Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are your hours?
A. Our hours of operation are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:00 am – 7:00 pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 5:00 pm. Not all practitioners work at these times, but feel free to call if you would like to know when a specific practitioner is available.
Q. Is a referral needed?
A. There is no need for a referral. We are primary care practitioners, meaning you can call and book an appointment directly. We are happy to see you as soon as possible depending on your schedule.
Q. How long is your wait period?
The wait period is dependent on your availability and which practitioner you would like to see. In most cases we can fit you in within a week’s time.
Q. Is there parking nearby?
A. Metered parking is available directly outside the front door of our building on 2nd Avenue NW. There is also a parking lot directly behind our building with three dedicated free stalls available for your use. City of Calgary metered parking lots are available directly across from our clinic on the east side of 14th street as well as one block south of us, on the west side of 14th street.
Q. What are the costs?
A. Our initial assessment is $110.00. This includes a thorough, one-on-one history and physical examination. Once your problem is diagnosed, a treatment plan will be recommended. If further tests are necessary (e.g. x-ray, MRI, etc.), that will be arranged for you. We offer reduced rates for seniors, students and children.
— Physiotherapy: ranges from $55.00-75.00 per treatment depending on the type of treatment and the length of appointments required.
— Chiropractic: Ranges from $45.00-55.00 per treatment depending on the type of treatment and the length of the appointment required.
Q. What type of care do you offer?
A. We offer:
– Chiropractic care
– Physiotherapy
– IMS (Intramuscular Stimulation)
– Acupuncture
– Graston
– FAKTR-PM (Functional and Kinetic Therapeutic Rehabilitation using Provocative Movements)
– Massage therapy
– Active rehabilitation
– Specialized rehabilitation using the MCU (multicervical unit) for chronic neck pain
– Specialized rehabilitation using the ATM (Active Therapeutic Movements) for chronic back pain
Q. Do you offer direct billing?
A. We offer direct billing for valid motor vehicle accidents and WCB claims only. Some extended care benefit plans allow for direct billing. Our administrative staff has expertise in helping you determine if your health insurance allows for direct billing.
Q. Is the treatment going to hurt?
A. No, while it may be normal to experience a temporary increase in discomfort when you first begin to get active again, it is not normal for your pain to get worse in the long term. In fact, this is a warning sign that the treatment may not be right for you. Our team has the expertise to recognize this and make the necessary changes to the treatment program to get you on the road to recovery.
Q. Is there risk? Could I become paralyzed?
A. Any activity, including proposed treatment has potential benefits and risks that must be considered. The risks with the treatments offered at National Spine Care are very, very low. As part of the informed consent procedure, the risks and alternatives to your treatment are explained thoroughly so you can feel comfortable that you have made the right decision.
Q. Once I start coming for treatment, will I have to keep going forever?
A. No. Our goal is to relieve your pain and get you active again. We then teach you what you can do on your own to maintain and improve your health. Some conditions tend to be recurrent in nature, requiring periodic treatment to settle any flare-ups experienced. Other people go on to choose to come in regularly for treatment (e.g. once every month or two) as they have found that it helps them feel better and maintain their health. We do not encourage or promote you being dependent on our services, but rather give you the tools and knowledge to become independent in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Q. What is wrong with me? Why am I in pain? Can you help me? Will I need surgery?
A. The purpose of the initial consultation is to answer these questions. A thorough, one-on-one history and physical examination is performed to find out what is wrong and why you are in pain. Once you have a clear understanding of what is wrong and what is causing your pain, a treatment plan can be established to help get you out of pain and get you active again. If your condition is better suited to treatment other than what we currently offer, we will tell you that and, if possible, will facilitate a referral to the most appropriate type of treatment for you.
Q. How often do I need to come for treatment?
A. This is entirely dependent on the type of treatment or treatments that are appropriate for your condition. Initially, to relieve your pain and get you active again, it may be necessary to attend treatment as often as three times per week. The nature of our treatment programs is to get you actively involved in taking care of yourself as soon as possible. As your pain eases and you are able to become active again, we teach you things you can do on your own to stay healthy. As you do more on your own, you no longer will need us.
Q. Is there anything I can do to help myself?
A. Our goal, right from the beginning is to help you regain your independence in the management of your health. In the early stages of treatment, it is normal for you to have to attend our clinic for treatment to relieve your pain and regain your strength and flexibility. A big part of this is helping you to understand what you can do to help yourself get out of pain and get active again. Once you have successfully eased your pain, we then show you what you can do on your own to keep yourself healthy so you can get back to the activities you love.
Q. Will I be able to get back to _________ (activity)?
A. We understand that being in pain is terrible because it can disrupt every aspect of your life and limit your ability to participate in your normal work, home and recreational activities. We are dedicated to helping you get out of pain and regain your strength and flexibility and then teach you what you can do on your own to maintain this, so you can get back to the activities you love.
Q. How long does each appointment take?
A. Depending on the nature of the treatment you are involved with, appointments can range from as little as 10 minutes up to one hour. We understand that attending healthcare appointments can be disruptive and difficult with busy schedules. Once you have a better understanding as to the specific type of treatment you need, we do our best to accommodate your busy schedule with mutually convenient appointment times.
Q. Do I have to get changed (e.g. shorts, etc.)?
A. We ask that you bring a change of clothes (shorts and a T-shirt) for the initial assessment. Many of the physical examination tests are designed to assess how well you can move and what is painful. Tight fitting clothing restricts movement so we require loose fitting clothing for best accuracy. Future appointments may or may not require you to change depending on the type of treatment you need. For example, regular chiropractic or physiotherapy appointments do not often require you to change, however, if you are participating in active, exercise rehabilitation, you likely will need to wear workout clothes. We will let you know what is most appropriate.
Q. Does he/she usually run on time?
A. Yes. We are sensitive to and respect your time and do our best to be prompt and timely with your appointments. Sometimes, emergencies arise, requiring us to spend more time with someone than originally planned. If we are running behind, we will do our best to let you know either on the phone or when you first arrive so you can make additional plans if need be. You will not be left alone in a little room, listening to a lot of commotion going on in the hallways and rooms next door, wondering if you have been forgotten about.
