Rejuvenations Chiropractic Care Center
Dr. Ronald M. Repice, II Chiropractic Neurologist
1575 Pine Ridge Rd. Suite #6 Naples, FL 34109
239-331-5886 * Fax 239-913-1411
INFORMED CONSENT & NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
Dear Patient:
Every type of health care is associated with some risk of a potential problem. This includes chiropractic health care. We want you to be informed about the potential problems associated with chiropractic care before consenting to treatment. This in called Informed Consent.
Chiropractic adjustments are the moving of bones with the doctor’s hands or with the use of a machine. Frequently adjustments create a “ pop “ or “ click “ sound / sensation in the area being treated.
In this office, we use trained staff personnel to assist the doctor with portions of your consultation, examination, x-rays, physical therapy, traction, massage therapy, exercise instruction, etc. Occasionally when your doctor is unavailable, another clinic doctor will treat you on that day.
Soft Tissue Injury: Soft tissues primarily refer to muscles and ligaments. Muscles move bone and ligaments limit joint movement. Rarely a chiropractic adjustment, traction, massage therapy, etc., may tear some muscle or ligament fibers. The result is a temporary increase in pain and necessary treatments for resolution, but there are no long term affects for the patient. These problems occur so rarely that there are no available statistics to quantify their probability.
Disc Herniations: Disc herniations that create pressure on the spinal nerve or on the spinal cord are frequently successfully treated by chiropractors and chiropractic adjustments, traction, etc. This includes both in the neck and back. Yet, occasionally chiropractic treatment (adjustments, traction, etc.) will aggravate the problem and rarely surgery may become necessary for correction. These problems occur so rarely that there are no available statistics to quantify their probability.
Stroke: Stroke means that a portion of the brain does not receive enough oxygen from the blood stream. The results can cause temporary or permanent dysfunction of the brain. Manipulation & chiropractic adjustments have been, without any certainty, associated with strokes that arise from an artery know as the Vertebral artery. This is because the Vertebral artery is actually found within the vertebra of the neck. Our physicians do not perform any “extension-rotation thrust Atlas maneuvers, which has been thought to be related to a higher risk of Vertebral artery involvement. Again, we Do Not perform this type of adjustment on patients. Other type of neck adjustments may also be related to vertebral artery involvement, but no one is certain. Previous studies and more recent studies estimate that the incident of this type of injury is 1 per every 4 million adjustments. This means that you have a better chance of having a stroke while getting your hair washed at the hairdressers. It also means that your chiropractor would have to be in practice for hundreds of years before they would statistically be associated with a single incident.
P.2 Informed Consent
Rib Fractures: The ribs are only in the middle of your back, know as the Thoracic spine. They extend from your back to your front chest area. Rarely will a chiropractic adjustment crack a rib bone, referred to as a fracture. This occurs mainly with patients that suffer with weakened bones from such things as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can be noted on an x-ray, as well as a bone density test (DEXA Scan). We adjust all patients very carefully, and especially the elderly and those who have osteoporosis.
Soreness: It is common for patients undergoing chiropractic adjustments, traction, massage therapy, and exercise, etc. to have temporary soreness especially in the region being treated. This is nearly always temporary and occurs while your body is undergoing therapeutic change. It is not dangerous, but please do tell your doctor about it.
Physical Therapy Burns: Some machines we use generate heat. We also use both heat and ice and recommend them for home care when necessary. Everyone’s skin has different sensitivity levels to these modalities, and rarely with Ultrasound, Muscle stimulation, heat, ice and formula gel preparations burn or irritate the skin. Please notify the doctor, assistant, or staff member if you have a certain skin allergy or abnormally sensitive skin, so that we may determine a safe and effective treatment plan for you.
There may be other problems or complications that arise from chiropractic treatment other than those noted above. Theses other problems or complications occur so rarely that is not possible to anticipate and / or explain then in advance.
Chiropractic is a safe and effective system of health care delivery and therefore, as with any health care delivery system we cannot promise a cure for any symptom, disease, or condition as a result of treatment in the clinic. We will always give you our best care, and if you are not responding to conservative treatment, we will refer you to another health care provider whom we feel will be able to better assist your situation.
If you have any questions pertaining to any of the information outlined above, please ask your doctor. When you have a full understanding, please sign and date on the area provided below.