Lazar Spinal Care Blog | Guides on Pain & Injury

What to Expect: Your Lazar Spinal Care Appointment

Written by Dr. Jonathan Lazar | May 28, 2026 2:05:50 PM

If you feel like you’ve tried everything for your chronic pain without success, it might be time for a different approach. Our clinic is the only one in Ann Arbor specializing in upper cervical chiropractic care. This gentle, precise technique focuses on the top of your spine, which acts as the control center for your entire body. A small misalignment here can cause issues elsewhere. By addressing this critical area, we help people find lasting relief from conditions like migraines, vertigo, and sciatica. Find out if this unique method is right for you by scheduling a Lazar Spinal Care appointment.

Key Takeaways

  • Focus on the root cause, not just the symptoms: Lazar Spinal Care uses advanced diagnostics to find the true source of your health issues, offering a path to lasting wellness instead of quick, temporary fixes.
  • Benefit from specialized, gentle care: As Ann Arbor's only upper cervical specialist, the clinic provides precise treatments without the forceful twisting or popping often associated with chiropractic care, making your healing process comfortable.
  • Get clear answers from day one: Your first two visits are designed to give you a complete picture of your health, including a detailed report and a personalized plan that answers what's wrong, if they can help, and how long it will take.

Discover the Lazar Spinal Care Difference

When you’re dealing with persistent health issues, you want more than a temporary fix. You want real answers and lasting solutions. At Lazar Spinal Care, our entire approach is built around that idea. We look at things differently to help you get back to living your life fully. From our specialized focus to our advanced diagnostic tools, you’ll find a level of care that’s as unique as you are. We’re here to partner with you on your health journey, starting with a clear understanding of what’s truly going on in your body.

Address the Root Cause, Not Just the Symptoms

It’s easy to get caught in a cycle of treating symptoms. A pill for the headache, a stretch for the back pain, another pill when the headache returns. We believe there’s a better way. Our primary goal is to uncover and address the underlying cause of your health challenges. By focusing on the root of the problem, we can create a path toward genuine, long-term healing, not just temporary relief. This foundational approach is why we can help with so many different conditions, from migraines to sciatica.

Ann Arbor's Only Upper Cervical Specialist

Our practice is unique in Ann Arbor because we specialize in upper cervical chiropractic care. Think of the top two bones in your neck, where your head meets your spine, as the control center for your entire body. A tiny misalignment here can create a ripple effect, leading to issues throughout your system. As the only clinic in the area with this specific focus, we use gentle and precise techniques like Quantum Spinal Mechanics (QSM3) to restore balance to this critical area. This specialized expertise allows us to provide targeted care that makes a significant difference.

See Your Health Clearly with Advanced Diagnostics

We don’t believe in guesswork when it comes to your health. Your journey with us begins with a comprehensive NeuroBioStructural Analysis. This isn't a quick check-up; it's a deep dive into your body's function using advanced tools like PostureIQ™ and Insight™ neurological scans. These diagnostics give us a detailed picture of your spinal alignment and nervous system health. After your first visit, you’ll receive a full report that clearly explains what we found. This process ensures you have concrete answers and a solid understanding of your path to wellness from day one, which you can learn more about on our new patients page.

Heal with Gentle, Specialized Techniques

If you’re nervous about the idea of being twisted or popped, you can relax. Our approach is different. We use gentle, non-invasive methods that are tailored to your body’s specific needs. Because our adjustments are so precise, they don’t require the heavy force often associated with general chiropractic care. We want you to feel safe and comfortable throughout your healing process. Our specialized techniques are designed to be both incredibly effective and exceptionally gentle, allowing your body to heal naturally and without additional stress.

Your First Two Visits: A Step-by-Step Guide

Walking into a new doctor’s office can feel a little overwhelming, but we’ve designed our new patient process to be as clear and comfortable as possible. From the moment you book your appointment, our focus is on understanding your unique health story so we can find the root cause of your concerns. Here’s a simple, step-by-step look at what you can expect during your first two visits with us.

Step 1: Before Your First Visit

To help your first visit go as smoothly as possible, we ask that you fill out the new patient forms online before you arrive. This saves you time in the waiting room and gives our team a chance to review your health history beforehand. If you’re unable to complete the paperwork ahead of time, that’s perfectly okay. Just plan to arrive about 15 minutes early for your appointment so you can fill it out in our office. Our goal is to make your check-in process simple and stress-free, allowing us to focus on what truly matters: you and your health goals.

Step 2: Your Comprehensive First Visit

Your first appointment is all about getting to know you. You’ll start with a one-on-one consultation with your doctor to discuss your health concerns, challenges, and what you hope to achieve through care. Next, we’ll conduct a comprehensive examination, which may include checking your reflexes and flexibility. We will always explain what we’re doing and get your permission before proceeding with any test. Depending on your situation, we may also recommend X-ray studies. These images help us see the complete picture of your spinal health and rule out any serious underlying issues, ensuring we create the safest and most effective plan for you.

Step 3: Your Report and Personalized Care Plan

After your initial examination, your doctor will carefully analyze all the information gathered. On your second visit, you’ll receive a detailed report of findings. We believe in complete transparency, so we’ll sit down with you and answer your most pressing questions: What’s causing my problem? Can you fix it? How long will it take? And what will it cost? Based on this information and your personal health goals, we will then recommend a personalized care plan tailored specifically to you. This isn't a one-size-fits-all approach; it's a roadmap designed to get you back to feeling your best.

Get Answers After Your First Visit

One of our core promises is clarity. After your very first visit and our in-depth assessment, we can determine if your problem is something we can fix. We want you to feel confident and informed about your path to wellness. If we believe our unique approach is the right fit for you, we’ll tell you. And if we find that your condition is outside our scope of care, we will be upfront about that, too. In that case, we’ll do our best to help you find another specialist who can. Your health is our priority, and you can request your appointment today to get the answers you deserve.

Is Lazar Spinal Care Right for You?

Deciding where to turn for your health is a big decision. You want a team that listens, a process that makes sense, and results that last. If you're looking for a different approach to your health challenges, one that focuses on finding and fixing the root cause, you might be in the right place.

Find Relief from Chronic Conditions

If you're living with a persistent health issue, you know how draining it can be. It’s easy to feel like you’ve tried everything without finding real answers. At Lazar Spinal Care, we help people find lasting relief from a wide variety of chronic conditions. We frequently work with individuals struggling with migraines, vertigo, sciatica, and persistent lower back pain. Our goal isn't just to manage your symptoms, but to get to the heart of the problem so your body can truly heal. By focusing on the root cause, we help you move toward a life with less pain and more freedom. You deserve to feel your best, and we're here to help you understand the source of your discomfort and find a path forward.

Specialized Care for Every Stage of Life

Your body is unique, and your health care should be too. We provide care that’s carefully tailored to you, no matter your age or stage of life. We are the only clinic in the Ann Arbor area that specializes in upper cervical chiropractic, a precise and gentle approach focused on the top of your spine where it connects to the brainstem. This area is critical for your body's overall function. Whether you're seeking support during pregnancy, looking for gentle care for your child, or are a senior wanting to maintain your mobility and vitality, our approach is designed to meet your specific needs. We believe everyone deserves personalized care that helps them thrive.

Experience Gentle, Tailored Treatments

The thought of a chiropractic adjustment can be intimidating for some, but your experience here will be different. At Lazar Spinal Care, our methods are gentle, precise, and always personalized to your body's specific needs. We don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we use advanced diagnostics to understand exactly what's going on with your structure and nervous system. This allows us to create a care plan with gentle, specialized techniques designed for your unique situation. Our focus is on making your healing journey as comfortable and effective as possible, so you can feel at ease from your very first visit.

Hear Directly from Our Patients

We can tell you all about our approach, but sometimes it’s best to hear from the people who have already walked this path. Our patients often tell us how much they appreciate our professional and caring team, saying they feel truly seen and listened to during their visits. Many describe their experience as "painless, pleasant, and hassle-free," which is exactly what we strive for. Reading about their journeys can give you a real sense of what it's like to be a patient at Lazar Spinal Care. We invite you to hear directly from our patients and learn how they found relief and renewed hope with our help.

How to Book Your First Appointment

Taking the first step toward better health can feel like a big decision, but we’re here to make it as simple and reassuring as possible. Here’s everything you need to know about booking your first appointment and what to expect when you visit our Ann Arbor office.

Understand Your Initial Consultation

Your initial consultation is a comprehensive check-up of your spine designed to get to the heart of what’s going on. For $97, our team will perform a thorough assessment to understand your specific needs and health challenges. After we gather all the necessary information, Dr. Lazar will sit down with you to explain his findings in detail. You’ll get clear answers to your most important questions: What’s wrong and why? Can it be fixed? How long will treatment take? This first visit is all about creating a clear and personalized path forward for your health, so you leave feeling confident and informed.

Meet Your Compassionate Care Team

From the moment you walk through our doors, you’ll be greeted by a team that truly cares. We pride ourselves on creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere where you feel heard and valued. Our patients often tell us that our friendly and attentive staff makes them feel like they’re the only person in the office. We believe your journey to wellness should be as comfortable and stress-free as possible, which is why we focus on providing a painless and pleasant experience. You can get to know the faces that will be guiding you on your path to better health by learning more about our compassionate care team.

Request Your Appointment Today

Ready to get started? Booking your first appointment is straightforward. To save time during your visit, you can fill out the new patient forms on our website beforehand. When you’re ready, simply give our office a call to find a time that works for you. Taking this step allows us to prepare a custom assessment tailored specifically to your needs and health goals. Don't wait another day to find answers and start feeling better. You can request your appointment online or call us directly to begin your journey toward lasting relief and wellness.

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Frequently Asked Questions

I've been to a chiropractor before. What makes your upper cervical approach different? Think of it as the difference between a generalist and a specialist. While many chiropractors work on the entire spine, we focus specifically on the top two bones in your neck. This area is the critical junction between your head and spine, and even a tiny misalignment here can affect your entire nervous system. Our approach, using techniques like QSM3, is incredibly precise and gentle. We don't use the forceful twisting or popping you might have experienced elsewhere. Instead, we make targeted adjustments to restore balance to this vital area, which allows your whole body to function better.

You mention your techniques are gentle. What does that mean? I'm worried about being cracked or twisted. That's a very common concern, and we completely understand it. When we say gentle, we truly mean it. Our adjustments are so precise that they don't require any heavy force, twisting, or popping. We use advanced diagnostics to pinpoint the exact source of the problem, so the correction is specific and light. Most patients are surprised by how subtle the process feels. Our goal is to work with your body, not against it, to create lasting change without causing you any additional stress or discomfort.

Why are there two initial visits, and will I get any treatment on the first day? We dedicate your first visit to a thorough investigation so we can understand the root cause of your health concerns. This includes a detailed consultation, a comprehensive exam, and any necessary diagnostic imaging. We don't provide an adjustment on this first day because we believe it's irresponsible to treat a condition without first having all the facts. After your doctor carefully analyzes your results, you will return for your second visit. That is when we will explain exactly what we found, outline your personalized care plan, and, with your consent, begin your first treatment.

How do I know if your approach is right for my specific condition? Our focus on the upper cervical spine and its relationship to the nervous system allows us to help with a wide range of health challenges, many of which may not seem related to the neck at first. The best way to know for sure is to come in for our comprehensive initial consultation. After our detailed NeuroBioStructural Analysis, we can determine if your problem is something we can fix. We are always straightforward; if we believe our care is the right fit, we’ll tell you. If not, we will help you find another specialist who can better serve your needs.

How much will my care cost, and do you work with insurance? We believe in being completely transparent about the investment in your health. Your initial comprehensive consultation costs $97. During your second visit, after we have analyzed your results and created a personalized plan, we will review the exact costs and timeline for your recommended care. This ensures there are no surprises. While we don't bill insurance companies directly, we can provide you with all the necessary documentation to submit to your provider for potential reimbursement, depending on your plan's out-of-network benefits.