Frequently Asked Questions in Louisville KY

How many sessions are needed can vary based on several factors. The underlying diagnosis is one factor. For example, a muscle strain will generally recover faster than a bulging disc, which will usually recover sooner than a herniated disc or severe ligament damage such as from a car accident. The severity of the condition is also considered, as mild conditions will usually recover sooner than severe conditions. Other factors include how long you’ve had the condition, your age, your overall health, the condition of your joints and discs, the nature of your occupation, your daily activities, certain congenital abnormalities, and past medical and surgical history just to name a few.

However, in general, most of our patients will usually see 50% improvement or better within the first 4-6 weeks of treatment, and about 90% of our patients reach maximum improvement within 90 days (about 3 months).

After undergoing a thorough consultation and examination, as well as x-rays, if necessary, our doctors can then discuss with you an appropriate treatment plan to help you get the best results.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were about 2.74 million injuries reported from motor vehicle crashes in U.S. in 2019. Other studies have estimated that 35-50% of those injured never fully recover and will suffer from a lifetime of chronic pain, and about 14% will become disabled as a result.

This is why it is crucial after an injury to have a healthcare provider who knows how to properly diagnose and treat these injuries to have the best chance of recovery and to reduce the potential of these injuries becoming chronic and leading to disability. It is very important to begin treatment and rehabilitation as soon as possible after an injury. Studies have shown that in as little as 3 weeks after injury, without proper treatment the risk of the pain becoming chronic increases exponentially.

Treatments may include a combination of therapeutic modalities such as electric muscle stimulation to relieve pain and spasms, traction to mobilize or decompress joints and discs, therapeutic exercises to restore flexibility and strength, chiropractic adjustments to improve joint mobility and alignment, and massage therapy to reduce muscle tension and improve circulation.

In some cases, advanced testing such as MRI, CT, Diagnostic Ultrasound, Bone Scan, or other diagnostic testing as well as referral or co-management with other medical specialists may be necessary.

If you’ve suffered from an injury or accident, call our office to schedule a consultation to create a personalized plan addressing the specific factors that are causing or contributing to your pain. Don’t let your pain from injuries keep you from enjoying life. Let us help you regain a pain-free and healthier lifestyle.

The vast majority of our patients (Read our reviews - CLICK HERE) will tell you chiropractic adjustments feel amazingly good! In some instances, patients may have some temporary soreness after an adjustment in which case we recommend using an ice pack for 10-20 minutes at the area of soreness.

Some patients with certain conditions such as severe arthritis or osteoporosis may not tolerate traditional chiropractic techniques as well and will respond better with low force techniques.

During most traditional chiropractic adjustments, a popping or cracking sound may be heard. This sound is produced by sudden changes in joint pressure leading to gas bubbles being released in the synovial fluid that lubricates the joints. This is like the phenomenon of gas bubbles being released when opening a carbonated drink.

It’s important to note that as joints degenerate, less synovial fluid is produced as adults age, and therefore gas bubbles will eventually no longer be released. The popping sound itself is not necessarily associated with the success or effectiveness of the adjustment. Also, not all chiropractic adjustments will produce a popping sound, as with some lower force techniques.

Doctors of Chiropractic begin their education with undergraduate coursework in Physical Sciences such as Biology, Human Anatomy & Physiology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics with additional coursework leading to a bachelor’s degree (like Pre-Med requisites).

Then they begin a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) program at an accredited Chiropractic College or University, which typically takes an additional 3-4 years to complete. The D.C. program consists of both classroom and clinical training covering subjects such as gross anatomy, physiology, embryology, biochemistry, nutrition, microbiology, public health, pathology, spinal biomechanics, extra-spinal biomechanics, neurology, physical examination, orthopedics, radiology, diagnosis, chiropractic techniques, physiological therapeutics, rehabilitation, clinical internship, and other courses.

Chiropractic students gain experience through clinical rotations and internships with hands-on training and supervision from experienced chiropractors during their education program.

After completing a D.C. education program, chiropractors must pass a 4-part National Board Examination, and state licensing to practice.

Sciatica is a condition that typically begins as lower back pain that progresses to radiating pain to either the buttock, back or side of the thigh, and in worse cases below the knee with pain, numbness, or tingling into the lower leg, ankle, or feet. It can occur on one or both sides. Sciatica is mostly caused by a herniated disc. Other causes include lumbar degenerative disc disease, lumbar spinal stenosis, encroachment of the nerve root, and piriformis syndrome.

At Preston Chiropractic and Rehabilitation, one of the techniques we use is Cox Flexion Distraction Technique which uses a specialized table to gently stretch and decompress the spine. This technique has been proven through federally funded studies to significantly reduce pressure within the disc, increase the available area for traversing nerve roots, and increase the area of spinal canal thereby reducing stenosis.

Another treatment we use for sciatica is spinal decompression. This method uses a specialized traction table that gently stretches and decompresses the spine, creating negative pressure within the discs and reducing pressure on the nerve roots leading into the sciatic nerve.

In addition to these treatments, home exercise recommendations such as pelvic tilts, knee to chest stretches, range of motion exercises, and strengthening the core muscles play an important role in the long-term relief and management of sciatica.

If you’re struggling with sciatica, call our office to schedule a consultation to create a personalized plan addressing the specific factors that are causing or contributing to your pain. Don’t let sciatica keep you from enjoying life.  Let us help you regain a pain-free and healthier lifestyle. 

Lower back pain is the leading cause of disability in the world according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In the U.S. 80% of adults experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. It is one of the most common reasons for visits to healthcare providers. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), lower back pain is the one of the most common reasons for missed workdays.

Lower back pain can be caused from a combination of poor posture, repetitive movements, muscle weakness, muscle strains, various injuries, disc problems, misalignments, and arthritis to name a few.

Chiropractors play a key role in addressing the root causes with non-invasive methods and personalized treatment plans. The most common method used is chiropractic adjustments which may be performed using a variety of techniques that will be aimed at relieving joint restrictions and improving mobility and alignment. Treatments may include a combination of therapeutic modalities such as electric muscle stimulation to relieve pain and spasms, traction to mobilize or decompress joints and discs, therapeutic exercises to restore flexibility and strength, and massage therapy to reduce muscle tension and improve circulation.

In 2017, the American College of Physicians acknowledged in its guidelines that spinal manipulation, including chiropractic care should be used as one of the first line of non-drug treatments for acute lower back pain. Numerous other studies published in respected medical journals have also supported the effectiveness of chiropractic interventions in managing lower back pain.

If you’re struggling with lower back pain, call our office to schedule a consultation to create a personalized plan addressing the specific factors that are causing or contributing to your pain. Don’t let lower back pain keep you from enjoying life. Let us help you regain a pain-free and healthier lifestyle.

At Preston Chiropractic and Rehabilitation, our guiding principle is to help our patients the way we would want to be treated if we were in the same situation.

We help our patients with effective, gentle, and affordable chiropractic care.

We provide a warm welcoming and friendly environment where we help our patients like family.

Read our reviews about what our patients say about us. CLICK HERE