Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic Care for Back Pain, Neck Pain, Sciatica & More
If you’re dealing with lower back pain, neck pain, headaches, or sciatica, you may be wondering whether chiropractic care is right for you. You may also have questions about what to expect at your first appointment, how quickly you might notice improvement, or whether your insurance will cover care.
At Drummond Chiropractic in Bloomington, Indiana, we hear these questions every day. Below, we’re answering some of the most common questions patients have before scheduling their first chiropractic visit.
What causes lower back pain?
There isn’t one universal cause of lower back pain. In fact, back pain is often the result of several factors working together.
Things like sitting for long periods, pregnancy, joint stiffness, muscle tightness, poor lifting mechanics, repetitive movements, previous injuries, and changes in activity level can all contribute to lower back pain. In some cases, irritation involving a disc, joint, muscle, or nerve may also play a role.
That’s why determining the cause of your pain is an important part of your first visit.
Rather than assuming every patient with lower back pain needs the same treatment, we perform an examination to determine which joints, muscles, movements, or other structures may be contributing to your symptoms. From there, we can develop a treatment plan based on what we find.
When should I see a chiropractor for lower back pain?
We recommend getting evaluated when your lower back pain begins rather than waiting for it to become severe or interfere with your normal activities.
However, it is never too late to have your back pain evaluated.
We regularly see patients who have dealt with lower back pain for months or even years. Chronic problems may take longer to improve because the body has had more time to develop stiffness, weakness, altered movement patterns, or other compensations, but the length of time you’ve had pain does not automatically mean nothing can be done.
There are also certain symptoms that require prompt medical evaluation. Significant loss of muscle strength or new loss of bowel or bladder control associated with back pain can indicate a more serious neurological problem and should be evaluated urgently.
Can chiropractic care help sciatica?
It can help some patients with sciatica, depending on what is causing the nerve irritation.
Sciatica generally describes symptoms such as pain, numbness, or tingling traveling from the lower back or buttock into the leg along the path of the sciatic nerve.
The important part is determining why those symptoms are happening.
Sciatic symptoms can originate near the spine due to problems such as disc irritation, arthritis, inflammation, or other changes affecting a nerve. The sciatic nerve can also become irritated or compressed farther down by structures such as the piriformis or gluteal muscles.
Because the cause can vary from person to person, treatment can vary as well.
Depending on your examination findings, treatment at Drummond Chiropractic may include chiropractic adjustments, muscle work, rehabilitation exercises, dry needling, cupping, Graston Technique®, and recommendations for changes you can make at home.
Our goal isn’t simply to treat the location where you feel pain. We want to determine what is contributing to the symptoms and address those factors whenever possible.
How long does it take chiropractic care to help back pain?
Every patient is different, but many of our patients begin noticing a difference within the first few visits.
How quickly you improve can depend on several factors, particularly how long the problem has been present and the severity of the original injury or condition.
A problem that started last week may respond differently than lower back pain that has been present for 20 years.
We also find that patients who consistently follow their home recommendations often progress more quickly. That may include temporary modifications to certain activities, stretches, strengthening exercises, ergonomic changes, or other recommendations specific to their condition.
Our goal is to help you become pain-free, stable, and functional in as few visits as reasonably possible—not to put every patient on the same lengthy treatment plan.
What happens during your first chiropractic visit?
Your first chiropractic visit at Drummond Chiropractic is typically about 30 minutes.
We begin by talking with you about your current complaint as well as your relevant medical history. We want to understand what you’re experiencing, when it started, what makes it better or worse, and how it is affecting your everyday life.
Next, we perform an examination. Depending on your complaint, this may include:
● Range-of-motion testing
● Orthopedic testing
● Neurological testing when indicated
● Evaluation of joint mobility
● Palpation of the muscles and surrounding tissues
Once we have evaluated you, treatment can typically begin during that visit when appropriate.
We don’t routinely take X-rays or other imaging on every patient. If your history or examination indicates that imaging is necessary, we can refer you for the appropriate testing.
After your appointment, we also email you individualized stretches or exercises when appropriate so you have tools to work on the problem outside of the office.
How much does a chiropractor cost in Bloomington, Indiana?
The cost of chiropractic care in Bloomington varies depending on your insurance coverage and the services you need.
Drummond Chiropractic accepts most medical insurance plans. Because benefits, deductibles, copays, and covered services can differ significantly between plans, there isn’t one price that applies to every patient.
Contact our office before your appointment for an estimate and to find out whether we accept your insurance plan.
Our team can help you better understand what to expect before your visit.
Does chiropractic care work for neck pain?
Chiropractic care may help many types of musculoskeletal neck pain.
One of the most common things we see in our Bloomington chiropractic office is neck pain associated with daily habits—especially spending hours working at a computer or looking down at a phone.
Sleep position, muscle tension, joint stiffness, previous injuries, and repetitive activities can also contribute to neck pain.
Treatment isn’t identical for every patient. Depending on your comfort level and examination findings, chiropractic treatment may include traditional manual adjustments or gentler techniques such as an Activator instrument or traction.
We may also incorporate muscle work, stretching, Graston Technique®, cupping, dry needling, and rehabilitation exercises.
We also look at what you do during the other 23+ hours of your day. Changes to your workstation, sleeping position, exercise routine, or other everyday habits can sometimes be just as important as what we do during your appointment.
Can a chiropractor help with headaches?
Some headaches can have a musculoskeletal component, particularly when the joints and muscles of the neck or surrounding areas are involved.
We commonly evaluate patients experiencing cervicogenic headaches, tension-type headaches, and migraines.
Cervicogenic headaches originate from structures in the neck and may be associated with restricted neck movement, joint irritation, or muscle tension. Tension-type headaches can also be associated with muscle tension and other contributing factors.
Migraines are more complex neurological headaches with many possible triggers and contributing factors. Chiropractic care isn’t a cure for migraines, but for some patients, addressing musculoskeletal problems involving the neck and surrounding tissues may be one part of their overall headache-management strategy.
Because headaches have many possible causes, we start by taking a thorough history and performing an appropriate examination. If your symptoms suggest that your headache requires evaluation outside our office, we will refer you to the appropriate healthcare provider.
New, sudden, unusually severe, or significantly different headaches should always be taken seriously and may require prompt medical evaluation.
Can I see a chiropractor after a car accident?
Yes. You can be evaluated by a chiropractor following a car accident, including shortly after the accident.
It’s also important to know that pain doesn’t always begin immediately. Adrenaline and the stress of the accident can sometimes make symptoms less noticeable initially, and some people begin experiencing neck pain, back pain, stiffness, headaches, or other symptoms hours or days later.
Drummond Chiropractic does see patients following auto accidents. We do not bill third-party auto insurance directly. Patients pay for their care and can then submit the necessary information to their auto insurance on their own.
For an auto-related visit, our office will need information including your auto insurance company, claim number, and adjuster information. We also have specific paperwork for patients receiving care related to an automobile accident.
Contact our office before your first appointment and our team can explain what information you’ll need to bring.
Does Drummond Chiropractic accept Medicare?
Yes. Drummond Chiropractic accepts Medicare.
Medicare has specific rules regarding chiropractic coverage. Medicare may cover medically necessary chiropractic adjustments when they are part of active treatment for a qualifying condition.
Other services—including the chiropractic examination and muscle work—are not covered by Medicare and are paid out of pocket.
Medicare also does not cover chiropractic adjustments performed solely for maintenance care.
Because coverage can depend on your individual situation, our team can help explain what is covered and what you may be responsible for before beginning care.
Looking for a Chiropractor in Bloomington, Indiana?
Whether you’ve been dealing with lower back pain for a few days or you’ve had the same nagging problem for years, our first step is figuring out why you’re hurting.
At Drummond Chiropractic, we don’t believe every patient needs the same treatment plan. We evaluate your joints, muscles, movement, symptoms, and everyday habits to determine what may be contributing to your problem.
Treatment may include chiropractic adjustments, muscle work, rehabilitation exercises, dry needling, cupping, Graston Technique®, and individualized recommendations you can use at home.
Most importantly, our goal is to help you get out of pain, become stable and functional, and get back to doing the things you want to do in as few visits as reasonably possible.
Ready to find out what’s contributing to your pain? Contact Drummond Chiropractic in Bloomington, Indiana, to schedule an appointment or ask our team about insurance coverage and costs.
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