Questions Patients Ask Us Most
Choosing a chiropractor comes with questions, and most people carry the same handful. These are the ones Dr. Tony Nicholas hears most often in Centennial, answered the way he answers them in person: plainly.
Jump to a question
- What is a chiropractor?
- Are chiropractors doctors?
- What is chiropractic care?
- Does chiropractic actually work?
- Is chiropractic safe?
- How do chiropractors relieve pain from injuries or accidents?
- What conditions does chiropractic treat?
- Are all patients adjusted the same way?
- How many visits will I need?
- What does it cost to get started?
What is a chiropractor?
A chiropractor is a healthcare professional who works with the alignment of your spine to relieve pressure on the nerves running through it. When vertebrae press on those nerves, the result can be pain, restricted movement, headaches, and symptoms far from the spine itself. Aligning the structure relieves the pressure and lets the body heal.
At this office that always starts with a thorough exam and x-rays, so the work targets what is actually happening rather than a guess.
Are chiropractors doctors?
Yes. Chiropractors hold a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, with coursework substantially parallel to medical school, and specialize in the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. What they do not do is prescribe medication, which is by design: the entire discipline is built around drug-free care.
Dr. Tony Nicholas earned his D.C. from Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City in 2006. His full background is on the Meet the Doctor page.
What is chiropractic care?
A drug-free, surgery-free approach to health built on a simple premise: the body has a natural ability to heal itself when given the right conditions. Care centers on keeping the spine aligned so the nervous system, which coordinates that healing, can do its work without interference.
Here it spans adjustments, spinal decompression, SoftWave therapy, dry needling, and nutrition, chosen by exam, not by menu.
Does chiropractic actually work?
Two decades of practice have made Dr. Tony confident answering this one. His favorite patients are the ones who tried everything else first and arrived as a last hope, because those are the people behind the stories he has watched again and again: no relief through the medical route, then genuine improvement once the actual cause gets treated.
The practice holds a 5.0 rating across hundreds of Google reviews, and the honest caveat is stated up front: if care is not producing results by around the 8 to 12 visit mark, you get referred out rather than re-booked.
Is chiropractic safe?
Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive approaches to back pain, neck pain, and joint problems, and the insurance market reflects that: chiropractic malpractice premiums run a small fraction of what medical doctors pay.
The first rule in this office goes further: do no harm. Dr. Tony establishes your pain level before treating and adapts his technique to your age, condition, and comfort, so visit one never leaves you worse than you arrived.
How do chiropractors relieve pain from injuries or accidents?
By finding the injury before treating it. Accident cases here get a thorough exam and extensive x-rays, including motion x-rays that reveal ligament damage a standard film cannot show. Treatment then combines spinal alignment with work on the ligaments and muscles involved, matched to your pain level.
The full process, including how insurer and attorney billing works, is on the auto accident care page.
What conditions does chiropractic treat?
Anything driven by spinal misalignment pressing on the nervous system, which covers more than most people expect: sciatica, low back pain, neck pain, pinched nerves, and headaches and migraines, most of which start in the upper neck.
This office also treats joints and soft tissue with SoftWave therapy, from arthritic knees to rotator cuffs. The complete list is on the conditions page.
Are all patients adjusted the same way?
No, and be wary of anywhere that says otherwise. Every spine misaligns in its own way, so treatment is individualized from the exam and x-rays: technique, force, and frequency all adapt to your age, condition, and comfort level, from gentle low-force methods on up.
There is no cookie cutter, one size fits all treatment plan here, and no 60 visit packages either.
How many visits will I need?
It depends on your problem and how long it has been there, which is the biggest single factor. Acute problems typically start at two to three visits a week for relief; chronic joint problems on SoftWave usually run six to ten sessions; and everything is re-evaluated weekly so the plan follows your progress.
The guardrail never moves: no meaningful improvement by around the 8 to 12 visit mark means a referral to the right specialist, not more visits.
What does it cost to get started?
Your first chiropractic visit, exam, and treatment is $29, and your first SoftWave session is $49. Beyond that, the office accepts all insurance except Medicaid, takes HSA and FSA cards, CareCredit, Cherry, cash, and credit cards, and offers payment plans including no interest options.
Cost is the worry patients raise most, and plans here run from most conservative to most complete so you choose what fits. Details are on the payment plans page.
Still Have a Question?
Call the office and ask it directly. Most questions take about ninety seconds to answer, and there is no charge for asking. Axis Health and Wellness serves Centennial and the south Denver metro.