# Lansing Chiropractic PC > Lansing Chiropractic PC (Dr. David Severance) is a family chiropractic and naturopathic practice serving mid-Michigan from three offices in Lansing, Holt, and Jackson. We provide whole-person care for all ages, from newborns to grandparents, with same-day scheduling and 480+ five-star patient reviews. Full text of every published article, newest first, for LLMs. === # Is Chiropractic Care Safe for Children and During Pregnancy? https://www.lansingchiroclinic.com/articles/is-chiropractic-care-safe-for-children-and-during-pregnancy/ Yes, for most children and most pregnancies, when care comes from a chiropractor trained in pediatric and prenatal techniques. These adjustments use a fraction of the force applied to adults, and published safety reviews report that serious complications are rare. Care still starts with an exam, and we refer to your pediatrician or OB when anything falls outside our scope. > "After 2 visits with my 4 month old I saw a much happier baby!!" > - Carlee R. (Jackson) What a review like that does not show is the question that almost always comes first, usually on the phone before the appointment is ever booked: is this actually safe for a baby? It is the right question, and I take it seriously every time. I hold the Webster certification from the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, my practice centers on women's health, children's health, and pregnancy, and I am a mother myself. Parents deserve the honest answer rather than the reassuring one, and the honest answer is yes, with qualifiers, and the qualifiers matter. This article walks through how adjusting a child or a pregnant patient differs from adjusting an adult, what the published research shows about safety for each, and the situations where the right first call is for chiropractic, and when the right first call is the OB or pediatrician. ## How a Child's Adjustment Differs From an Adult's The word "adjustment" describes very different procedures depending on who is on the table. An adult adjustment uses a quick, controlled push into a restricted joint, sometimes with an audible pop. An infant adjustment is sustained fingertip pressure, no more than you would comfortably apply to your own eyelid. There is no twisting and no cracking. A baby is often adjusted lying on a parent's lap. This scaling is not improvisation. A consensus panel of 29 international experts published best-practice recommendations for chiropractic care of children in 2016, and the core of the document is exactly this: examination and treatment must be modified to the child's age, size, and stage of development.[1] A ten-year-old with a sports injury is not treated like a teenager, and neither is treated like an infant with torticollis. The same principle applies at our offices. The doctor chooses the technique after examining the child, not before, and explains it to you before anything happens. If you want to watch, ask questions, or hold your child during the visit, that is normal here. ## What the Research Shows About Safety for Children The most direct safety data comes from a chiropractic teaching clinic that tracked 697 children under age 3 across 5,242 office visits. Parents reported a reaction in roughly 1 child in 100, about one for every 749 treatments, and the reactions were mild: brief crying or soreness that settled quickly.[2] A 2020 rapid review widened the lens to children under 10 and reached a similar conclusion: most reported adverse events are mild, things like temporary fussiness or soreness. The same review states the honest limit plainly: serious events are reported so rarely that researchers cannot calculate a precise rate for them.[3] Rare is not the same as zero, and we tell parents that directly. The strongest argument for careful screening comes from a 2015 review that searched decades of literature across all manual therapy professions, not only chiropractic, and found 15 serious adverse events in children. In the majority of those cases, the child had an underlying preexisting condition that had not been identified before treatment.[4] That finding is the reason the exam comes before any adjustment, every time, and the reason we send a child back to their pediatrician when the exam raises a flag instead of proceeding. ## Is Chiropractic Safe During Pregnancy? Pregnant patients come to us for a practical reason: more than two-thirds of pregnant women experience low back pain, and almost one in five experience pelvic pain, according to the Cochrane review on the subject.[5] The usual remedies shrink during pregnancy, since most medications are off the table, so a nondrug option gets attention. > "I saw them throughout my pregnancy and I don't know how I would have > gotten through it without them." > - Kelly M. (Jackson) Safety data here is reassuring in the same qualified way as the pediatric research. A critical review searched the published literature for adverse events from spinal manipulation during pregnancy and the postpartum period and found seven reported cases in total, ranging from temporary soreness to rare serious injuries.[6] Seven documented cases against decades of practice does not prove zero risk. It does mean documented complications are uncommon, and it is why technique matters: during pregnancy we can position patients side-lying, supine, or prone on tables with thoracic and abdominal drops, using lower force and keeping pressure off the abdomen. Some patients come for something more specific. Rachel D. (Lansing): "I initially came in a desperate search to find a chiropractor to help turn a breech baby late in pregnancy..." She found the Webster Technique, a gentle, pregnancy-specific method of adjusting the pelvis and sacrum to reduce tension in the surrounding muscles and ligaments. I am certified in it through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. A 2002 survey of certified doctors reported high rates of breech resolution, though a survey of practitioners is a weak form of evidence, so we present it as the technique's history rather than a promise.[7] What the technique reliably offers is a balanced, more comfortable pelvis, and Rachel's account is one patient's experience, not a guarantee. You can read more accounts on our [prenatal testimonials](/testimonials/prenatal/) page. ## What Parents Bring Their Children In For Many parents seek our care for colic, sports injuries, growing pains, torticollis, and more. That list comes straight from our own intake conversations, and each item deserves its own honesty about evidence. Colic is the clearest example. A 2012 Cochrane review pooled the trials on manipulative therapies for colic and found that crying time dropped in most studies.[8] So we do not promise a cure for colic, and you should be wary of anyone who does. We offer a gentle option with a strong safety record, we track what changes from visit to visit, and we tell you what we see. Some families report real changes, the way Carlee R. did with her 4-month-old. Others see less, and we say so when that is the case. Musculoskeletal complaints are more familiar territory: a young athlete with a sore back after a tournament, a toddler favoring one side of their neck, growing pains that keep a kid up at night. These sit squarely in the spine and joint problems chiropractic is built for, and the 2016 best-practice guidelines cited above cover them in detail. You can read what local parents say on our [pediatric testimonials](/testimonials/pediatric/) page, and how we care for every age in one exam room on our [family chiropractic](/services/family-chiropractic/) page. ## When to Call the Pediatrician or OB First Chiropractic care works alongside your child's pediatrician and your OB or midwife, never in place of them. We do not replace well-child visits, and prenatal care belongs with your OB. Some situations call for chiropractic, and some need a medical provider first, before anyone considers an adjustment: For a child: fever, unusual sleepiness or limpness, refusal to eat, a significant fall or other trauma, sudden weakness, or any symptom that is getting worse quickly. Pediatrician, urgent care, or emergency department first. During pregnancy: vaginal bleeding, leaking fluid, severe headache with vision changes, noticeably decreased fetal movement, or contractions before term. Call your OB or midwife now, not a chiropractor. None of this is hedging. Screening for exactly these situations is part of the first exam here, and referring out when something belongs with a physician is part of the job. The serious injuries in the pediatric literature cluster around missed underlying conditions, which is an argument for more medical coordination, not less. ## What a First Visit Looks Like for Your Family The visit starts with a conversation and an exam, not a table. The doctor takes the history, examines your child or your pregnant spine and pelvis, explains what they find, and only then recommends care. You will hear what the technique is, what it feels like, and what we expect to change before anything happens. Two questions worth asking any chiropractor who treats children or pregnant patients: what training do you have in pediatric techniques, and are you Webster Certified? You should hear specific answers. Ours are the 2016 pediatric best-practice standards our doctors follow and my Webster certification through the ICPA. If your back has seized up at 34 weeks or your toddler woke up unable to turn their head, waiting a week is misery. Same-day visits are often available at all three of our offices, in Lansing, Holt, and Jackson. Call the office nearest you or send a note through our [contact form](/contact/) and we will get back to you. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is it safe for a baby to be adjusted? Yes, when the chiropractor is trained in pediatric techniques and examines the baby first. An infant adjustment uses sustained fingertip pressure, no more than you would comfortably apply to your own eyelid, and a study of 5,242 visits by children under age 3 reported only mild reactions like brief fussiness. We refer to your pediatrician whenever the exam points outside our scope. ### How is a child's adjustment different from an adult's? Nearly everything scales down. Children receive a fraction of the force used on adults, with no twisting and no cracking, and the technique changes with the child's age, size, and stage of development, following published pediatric best-practice guidelines. Most kids find the visit quick and easy. ### Can I see a chiropractor while pregnant? Yes. Many patients see us before, during, and after pregnancy, and a review of the published literature found documented complications from spinal manipulation during pregnancy to be rare. We use pregnancy-specific positioning and lower-force techniques, and Dr. Moriah is Webster Certified through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. ### What is the Webster Technique? The Webster Technique is a gentle, pregnancy-specific method of adjusting the pelvis and sacrum to reduce tension in the surrounding muscles and ligaments. The goal is a balanced pelvis, which supports comfort as pregnancy progresses. Certification comes through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, and Dr. Moriah Severance holds it. ### Can chiropractic cure my baby's colic? No, and you should be wary of anyone who promises that. Colic is one of the most common reasons parents bring infants to us, and some families report calmer babies. We offer a gentle option, track what changes visit to visit, and tell you honestly what we see. ### Should I talk to my pediatrician or OB first? We encourage it, and we are glad to coordinate care with them. Chiropractic works alongside your pediatrician and OB, never in place of them. If your child has a fever or a recent injury, or your pregnancy has an active complication, see your medical provider before booking with us. ## References 1. Hawk C, Schneider MJ, Vallone S, Hewitt EG. Best practices for chiropractic care of children: a consensus update. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2016;39(3):158-168. PubMed ↩ 2. Miller JE, Benfield K. Adverse effects of spinal manipulative therapy in children younger than 3 years: a retrospective study in a chiropractic teaching clinic. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2008;31(6):419-423. PubMed ↩ 3. Corso M, Cancelliere C, Mior S, Taylor-Vaisey A, Côté P. The safety of spinal manipulative therapy in children under 10 years: a rapid review. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies. 2020;28(1):12. PubMed ↩ 4. Todd AJ, Carroll MT, Robinson A, Mitchell EKL. Adverse events due to chiropractic and other manual therapies for infants and children: a review of the literature. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2015;38(9):699-712. PubMed ↩ 5. Liddle SD, Pennick V. Interventions for preventing and treating low-back and pelvic pain during pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015;(9):CD001139. PubMed ↩ 6. Stuber KJ, Wynd S, Weis CA. Adverse events from spinal manipulation in the pregnant and postpartum periods: a critical review of the literature. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies. 2012;20:8. PubMed ↩ 7. Pistolese RA. The Webster Technique: a chiropractic technique with obstetric implications. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2002;25(6):E1-9. PubMed ↩ 8. Dobson D, Lucassen PLBJ, Miller JJ, Vlieger AM, Prescott P, Lewith G. Manipulative therapies for infantile colic. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2012;(12):CD004796. PubMed ↩ === # Can a Chiropractor Help with Neck Pain and Headaches? https://www.lansingchiroclinic.com/articles/can-a-chiropractor-help-with-neck-pain-and-headaches/ Yes. Spinal manipulation reduces mechanical neck pain and helps specific headache types, especially cervicogenic headaches, which start in the neck. Randomized trials also show fewer migraine days for some patients. It is not the right treatment for every headache, so a careful exam comes first at our [Lansing](/locations/lansing/), [Holt](/locations/holt/), and [Jackson](/locations/jackson/) offices. Patients rarely come in asking which category their headache fits. They come in the way mrkeesie14 (Lansing) described: "I'd wake up some days and my neck would be stiff and I'd have neck pain and headaches from the stiffness... For years I tried treating it with heating pads and massagers and even a TENS unit." A first adjustment finally changed that, though the review also describes a hesitancy that came from watching a parent's experience with a different chiropractor. The pattern repeats across the 486 patient reviews published on this site: 19 describe neck pain, 13 describe headaches, and the two complaints often arrive together. Stiff neck in the morning, headache by the afternoon, and a drawer full of things that did not work. This article explains why neck pain and headaches travel together, what the research shows about spinal manipulation for each headache type, and when a headache needs chiropractic and when it may need medical care. ## Why Your Neck Hurts in the First Place Most neck pain is mechanical. That means it comes from the joints, muscles, and discs of the neck rather than from disease, and it is extremely common: neck pain is the fourth leading cause of disability worldwide, and close to half of adults deal with it in a given year.[1] The usual suspects are not mysterious. A head held forward over a laptop loads the joints at the base of the skull hour after hour. A phone read in bed does the same thing. Add a pillow that puts your neck at the wrong angle for eight hours, an old whiplash injury, or the stress that parks itself in the shoulders, and the joints stop moving the way they should. Desk work and working from home come up again and again in the neck pain reviews at our [three offices](/locations/). A restricted joint rarely announces itself by name. It shows up as stiffness when you check your blind spot, a sore spot at the top of the shoulder blade, or a neck that takes until lunch to loosen up. Left alone, it also shows up somewhere patients do not expect: the head. ## When the Headache Starts in Your Neck Not all headaches are the same problem, and the difference decides the treatment. The headache types that matter here: - **Cervicogenic headache**: head pain that starts in the joints and muscles of the upper neck. The upper neck shares nerve wiring with the head, so an irritated joint at the top of the spine refers pain upward. These headaches usually sit on one side, begin at the base of the skull, and flare with neck movement or long hours in one position.[2] - **Tension-type headache**: the most common headache there is. It feels like a band of pressure on both sides, and tight neck and scalp muscles are part of the picture for many people. - **Migraine**: a neurological condition, not a neck problem. Throbbing pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light set it apart. The neck can still be involved, since many migraine sufferers carry neck pain too, but the migraine itself starts in the brain. Even so, spinal manipulation may help relieve migraine symptoms for some patients, which the evidence below explains. - **Cluster headache**: far less common, but worth naming. These bring severe, one-sided pain around the eye that arrives in bouts over days or weeks. Cluster headache is a neurological condition managed medically, not a neck problem, so it is not what spinal manipulation targets. Chiropractic clinical guidelines sort the evidence along exactly these lines: spinal manipulation is recommended for cervicogenic headache and migraine management, with joint mobilization and exercise among the options for tension-type headache.[3] Part of the first exam at our offices is figuring out which type, or which combination, you actually have. For tension-type headache in particular, the work is often soft-tissue manipulation rather than a joint adjustment: hands-on release of the tight neck and scalp muscles that refer pain into the head. Easing those muscles can take the edge off the band-like pressure that defines these headaches, which is why our plans frequently pair adjustments with in-house massage therapy. ## What the Evidence Shows for Spinal Manipulation For neck pain itself, a 2015 Cochrane review found that multiple sessions of cervical manipulation produce better pain relief and improved function compared with some medications, at both short and intermediate follow-up, with results similar to mobilization.[4] Cochrane reviews are the strictest summaries in medicine, and this one covered 51 trials. For cervicogenic headache, the evidence includes a dose-response trial: 256 adults randomized to different numbers of spinal manipulation visits over six weeks. More visits produced more relief, and patients receiving manipulation had meaningfully fewer headache days than those receiving light massage at every dose tested.[5] That trial is why we talk about a course of care rather than a single fix. For migraine, a 2019 meta-analysis in the journal Headache pooled six randomized trials and found spinal manipulation reduced both migraine days and pain intensity.[6] The honest limits: the effect is a reduction in frequency and intensity, not a cure. We tell migraine patients to expect improvement over weeks and to keep their neurologist if they have one. > "Struggled with migraines my whole life and chiropractic adjustments > and massages have been the only thing that has helped me!" > - Lauren C. (Jackson) One review is one person's account, which is exactly why we pair it with the trials above. Her experience matches what the research predicts for the patients who respond: fewer bad days, not zero. ## When Chiropractic Is Not the Right Call Some headaches need a medical doctor or an emergency room before anyone touches your neck. Get medical care first if any of these apply: - A **thunderclap headache** - the worst headache of your life, arriving in seconds. Go to the ER. - A headache with **fever and a stiff neck**. - A headache that follows a **blow to the head**. - Any headache with **confusion, vision loss, trouble speaking, or weakness in an arm or leg**. - **Neck pain with fever, unexplained weight loss, or numbness and weakness** running into the hands. We screen for all of this at the first exam, and we refer out when the exam points past us. Patients also ask about the safety of neck adjustments, usually because of something they read about strokes. The largest study on the question, covering more than 100 million person-years in Ontario, found no increased stroke risk after chiropractic care compared with visits to a family doctor. The association that does exist appears because people in the early stage of a stroke seek care for neck pain and headache from both professions alike.[7] The most common side effect is the boring one: mild soreness that typically fades within 24 hours. ## What Treatment Looks Like at Our Three Offices Care starts with an exam, not a table. The doctor takes your history, checks how each joint in your neck moves, tests strength and reflexes, and sorts your headache into the types above. You can read a step-by-step walkthrough on our [what to expect](/what-to-expect/) page. X-rays happen when the exam gives a clinical reason. Treatment is an adjustment to the restricted joints, and the technique scales to the patient: gentle, low-force methods are available, which matters if the idea of a neck adjustment makes you tense up. Massage therapy is in-house at our offices for the muscle side of the problem, the same pairing we describe on our [headaches and migraines](/services/headaches-migraines/) page. Because Dr. David Severance and Dr. Moriah Severance are naturopathic doctors as well as chiropractors, the plan reaches past the table. An adjustment frees the joint, but if your monitor sits six inches too low, the joint locks up again by Friday. Expect homework: - A screen raised to eye level. - A pillow check. - Movement breaks with a timer. - One or two specific exercises. Timeline honesty matters here. Relief is sometimes immediate, and mrkeesie14's review tracks the more common arc: "In the past 2 months I haven't had a single day where I needed to take motrin for my neck or lay in bed with a heating pad and massager." Two months, not one visit. You can read more accounts on our [neck pain testimonials](/testimonials/neck-pain/) page. If you are mid-flare right now, call the nearest office and say so. > "A wk of migraines of pain and crying and you guys got me in the > same day." > - Jonda W. (Holt) Same-day visits are often available at all [three locations](/locations/). Call, text, or send a message through our [contact form](/contact/), and we will call you back. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can a chiropractor help with tension headaches? Often, yes. Tension-type headaches usually involve tight muscles and restricted joints in the neck, and chiropractic clinical guidelines support spinal manipulation and joint mobilization for them. Expect improvement over a series of visits, plus home advice on posture and stress, since those usually drive the tension. ### What is a cervicogenic headache? A cervicogenic headache is head pain that starts in the joints and muscles of the upper neck. It is usually felt on one side, begins at the base of the skull, and gets worse with neck movement or long hours in one position. This is the headache type that responds best to chiropractic care. ### How many visits before I feel a difference? Many patients notice a change within the first few visits, and the research supports a course of care over several weeks. In a 2018 randomized trial, headache relief increased with the number of spinal manipulation visits across six weeks of care. The doctor gives you a specific timeline at your first visit and updates it based on how you respond. ### Is it safe to have your neck adjusted? Serious complications are rare. A 2008 study in Spine covering more than 100 million person-years found no increased stroke risk from chiropractic care compared with visits to a family doctor. The most common side effect is mild soreness that typically fades within 24 hours, and we use gentler techniques for patients who need them. ### Should I see a chiropractor or a medical doctor first for headaches? It depends on the headache. A sudden severe headache, a headache with fever and a stiff neck, or one that follows a head injury needs a medical doctor or the emergency room first. For recurring headaches tied to neck pain, posture, or muscle tension, a chiropractic exam is a reasonable first step, and we refer out if the exam points to something else. ## References 1. Cohen SP. Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of neck pain. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2015;90(2):284-299. PubMed ↩ 2. Blanpied PR, Gross AR, Elliott JM, et al. Neck pain: revision 2017. Clinical practice guidelines linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2017;47(7):A1-A83. PubMed ↩ 3. Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, et al. Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2011;34(5):274-289. PubMed ↩ 4. Gross A, Langevin P, Burnie SJ, et al. Manipulation and mobilisation for neck pain contrasted against an inactive control or another active treatment. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015;(9):CD004249. PubMed ↩ 5. Haas M, Bronfort G, Evans R, et al. Dose-response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for care of cervicogenic headache: a dual-center randomized controlled trial. The Spine Journal. 2018;18(10):1741-1754. PubMed ↩ 6. Rist PM, Hernandez A, Bernstein C, et al. The impact of spinal manipulation on migraine pain and disability: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Headache. 2019;59(4):532-542. PubMed ↩ 7. Cassidy JD, Boyle E, Côté P, et al. Risk of vertebrobasilar stroke and chiropractic care: results of a population-based case-control and case-crossover study. Spine. 2008;33(4 Suppl):S176-S183. PubMed ↩ === # What Happens at Your First Chiropractic Visit? https://www.lansingchiroclinic.com/articles/what-happens-at-your-first-chiropractic-visit/ Your first chiropractic visit takes 30 to 45 minutes. The doctor takes your health history, examines your spine, and orders X-rays if the exam shows a clinical reason for them. Most new patients get an adjustment the same day, and many feel some relief before they leave the office. If you are nervous about that first visit, you are in good company. > "My first time going to a chiropractor was yesterday. I was very > nervous." > - Summer H. (Lansing) Of the 486 patient reviews published on this site, 25 describe a first visit, and nerves come up in review after review. Skepticism shows up too. > "I was skeptical about chiropractic care at first, but after many > years of lower back pain, I decided to give it a shot." > - Kevin C. (Holt) That caution is reasonable. You are handing your spine to someone you just met. The answer to both nerves and skepticism is the same: knowing exactly what is coming. This article walks through a first visit at our offices step by step: what the doctor asks, what the exam involves, what an adjustment feels like, and what happens after. It follows the same flow as our [what to expect](/what-to-expect/) page, with more detail on the parts patients ask about most. ## The Consultation: What the Doctor Asks Your visit starts with a conversation, not an adjustment table. The doctor takes your health history: where it hurts, when it started, what makes it better or worse, what you have tried already, past injuries and surgeries, and the medications you take, including over-the-counter ones. Expect questions that reach past the sore spot. The doctors here treat root causes, not only symptoms, so the conversation covers your work setup, sleep, activity level, and daily habits. A desk job, an old sports injury, or a toddler you carry on one hip can each explain why a problem keeps coming back. Ask questions of your own. Explanation is how this practice works, and the research says it matters: in a randomized study of low back pain care at UCLA, chiropractic patients were more satisfied than medical patients, and much of the difference traced to how clearly the treatment was explained.[1] ## The Exam, and Whether You Will Need X-Rays The physical exam comes next. The doctor checks your posture, watches you move, tests your range of motion, and presses along the spine to find joints that are restricted or tender. Where your history calls for it, orthopedic and neurological tests get added. X-rays are decided by the exam, not by default. Imaging happens when there is a clinical reason for it, such as exam findings that need a closer look or a history that raises questions. A 2018 review in Chiropractic & Manual Therapies found no evidence that routinely X-raying every new patient improves care or outcomes.[2] When imaging is needed, we take [digital X-rays](/services/xrays/) and go over the images with you. ## What Does an Adjustment Feel Like? Here is the play-by-play. You lie on a padded table, fully clothed. The doctor positions you so one specific joint is at tension, then applies a quick, controlled push with the hands. The movement is small, measured in millimeters, and it is over in under a second. You will probably hear a pop. The pop is not bone. Researchers at the University of Alberta watched joints crack inside an MRI scanner in 2015: the sound comes from a gas bubble forming in the joint fluid as the joint surfaces separate.[3] It is the same physics as cracking your knuckles, and it is painless. You set the pace. > "Doctor was very vocal and waited for confirmation before every > adjustment and made sure I felt comfortable before proceeding." > - Tameka S. (Lansing) That is the standard at all three offices. The technique changes with the patient too: gentle methods are used for children and pregnant women. Afterward, many patients feel immediate relief. Some feel mild soreness, similar to a new workout, that typically fades within 24 hours. A randomized trial that tracked side effects after chiropractic care found the same pattern: what patients reported was mostly brief muscle stiffness or a temporary increase in soreness that settled on its own.[4] ## What Happens After Your First Adjustment? Before you leave, the doctor lays out a care plan: what the exam found, how often to come in, what to do at home, and a realistic timeline. Realistic is the key word. Relief is sometimes immediate and often gradual, and a good chiropractor tells you which to expect for your specific problem. The treatment itself has evidence behind it. A 2017 systematic review in JAMA covering 26 randomized trials found spinal manipulation improves both pain and function in acute low back pain.[5] The American College of Physicians puts nondrug care, spinal manipulation included, ahead of medication as first-line treatment for low back pain.[6] Because Dr. David Severance and Dr. Moriah Severance are naturopathic doctors as well as chiropractors, the plan usually reaches past the table. An adjustment relieves a restricted joint, but if you sit ten hours a day, the restriction comes back. Expect specific homework: sitting breaks, a change to your desk or pillow, a couple of exercises, sometimes nutrition. Kevin C., the skeptic quoted at the top of this article, ended his review very differently than he started it. Read more [first-visit stories](/testimonials/first-visit/) from patients at all three offices and you will see the same arc repeat: nervous in the lobby, surprised on the table, booked for the next visit. ## How to Prepare for Your First Visit Bring four things: - Photo ID and insurance card - A list of current medications, prescription and over-the-counter - Any relevant medical records or imaging results - Comfortable clothing that allows easy movement Three questions worth asking while you are there: What did you find on my exam? How many visits should this take? What can I do at home between visits? The doctor will cover all three without being asked, but having them written down helps nervous patients feel in control. One honest caveat: chiropractic is not the right first stop for everything. See a medical doctor first, or go to the emergency room, if your back pain comes with numbness in the groin, loss of bladder or bowel control, fever, or sudden weakness in a leg. We refer out when an exam or imaging shows something chiropractic cannot help. When you are ready, call the office nearest you or send a note through our [contact form](/contact/). We often accommodate same-day scheduling, and most insurance plans do not require a referral. If you are in pain today, say so when you call: that is exactly the kind of visit we try to fit in. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How long does a first chiropractic visit take? Plan on 30 to 45 minutes at any of our three offices. That covers the consultation, the physical exam, and in most cases your first adjustment. ### Will I get adjusted on my first visit? In most cases, yes. If the exam shows a reason to wait, such as a need for X-rays first, the doctor will explain why and what happens next. Nothing happens without your okay. ### Does a chiropractic adjustment hurt? Most patients feel quick pressure, not pain, and many feel relief right away. The popping sound is gas releasing inside the joint, not bone. Some people feel mild soreness afterward that typically fades within 24 hours. ### Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor? Most insurance plans do not require a referral. HMO plans such as Blue Care Network may require one. Call our office and we will check what your specific plan needs. ### Can I get a same-day appointment? Often, yes. Our Lansing, Holt, and Jackson offices all take new patients, and same-day scheduling is frequently available. Call the location nearest you to check availability. ### Do you take walk-in appointments? At this time we do not typically accept walk-in appointments. However, if you call our office, we will do everything we can to accommodate a same-day appointment whenever possible. Scheduling ahead allows us to provide the appropriate amount of time for a thorough evaluation and treatment while minimizing your wait. If you're experiencing back pain, neck pain, sciatica, or another musculoskeletal injury, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible so we can help you find the earliest available appointment. ## References 1. Hertzman-Miller RP, Morgenstern H, Hurwitz EL, et al. Comparing the satisfaction of low back pain patients randomized to receive medical or chiropractic care: results from the UCLA low-back pain study. Am J Public Health. 2002;92(10):1628-1633. PubMed ↩ 2. Jenkins HJ, Downie AS, Moore CS, French SD. Current evidence for spinal X-ray use in the chiropractic profession: a narrative review. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies. 2018;26:48. PubMed ↩ 3. Kawchuk GN, Fryer J, Jaremko JL, Zeng H, Rowe L, Thompson R. Real-time visualization of joint cavitation. PLoS One. 2015;10(4):e0119470. PubMed ↩ 4. Walker BF, Hebert JJ, Stomski NJ, et al. Outcomes of usual chiropractic. The OUCH randomized controlled trial of adverse events. Spine. 2013;38(20):1723-1729. PubMed ↩ 5. Paige NM, Miake-Lye IM, Booth MS, et al. Association of spinal manipulative therapy with clinical benefit and harm for acute low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2017;317(14):1451-1460. PubMed ↩ 6. Qaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, Forciea MA. Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2017;166(7):514-530. PubMed ↩