Your first visit with me, Dr. Patrick Stephens, DC, will last approximately an hour. I have a nice, comfortable private office where I'll ask follow-up questions to complement the intake form. After learning about some of your afflictions, you will have a chance to ask me any questions that you have. After that, we will do a physical exam of the nervous system through muscle tests and possibly test reflexes.

In addition, I will examine any complaint areas. A few times over the past decade, chiropractic was not the correct treatment, so I did not perform an adjustment and made the appropriate referral. 

Your First Chiropractic Adjustment

If you are a good candidate for chiropractic care, I would like to provide an adjustment on the first visit. In almost all cases, a top-tier adjustment is the most effective way I can help you feel better.

After the adjustment, I can tell you if and to what extent I can help you. I'll share how long it should take and make any other necessary recommendations. 

After your adjustment and my recommendations, we will have three things left to do:

1. Get you paid out. I accept cash and all credit, debit, or FSA cards.

2. We will make a plan for moving forward. If you can feel, believe, can tell, and trust that I will help you, then we get our calendars out and schedule a follow-up visit. 

3. Either way, whether you schedule a follow-up or not, I will give you one of three options: a high five, handshake, or hug—whichever feels best to you.

Of the thousands of people I have treated over the years, almost all walk out feeling better, and I would be happy for you to have that same experience. 

Health insurance is big business, and I can easily provide a coded receipt for you to get reimbursed, but there are a few very good reasons why House of Health Chiropractic is an "out of network" provider.

Understanding these reasons might entirely change your perspective on the type of care you receive.

My Experience with In-Network Chiropractic Care

My time at a high-volume, in-network clinic in 2011, where I served as a chiropractic intern, was a profound learning experience. It gave me a comprehensive understanding of every aspect of the practice, which I now apply in my current role in private practice.

This clinic saw hundreds of visits a day. It had multiple chiropractic assistants, chiropractors, and an entire billing department. Every patient would cycle through 2-5 modalities, get a 2-minute adjustment, and then be out the door having paid their $30 copay.

Afterward, the billing department would submit an invoice, and every modality would be listed at a fee ranging from $50 to $150. I saw some single-visit invoices up to $500. Before we say they were evil, just out to make money and rip people off, let's look a little closer at this.

Insurance companies need to make a profit. Their strategy is to collect as much as possible and find any reason to pay out as little as possible. (Insurance has a useful place in modern America, and it is at the catastrophic emergency level). So, even if you submit $500, they might reimburse 1/5 or 1/4 of the cost, depending on various factors.

A different colleague once showed me a check he got from an insurance company for $0.23 after the $30 copay. So, in order to keep the lights on and pay all the staff, these high-volume clinics have to shorten the visit, run you through many modalities, and play the insurance game.

Personalized Chiropractic Treatment in Wheat Ridge

House of Health Chiropractic is the complete opposite. I put the quality of care and your experience first. There isn't the expense of multiple staffers, thousands of square feet of office space, or the cost of all that equipment. There are, of course, still costs, but I don't play the big volume game. I focus on delivering the highest quality and most thorough chiropractic care possible.

I offer two services at House of Health Chiropractic: 1) the initial consult and 2) a follow-up adjustment. 

At House of Health Chiropractic, I believe in the significance of the initial consult. Priced at $160 on a card or $150 in cash, this session is a crucial step, regardless of your previous chiropractic experiences. It allows me to understand your unique needs and perform a comprehensive exam, laying the groundwork for your personalized treatment plan. 

By conducting a thorough consultation and exam, we may uncover a key aspect of your case that could lead to improved results. Even if this doesn't happen, the initial consultation is vital for developing the most effective treatment plan for you. 

If you are coming in for prevention, a maintenance visit, or something minor, the exam might go quickly, but it's still important to do.  

2) Our follow-up visits, priced at $85 on a card or $80 in cash, are scheduled in a 20-minute block. This structure, such as 10:00, 10:20, 10:40, or 11:00, ensures you receive our undivided attention. We also schedule an overflow gap every handful of visits, understanding that life can be unpredictable. This commitment to your care is what sets us apart.

Your Affordable Wheat Ridge and Arvada Chiropractor Welcomes You

At House of Health Chiropractic, I aim to make the payment process clear and convenient for you. You will pay directly at the end of each treatment. Some clients opt for a 10-pack of visits, which offers a 12% discount. We also accommodate those who prefer to pay ahead of their treatment.

As a Doctor of Chiropractic, I know a good adjustment can go a long way and can yield dramatic improvements in many aspects of a patient's health. 

Chiropractic is not, however, a silver bullet or a cure-all. While almost every person I've met has benefited from an adjustment, nearly everyone has to do more to secure complete health. 

We need balance in the different aspects of life. We have to have a good work-life balance; we need good nutrition, a variety of types of social engagement, rest and recovery time, varying forms of exercise, cognitive development, and a few others. 

Part of helping guide you to better health and a better life is making recommendations about the aspects of life that afflict you the most. 

Managing Life's Stressors

Some patients have huge work and family stressors and overtrain to deal with it. Some people use food and TV time to cope with life's stresses.

Every person has different stressors in their life and does different things to cope with them. One of the benefits of getting to know my patients is learning what they do too much and too little of. I learn what tolerances each individual has and how likely they are to follow through with a recommendation.

For the over-trainers, it's often ignored to recommend just totally stopping moving. I have to guide them toward a balance between activities and reduce overuse injuries while they still get the necessary activation.

Conversely, for the sedentary crowd, you don't push them to "up and go run a 5K." I have to work with these patients to get them going easily, start up more slowly, mitotically, and watch out for different injuries that may prevent following through.

Wheat Ridge Chiropractic Care

My goal is to help you feel and function better. The adjustments play a significant role, but other life aspects also matter.

At House of Health Chiropractic, I am happy to listen to and work directly for you. I schedule all follow-up visits in a 20-minute window. The specific amount of time spent adjusting varies, but I would like to share my vision of best practices. 

Pre-Adjustment Check-In

The first 1-3 minutes are for touching base and preliminary analysis. I look for probably 30 things just in how a patient walks or turns to set their bag on the round table. Often, patients have thought about what they'd like to say, and I want to give them a moment to express themselves.

Of course, I'm not a therapist, but I learn so much in only a few words. It's not just what's said but the motion that goes with it. Much could be said about detecting subtle changes in gait and body language, but on to the best part.

Active Chiropractic Adjustment

I like to spend 12-15 minutes actively analyzing, direct breathing, technically adjusting and watching the changes soak in, and how making one big problem better shows a differing issue that can now take attention.

Far and away, that gap of time is my favorite! It's where I can do the most good, and adjusting is my favorite part of being a chiropractor! Keep in mind that most adjustments involve rolling over or sitting up a few times, and getting back up often feels different.

Post-Adjustment Analysis

After the adjustment, we take 1-2 minutes to let your body adapt to the changes. This is when the adjustment settles in, and  I get to see how my work affects your body. It's also the time for any final clean-up moves. This is an important part of the session, as it allows you to feel the effects of the adjustment and allows me to ensure that everything is in place. 

Booking Your Follow-Up Visit

Closing ceremonies are next and typically only take 2-4 minutes. I will make any necessary recommendations, you will pay, and we will reschedule a follow-up visit depending on where you're at after that adjustment and what you've got coming up in life. At the very end of every visit, I like to give either a high five, handshake, or hug—it's up to you!

Add all that up, and it's typically about 15 minutes.

For the easiest access to House of Health Chiropractic, park in the lot closest to Ward Road and then go to the business park entrance, the door nearest to Ward Road. 

The first glass double doors will say 5181 Ward Rd. on them, and after a second glass door, you will enter the lobby. Next, you can either go up the stairs or take the elevator to the right of the stairs. My office is the first door on the second floor, suite 205. 

The first room is a reception room, so if you show up and the first door is closed, you can open that door and head in to enjoy the sofa or chair and some light reading.  If you need to use the bathroom, return to the hall and turn right. The bathroom will be immediately on the right. 

This office complex has a wrap-around parking lot with hundreds of spaces, almost all of which are fair game; there is a handicapped space up front. 

First, I'm sorry you had a bad previous experience. Not all chiropractic practices or chiropractors mesh well with everyone. I have dealt with all sorts of previous chiropractic horror stories in this practice.

The three big ones are:

1. Being rushed through what felt like an assembly line

2. Being forced into huge care plans up-front

3. Poor-quality, hyper-aggressive treatments

I can assure you that you can lay all of those concerns down when you come to House of Health Chiropractic. I will do everything I can to make it easy for you to have a good experience here. You will only deal with me, Dr. Patrick Stephens, DC, in this practice. There's no series of rooms or modalities you have to be shuffled through first.

I only have one treatment room, and the quality of your care is my number one priority. I constantly modify the type and intensity of the adjustment for each person each day. I have never delivered the same adjustment twice.

Even if the same person is treated only a few days apart, they will have changed from the previous treatment, even if it's one segment up or down. The patient is dynamic, and so is the treatment. 

Evening and Weekend Chiropractic Treatment

Furthermore, I promise not to pressure you into a heavy, expensive care plan. I am highly rated and available evenings and weekends to accommodate your schedule. For other special scheduling or treatment requests, text me at 303-416-0361.

Chiropractic is one of the safest treatments in healthcare. Some loud drop tables might sound scary, and popping sounds in the neck are how people died in action movies in the 90s. Despite the Hollywood drama, chiropractic is totally safe. 

There is a danger with some types of aggressive neck mobilizations, and chiropractors are the only healthcare professionals who know how to correctly and safely adjust the neck and spine.

Don't Do DIY Chiropractic Adjustments

It's crucial to understand that any form of spine manipulation without proper training is dangerous. This includes DIY chiropractic adjustments. It's a risk that's not worth taking.

It is dangerous to let your personal trainer twist your back, or especially your neck, and it could be hazardous to let some huge dude bear hug you and lift you off the ground until some snappy sounds come out.

When delivered by a trained chiropractor, an adjustment is an extremely safe procedure. Chiropractors are skilled in bringing the spine to the right level of tension, applying the right amount of force at the right speed and direction, all in sync with the patient's breath and body dynamics. This level of expertise ensures a safe and effective adjustment.

Your Chiropractor in Arvada, Wheat Ridge, and Golden

Anybody who has graduated from chiropractic school should be able to adjust you safely. If you're not confident in your care, come to me because I'm certain I can deliver a safe and effective adjustment.

An activator is a handheld chiropractic adjusting instrument to reset parts of the nervous system. The kids in my office call it the "clicky tool," but it is the main instrument of Activator Methods.

Activator Methods is a chiropractic technique Dr. Arlan W. Fuhr founded in 1967. This technique received the first chiropractic funding from the NIH in 1986 and has shown its effectiveness ever since.

It does not work by moving a bone per se but by impacting the nervous system. When applied correctly, the activator can change sensory nervous system signals coming from the spine, spine joints, or any part of the peripheral nervous system, including the extremities.

By altering sensory input, the Activator Methods technique can influence motor output, leading to improved movement, function, and overall well-being. While the technical aspects of this process are complex, the practical benefits are clear and have been demonstrated in research.

TMJ dysfunction can be debilitating, and the right chiropractic adjustment could change your life. TMJ dysfunction can range from jaw pain, clicking and popping to grinding your teeth to having the TMJ get stuck in the open or closed position. Some TMJ issues, such as recent dental work or getting hit in the face, are more acute.

What Causes TMJ Pain?

Other TMJ issues are more complicated because they've been an issue for a longer period of time, or they come with other issues like headaches, ear, sinus problems, or neck tension. In addition to tension or physical trauma, TMJ issues can also come from ADHD medications, coffee or other stronger stimulants, including nicotine. Regardless of the type or however long you’ve had a TMJ issue, a chiropractic adjustment can help.

TMJ Chiropractic Treatment in Wheat Ridge

In some cases, adjusting the TMJ itself will fix the problem, but in most cases, addressing the neck and or cranial bones is also required.

There are a number of approaches to healing a TMJ issue, and it's mostly dependent on the type and severity of dysfunction you have. Over the years of treating TMJ issues, I have found a few specific adjustments that work the best. Many people respond well to mechanical adjustments, which affect both alignment and muscle tone and keep them tight. Other people need to start more gently, and using the activator to reset the joint and supporting muscles can provide great relief.

Say Goodbye to Jaw Pain! Call Your Wheat Ridge Chiropractor Today.

There are many types of TMJ issues, and I can help with 99 percent of them. As long as you don't have a freshly fractured jaw or some type of brain infection, then I would be happy to help, so schedule an initial consultation and let me help you get feeling better now!