explain the treatment process and how it may benefit you. I will also share how your situation may be handled by other health practitioners so that you are aware of your treatment options before I receive your consent. The initial visit may take up to an hour and would include an exam and treatment. Subsequent visits tend to be shorter and more focused on therapy. I am respectful of your time, experience, and results.

 

Health insurance accepted

Excellus, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Empire, and United Healthcare. All policy benefits vary with each insurance company and each policy. Referrals for chiropractic care are rarely necessary.

 

All Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Health Savings Accounts (HSA), American Express, Discover, MC & VISA are accepted.

Schedule an Appointment

Contact Pamela at 585-350-8522 (call or text) or by email with any questions or concerns.