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FAQs

Why would I see a chiropractor for something other than back or neck pain?

If you're wondering what chiropractic can do for your injury, the answer lies in the fact that we aren't just chiropractors. Traditionally people think of chiropractors as manipulating the spine. While we certainly do believe (and excel) in chiropractic manipulation, we are also trained in the best from the worlds of soft-tissue techniques and rehabilitation. This allows us to treat a wider variety of musculoskeletal injuries than are normally associated with chiropractic care.

In addition to back and neck pain, we routinely and successfully treat:

The person who referred me to you says your practice is different from most chiropractors. How so?

In addition to the advanced training and techniques that we employ, the other biggest thing that differentiates our practice is our results-oriented approach. One complaint we sometimes hear from folks is that at the previous office they tried, "They did exactly the same thing each time, whether it was working or not."

The doctors at Raymond Chiropractic & Sports Injury Center all have the same 'fix-it' mentality. Our goal in all cases is to try, if possible, to truly resolve injuries. Your treatments at our office follow a progression as we seek to find and correct the underlying imbalances while at the same time working to address the injured tissues. This means no two treatments will be the same. If one approach isn't working we'll pivot and try another.

As anyone who has battled rotator cuff issues, ITBand Syndrome, or plantar fasciitis can tell you, fixing these types of injuries is often easier said than done. It takes not only advanced soft tissue and rehab techniques but also an understanding of where in your body the problem is originating, something we start looking for from day one. Putting together these biomechanical puzzles take time, which is why we allot longer than average appointments.

What can I expect during treatments?

We schedule one hour for your first visit. This includes a thorough medical history and an examination, and then your doctor will let you know what they've found, whether we think what we have to offer is the right fit for you, and if it is, how many visits it would likely take to resolve your problem. In most cases we allot time for some type of treatment on that first visit.

The number of visits required to fix your injury is variable and depends on the type of injury and how long it has been present. However, uncomplicated injuries can often successfully be treated in 4-6 visits. Follow up treatments are 20-30 min. Once you are satisfactorily out of pain, you typically will be discharged. You will not be asked to commit to longer term care. You can then decide when and if you'd like to return.

Your treatments are customized to your needs and injury, so everyone's is different. With that being said, the average treatment includes a fair amount of muscle work, some manipulation, and rehab exercise instruction as warranted. The amount of each really depends on the problem and your needs.

In an effort to address the underlying causes of your issue we will also discuss other factors potentially relating to your injury. Topics might include past injuries, posture, appropriate footwear, sport-specific technique, mattresses, ergonomics, etc. We may also talk about other factors that could be aggravating your injury or that play a role in general health such as nutrition, stress, sleep, breathing, etc.

Once I start seeing a chiropractor will I need to keep coming indefinitely?

This is a common stereotype associated with chiropractors, mostly due to the fact that once people realize they don't have to live with the aches and pains that they associate with "getting older," or as just being inherent in their sport, they are happy to return.

A healthy body, and life in general, is all about balance. But who amongst us is completely balanced? Many people find that they can use the occasional "tune-up" visit. For some, for example athletes in contact sports or pregnant women, it makes sense to schedule maintenance visits ahead of time knowing that we will always find something to work on. Others will return to us over the years for a variety of issues. If we succeed in fixing their headaches, they'll keep coming for their shoulder. Fix the shoulder, and they'll return for their knee.

We treat every individual differently. Our focus is on alleviating your pain, educating you on what caused the injury, and helping you to be proactive in preventing its return. Once we have accomplished this we will usually discharge you from active care and then you can decide if and when it makes sense for you to return.

Do you treat people who aren't necessarily "athletes?"

Absolutely. We enjoy working with a variety of people from all walks of life. The training and experience we've had in working with athletes helps us treat everyone better. We all have the same number of muscles and joints. Athletes may use their bodies more than the average person, but the same biomechanical principles apply whether you're swinging a baseball bat or just swinging a rake in your backyard.

Do you treat kids or senior citizens?

Yes we do. In fact working with the young and the old can be very rewarding as they often have the most dramatic results from the type of work we do.

We especially see a lot of adolescent athletes. With today's early specialization and year round participation in some sports, childhood athletic injuries are on the rise. We can help kids and teens not only with back, hip, and knee pain but also assist in conditions such as Osgood-Schlatter and Sever's Diseases. Again, young athletes often respond quickly. For those who don't, we have a good working relationship with a sports medicine practice for when medical intervention is required.

We've treated babies (including our own) as young as several days old. There are a few times with babies when it makes sense to have them checked by a chiropractor. One specific condition with babies we've successfully treated is reflux. Oftentimes babies with reflux have mid back (thoracic) issues that, when addressed, resolve the problem. As kids get older and more active, it's not a bad idea to have them checked out every so often, say after every third fall from the couch, etc. We've also had good luck treating "growing pains." The great thing about kids is that they heal so quickly; it often takes only a few visits to see big changes.

Senior citizens, being from a generation where you didn't complain about things and when alternative medical care wasn't as available, oftentimes just learn to live with musculoskeletal issues and attribute it to "getting older." You may accept not being able to turn your head fully to one side. You may accept that after tennis or gardening your right knee is going to be sore. It doesn't necessarily have to be that way though. Not every pain is just, "arthritis." Quite often we can make a difference. One aspect of a long healthy life is staying active; we can help you to continue doing the things you like to do with less pain.

What is that "cracking" noise that accompanies a chiropractic adjustment?

Manipulation, or an adjustment, targets a specific joint, causing that joint to rapidly gap open. When this happens a vacuum is temporarily formed within the joint which then fills with gas from the surrounding area. When the joint closes back down the gas is released causing a "popping" sound. There is no pain associated with the noise. Most manipulation is relatively painless.

I am interested in Active Release Technique but am wary of chiropractic manipulation. Will you do one without the other?

Yes. We are not here to force anyone into anything they are uncomfortable with. Two notes on this subject though. First, most musculoskeletal problems are just that: they involve both the muscles and the skeleton. Quite often you won't obtain the best results if we don't incorporate work on both, even in some seemingly straight-forward muscular issues. We will let you know if this appears to be the case. Secondly we have seen dozens of people who were pretty adamant about not being manipulated, usually in one part of their body such as the neck. Invariably, after one trial manipulation, they realize that manipulation is not really a big deal, and they wind up feeling the results they obtained were worth overcoming their anxiety. Manipulation doesn't usually hurt; most people find that if they can get past the noise it's really pretty benign.

Having said this, if you were still entirely opposed to manipulation, we will skip it. Everything we do is contingent upon your consent and we would never do anything that you specifically don't want.

What type of clothing should I wear?

Generally the only types of clothing that are problematic are dresses or skirts for women or clothing that is tight and restricts full motion. Other than that don't worry too much about what you are wearing. We will usually have you take off eyeglasses, tight belts, shoes, and larger necklaces and earrings. If we are seeing you for a knee problem we will often give you a pair of athletic shorts to wear. Feel free to bring in your own. If we are seeing you for a shoulder problem it is helpful to wear a T-shirt or tank-top underneath your regular shirt.

Do you take X-rays of every patient?

We only order X-rays if we feel they are medically warranted to rule out fractures or pathology. We order X-rays on only around 10-15% of incoming patients.

Will my insurance cover this?

Most insurance companies in Maine cover chiropractic care. We will be happy to bill your insurance for you. Normally, even with HMO's, you can self-refer without prior approval from your primary care physician. We will call your insurance company on your first visit to let you know what your benefits are. It is not a bad idea to call your insurance company to verify your coverage before coming in for your first visit. We are a contracted provider with every major insurance company that we know of, however we do not accept Medicare (or secondaries) or Medicaid.