Portland Chiropractic: Frequently Asked Questions

Common Chiropractic Questions

At Optimum Function, I understand the frustration many patients experience when doctors don't take the time to educate them about their specific condition as it pertains to them. Whenever possible, I want patients to know as much about their condition(s) as I do.

What are your hours?

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, by appointment only.

Why "by appointment only"?

This is because I do more than just "pop" backs and "crack" necks. I also have patients who are seeing me specifically for Functional Medicine and/or Nutrition. Often, I need to be searching data and tests results for patterns etc. and creating custom diet plans. This type of work takes time so when I am not physically seeing patients, I am working on diagnosing and treating my non-musculoskeletal patients.

In addition, I teach at Western states Chiropractic College and am often on campus finishing lesson plans, etc. I will try my best to accommodate last minute appointments.

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Where are you located?

Optimum Function and Dr. Irving are located at 819 SE Morrison St. Suite 215, Portland, Oregon, 97214, in the Everest Building. Click here for Map

Do you bill insurance?

Yes, I will bill your insurance for you. First, if you don't know that you have Chiropractic coverage, please call your insurance company so they can help you figure out your "Chiropractic benefits". Then, as long as your insurance is not managed by a network, or you have "out of network" benefits, I will send the required paperwork into your insurance company in attempt to get reimbursed.

I do not accept Medicare patients but I will speak with you and figure out an alternative if you are a patient who is eligible for Medicare.

There's one caveat: Functional medicine, lab work, urinalyses, diet and nutrition therapies and supplementation are RARELY completely covered by many insurance companies unless you already have a disease process going one and therefore, we will not attempt to bill insurance for these services. If you find out that they are covered and you want to get reimbursed, we can fill out the required paperwork.

You always have the option of paying up front (in which case you get the "time of service rate" and we can send you off with the required paperwork to get reimbursed by your insurance company. This method usually works quite well and saves your insurance company (and in the long run, you) some money.

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How can I contact you?

Please refer to the clinic information in the sidebar and the contact form. I check my email regularly and will let you know my availability based on your inquiry.

Do you have a form to help me figure out if I can improve my health through the programs at Optimum Function?

Yes, I have a few, feel free to fill out any or all of them:

How can you help me achieve Optimum Function?

Not only will every patient come in with slight variations on their health conditions but each treatment will be different to account for those variations. At Optimum Function, I examine the nervous, muscular and skeletal systems in relation to all the other systems of your body. In addition, I will look at blood chemistry results, nutrition, and any other functional or traditional test that may give me information about your health status.

To treat, I use a combination of: Functional medicine, nutrition, massage, other soft-tissue (muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia) therapies, Chiropractic adjustments, joint mobilizations and instrument assisted treatments like Graston Technique, G5 percussion therapy, and Kinesiotape, as well as other modes of treatment, will be used to help bring you back to Optimum Function.

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Do you perform Body Fat and/or Body Composition Testing?

Yes. More information on Optimum Function's Composition Testing.

Do I need to wear specific clothing?

It is preferred by both doctors and patients to wear clothing you would workout in.

Females: Loose fitting pants or shorts and a tank-top or sports bra.
Males: Loose fitting pants or shorts and a tank-top or, if you choose, going shirtless during treatments to the back, and shoulders is allowed

If you forget to wear appropriate clothing we will provide a gown if a certain area of the body needs to be exposed for treatment.

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What is the Graston Technique?

Click Here to watch an informative slide show and read more about one of the best soft-tissue treatments in the world.

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Why do I feel good after the "Master Cleanse" if it does not maximize detoxification?

Without making huge assumptions and speculations, "cleanses" and fasting diets are GREAT for hypertension, blood sugar problems like diabetes, and mild detoxification (if it is only performed on a short-term basis). Patients at Optimum Function have been put on programs like this for these exact reasons and they feel great.

It is my experience that many people have blood sugar regulation problems and in fact, the standard American diet (S.A.D.) is one that seems to promote these problems. It is also our opinion that this is the main reason people sometimes feel great after and maybe even during a calorie-restricting "cleansing" or detox program (Often, people don't feel great during or after these programs).

Lastly, there are plenty of "colon cleansing" programs out there. These programs focus on but one aspect of the detoxification system and are not holistic. In fact, many times, the way they "cleanse" the colon is to have the participant ingest Cathartic herbs that irritate the colon and cause frequent bowel movements. I strongly oppose these types of programs for most people.

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What is Low Level Laser or "Cold Laser" therapy?

Low Level laser therapy is defined by the North American Association of Laser Therapy (NAALT) as "....a therapeutic physical modality, using photons from the visible and infrared spectrum (600nm-1000nm) for tissue healing and pain reduction."

Low Level Laser Therapy has been proven to penetrate tissue and to be absorbed at a cellular level. A series of reactions occur resulting in enhanced tissue healing, pain control and stimulation of the vascular, immune and lymphatic systems. It is the only therapeutic modality with a cumulative effect in the cells and tissue. Low Level laser therapy is safe, painless, and non-invasive; the results are often immediate and last a long time so you don't have to come in for treatment as often.

Click Here for more Cold Laser therapy information

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How much will it cost, how long will it take?

At Optimum Function, patients have a multitude of treatment options, they are listed below with prices and approximate appointment times included for detailed information on each procedure, click here: Portland, Oregon Chiropractic and Manual Medicine treatments.

Chiropractic and Manual Medicine Support Programs

Initial visits will take about 45-60 minutes; follow-up visits last between 15-20 minutes.

Treatments:

Chiropractic
Vibration-assisted soft-tissue therapy
Distraction-decompression
Active soft-tissue release techniques
Low Level Laser therapy: AKA "Cold Laser"
Graston Technique
Kinesiotape
Cranial techniques
Structural integration
Deep Tissue therapies
Myofascial release
Muscle Energy techniques
Passive and active positional release techniques
Neuromuscular techniques
Various other soft-tissue and mobilization techniques as needed

Initial Visit: $89*

Follow-up Visits: $63*

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SupportENT: These unique procedures were developed by chiropractors, medical doctors and osteopaths in the Pacific NW but very few doctors know how to do them. I teach many of these procedures at Western States Chiropractic College. They are functional, hands-on procedures to help alleviate symptoms of:

Chronic sinusitis
Otitis media (non-infectious ear aches)
Motion sickness
Vertigo (benign paroxysmal)
Impacted cerumen (ear wax)
Headaches
and more.....

The procedures used in this program are:

Epley's Maneuver
Endonasal technique
Nasal Specific technique
Ear Irrigation (cerumen extraction)

Initial Visit: $99* **
Follow-up Visits: $63* **

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Nutritional Therapy Program

Click Here for more info

Initial Visit: $145

Follow-up Visits: $89

Functional Hypnosis

This is my Clinical Hypnosis program.

Initial Visit: $145
Follow-up Visits: $89

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* These prices include a "payment at the time of service" rate

** These functional medicine and manual therapy services are based on a health and wellness paradigm that most insurances will not reimburse for therefore, I may not bill your insurance for these services but can provide you with the information so you may attempt to bill your insurance.

***This baseline program does not include the cost of any other necessary laboratory exams. I will talk with you about specific functional and/or laboratory exams that I will need to completely investigate you current health and nutritional status. To be accepted as a patient, you have to be committed to participate in the necessary laboratory tests to uncover the root cause of your current health status.