Gutierrez Chiropractic Inc. FAQs

Chiropractic medicine is widely recognized as one of the safest nondrug, noninvasive forms of health care available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic treatments have an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks associated are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness, stiffness, or aching, just as they do after exercise. 

Current research shows that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades within 24 hours. Neck pain and some types of headaches are treated through precise cervical manipulation. Cervical manipulation, often called a neck adjustment, works to improve joint mobility in the neck. This restores range of motion and reduces muscle spasms, which helps relieve pressure and tension. Neck manipulation, when performed by a skilled and well-educated doctor of chiropractic medicine, is a remarkably safe procedure. Some reports have associated high-velocity upper neck manipulation with a certain rare kind of stroke, or vertebral artery dissection. However, evidence suggests that this type of arterial injury often takes place spontaneously in patients who have a pre-existing arterial disease. These dissections have been associated with everyday activities such as turning the head while driving, swimming, or having a shampoo in a hair salon. Patients with this condition may experience neck pain and headache that leads them to seek professional care at the office of a doctor of chiropractor or family physician, but that care is not the cause of the injury. 

The best evidence indicates that the incidence of artery injuries associated with high-velocity upper neck manipulation is extremely rare. About one to three cases in 100,000 patients get treated with a course of care. This is similar to the incidence of this type of stroke among the general population. If you are visiting your doctor of chiropractic with upper-neck pain or headache, be very specific about your symptoms. This will help your doctor of chiropractic offer the safest and most effective treatment, even if it involves referral to another healthcare provider. 

When discussing the risks of any healthcare procedure, it is important to look at that risk in comparison to other treatments available for the same condition. In this regard, the risks of serious complications from spinal manipulation for conditions such as neck pain and headache compare very favorably with even the most conservative care options. The risks associated with some of the most common treatments for musculoskeletal pain (i.e. over-the-counter or prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and prescription painkillers) are significantly greater than those of chiropractic manipulation. Moreover, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that overuse and abuse of prescription opioid pain medication is one of the leading causes of accidental death in the United States. 

Doctors of chiropractic medicine are well-trained professionals who provide patients with safe, effective care for a variety of common conditions. Their extensive education prepares them to identify patients who have special risk factors and to ensure those patients receive the most appropriate care, even if that requires referral to a medical specialist. For further details, contact Gutierrez Chiropractic at (714) 482-6535 for the neck pain treatment Tustin, CA trusts.

A referral is usually not needed to see a doctor of chiropractic (DC); however, your health plan may have specific referral requirements. You may want to contact your employer’s human resources department or your insurance plan to find out if there are referral requirements. Most plans allow you to just call and schedule an appointment with a chiropractor. For further details contact Gutierrez Chiropractic at (714) 482-6535, the best chiropractor Tustin, CA has to offer. 

Chiropractic care is included in most health insurance plans; however, coverage is dependent on your specific plan. If you would like to use your insurance, it is best to bring your insurance card to your appointment so that your provider can verify your benefits. For further details on getting lower back pain relief in Tustin, CA, contact Gutierrez Chiropractic at (714) 482-6535.

Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed during the doctor of chiropractic’s intensive years of chiropractic education. The chiropractic physician typically uses his or her hands or an instrument to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, to restore or enhance joint function. 

This often helps resolve joint inflammation and reduces the patient’s pain. Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient who seeks back or neck pain treatment in Tustin, CA. Patients often note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment. For further details contact Gutierrez Chiropractic at (714) 482-6535.

Adjustment (or manipulation) of a joint may result in the release of a gas bubble between the joints, which makes a popping sound. The same thing occurs when you “crack” your knuckles. The noise is caused by the change of pressure within the joint, which results in gas bubbles being released. There is usually minimal discomfort involved if any. For further details contact Gutierrez Chiropractic at (714) 482-6535 to hear from the best chiropractor in Tustin, CA.

The hands-on nature of chiropractic treatment is what requires patients to visit the chiropractor multiple times. To be treated by a chiropractor, a patient needs to be in his or her office. In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (i.e. taking a course of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks). 

A chiropractor may provide acute, chronic, and/or preventive care thus making a certain number of visits necessary. Your doctor of chiropractic should tell you the extent of treatment recommended and how long you can expect it to last. For further details about the best chiropractor in Tustin, CA, contact Gutierrez Chiropractic at (714) 482-6535.

Yes, children can benefit from chiropractic care. Children are physically active and experience many types of falls from daily activities or sports participation. Injuries such as these may cause many symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness, soreness, or discomfort. 

Chiropractic techniques are always adapted to the individual patient and are 40% more effective in treating lower back pain than other medical care options, according to thegoodbody.com. In the case of children, treatment is very gentle. For further details about the lower back pain relief Tustin, CA counts on, contact Gutierrez Chiropractic at (714) 482-6535.

Chiropractors are known for their expertise in caring for patients with back pain, neck pain, and headaches. They also treat sports injuries and other disorders involving muscles, ligaments, and joints. The benefits of chiropractic care go beyond this and extend into general health as our core body structure affects overall function and health. For further details about the best chiropractor in Tustin, CA, contact Gutierrez Chiropractic at (714) 482-6535. 

Sciatica often strikes patients who are 30 to 50 years old, but we also treat teens and seniors with this debilitating condition. It refers to pain that travels throughout your sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in your body. Your sciatic nerve runs from your lower back to your feet. When your sciatic nerve becomes irritated, injured, or compressed, it reacts by producing excruciating pain.

Ice packs and heating pads occasionally help, but sciatic pain often requires treatment from a skilled chiropractor. A chiropractor can perform diagnostic tests to pinpoint the roof of your nerve pain and then proceed accordingly. This may mean performing a spinal adjustment to ease a herniated disc back into its designated spot or recommending spinal decompression therapy. Some chiropractors also treat sciatic pain with lasers or electrical stimulation. Contact Gutierrez Chiropractic at (714) 482-6535 for further details from the best chiropractor Tustin, CA trusts.

Every situation is unique, but yes, it’s generally okay to get chiropractic adjustments after back surgery. Our chiropractic team at Gutierrez Chiropractic will carefully review your imaging reports and surgery notes to make sure you’re a good candidate for post-surgery adjustments. Some patients find they only need cervical adjustments for their neck pain in Tustin, CA after back surgery, but it depends on your symptoms.