1) How do I know what is wrong?
No one can tell you what is wrong without first having examined you. Often there are many causes of a single symptom
or complaint. Thus, it is best to make an appointment to be evaluated. Once the complaints are evaluated, a doctor will
be in a much better position to answer questions and make recommendations with regard to an individual’s specific
treatments that may be needed.
2) Can Chiropractic help my condition?
Until you have been examined by a doctor of chiropractic there is no way to know if your condition will respond to
chiropractic care. Chiropractic is a very conservative approach to the treatment of many neuromusculoskeletal conditions.
Conservative care approaches are supported by the literature as an appropriate treatment of numerous spine related
conditions. Because chiropractic is a conservative approach it may be a good choice to seek chiropractic care prior to
considering surgery or other more aggressive forms of care. The only way to know if chiropractic care will help your
particular conditions is to make an appointment. Following a thorough evaluation, treatment recommendations can be
made to address your specific condition.
3) How long does it take?
Every patient responds differently. Treatment of individual patients with the same condition often varies because of
factors such as various forms of arthritis, age, gender, levels of activity, etc. Any of these factors may directly affect the
individual patient’s ability to respond to treatment.
Because of these factors, Dr. Herring recommends treatment based on the individual needs of the patient and typically
initiates treatment monitoring the response to care and discontinuing treatment based on that individual’s needs.
Patients are discharged as quickly as they have reached maximum benefit from the treatment being rendered.
4) What does it cost?
Cost varies based on the services needed for the treatment of a particular condition and the length of care that is required
for each individual patient. Most insurance plans cover chiropractic care and you will only be requested to pay a co-
payment after your deductible is satisfied. Dr. Herring makes every effort to treat patients with only those methods of
care that will resolve the condition in the shortest time period and without performing unnecessary treatment that would
increase cost.
5) Are chiropractic adjustments or manipulation painful?
Most patients do not experience any pain during an adjustment/manipulation. Some experience a little discomfort. On
occasion, a patient may be experiencing a painful condition, causing a certain degree of pain associated with the
adjustment. In all cases, Dr. Herring attempts to adjust all patients to avoid pain. For new patients, the “popping” sound
is occasionally surprising to the patient, so Dr. Herring explains what each patient will experience prior to the adjustment.
6) Will I need to be treated the rest of my life?
Many people have heard “…once you go to a chiropractor you will need to go for the rest of your life”. While many of Dr.
Herring’s patients choose to return when they have future problems, most patients are discharged without having to
return. Some patients enjoy the benefits that they receive from chiropractic care and choose to return periodically in an
effort to maintain their health. This is the patient’s choice and not a routine requirement associated with chiropractic
care.
7) Is maintenance care beneficial?
Most healthcare professionals encourage their patients to return for regular preventive care. Dentists recommend regular
cleaning. Primary care physicians, gynecologists, internists, recommend check-ups and tests to recognize the early signs
of a condition, often before it becomes apparent to the patient. Chiropractors often recommend “maintenance care”. This
entails periodic adjustments in an effort to prevent recurrence of a prior condition or to prevent development of a future
condition. Many forms of preventative care have been studied and found to reduce risks for the individual patient.
Studies have not demonstrated that regular adjustments prevent the development of future health problems. Dr. Herring
recommends maintenance care for those patients who have demonstrated that they have a condition(s) that tend to recur
at various intervals or for those patients who may need “maintenance care” or “supportive care” to maintain a condition
that demonstrates that the patient cannot maintain a high level of health without the care. Recommendations are made
on the basis of individual patient need. Finally, it should be made clear that Dr. Herring encourages patients to exercise,
maintain a good diet, get plenty of rest, avoid stress, and in general advises individuals to take charge of their own health.
When patients feel that spinal adjustments should be a part of their own health maintenance activities, those patients will
be seen on a maintenance care basis. It should be noted that maintenance care is not a covered benefit by most insurance
companies.
8) What is Chiropractic?
In general chiropractic is the treatment of individuals with natural means that do not involve the use of medicine or
surgery. The practice of chiropractic is defined by state law. The Louisiana state law permits doctors of chiropractic to
evaluate patients using routine diagnostic tests and treatment is described as adjustments/manipulation, physical
medicine modalities, rehabilitation, diet and nutrition.
9) What conditions do chiropractors treat?
The majority of patients are treated for neuromusculoskeletal conditions related to the spine and other joints of the body.
Typical symptoms include low back pain, mid back pain, neck pain, headaches, leg, and arm pain. Other conditions may
respond to chiropractic care, but you will need to call to discuss specific conditions.
10) Is there research?
Many medical and chiropractic treatments have been researched. Most often research is focused on treatment for a
specific condition, but in general, chiropractic care has demonstrated good results in the treatment of acute spinal
conditions, sub-acute spinal conditions, and chronic spinal conditions. Other research has demonstrated effectiveness in
the treatment of headaches and other musculoskeletal conditions. Dr. Herring regularly searches the literature to keep
abreast of the latest research to assure that he provides the most evidence-based care possible. Additionally, treatment
options are often discussed with an individual patient based on research even when that research involves the treatment
of the patient’s condition by other forms of treatment not provided in his office.
11) I’ve heard that adjusting the neck can cause a stroke. Is chiropractic care safe?
Adjustments are safer than most other forms of care and risks are minimal even when compared to routinely used
medications like aspirin, other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and even Tylenol (approximately 16,500
NSAIDs deaths and 20,000 Tylenol related deaths occur each year). A few isolated incidences of stroke following
manipulation of the neck have been reported, but based on the most recent studies it has been demonstrated that an
individual seeking medical care for headache and neck pain are just as likely to have a stroke after seeing a medical
physician as they are to experience a stroke after seeing a chiropractic physician. This research suggests that individuals
are seeking treatment for early signs and symptoms of a stroke that goes unrecognized. A thorough clinical examination
should be performed by all doctors to assure early detection of the early signs of stroke.
12) Do chiropractors tell their patient not to take drugs?
In general, chiropractors prefer using conservative forms of care to avoid the use of drugs and surgery. Dr. Herring finds
that patients who respond to more conservative forms of care do not need medications while others may. When
medications or other forms of medical care are indicated, Dr. Herring refers patients to medical physicians to manage
medication needs.
13) What are the educational requirements to be licensed as a chiropractic physician?
By law, chiropractic physicians in the state of Louisiana are required to have a minimum of 2 years of undergraduate
studies and 4 years of chiropractic school. Chiropractic educational programs are similar to medical education until each
profession begins their specific areas of study related to the treatment they will prescribe. Medical physicians obviously
study pharmacology and surgery and chiropractic physicians study many areas of physical medical and rehabilitation with
special emphasis on adjustment/manipulative techniques. Each specialty and/or subspecialty in healthcare possesses its
own unique educational background and thus offers patients choices of treatment that may be different from those who
specialized in other areas of study.
Frequently Asked Questions
(Click on any question to jump to the answer)
Dr. Charles R. Herring
Ascension Chiropractic Clinic
Patients Making An Appoint : 225-647-8712
2107 South Burnside, Suite 1, Gonzales, Louisiana 70737
Copyright 2010- | Charles R. Herring
