Finances are probably the biggest reason I hear from patients or potential patients for why they cannot get the chiropractic care they need, or why they drop out of care after one or two visits and do not continue with regular maintenance adjustments. I understand this problem too well. It's always the patient's choice if they want to continue care. I do not twist anybody's arm or try to convince them to do something that will not work for their personal schedule or budget. However, I feel like I would be doing everyone and injustice if I didn't explain why chiropractic care is not only affordable, but will save you money in the long run.
Many of my patients are "cash pay" and do not have health insurance. This, too, I understand. We do not currently have health insurance either. That makes it all the more important to take responsibility for my family's health and do whatever I can to prevent problems from arising. This means I spend more on food, as it is usually more costly to eat healthy than to eat processed, boxed foods that have a long shelf life, are often on sale, and have tons of coupons available. I also buy (and try to consistently take) supplements. We also need to make the time to exercise regularly. Many families join a gym to help achieve this goal, which obviously has it's associated monetary costs. We get regular chiropractic care. Obviously, that part is easier for me, since I am a chiropractor. But it still has tremendous value. I drive a half hour each way every week to get adjusted, so that I have a healthy pregnancy and an easier, quicker labor.
Chiropractic is the most affordable form of health care. I have had many patients who have experienced severe back pain and ended up in the ER before coming to my office. They also end up with a huge bill, more expensive for a few hours one day than their whole chiropractic treatment plan over the course of 1-2 months would cost. And unless you fractured your spine, there is not much that the ER can do except give you drugs for pain. That's a high price to pay for a band-aid solution to the problem. Chiropractic care most often results in immediate pain relief, and correction of the cause of the problem, keeping it from perpetuating or returning weeks or months down the road. It's important to stick with your care plan, as this is the most effective way of correcting a spinal problem completely so that it does not return.
So why do people continue to get adjusted after their problem is resolved? This is called maintenance care, and it has many benefits. First of all, most of the time we return to our activities that cause wear and tear on our bodies and subluxate our spine. Over time, this stress can result in pain again. Regular maintenance adjustments take care of these more minor subluxations before they become a big problem, and require more care. A once a month maintenance adjustment is a lot more cost effective than a more intense care plan to correct a more complicated issue. Also, people under regular chiropractic care get sick less often, miss less school and work, and feel better overall. Sickness costs time and money, so it's better to prevent it, if possible!
Many people seem to be concerned that adjustments are "addicting." Is brushing your teeth addicting? How about showering? You do those things every day. And you might as well not bother eating, because in a few hours you need to start all over again with a whole new meal. Obviously, these arguments are ridiculous. We do these things to maintain health and hygiene. You go to the dentist every six months, get your eyes examined every year, and get regular physical exams at your doctor's office. It's time we take care of our spines and nervous system as well. After all, there is no such thing as a spine transplant.
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