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According to a recent study, it was shown that visits to the Chiropractor for low back pain were about 40% less expensive than visits to a Medical Doctor. Chiropractic care is covered by most health insurance policies as well.
Your Tulsa Chiropractor,
Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.
As with most cases of fraud, many people assume if they are not directly involved it has no impact on their life. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, incidents of fraud in the health care industry as well as other areas of your life have a ripple affect, impacting everyone regardless of whether or not they are direct participants. Here we look at how chiropractic fraud affects everyone.
What is chiropractic fraud?
Better known as chiropractic insurance fraud, this occurs when either a recipient of chiropractic treatment or administrator of treatment misrepresents information to the insurance company regarding such treatment. A widespread problem in the medical community at large and specifically the chiropractic community, insurance fraud is a serious issue.
Who does it hurt?
Insurance fraud hurts everyone. From the patient who no longer knows where to turn for quality care to the person paying higher insurance premiums as a result of fraudulent claims. Insurance fraud has a far reaching affect on those in the medical community and beyond.
How to prevent insurance fraud?
Patients worried about insurance fraud can help stop the problem by paying close attention to the information reported to the insurance company regarding their treatment. Is the insurance provider being billed for treatments as they occurred? Is there a discrepancy in what the insurance company is billed for in relation to the treatment received? Do you feel as if you are receiving more treatments than medically necessary? These are all indications that your chiropractor may be involved in insurance fraud.
What should you do if you suspect insurance fraud?
It is believed that insurance fraud costs taxpayers upwards of 50 billion dollars per year. For this reason anyone suspecting insurance fraud should report the incident immediately. Ideally the insurance company paying out on fraudulent claims should be the first party notified, with state or federal agencies next in line. In cases of insurance fraud, you can report your suspicions anonymously or provide your name and contact information.
How to find a reputable chiropractor?
Just because there are a few bad apples in the business, does not mean all chiropractors are crooks. The opposite is true, with almost all chiropractors being legitimate members of the heath care system. Chiropractic treatments offer many benefits when administered by those with experience and proper training. Always check with the Better Business Bureau and ask for references to learn more about the chiropractor you are considering. As other patients about their experience and research the individual or practice online for an inside look at how other patients have rated their experience. It is always a good idea to follow your own instincts as well. If you feel the chiropractor in question is more concerned with billable treatments versus finding a solution to your problem, they may not be the chiropractor for you. A reputable chiropractor will always put the needs and safety of their clients above any concerns over billable treatments. Insurance fraud should be a concern for all of us, however it is important to remember that most medical professionals are in the business to provide services to those in need.
Your Tulsa Chiropractor,
Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.
Anyone who plays a sport or regularly participates in some type of physical activity, regardless of the gender of the player or age of the player is subject to sport injuries. Sport injuries come in two forms, the first being traumatic injuries that occur when you have a slip, fall or possibly a collision. The second type of injury includes stress to some area of the body or an overuse injury. Injuries can be painful and very prohibitive and can even take you out of your sport all together. What many people don’t realize is that chiropractic care can often provide sports injury relief.
Evaluating Injuries
Your first course of action should of course be to have your injury evaluated by a health care professional, such as a chiropractor. You will need to find out how much damage you are looking at and become knowledgeable on what the extent of your injuries entail. Whenever you have inflammation, localized swelling, redness, heat, discomfort, loss of function or any combination of the above, you should seek medical attention immediately. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to sustain long term injuries.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help
What many people don’t realize is that professional sports teams use chiropractic care quite frequently, as they understand the benefits that athletes receive when being treated by a chiropractor. Complete recovery from an injury is often dependent on chiropractic care. Big named athletes like Lance Armstrong and Emmit Smith have depended on chiropractic care during their careers.
The most common treatment when visiting the chiropractor is a spinal adjustment or spinal manipulation. This is the process of using fast and gentle pressure to the vertebrae that is subluxated, or misaligned, in a corrective manner. While some people might have the perception that spinal manipulations are painful, just the opposite is true. Many patients experience immediate relief when in pain or discomfort and even a higher sense of well being. When spinal adjustments are performed, athletes with injuries will often feel that pressure is reduced in their muscles and ligaments as well as the tendons and the nerves. Even when the back is not injured, spinal manipulations do make a difference.
How Chiropractic Care Works
Chiropractic care looks at the whole picture and chiropractors are usually trained in whole body health. They can offer athletes not only spinal adjustments but also exercises to aid in recovery as well as dietary and nutritional counseling. When under the care of a chiropractor, athletes are able to increase their performance, heal quicker from injuries and prevent future injuries. Chiropractic care can additionally help to improve range of motion, body symmetry, balance, agility, coordination and joint proprioception, all of which are important when it comes to athletes reaching their maximum athletic performance.
Preventing Future Injuries
Ongoing chiropractic care has also been attributed to fewer repeat and other additional injuries. When your spine is aligned on a regular basis, you can greatly reduce the risk of other parts of your body becoming overworked, stressed and injured.
The Bonus Of No Drugs
Finally, treatment under successful chiropractic care greatly reduces the chances of having to turn to drugs and other methods like surgery to correct and treat sports injuries. Many athletes have been able to avoid both pain killers and undergoing the knife, through simple and safe ongoing chiropractic treatments.
Your Tulsa Chiropractor,
Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.
Did you know, the sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body? Sciatica is described as pain that radiates along the course of the sciatic nerve. Pain can radiate down both legs or just one. The pain is most often down through the area of the buttocks and the back side of the leg to below the knee. It can occur with or without low back pain. We have many patients that have started care here at Marshall Chiropractic with symptoms just like that. Sciatica is a very common condition that usually has a very good prognosis with conservative Chiropractic treatment.
If you are experiencing these symptoms, call today, we can help. (918) 494-0929.
Your Tulsa Chiropractor,
Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.
Just a friendly reminder, most deductibles start over in January. If you, a family member or friend have a condition that you want to have looked at before the end of the year please call to schedule as soon as possible.
I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! God Bless.
Your Tulsa Chiropractor,
Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.
-Can you name all of Santa’s Reindeers?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.
If you have never been to a chiropractor before, it is only natural to have some apprehension on your first visit. If you are suffering from neck or back pain, visiting a chiropractor can alleviate and even eliminate pain, and yet some people are simply afraid to go. This is especially true if you don’t know what to expect. Knowledge is power and getting the facts and understanding what will happen can help you overcome your fear.
Book a Consultation
One of the best things you can do to overcome your fear of the chiropractor is to book a consultation appointment. Make sure when you book the appointment you let them know about your concerns. A good chiropractor will sit down with you and explain to you about chiropractic care, what it is and what will happen during your first adjustment. They will let you know that being adjusted does not cause any pain and in fact relieves it. They should be able to answer any questions you might have and may even have additional brochures or short movies for you to watch.
Ask Friends, Family and Co-Workers About Their Chiropractic Experiences
Another way to help alleviate your fear is to talk to others who have been treated by a chiropractor in the past or who are currently under chiropractic care. They will be able to tell you their stories of chiropractic success and let you know there is nothing to worry about. This is also a great way to get a referral and just knowing you are seeing a chiropractor that has been recommended can help.
Focus On Pain Relief
The most common reason people visit chiropractors is for back or neck pain relief. If this is you, try to stay focused on the pain relief. So many people continually suffer from neck and back pain that could so easily be alleviated and even eliminated through chiropractic care. Especially if you are seriously suffering, in the end, pain relief should outweigh fear.
Chiropractors Are Highly Trained And Licensed Health Care Professionals
Chiropractors are highly recognized in the medical community and go through years of schooling and clinical practice, just like any other doctor. Chiropractic Care has been studied and proven to be an effective method of treatment for back and neck pain.
At The Time Of Your First Adjustment
When you are at your first adjustment appointment, make sure you remind the chiropractor that you are nervous and ask them to talk you through what is going to happen. Most chiropractors offer ways to help you relax which can include playing calming music in the background as well as heat treatments or massage before your adjustment.
Once people get through the initial fear of visiting a chiropractor they usually wonder what they were afraid of. Pain relief very often is found in just one visit and continues with each subsequent visit. After the initial treatment, more than likely you will be asking the questions why did I wait so long? So, if you are in pain but fearful of chiropractors, follow the above steps and before you know it you will be visiting the chiropractor and getting pain relief.
Your Tulsa Chiropractor,
Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.
Now you can follow us on facebook! Click “like” if you want to follow us on our facebook fan page. We release research, news and general information about chiropractic care a few times a month. Click facebook.com/marshallchiropractic to follow us. Thanks and have a blessed day.
Your Tulsa Chiropractor,
Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.
How Safe Is Chiropractic Care?
For the millions of people who suffer back pain and other ailments that are readily treated by chiropractors, a common concern is the safety of chiropractic care. While chiropractic techniques are widely recognized as being safe and effective, there remain doubts as to whether or not this is the best option for individuals suffering from the result of an accident, injury or muscle strain. Here we take a closer look at the safety of chiropractic care as well as the ailments commonly treated with this type of care.
What is chiropractic care?
Chiropractic care begins with trained chiropractors who perform hands-on spinal manipulation as well as other treatments to properly align the body’s musculoskeletal structure. Chiropractic care is based on the concept that when the body is properly aligned, it is better able to heal itself without the use of surgery or medication. Chiropractic care can be used on its own to treat and relieve pain for muscles, joints, cartilage, ligaments and tendons. It can also be used with conventional medical treatment.
Chiropractic care safety.
There are millions of patients who will attest to the benefits of chiropractic care. While every form of health treatment poses some risk of negative side effects, when performed correctly, chiropractic care has an excellent safety record. The key of course is making sure the chiropractor who performs the treatments is knowledgeable and skilled in the area of chiropractic care. Spinal manipulation when not properly administered could result in serious complications; therefore it is essential to find the right chiropractor who has the training and experience needed to perform adjustments.
Benefits versus risks.
The most common ailments treated with chiropractic care include back and neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms and legs as well as headaches. As with any other treatment designed to address physical ailments, there are no guaranteed results of chiropractic care. As a general rule, when performed correctly patients report feeling relief from pain after treatments, with some occasionally reporting soreness and aching. If the sense of soreness or aching is similar to that of which you would feel after exercise or some other physical exertion, it is usually normal and fades within a day. For many patients receiving chiropractic care, the short term pain relief is often better than that found after taking pain medication.
Despite the relief reported by patients with both acute and chronic pain, there are certain risks associated with chiropractic care. Spinal manipulation should be avoided by individuals who have osteoporosis, inflammatory arthritis or spinal cord compression. To avoid a bad chiropractic experience, you must take the time to find the right chiropractor to address your needs. There are thousands of chiropractors from which to choose, therefore it is important that you find one who is well trained and who has the experience to perform treatments with minimal risk. One should ask friends, family members or co-workers if they have any experience with chiropractic care and if so who they would recommend for treatment. By finding the right person to perform treatments, you increase the likelihood of success while reducing risk of injury.
Your Tulsa Chiropractor
Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.
If you suffer from muscle spasms, you know that they can be at the very least annoying and severe ones can be downright painful. Muscle spasms are involuntary muscle contractions that cause your muscle to shorten. When you are experiencing a muscle spasm you will feel a tightness or cramping sensation. Muscle spasms can occur all over you body but are most common in the neck, legs (hamstrings, quadriceps), arms and back.
If you are experiencing a low intensity cramping in the muscle, or a twitch or tick in the muscle, it could very likely be a muscle spasm. Other common symptoms include severe pain in the muscle, tightening of the muscle, a sudden sharp unpleasant sensation in the muscle or even muscle fatigue.
There are a variety of causes that can lead to muscle spasms. One of the most common is prolonged or excessive exercise. When you exercise too often or for very long periods of time, your muscles do not have a chance to relax and as a result muscle spasms can occur. Muscle spasms can also occur from dehydration, an injury or some type of trauma to the muscle. Muscle spasms can also be symptoms of neuromuscular diseases like multiple sclerosis or MS.
Many people find relief from muscle spasms with good, consistent chiropractic care. Chiropractors are highly trained medical professionals that use drug free alternative methods to treat patients. While some people are skeptical of visiting a chiropractor for treatment, many swear by their practices for relief.
On your first visit to a chiropractor, you will be asked to share your medical history and explain your current conditions. The chiropractor will then perform an exam which will most often include a check of your range of motion and what your neurological muscle function ability is. The chiropractor will also play close attention to your joint mobility. You also may be sent for x-rays.
After your medical history and exam, the chiropractor will decide on a treatment plan for you. There are a variety of techniques that they may suggest for your care, all of which can help with muscle spasms. Here are some of the most common chiropractic treatments for muscle spasms.
Joint manipulation
Joint manipulation is the most common treatment that chiropractors use. Most often they manipulate your spine, but they can also be trained to manipulate joints in other areas. Manipulation allows you spine and joints to restore normal motion which in turn leads to reduced pain and a decrease in muscle spasms.
Soft Tissue Manipulation
Soft tissue manipulation is another common technique used when treating muscle spasms. Treatment can include therapeutic stretching and massage therapy. These types of treatments help to reduce fluid, reduce scar tissue and provide relief for muscle spasms.
Associated Therapies
The chiropractor may also use associated therapies for the treatment of muscle spasms. This can include hot and cold treatments, electrical stimulation of the affected muscle or ultrasound. These therapies help greatly to increase circulation to the muscles and also prevent swelling of the muscle and prevent scarring. Associated therapies very often reduce pain and are a means for prevention of further injury and injury recurrences. Of course the ultimate goal is to reduce the muscle spasm.
Exercise
Very often chiropractors will also recommend some strength training exercises and stretching moves for you to do in between visits.
Nutrition and Supplementation
Chiropractors are also trained in health and nutrition and very often will recommend diet changes and certain supplements that can help with the healing process. Many chiropractors sell recommended supplements right at their office or they will recommend supplements that you can purchase elsewhere.
Your Tulsa Chiropractor,
Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.
Each year more than six million automobile accidents occur in the United States. As a result, around 3 million people annually suffer from some type of injury related to an automobile accident. One of the most common injuries is whiplash. Whiplash can be a result of even minor car accidents. Contrary to what some people believe, whiplash can be very serious and debilitating for those that are affected by it.
If you have recently been in a car accident or even if you were in an accident months or years ago, and are suffering from any of the following symptoms, you very well could have whiplash. Whiplash can show up immediately or develop over time.
Believe it or not, all of these symptoms can be related to whip lash. Many people suffer needlessly from these symptoms for months, years and even for the remainder of their life, not knowing that chiropractic care can be the answer.
If you have been in a car accident, it is a good idea to visit a chiropractor as soon as possible. Chiropractors are well educated and trained alternative doctors that specialize in the care of the musculoskeletal system. Their thought is that misalignments in the nervous system can cause a whole slew of problems, including symptoms of whip lash. Through spinal manipulations they are able to correct alignment and provide patients with relief.
When you are a in a car accident your ligaments, soft tissue and vertebrae in your neck and spine very often are injured. Many people do not realize that a chiropractor can help, and instead will seek traditional medical treatment for their symptoms. While more and more traditional doctors are recognizing that chiropractic can benefit car accident patients, there are still many more that will treat whip lash symptoms with pain medication and even surgery. These treatment options very often do very little to help the accident victim heal.
When you first visit a chiropractor for whiplash, the Dr. will access your injury and very often take x-rays to help them with setting up a treatment plan that will work. In most cases the Chiropractor will provide treatment at your first visit. This will most often include spinal manipulation but can also include hot or cold treatment, massage, stretching and more. The chiropractor may also recommend some exercises or stretching to be done at home in between treatments. Before you leave your first visit, the chiropractor will recommend and start you on an intense treatment plan. More than likely you will need to visit the chiropractor often, at least in the beginning of your treatment. As your symptoms begin to alleviate, you can usually go longer in between visits. Most people will set up maintenance treatments, usually about once a month, after they have healed.
Chiropractic care is considered safe for just about everyone. Even children and the elderly can benefit from chiropractic care after a car accident. Most health insurance companies recognize the benefits of chiropractic care and most health care insurance companies do cover chiropractic treatment. Before choosing a chiropractor you will want to make sure that they accept your insurance plan and it is not a bad idea to get referrals from friends or family members.
Your Tulsa Chiropractor,
Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.
