Questions & Answers
What
insurance coverage do you accept?
We are a preferred provider for a variety
of insurance groups, including Medicare and Workman's Comp.
My office staff is very good
at sorting out insurance questions and explaining coverage
issues. If you have a question regarding your insurance
coverage, please call my office at (360) 332-4730 with your insurance
card information.
Our list of Preferred Insurance Providers.
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Do
I need x-rays before treatment?
Sometimes they are necessary, but often not. However, if a case
poses certain clinical questions, then I may suggest that x-rays
be made.
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I have been adjusted by my chiropractor three times per week
for six weeks and my symptoms have not changed: is this a common
response to treatment?
In short, no. Change of some sort should be noted within four
to six office visits. While some problems are very difficult
to correct and may require extended treatment plans, improvement
should be noted,
even if it is only gradual; otherwise, further diagnostic measures
should be taken and the treatment plan amended accordingly.
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Would anti-inflamatory or analgesic medication help my recovery?
Very often, yes. Sometimes anti-inflamatory or analgesic medication
can diminish symptoms and objectives signs, causing the patient
and the chiropractor to misjudge improvement. However, if
both are aware of the patient's true pain level and activity
capacity without medication, such medication may speed recovery
along.
The chiropractic scope of practice in this state does not allow
commentary or advice of a medical nature to be given to patients
by chiropractors but I have successfully referred patients to
cooperative MDs who prescribe appropriate medications and returned
patients to me for continued chiropractic treatment. The clinical
outcomes with this approach have proven quite successful. The
difficulty in the mix can be finding the cooperative MD.
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Do chiropractors use MRI?
MRI is a wonderful tool. While it does not replace regular
xray films, MRI can certainly reveal a great deal that xray cannot.
The bonus of MRI lies in the visualization of soft tissue, which
is more limited with
xray. MRI is excellent for actually allowing the doctor to see
what has happened to spinal discs or to look into the neural canal.
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Should I see a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic surgeon as well
as a chiropractor?
If I perform an initial orthopedic / neurological examination
and the findings indicate that consultation with either a neurosurgeon
or an orthopedic surgeon is warranted (or at least prudent) I
will make that recommendation to the patient and call the office
of the particular doctor to whom I wish to refer and make the
appointment: and this I usually do personally to avoid confusion.
I still conservatively treat the patient to try what relief and
correction I may achieve for him/her, however, because it usually
takes a minimum of two weeks to get in to see a neurosurgeon
or an orthopod. During the interval, I obtain the requisite xrays
and MRI for the referral, for there is no point in the consultation
without these diagnostic procedures in hand.
If a patient well into a conservative treatment plan with me
does not manifest the expected clinical outcome, I may refer
for consultation at that protracted interval. Again, xrays and
MRI are obtained.
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Do
you have parking close to your office?
There is plenty of level street parking directly in front of
my office on H Street in Blaine. If you cannot walk up the short
flight of steps to my front entrance, we have ramp access in
the rear of our facility. Please call ahead if you require this
access
and it will be made
available to you.
If
you have a specific question that is not listed here,
please
call us at (360) 332-4730.
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©2003-2008 Ken Ely. All Rights Reserved.
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