If you are seeing Dr. Jolson for a pain-related condition your first visit will take about 60 minutes. We advise that you come 15 minutes early to your first visit to ensure all paperwork is filled out correctly.

We begin with a thorough medical history and physical examination. Gathering information is crucial to your road to recovery because it helps us understand your condition, peeling away the layers of the onion to reach the core of the problem. When we uncover the source of the problem, only then can we achieve a true solution.

We will discuss our findings with you and offer recommended treatment options so that you can be part of an informed decision. We hold patient education to a high standard. We strive to make the information presented to you digestible and understandable, and we always encourage questions.

If we decide we’re a good fit to work together, you can expect to receive your first treatment at this time. Please wear comfortable clothing, such as gym clothes, that does not restrict movement. An in-office dedicated changing room is available.

No. First, we will determine if chiropractic care can help you by taking a history, performing a physical examination, and in rare cases send you for MRI, Ultrasound, CT scan, or x-rays. If we determine that our care can be of benefit, then we will suggest an estimated, finite treatment period. If chiropractic care is not indicated, we will suggest other sources of help or refer you to another doctor. Every case is different and each person’s response varies.

Our treatment plans are typically about 4-8 visits over 4-6 weeks on average. Depending upon the injury/ailment and how long it has been going on, your treatment plan may be shorter or longer.

If it’s a recent problem you’re trying to take care of before it gets worse, we can expect to move along quickly; conversely, if you’ve been dealing with something for years, we cannot expect it to go away in a matter of a few weeks.

If we’re not making progress we’re going to find a new solution. We will perform a re-evaluation and change the treatment direction, whether in-house or with a referral to the appropriate medical professional. When situations like this arise, we will make our best recommendations so you can make the most informed decision for yourself.

We treat most conditions between one to eight visits, so our practice continually relies on new patient flow and referrals.

We ask our patients to please refer their friends and family to us, so we can continue to help as many people as possible and as quickly as possible. No one deserves to live with pain.

At Upstate Spine & Sport we help treat many different conditions, including shoulder and knee pain, TMJ (jaw) issues, headaches, and much more.

Not all conditions respond to or need adjustments, which is why we offer many other services.  If you do not want to be adjusted or are afraid to be adjusted we will perform other therapies to get the results needed for your condition and comfort level.

The goal of an adjustment is to get joint segments that are not moving well to move better. When a joint is not moving properly, it can cause other joints to have to move excessively to make up for the stuck joint, which can lead to pain and injury.

Though adjustments are a great tool, like a hammer or wrench, it’s simply one of the “tools in the tool belt”. We don’t always have to use the adjustment tool, and we’ve had many successes without it.

Yes, the doctors at Upstate Spine & Sport in Greenville work with many local health specialists in order to provide the best possible care for each patient.

We pride ourselves on receiving various referrals from MDs and will refer the patient back once treatment is completed.

While medical doctors help with many problems/diagnosis, most do not have much training in the conservative treatment of joint or muscle pain.

The chiropractor at Upstate Spine & Sport is a front of the lines, primary care clinician for your musculoskeletal issues.

The doctor will assess and classify the reason for your pain and symptoms and deliver the appropriate treatment, or refer you to the appropriate provider in the most efficient way possible.

No, we do not have an x-ray machine in the office nor do we depend on it for diagnostic purposes. We have a movement-based approach to our practice, so looking at a static picture, such as an x-ray image, would not alter how we would address your problem.

If you suffered a traumatic accident such as a slip and fall, or we find something during your history and examination where imaging (e.g., x-ray, CT scan, MRI) is warranted, or we’re not meeting expected progress, we will make the referral for imaging accordingly.

In some cases, it’s important to get an imaging study to determine whether or not treatment is viable. Your chiropractor will be able to make this recommendation for you.

Four years of chiropractic college is required after completing specific undergraduate requirements. The chiropractic graduate school classes are very similar to medical school; however, the chiropractic student will spend more time on anatomy, nutrition, and chiropractic technique whereas the medical student will spend more time on pathology and pharmacology.

Upstate Spine & Sport can work with all forms of insurance, but we do not bill insurance directly. We require payment at time of service and provide you with a superbill to submit to your insurance for reimbursement. Your insurance company will send you a check in the mail for what is covered by your plan. Our staff is happy to help you through this process and answer any of your questions.

Yes. Please contact us and make sure to let us know that your injury is related to an MVA as we may need to collect additional information from you so we can correctly and most effectively process your appointment.

Acupuncture is a system of healthcare aimed at naturally promoting health and alleviating sickness through the stimulation of very specific anatomical points, known as acupuncture points, throughout the body. These points generally lie along meridians, or energy channels, that run through and along the surface of the body. It is believed that pain and sickness occur when these channels become blocked, and that these blockages can be removed through the stimulation of acupuncture points. In modern day acupuncture, this stimulation is achieved by superficially inserting sterile, super thin, disposable needles into these points. This may be done with or without the addition of gentle needle manipulation, heat, or electricity to further stimulate the points and break up the obstructions.

Although acupuncture may seem mysterious to some, it is a time tested therapy that was first developed in China thousands of years ago and is still very much a main method of healthcare there and in many other parts of the world today. It is one of the most proven and well-known forms of alternative therapies, and many studies have been conducted demonstrating the safety and efficacy of acupuncture.

During a typical first visit, your acupuncturist will take a detailed health history, fully investigate your chief complaint, perform a physical exam, and determine the best plan for treatment. This plan may include acupuncture as well as additional techniques, such as cupping, bodywork, electro-stimulation, or moxibustion, if necessary. This may take 60 minutes but is necessary to create an individualized treatment plan that addresses your unique health condition while focusing on your main concern. Treatments during subsequent visits will be adapted to your progress and will generally last between 30 to 45 minutes.

Wearing loose, comfortable clothing is best to allow easy access to acupuncture points. Our clinic is also equipped with gowns and towels if needed. Try and have a light meal prior to treatment and remember to stay hydrated. After your visit, refrain from overexertion, working out, drugs or alcohol for up to six hours. This is an important time to relax and get plenty of rest if possible. Between visits, please take note of any changes that may have occurred, such as the alleviation of pain or other symptoms, pain moving to other areas, or changes in the frequency and type of problems.

Each person is different. For most people, acupuncture causes minimal to no pain. Unlike hypodermic needles that are used for injections, acupuncture needles are solid, remarkably thin, and therefore cause very little pain. During the insertion of needles, some people feel nothing, while others experience a quick twinge, which may be followed by tingling, numbness, heaviness or warmth. This is a desired affect and should not be uncomfortable.

Often, during an acupuncture treatment, a patient feels so relaxed that he or she will fall asleep. Needles generally remain in place for 15 to 40 minutes, depending on the patient and overall treatment plan. At the end of a session, the acupuncturist quickly removes the needles – this is painless. Symptom relief may occur immediately, or in the few days that follow a treatment. For complex, longstanding complaints, more than one treatment is required.

Needle apprehension is very common and natural. Most people do not realize how thin the needles are and that they are nothing like the needles used in a medical setting that we associate with pain. It is also important to remember that needling is not the only modality used for treatment. Our acupuncturist is trained in several healing techniques including acupressure, cupping, Asian bodywork, moxibustion, ear seeds and qigong. None of these things involve needles. Remember that this is your treatment and your body – come to your appointment equipped with any questions or concerns you have. We are here to make you feel comfortable with your treatment and make sure it is tailored to your specific needs.

Benefits are often felt immediately after the first treatment although acupuncture builds on itself as it returns the body to a state of health. As treatment progresses, so too does the length of time that its effects last.

Frequency of treatments is dependent on the nature and severity of your condition. Chronic conditions generally take longer to resolve than acute ones, and the longer a patient has had a condition, the longer it usually takes to resolve. Other factors that influence the number of treatments needed include the patient’s lifestyle, overall health, and constitution.

Our acupuncturist is happy to meet with you for a free 15-minute consultation to assess your individual situation and give you a sense of your likely course of treatment.

At Upstate Spine & Sport, our acupuncturist has an undergraduate degree and completed a master’s degree consisting of 3 academic years of study, which includes extensive hours of classroom time as well as hands-on clinic time treating patients. In addition, in order to become licensed in South Carolina, candidates must pass a rigorous national board examination given by the National Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). In contrast, other practitioners, such as chiropractors, medical doctors, and physical therapists can practice acupuncture or dry needling with as little as 100 hours of training. Licensed acupuncturists use acupuncture and its underlying theories as their main therapy, enabling them to utilize their expertise to safely and effectively treat patients.

Cupping therapy is an ancient Chinese form of alternative medicine in which a glass or plastic suction cup is placed on the skin. It is used to mobilize and stimulate the flow of both blood and energy in order to promote healing. Suction is created using heat (fire) or mechanical devices (hand or electrical pumps). The cups can remain stationary or be gently moved across the skin. The suction in the cups causes the skin and superficial muscle layer to be lightly drawn into the cup. For most patients, this is a particularly relaxing and relieving sensation. This type of treatment lasts around 10 minutes depending on the patient and their treatment plan.

Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy using moxa made from dried mugwort. It plays an important role in the traditional medical systems of China (including Tibet), Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Mongolia. Suppliers usually age the mugwort and grind it up to a fluff or process it further into a cigar-shaped stick – known as a moxa stick.

Our acupuncturist uses moxa to warm regions and specific acupuncture points with the intention of stimulating circulation through the body, strengthening the blood, and maintaining general health. It is very good for treating chronic problems, particularly in a condition of weakness known as “deficiency conditions”. During a moxa treatment at Upstate Spine & Sport, the patient will experience a pleasant heating sensation that penetrates deep into the skin, but will not experience any pain, blistering or scarring.

If your plan provides coverage for Acupuncture out of network, we are more than happy to provide you with all of the documentation needed to submit to your carrier for reimbursement. Patients are always welcome to utilize their flexible spending accounts, healthcare savings accounts, or healthcare reimbursement accounts to pay for acupuncture services. If you have any questions about your coverage, our pricing, or payment for acupuncture please call us. We are more than happy to help!