Frequently Asked Questions

No. You can call and book an appointment yourself. Some insurance plans want a referral before they will pay, so it is worth checking with yours, but you do not need one to come and see us.

Usually the same week. We are open 9 to 5 Monday through Friday and 10 to 1 on Saturday, which helps if you cannot get away during the work week. Call the office and we will find you a time.

We talk before we treat. You tell us what happened and where it hurts, we look at how you move and go through an examination, and then we tell you what we think is going on and what we can do about it. Most people get their first treatment at that same visit, once we know what we are treating.

Wear something you can move comfortably in. You stay in your own clothes. Plan on the first visit taking longer than the ones after it, because most of that appointment is the examination and the conversation that follows it.

Back and neck pain are the bulk of it. Beyond that we see sciatica, headaches, disc problems, shoulder and knee trouble, sports injuries, whiplash after a car accident, and the aches that build up slowly at a desk or on a shop floor. If you are not sure whether your problem fits, call and describe it to us.

No. It is a fair thing to worry about and we hear it often. We treat the problem you came in with, and when it has settled you are done. Some patients choose to come back now and then because it keeps them comfortable, but that is their decision, not a condition of being treated here.

Mostly it depends on how long you have had the problem. Something that started last week often settles in a few visits. Something you have carried for years takes longer, because your body has built habits around it. We give you an honest estimate after the examination rather than signing you up for a package.

For most people, yes, and serious problems are rare. What makes it safe is the examination we do first. Some conditions need a gentler approach, and a few need a different kind of doctor altogether. If yours is one of those, we will say so and point you to the right place.

The two overlap more than people expect, and plenty of patients see both. Broadly, we work on restoring movement to joints that have stiffened and on the muscle and fascia around them. Physical therapy leans harder on rehabilitation and exercise. We do exercise work as well, so for a lot of problems either is a reasonable place to start.

Many plans do, though what they cover varies a good deal between them. Bring your card and we will help you work out what yours includes. If you would rather know before you come in, call your insurer and ask what your plan covers for chiropractic care.

Yes, with the technique adapted as you go. Positioning changes so there is no pressure on your abdomen, and the force we use comes right down. We work alongside your obstetrician or midwife rather than in place of them, and we make no claims about affecting labor or delivery.

Yes. Children are not small adults, so the force we use is a small fraction of what an adult gets. Most of what we see in children is postural: a backpack worn on one shoulder, hours hunched over a screen, or a sport where one side of the body does all the work.

Get looked at, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline hides a lot in the first day or two, and neck stiffness, headaches and back pain often turn up later. Coming in early also puts the injury on record while the link to the crash is still clear, which matters if there is a claim.

Dr. Sami Makhoul or his son, Dr. Adam Makhoul. Dr. Sami has practiced here in Dearborn since 1980 and has spent a good part of his career working with professional athletes.