Patient Education

Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic Care

Frequently asked questions can help you feel more prepared before visiting Goldsboro Spine Center.

This page answers common questions about chiropractic care, back pain, neck pain, spinal health, adjustments, sciatica, posture, pregnancy, disc symptoms, insurance, and what to expect during care.

Because every patient is different, these answers are for general education. They do not replace a personal evaluation.

Chiropractic is a philosophy, science and art of things natural. It is a system of adjusting the segments of the spinal column for the correction of the cause of disease. Chiropractic has been researched and validated by the federal government for decades. With over 60,000 doctors, it comprises the second largest health care field in the United States.

Chiropractors focus on improving the alignment of your spine, which enhances the nervous system’s ability to communicate with your body. Misalignments, also known as subluxations, can cause disruptions in nervous system function, leading to pain, discomfort, and decreased mobility.

By correcting these misalignments, chiropractic care supports healing, reduces pain, and improves overall function.

The spine houses and protects the spinal cord — the ‘switchboard’ of the nervous system. When vertebrae degenerate or move out of proper alignment, there can be interference with normal nerve activity. Research has developed specific techniques for locating and correcting spinal misalignments that often cause pain and disturb nerve function.

Choosing the right chiropractor should feel personal.

Look for someone who listens, explains clearly, and recommends care based on your symptoms, exam findings, comfort level, and goals.

At Goldsboro Spine Center, we believe patients should understand what is happening before care begins.

If you have questions, ask them. A good visit should feel clear, respectful, and easy to understand.

The number one reason most medical professionals do not refer you is because they probably don’t know one. There are ten times more family physicians than chiropractors in any given town. Our office cooperates with many healthcare professionals and we would be happy to meet with your physician and co-manage your case.

Most chiropractic care should not feel painful.

However, some patients may feel pressure during an adjustment or mild soreness afterward. This can feel similar to starting a new exercise.

At Goldsboro Spine Center, care is based on your comfort level, health history, symptoms, and exam findings.

If something feels uncomfortable, tell us so we can adjust the approach.

Exercise is an important component of spinal rehabilitation. One of the easiest and most important guidelines to follow is don’t do things that hurt. With only a few exceptions, I encourage patients to try and remain physically active within their tolerance. Sedentary lifestyle and fear avoidance behavior is detrimental to recovery. A thorough review of your condition can help tailor specific activity restrictions and recommendations to support your recovery.

While chiropractic care can help alleviate pain and promote healing, the process doesn’t stop there. Patients are often given self-care instructions to follow at home. These may include:

* Gentle stretching exercises

* Hydration to help with muscle recovery

* Using ice or heat for relief

Following these recommendations is key to ensuring that your body responds well to treatment.

Quality of care usually speaks for itself through referrals from friends and family. Consider: Does the office treat children and adults? Do they offer rehab, massage, or nutrition? Do they accept insurance? Are the office hours convenient? Does the Doctor use X-rays before treatment?

One adjustment usually cannot reverse a lifetime of compensating for day-to-day stresses. We will often prescribe a treatment plan that spans a specific period of time. Each treatment builds on the next. The body heals slowly, so your treatment plan will be determined by your condition.

Chiropractic care is often a multi-phase process that aims to improve spinal health over time. 

There are different phases of chiropractic care. The first phase, called corrective care, focuses on alleviating pain and restoring joint mobility. When patients come in with pain or other symptoms we consider that as corrective care. Our goal is to provide treatment to start improving joint biomechanics and mobility, and start decreasing pain. As you progress through corrective care your symptoms and function will improve. 

After you’ve completed corrective care you will be reevaluated and the chiropractor can discuss the final phase of chiropractic treatment called wellness or maintenance. This is designed to keep your spine healthy and prevent future issues. This phase of treatment is designed to maintain the progress you’ve achieved going through corrective care, and help prevent future problems. Helping maintain proper mobility in the spine, and reducing stress on your nervous system has many benefits for your physical and mental health. It is always your choice how long you want to benefit from chiropractic treatment.

It’s important to note that the decision to continue chiropractic care is always up to the patient. Some people choose to continue regular wellness treatments, while others prefer to discontinue care after their immediate pain or discomfort is addressed.

Healing is a process, not an event and it’s important to understand that chiropractic care works gradually. Some patients may notice improvement after just a few visits, while others may take longer, depending on the severity of their condition and their adherence to treatment. Our office provides each patient with important self care instructions based on their condition, goals, occupation, and other factors. 

The speed of your recovery is related to your compliance with treatment and ability to follow the recommendations. 

Recovery time can be affected by various factors, such as:

* Your specific condition

* How well you follow your chiropractor’s recommendations

* Your overall health and lifestyle

It’s important to follow all self-care instructions provided by your chiropractor to speed up recovery and minimize discomfort.

Quality of care usually speaks for itself through referrals from friends and family. Consider: Does the office treat children and adults? Do they offer rehab, massage, or nutrition? Do they accept insurance? Are the office hours convenient? Does the Doctor use X-rays before treatment?

Many insurance plans offer chiropractic coverage, though it can vary depending on your policy. Some plans may have limits on the number of visits per year, while others may cover a portion of your treatment costs. Most insurance plans do have some chiropractic coverage, although what plans cover is decreasing, and deductibles are generally increasing. Our office can verify what your insurance plan covers and what your treatment would cost if you provide the information. Affordable self pay options are available.

The spinal disc is a soft cushion that is in between the vertebrae of the spine. When you are younger, the disc is soft and elastic, but as you age, the disc gradually loses its elasticity, becomes more rigid and is more vulnerable to injury.

Many things can cause spinal misalignments. Our bodies are stressed 24 hours a day. Posture, gravity, employment, sleep positions and emotional tension all accumulate. Auto accidents, work injuries and sports injuries are also often a more immediate cause of spinal trauma.

When a herniated disc ruptures and pushes out, the nerves may become irritated and pinched. This may occur gradually with repetitive straining of the spine or suddenly in an injury. When the spinal cord or spinal nerves become compressed, they don’t work properly. Some symptoms include electric shock-like pain, tingling and numbness.

When a joint has abnormal or excessive stress the cartilage wears down, but as the joint surfaces become less protected by cartilage, the bone beneath may be exposed and damaged. Over time re-growth occurs which leads to increase in cellular growth called hypertrophy. Osteoarthritis is this excessive stress to a joint that results in a build up of bone. This is the most common type of arthritis.

Most adjusting techniques never involve any popping or cracking. However, lubricating fluids separate the bones of each spinal joint. Some methods can produce a sound when the gas and fluids in the joint shift. It’s like removing a suction cup — it is NOT the bones cracking! This sound has nothing to do with the quality or value of the adjustment.

Spinal misalignments, also known as subluxations, are sometimes reduced by movements of your body. However, you cannot determine if your subluxations have been corrected without chiropractic assessment. Just like you can have cavities in your teeth without having a toothache, you can have spinal subluxations without having pain. 

Sciatica is an abnormal and painful condition of the sciatic nerve. Symptoms include pain, numbness and muscle weakness. The pain usually radiates into the buttocks, descends the back of the leg and sometimes into the foot. Chiropractic is the method of choice for correcting the cause of sciatica.

Depending on the nature and severity, chiropractic decompression therapy along with corrective spinal adjustments and supportive rehabilitation has shown good results in the majority of cases. A full evaluation is necessary to determine if your condition can be helped without surgery.

People suffering from back pain or neck pain caused by a damaged disc. It is effective for ruptured discs, spinal stenosis, sciatica, facet syndrome, and even failed surgery cases.

Massage is a very valuable treatment for many neck and back conditions. However, muscles can only do two things, contract and relax, and they are under the control of the nervous system. Muscles are attached to bones through tendons. It is extremely rare to have an isolated muscle problem that does not involve the bones and the nervous system. 

Quality of care usually speaks for itself through referrals from friends and family. Consider: Does the office treat children and adults? Do they offer rehab, massage, or nutrition? Do they accept insurance? Are the office hours convenient? Does the Doctor use X-rays before treatment?

Your child’s posture is a good indication of her spinal alignment. Uncorrected poor posture can result in adult symptoms such as severe back pain, neck pain and headaches. With proper spinal rehabilitation and corrective chiropractic adjustments, your child’s poor posture can be dramatically improved.

During a normal pregnancy a tremendous amount of women experience back discomfort due to the rapid growth of the baby. Preexisting unnoticed imbalances in your spine and pelvis become overtaxed. Chiropractic care throughout the pregnancy can relieve and even prevent these discomforts. Women who have undergone chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy report that their labor is easier.

Chiropractic helps athletes perform at their optimal level. A balanced body will perform better with less risk for injuries. Many professional athletes, including Tiger Woods and Evander Holyfield, get regular chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractic physicians are also included as team doctors for many professional and Olympic teams.

A loss of energy may be caused by many different things including poor posture from repetitive stress or old uncorrected injuries. With a chiropractic treatment plan including proper nutrition, exercise and spinal alignment, you may regain your lost energy.

We offer nutritional counseling and specific exercise programs. Taking a whole body approach helps our patients maintain a healthy lifestyle. Spinal adjustments allow your body to function at its highest potential, making activities of daily life easier and more enjoyable.

Back pain can come from many sources.

Common causes include muscle strain, joint irritation, disc problems, poor posture, injury, stress, weakness, or long periods of sitting.

Because there are many possible causes, an exam can help identify what may be contributing to your pain.

Chiropractic care is considered a safe, effective treatment when performed by a trained and licensed chiropractor. Chiropractors undergo rigorous training to identify risks and contraindications for each patient.

In fact, chiropractors have a lower malpractice rate compared to other healthcare providers. Chiropractors always assess your condition before beginning treatment and may refer you for additional tests or suggest other treatments if necessary.

However, like any medical treatment, there are inherent risks, especially if you have certain health conditions. This is why it’s essential to discuss your medical history with your chiropractor before starting treatment.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Arthritis is #1 of the top 10 causes of disability in the US. The #2 cause is back or spine problems followed by #3 heart trouble. Arthritis of the spine combines the risk factors of the top two groups.

CTS is the entrapment of the median nerve as it passes deep to the transverse carpal ligament of the wrist, causing tingling and painful burning sensations. Chiropractic utilizes adjustments and specific exercises that enable you to continue to use your wrist rather than immobilize it, relieving pressure on the inflamed nerves.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder can result from alteration of less than 1 mm in the space of the TM joint. Symptoms include muscular pain, nausea, sleeplessness, jaw pain, and clicking sounds. A Chiropractor may adjust the cervical spine to correct the displacement of TM joints, often along with a supportive mouth piece.

A person with pain, fatigue and a loss of motivation may be suffering from fibromyalgia. The most common symptoms are chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression and anxiety. Years of prolonged sitting/standing, excessive computer use and being physically overworked can contribute to these symptoms.

Whiplash is a hyperflexion-hyperextension injury involving strain-sprain of the soft tissues of the cervical spine. It can cause muscle spasms, stiffness and inflammation. Pain may be located in the shoulders, neck and mid back area and may be accompanied by headaches. Pain may be immediate or occur within 24 hours to weeks after trauma.

Chiropractic is a philosophy, science and art of things natural. It is a system of adjusting the segments of the spinal column for the correction of the cause of disease. Chiropractic has been researched and validated by the federal government for decades. With over 60,000 doctors, it comprises the second largest health care field in the United States.

Chiropractors focus on improving the alignment of your spine, which enhances the nervous system’s ability to communicate with your body. Misalignments, also known as subluxations, can cause disruptions in nervous system function, leading to pain, discomfort, and decreased mobility.

By correcting these misalignments, chiropractic care supports healing, reduces pain, and improves overall function.

The spine houses and protects the spinal cord — the ‘switchboard’ of the nervous system. When vertebrae degenerate or move out of proper alignment, there can be interference with normal nerve activity. Research has developed specific techniques for locating and correcting spinal misalignments that often cause pain and disturb nerve function.

Finding the right partner for your spinal health is a significant decision. When evaluating your options, you should look for three essential pillars: deep experience, a patient-centered philosophy, and a commitment to modern, evidence-based techniques.

  • Proven Expertise: Look for a practitioner with a long-standing reputation in your community. With over two decades of dedicated practice, Dr. Wayne Wagner has established himself as a trusted leader in Goldsboro, having helped countless patients regain function and find relief.

  • Comprehensive Care: Choose someone who treats the whole person, not just the symptom. Dr. Wagner believes in a holistic approach, ensuring that your unique health journey is addressed with individualized care rather than a “one-size-fits-all” solution.

  • Evolving Techniques: Chiropractic care should evolve alongside medical advancements. Dr. Wagner’s unwavering commitment to ongoing education means he seamlessly blends traditional techniques with modern innovations, providing you with the most current and effective treatment options available today.

When you prioritize these qualities, the choice becomes clear. Dr. Wagner combines the wisdom of twenty years of experience with the precision of modern innovation to deliver exceptional results.

Ready to prioritize your health? Contact our office today to discuss your needs and discover how our patient-centered care can help you achieve significant relief and improved function.

The number one reason most medical professionals do not refer you is because they probably don’t know one. There are ten times more family physicians than chiropractors in any given town. Our office cooperates with many healthcare professionals and we would be happy to meet with your physician and co-manage your case.

The short answer is that most chiropractic treatments are not painful. However, some discomfort can occur, particularly when you are being adjusted for the first time or after a session, as your body begins to realign and heal. There are dozens of chiropractic techniques that we learn to treat different spinal conditions. Techniques are chosen based on your overall condition to achieve good results while limiting discomfort. Some patients do experience some soreness in the beginning of treatment. This can happen as a result of the evaluation process itself, while some discomfort happens as part of the body’s natural healing process. All patients are provided specific self-care instructions to mitigate this and help enhance their recovery.

* Initial Soreness: Just as with any type of physical therapy, soreness can happen after the first few treatments as your muscles and joints begin to adjust.

* Body’s Healing Response: After spinal adjustments, your nervous system begins to respond, which may cause some mild discomfort in the short term as healing begins.

Techniques to Minimize Discomfort

Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to ensure the comfort of their patients, including:

* Gentle Adjustments: Many chiropractors use low-force adjustments, which are less likely to cause discomfort.

* Massage or Soft Tissue Therapy: To relieve tight muscles and improve blood flow, massage therapy can be incorporated into your treatment plan.

* Stretching and Mobility Exercises: These can help prepare your body for adjustments and reduce any soreness post-treatment.

Understanding Pain, Safety, and Recovery

Chiropractic care is a popular and effective way to alleviate pain, improve mobility, and support overall health. However, many individuals have questions about what to expect during their treatment, including whether chiropractic adjustments are painful. In this article, we’ll address common concerns, explore the safety of chiropractic care, and answer frequently asked questions about recovery and insurance coverage.

What to Expect During Chiropractic Treatment

Before diving into whether chiropractic treatment hurts, it’s important to understand what typically happens during a chiropractic visit. Your chiropractor will first perform an assessment of your health and spinal alignment. After that, they will apply specific techniques designed to address your unique needs, such as spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy, or mobilization exercises.

While chiropractic care may not cause pain for most patients, some discomfort can arise, especially when you’re just beginning treatment. The soreness you might experience is often due to your body’s natural healing process and can be minimized with proper self-care.

Exercise is an important component of spinal rehabilitation. One of the easiest and most important guidelines to follow is don’t do things that hurt. With only a few exceptions, I encourage patients to try and remain physically active within their tolerance. Sedentary lifestyle and fear avoidance behavior is detrimental to recovery. A thorough review of your condition can help tailor specific activity restrictions and recommendations to support your recovery.

While chiropractic care can help alleviate pain and promote healing, the process doesn’t stop there. Patients are often given self-care instructions to follow at home. These may include:

* Gentle stretching exercises

* Hydration to help with muscle recovery

* Using ice or heat for relief

Following these recommendations is key to ensuring that your body responds well to treatment.

Quality of care usually speaks for itself through referrals from friends and family. Consider: Does the office treat children and adults? Do they offer rehab, massage, or nutrition? Do they accept insurance? Are the office hours convenient? Does the Doctor use X-rays before treatment?

One adjustment usually cannot reverse a lifetime of compensating for day-to-day stresses. We will often prescribe a treatment plan that spans a specific period of time. Each treatment builds on the next. The body heals slowly, so your treatment plan will be determined by your condition.

Chiropractic care is often a multi-phase process that aims to improve spinal health over time. 

There are different phases of chiropractic care. The first phase, called corrective care, focuses on alleviating pain and restoring joint mobility. When patients come in with pain or other symptoms we consider that as corrective care. Our goal is to provide treatment to start improving joint biomechanics and mobility, and start decreasing pain. As you progress through corrective care your symptoms and function will improve. 

After you’ve completed corrective care you will be reevaluated and the chiropractor can discuss the final phase of chiropractic treatment called wellness or maintenance. This is designed to keep your spine healthy and prevent future issues. This phase of treatment is designed to maintain the progress you’ve achieved going through corrective care, and help prevent future problems. Helping maintain proper mobility in the spine, and reducing stress on your nervous system has many benefits for your physical and mental health. It is always your choice how long you want to benefit from chiropractic treatment.

It’s important to note that the decision to continue chiropractic care is always up to the patient. Some people choose to continue regular wellness treatments, while others prefer to discontinue care after their immediate pain or discomfort is addressed.

Healing is a process, not an event and it’s important to understand that chiropractic care works gradually. Some patients may notice improvement after just a few visits, while others may take longer, depending on the severity of their condition and their adherence to treatment. Our office provides each patient with important self care instructions based on their condition, goals, occupation, and other factors. 

The speed of your recovery is related to your compliance with treatment and ability to follow the recommendations. 

Recovery time can be affected by various factors, such as:

* Your specific condition

* How well you follow your chiropractor’s recommendations

* Your overall health and lifestyle

It’s important to follow all self-care instructions provided by your chiropractor to speed up recovery and minimize discomfort.

Quality of care usually speaks for itself through referrals from friends and family. Consider: Does the office treat children and adults? Do they offer rehab, massage, or nutrition? Do they accept insurance? Are the office hours convenient? Does the Doctor use X-rays before treatment?

Many insurance plans offer chiropractic coverage, though it can vary depending on your policy. Some plans may have limits on the number of visits per year, while others may cover a portion of your treatment costs. Most insurance plans do have some chiropractic coverage, although what plans cover is decreasing, and deductibles are generally increasing. Our office can verify what your insurance plan covers and what your treatment would cost if you provide the information. Affordable self pay options are available.

The spinal disc is a soft cushion that is in between the vertebrae of the spine. When you are younger, the disc is soft and elastic, but as you age, the disc gradually loses its elasticity, becomes more rigid and is more vulnerable to injury.

Many things can cause spinal misalignments. Our bodies are stressed 24 hours a day. Posture, gravity, employment, sleep positions and emotional tension all accumulate. Auto accidents, work injuries and sports injuries are also often a more immediate cause of spinal trauma.

When a herniated disc ruptures and pushes out, the nerves may become irritated and pinched. This may occur gradually with repetitive straining of the spine or suddenly in an injury. When the spinal cord or spinal nerves become compressed, they don’t work properly. Some symptoms include electric shock-like pain, tingling and numbness.

When a joint has abnormal or excessive stress the cartilage wears down, but as the joint surfaces become less protected by cartilage, the bone beneath may be exposed and damaged. Over time re-growth occurs which leads to increase in cellular growth called hypertrophy. Osteoarthritis is this excessive stress to a joint that results in a build up of bone. This is the most common type of arthritis.

Most adjusting techniques never involve any popping or cracking. However, lubricating fluids separate the bones of each spinal joint. Some methods can produce a sound when the gas and fluids in the joint shift. It’s like removing a suction cup — it is NOT the bones cracking! This sound has nothing to do with the quality or value of the adjustment.

Spinal misalignments, also known as subluxations, are sometimes reduced by movements of your body. However, you cannot determine if your subluxations have been corrected without chiropractic assessment. Just like you can have cavities in your teeth without having a toothache, you can have spinal subluxations without having pain. 

Quality of care usually speaks for itself through referrals from friends and family. Consider: Does the office treat children and adults? Do they offer rehab, massage, or nutrition? Do they accept insurance? Are the office hours convenient? Does the Doctor use X-rays before treatment?

Your child’s posture is a good indication of her spinal alignment. Uncorrected poor posture can result in adult symptoms such as severe back pain, neck pain and headaches. With proper spinal rehabilitation and corrective chiropractic adjustments, your child’s poor posture can be dramatically improved.

During a normal pregnancy a tremendous amount of women experience back discomfort due to the rapid growth of the baby. Preexisting unnoticed imbalances in your spine and pelvis become overtaxed. Chiropractic care throughout the pregnancy can relieve and even prevent these discomforts. Women who have undergone chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy report that their labor is easier.

Chiropractic helps athletes perform at their optimal level. A balanced body will perform better with less risk for injuries. Many professional athletes, including Tiger Woods and Evander Holyfield, get regular chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractic physicians are also included as team doctors for many professional and Olympic teams.

A loss of energy may be caused by many different things including poor posture from repetitive stress or old uncorrected injuries. With a chiropractic treatment plan including proper nutrition, exercise and spinal alignment, you may regain your lost energy.

We offer nutritional counseling and specific exercise programs. Taking a whole body approach helps our patients maintain a healthy lifestyle. Spinal adjustments allow your body to function at its highest potential, making activities of daily life easier and more enjoyable.

Sciatica is an abnormal and painful condition of the sciatic nerve. Symptoms include pain, numbness and muscle weakness. The pain usually radiates into the buttocks, descends the back of the leg and sometimes into the foot. Chiropractic is the method of choice for correcting the cause of sciatica.

Depending on the nature and severity, chiropractic decompression therapy along with corrective spinal adjustments and supportive rehabilitation has shown good results in the majority of cases. A full evaluation is necessary to determine if your condition can be helped without surgery.

People suffering from back pain or neck pain caused by a damaged disc. It is effective for ruptured discs, spinal stenosis, sciatica, facet syndrome, and even failed surgery cases.

Massage is a very valuable treatment for many neck and back conditions. However, muscles can only do two things, contract and relax, and they are under the control of the nervous system. Muscles are attached to bones through tendons. It is extremely rare to have an isolated muscle problem that does not involve the bones and the nervous system. 

Still have questions?

Our team is ready to help. Reach out for a consultation and take the first step toward better health.