FAQs

Absolutely! Adjusting methods can be adapted to any patient’s size, age, and condition of health. The goal is to manage pain in your back, hips, and pelvis so proper pelvic balance and movement is achieved. Joints that can move freely can provide your baby with as much space as possible over the course of your pregnancy. This may lead to a faster, easier labor and delivery when you are in proper alignment. Dr. Melanie is certified in Webster technique and pregnancy care. By reducing intra-uterine restrictions, through adjustments, muscle work, and exercise, mom will move better, and more space will be created for the baby. We have tables that are adaptable for the pregnant patient, so she is comfortable the entire time.

Yes. Chiropractic has an excellent safety record. Doctors of chiropractic are well-trained professionals who provide patients with safe, effective care for various common conditions. Their extensive education has prepared them to identify patients who have special risk factors and to get those patients the most appropriate care, even if that requires referral to a medical specialist. We determine if you would be a candidate for a Chiropractic adjustment by performing a thorough history review, orthopedic, neurological, and movement-based examination. Chiropractic is recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive treatments for neuromuscular complaints. We would be happy to discuss your concerns, provide research articles so you may be informed, and never perform an adjustment without your consent and understanding of the procedure.

Chiropractic care can help all ages thrive and move better. An office visit may consist of gentle, but effective adjustments, milestone checks, and exercises that can help improve your child’s overall function.

Practically all insurance carriers recognize Chiropractic care for at least the early part of care. Most insurance policies are designed to help with catastrophic health problems or only when obvious symptoms are present. Insurance coverage will likely end before full spinal rehabilitation has occurred. We base your treatment plan on the care you need to get to a better state of health, not on what insurance says they will pay. Like your auto insurance, health insurance will not cover maintenance care. It will only cover problems that occurred due to injury. We are in-network with BCBS, Sanford, Sanford Expansion, Medicare, ND Medicaid, and Medica. We would happily submit claims to any out-of-network companies. For more information, please call the office at 701-730-3867 or email [email protected] so we may verify your individual insurance.

The intake form is an important part of your initial chiropractic visit because it provides the doctor important information about your current issues, past complaints and also alerts us to potential underlying health issues that may require a referral. Because we spend more time with you reviewing your history and performing an exam, we may identify issues that may need medical attention. The thoroughness of your intake form provides us a better opportunity to get to the bottom of your issue and help as quickly as possible.

During the acute phase of an injury, the common acronym to use is R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compress, and elevate). However, recent research and recommendations show that M.E.A.T. (movement, exercise, analgesics, and treatment) is a more effective process of care. Thus, heat is generally recommended to help promote increased blood flow.

Active care consists of a series of treatments in which we strive to achieve the desired pain and/or functional goal. Active care is billable through insurance. Wellness care is similar to an oil change for a car. Typically there are no major issues we are trying to fix, but rather maintain the structural integrity of the spine. Wellness care is not covered by insurance.

Adjustments do not always produce a sound however they can create a “popping” or “cracking” sound. The sound is caused by gas rushing to fill the partial vacuum created when the joints are slightly separated. The sound is painless and harmless like the noise when you unstick and suction cup. This sound indicates that a joint has moved; however, and audible cavitation is not necessary to achieve joint movement.

That varies greatly with the nature and severity of your spinal condition and external factors that could affect your progress such as the physical demands of your job or your personal lifestyle. After we are able to work with you and determine what is the nature of your pain we will absolutely give you an estimated time from of recommended care.

Definitely not. The doctors will evaluate each patient’s unique spinal problem and develop an individual course of care. Each chiropractic adjustment builds on the one before. The resulting recommendations are based upon years of training and experience. Each patient’s care is uniquely different from every other patient.

Typically, the longer you have had the problem, the longer amount of corrective care may be required. With this in mind, it is no surprise that children respond quickly. Adults may take longer because most spinal problems are the result of years of neglect. As with any healing process, every person’s progress is slightly different. Your personal lifestyle, diet, exercise, and keeping regular appointments all will affect your progress.

An irritated or restricted joint may give the sensation of needing to “pop.” Though self-adjusting may bring temporary relief, it is not recommended. A generalized self-adjustment often fails to target the restricted joint and can cause excess motion in other joints which may lead to further issues.

They are both important for different reasons. People may only think of spinal manipulation when they think of chiropractic care. While this is a big part of what chiropractors do it is only one tool in our toolbox. Spinal manipulation improves the mobility of restricted joints and increases range of motion. Therapeutic exercise, ultrasound, EMS, and muscle work are some of the other tools we use. Physical therapists focus on therapeutic exercise and may use the other tools mentioned above to strengthen muscles surrounding the injured area. Some people will benefit most from chiropractic care while others may find physical therapy to be a better fit. At our office, we create a treatment plan tailored to your needs, that may include spinal manipulation, therapeutic exercise, EMS, ultrasound, and muscle work to get the best results.

Yes. It is an unfortunate fact that up to half of those who had spinal surgery discover a return of their original symptoms months or years later. They then face the prospect of additional surgery. Chiropractic may help prevent repeated back surgeries. In fact, if Chiropractic care is utilized initially and early enough, back surgery can often be avoided in the first place.

The purpose of spinal adjustments is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become hypomobile – or restricted in their movement – as a result of a tissue injury. Tissue injury can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as the improper lifting of a heavy object, or through repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an awkward position with poor spinal posture for an extended period of time. In either case, injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation, pain, and diminished function for an individual. Manipulation, or adjustment of the affected joint and tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, allowing tissues to heal.

Doctors of Chiropractic are well educated. Chiropractic education and medical education are similar in many respects and different in others because chiropractors do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery, and medical doctors do not correct vertebral subluxations. Doctors of Chiropractic must pass the four-part National Board Examinations. Then, doctors apply to a governmental or state professional licensing board and are many times required to pass still another test before being granted the privilege to practice. A chiropractor’s education, however, never ends. Doctors must complete regular postgraduate instruction for license renewal and to stay current on the latest research and adjustment techniques.