Discussion and Diagnosis
On your first visit Dr. Chartoff will consult with you about
your health, explain how chiropractic works, and examine your
spine.
First you will fill out forms regarding personal information
and health history. Next, Dr. Chartoff will most commonly
palpate, or feel, your entire spinal region to detect nerve
interference. Sometimes other methods or instruments may
be used to verify the findings. All chiropractic examination
techniques are safe, painless, and noninvasive.
Indications of nerve interference will show up on an x-ray.
Soft tissue damage to nerves, muscles, or discs — called
nerve impingement — cannot be seen. If further diagnosis
is needed, Dr. Chartoff may use imaging tools such as MRIs,
Thermography, or Paraspinal
EMGs and CT (CAT) scans. If necessary, Dr. Chartoff can explain
the procedures in greater detail. Dr. Chartoff believes the
benefit must always justify the risk of any procedure and
will explain any risk and answer questions in non-technical
terms.
top
Treatment
After diagnosis, Dr. Chartoff will discuss your spine's health
with you and outline a course of action to correct nerve interference.
This may include spinal
adjustments, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
 Chiropractors
do not treat symptoms, they locate the cause of the dis-ease
and correct it. In the beginning frequent adjustments may
be required. Over time the number of adjustments will decrease.
Do not expect nerve interference to be corrected in a few
visits. It takes continued adjusting to be sure the vertebrae
have returned to their proper positions and your muscles and
ligaments can continue to hold them in place. Once your vertebrae
are in place, Dr. Chartoff will periodically check your spine
to be sure it remains free of nerve interference.
There are three levels of care. Level I is the Intensive
Care Phase. The objective during this phase is to reduce stress
damage to the spine and nervous system. The adjustments help
you immediately, but healing takes time. At Level I you may
see Dr. Chartoff every day or perhaps three times a week,
depending on your specific needs.
Level II is the Reconstructive Phase in which the now aligned,
or nearly aligned, spine is monitored while it gets stronger
and holds the adjustment for longer periods of time. It is
critical to have your spine checked regularly to be sure there
is not a reoccurrence of nerve interference. During this time
your visits may be once or twice a week.
Level III is the Wellness Phase that can be compared to other
preventative healthcare such as dental visits and eye exams.
At this point your spine is holding the adjustment but you
should visit Dr. Chartoff regularly to detect and correct
any nerve interference early and to enhance your health potential.
top |
