Frequently Asked Questions

If you were to ask 10 random people what a chiropractor does (and therefore why you would choose to see one) you will most likely get 10 different answers… so if you’re confused, we get it.

Hopefully, if you’ve got this far through our website you have a much better idea of what chiropractic is and whether or not you need one.

However, if you’re like most you’re still left wondering how to know if you need a chiropractor instead of a physiotherapist or a massage therapist…

Physiotherapy

If you’ve just rolled your ankle or have a specific ‘extremity’ problem (arm or leg) then seeing a good physiotherapist that focuses on hands-on care and exercise rehab is your best bet.

A quick note – if your physiotherapist relies on hooking you up to a bunch of machines, consider finding a new physio.

Registered Massage Therapist

Properly applied massage therapy focuses on rebuilding and maintaining healthy muscles.

So if you have a specific muscle problem and are looking to restore normal muscle tissue, then a good registered massage therapist is your best bet.

A good massage therapist will always do a thorough assessment and provide you with specific recommendations for follow-up.

Good news! We have some of the best massage therapists in the city right here at Fish Creek Chiropractic. Click here to learn more.

Our role as chiropractors is to address any structural distortions in your spine that are compromising the health of your nerve system and ultimately limiting the health and function of your entire body.

This still leaves one question unanswered: How do you know if you have a muscle problem or spine and nerve problem?

It’s often very difficult for you to be able to answer this question on your own.  Even for us it can be difficult to determine what came first, which is why we use sophisticated technology to determine if it’s a spine/nerve problem or simply a muscle problem.

See our discussion of our comprehensive examination under “What can I expect when I get there?” to learn more.

Usually by the end of a consultation – which is always complimentary – the doctor will have a good idea of whether you have an isolated muscle problem or a primary spine and nerve system problem.

Call (403) 271-7224 to book your complimentary consultation now.

Here’s a list of some of the health problems that have improved under regular chiropractic care in our office:

• back pain
• neck pain
• headaches
• hip and leg pain
• shoulder and arm pain
• other spinal problems
• postural distortion
• digestive issues
• hormonal disorders
• sleep problems
• neurologic disorders
• autoimmune conditions
• balance and coordination problems
• depression
• anxiety
• hyperactivity disorders
• asthma and other respiratory issues
• allergies
• colic
• torticollis
• sciatica
• disc injuries
• heartburn
• seizure disorders
• whiplash
• lack of mobility
• high blood pressure
• premenstrual discomfort
• arthritis
• immune suppression
• bell’s palsy
• multiple sclerosis
• infertility
• otitis media
• pregnancy related problems/pain
• degenerative joint disease
• stress
• vertigo
• acid reflux

Let us be absolutely clear, chiropractic is NOT a cure or treatment for any disease, condition or symptom; however when your spine and nerve system is working optimally, your ability to heal, to recover and to be healthy drastically improves!

The symptoms and conditions listed above (+ many more) are most often what we call secondary conditions, caused by a handful of primary conditions one of which is structural distortions in your spine that effect how your brain and body function and communicate.

Our job is to figure out if the secondary conditions that you’re currently suffering from are caused by primary problems located in your spine and nervous system.

If they are, we can help; if they’re not we’ll let you know and refer you to the appropriate health care professional.

One thing we are known for is the thorough approach we take with everything we do in our practice.

The first step is always to determine if you are in the right place. We don’t want to waste your time, nor ours.

That’s why we always start with a consultation so that your doctor can learn more about you and your health objectives. At the same time, its an opportunity for you to get a feel for our office, meet your doctor and ask any questions you may have.

By the end of this conversation both you and your doctor will have a good idea if this is the right place for you.

If we feel like we can help, we will recommend a comprehensive examination to dig deeper into what is going on. These tests are completely non-invasive and very comfortable.

The purpose of this examination is to analyze for structural distortions in your spine that result in nerve interference. This nerve interference can effect you in ways that you may notice or feel, but more importantly it can effect you in ways you may have no idea about.

In our experience, these structural distortions are the primary problem that contribute to many secondary problems such as back pain, neck pain, headaches, digestive issues, hormonal irregularities, poor sleeping, and low energy to name a few.

There are 4 steps to our comprehensive examination:

• Thermography Study – This computerized test measures how your autonomic nerves (the nerves that control your organs and systems) are functioning.
• Electromyography Study – This computerized test measures how your motor nerves (the nerves that control your muscles) are functioning.
• Advanced Palpation Examination – This hands-on analysis allows the doctor to evaluate the movement and position of your individual spinal vertebrae.
• Structural Radiographs – This test specifically measures for structural distortions in the spine and for how long they have been present.

Once the examination is completed, we have some homework to do!

We will review all of your results and come up with specific recommendations for you that include:

• Exactly what is going on.
• What options you have.
• How we can help you.
• How long it will take.
• How much it will cost.

Once all your questions are answered and you and your doctor come to an agreement on your unique plan of action, your care can start right away.

If, based on your consultation and comprehensive examination, we determine you are a good candidate for care in our office, we will prepare a detailed, customized plan for you.

The factors that we consider when creating your recommendations include:

• Your health goals and objectives
• The severity of your problem and how long it has been present
• The results of your examination

Of course, we are not psychics, and we can not predict your future.

However, in working with thousands of people just like you over the years, we have become very very accurate in determining who we can help and who we cannot.

While some clients experience almost instantaneous results, most start to notice significant changes within the first 3-6 weeks of their care.

I don’t have any pain… Can I still come in?

This may surprise you but approximately 46% of our new patients come in NOT because they have a specific problem but because they heard we can help them to be even healthier and perform better.

Here’s the thing: structural distortions in the spine that cause nerve interference can effect you in ways you know about but more importantly, and more commonly, these distortions can affect you in ways that you have absolutely no idea about.

Some of the effects that most people don’t relate to structural distortions include:

• low energy
• poor sleep (quality and/or quantity)
• difficulty concentrating
• brain fog
• mild shortness of breath
• poor digestion
• mild muscle weakness,
• hormonal imbalances
• poor coordination and performance
• and even organ dysfunction

The only way to know if nerve system dysfunction is occurring is to to test for it – and that’s exactly why we perform a comprehensive examination.

Ultimately, the number of visits you’ll require depends on three main factors:

• Your goals and objectives – what are you trying to accomplish?
• How severe your problem is – how much damage has occurred?
• When did it start – is this a new or chronic problem?

Short answer? No. You don’t HAVE to do anything!  You can stop care at any time and we won’t even hold it against you!

Remember how we said we do things differently?  That we are experts in Neuro-Structural Correction…  well, once we’ve completed our comprehensive examination, we will sit down with you and explain the results of each of your tests. We will then provide you with a complete customized plan of action to help you correct the structural distortions related to your health problems.

Once you’ve completed your corrective care we will perform a Comparative Neuro-Structural Exam.

Based on our your test results and your goals, you can then make some new choices about your care going forward – which may include protecting your investment or discontinuing your care. The choice is yours.

Because we don’t want to waste your time or money, our initial consultation process is FREE.

If during your consultation, you and your doctor decide that it would be worthwhile to go through our comprehensive examination then the cost ranges from $60-$162 depending on whether spinal x-rays are needed and whether or not an adjustment is performed on that visit.

So the most you can expect to pay for your initial examination and follow-up visit is $162.

At your follow-up visit your doctor will review all of the results from your examination; they will give you their recommendations for your care and will show you exactly how much it will cost.

Because every case is different it is difficult to predict the total cost of your care without the results of a thorough examination.

What about my extended health care benefits?

If you are fortunate enough to have extended health care insurance that covers chiropractic then this can significantly reduce the cost of your care (think of it like a health coupon!)  Contact your insurance provider to find out the specific details of your coverage as plans vary.

Picture this – your insurance company sends you a letter to say “we care about your health, that’s why we’re now going to pay for your organic vegetables, and we’ll also cover your personal training, yoga classes and an extra week of holidays this year!”

If you’re fortunate enough to have private health insurance – only 52% of Canadians do – you’re probably thinking “what insurance does this guy have??” Followed quickly by “that plan must cost a fortune!”

Of course, there’s no such plan… and that comes down to the primary purpose of insurance of any kind: it’s to help you in the case of emergencies – in this case health emergencies.

And while its true that your insurance will cover some of you care – typically enough to start seeing changes in those secondary problems you mentioned – it is not designed to address the primary, root problem.

Since our focus is on tackling the primary problem, it’s no surprise our recommendations don’t line up with what your insurance provides: the goals are different.

If you’re fortunate enough to have private health insurance think about it like a ‘health’ coupon… one that can be used to reduce the cost of your corrective care and get you started on the path towards a healthier life.

What I can say is that typically once people get through the initial set of recommendations (i.e. finished the rebuilding phase of your care), they are so happy with the results that they are willing to pay their own way to maintain the positive changes and continue their care – just as they continue to pay for their own fresh fruits and veggies, gym membership, and family holidays.

For those who do not have access to this ‘coupon’, it shouldn’t stop you from taking the necessary actions to solve your problem and create as much health for yourself as possible!