Frequently Asked Questions
Lagoni Chiropractic - Pendleton Chiropractor
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If you do not see your question answered here, call us at (765) 778-4095 and a real person will pick up.
Getting Started FAQs
Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor?
No. You can call and schedule directly without a referral from your primary care provider or any other doctor. Just give us a call during office hours and we will get you set up.
How do I schedule my first appointment?
Call us during office hours at (765) 778-4095 and a real person will pick up. If it is after hours, fill out the contact form on our New Patient page and we will get back to you the next business day.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Bring your insurance card and a photo ID. If you have any recent imaging related to your condition, such as X-rays or an MRI, bring those along as well. New patient paperwork can be completed through our secure patient portal before your appointment to save time. You will find the link in the footer of this page.
Do I need to fill out paperwork before I come in?
You can complete new patient paperwork through our secure online portal before your appointment, which saves time on the day of your visit. If you prefer to fill it out in the office that is fine too. Either way plan to arrive a few minutes early for your first visit.
How long will my first appointment take?
Plan for about an hour. The initial exam is thorough by design and includes a detailed health history, physical evaluation, and X-rays if clinically indicated. Follow-up visits are shorter once your care plan is underway.
What if I am not sure whether chiropractic can help with what I am dealing with?
Call us and describe what is going on. Dr. Jay will give you an honest answer about whether chiropractic is likely to be helpful for your situation. If it is not the right fit, he will tell you and point you in a better direction.
What to Expect FAQs
Will I get adjusted on my first visit?
In most cases, no. Your first visit is a thorough evaluation including a detailed health history and physical examination. If X-rays are taken, Dr. Jay reviews the findings before beginning treatment. Most patients receive their first adjustment at the second visit, the Report of Findings. This approach leads to better outcomes and fewer surprises.
What happens at the Report of Findings appointment?
The Report of Findings is your second visit. Dr. Jay will walk you through his findings, your diagnosis, and his recommended care plan in plain language. You will receive a home exercise program specific to your condition, a summary of your insurance coverage and expected costs, and a clear picture of what improvement should look like and on what timeline. Most patients receive their first adjustment at this visit.
Will the adjustment hurt?
Most patients are surprised by how comfortable an adjustment is. There may be some mild soreness in the first day or two after the initial adjustment, similar to what you might feel after starting a new exercise routine. Dr. Jay will explain what he is doing before he does it and will always work within your comfort level. If manual adjusting is not right for your situation, the Arthrostim instrument delivers a gentle, effective alternative without the manual thrust.
How many visits will I need?
It depends on your condition, how long you have had it, and how your body responds to care. Dr. Jay will give you a realistic estimate at your Report of Findings appointment based on your specific findings. Care plans run in one-month or 12-visit blocks. Simple cases sometimes resolve sooner. You will never be given a vague open-ended treatment plan without objective benchmarks to measure your progress.
How do you track whether I am improving?
Dr. Jay uses standardized functional questionnaires at the initial exam and at progress exams to track improvement objectively. You will be able to see your progress in measurable terms, not just how you feel on a given day. If improvement is not tracking the way the care plan anticipates, Dr. Jay will discuss next steps honestly rather than continuing the same approach indefinitely.
Do I have to keep coming forever?
No. Acute care ends when the condition resolves. Some patients choose to continue with periodic wellness visits after their initial complaint is resolved because they find it beneficial for how they feel and function. That is always a clinical recommendation based on individual circumstances, never a pressure campaign. You are in control of your care at every stage.
Can I walk in as a new patient?
Walk-ins are accepted for current patients only. New patients are scheduled appointments so Dr. Jay has the time needed to do a thorough evaluation. Scheduling is easy and same-week appointments are often available.
Insurance & Payment FAQs
Do you accept my insurance?
Lagoni Chiropractic is in-network with most major insurance carriers including Aetna, Ambetter, Anthem (Blue Cross Blue Shield), CareSource, Cigna, Devoted Health Plans, Humana, Indiana Medicaid, Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), Medicare, MHS (Managed Health Services), SIHO, Unified Group Services, and Wellcare/Allwell.
If you do not see your carrier on the list, call your insurance provider directly to confirm whether Lagoni Chiropractic is in your network.
Do you accept UHC?
Not currently. If you have UHC coverage, call us and we will talk through your options as a cash-pay patient.
What if I do not have insurance?
We see plenty of cash-pay patients. Initial visit costs vary depending on medical necessity and the services provided. Follow-up visits are priced based on what the visit involves. Call the office for current rates. There are no packages to purchase and no long-term financial commitments required.
When will I find out what my out-of-pocket costs will be?
At your Report of Findings appointment, you will receive a printed summary of your insurance benefits and expected out-of-pocket costs before your care plan begins. You will know what to expect financially before you commit to anything.
Do you require prepayment or long-term contracts?
No. Care is provided on a pay-as-you-go basis. Care plans run in one-month or 12-visit blocks and you will never be asked to prepay for a package of visits or sign a long-term financial agreement. Simple cases sometimes resolve before the care plan is complete and that is fine.
Do you offer CareCredit?
Yes. CareCredit is available as a payment option for patients who prefer to finance their care. Call the office for details.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept most major insurance, cash, check, and credit card. Online payment is also available through our secure payment portal linked in the footer of this page.
Chiropractic FAQs
Is chiropractic safe?
Yes, for the vast majority of patients. Chiropractic is one of the most researched forms of conservative healthcare and has a strong safety record when performed by a licensed, trained provider. Dr. Jay performs a thorough evaluation before any treatment begins to confirm that chiropractic is appropriate for your specific situation. If it is not, he will tell you.
What techniques does Dr. Jay use?
Dr. Jay uses Gonstead, Diversified, and Thompson techniques for manual adjusting, along with the Arthrostim instrument for patients who prefer or require a lower force approach. The technique used is based on what the clinical findings show and what the patient is comfortable with. Dr. Jay is not committed to any single method and selects the approach that makes the most sense for each individual case.
What conditions does chiropractic treat?
Chiropractic is most commonly associated with back pain and neck pain, but the scope is considerably broader. Lagoni Chiropractic treats sciatica, disc injuries, headaches, radiculopathy, shoulder and extremity conditions, sports injuries, work injuries, pregnancy-related pain, pediatric conditions, vertigo, scoliosis, and more. Visit our Common Conditions page for the full list.
How does a chiropractic adjustment work?
A chiropractic adjustment applies a controlled force to a restricted or misaligned spinal or extremity joint to restore normal motion and alignment. This reduces mechanical stress on surrounding nerves and soft tissues, improves joint function, and allows the body to move and heal more effectively. The audible pop sometimes associated with adjusting is simply the release of gas from the joint fluid and is not an indicator of a successful adjustment.
Can chiropractic help me avoid surgery?
For many patients, yes. Conservative chiropractic care is widely supported as a first-line treatment for conditions like disc herniation, sciatica, and radiculopathy before surgical options are considered. Dr. Jay's own recovery from a herniated disc without surgery is the reason he became a chiropractor. That said, surgery is sometimes necessary and Dr. Jay will be honest with you if that appears to be the case for your situation.
Will I need X-rays?
Not every patient requires X-rays. Dr. Jay determines whether imaging is clinically indicated based on the history and physical examination. When X-rays are needed, they are taken right here in the office with a fully functional digital X-ray unit. Most films are reviewed by a radiologist before findings are discussed with you.
Can chiropractic make my condition worse?
It is possible to experience temporary soreness after an adjustment, particularly early in care. Significant worsening of a condition from chiropractic care is rare when the evaluation is thorough and the treatment is appropriate. Dr. Jay performs a detailed exam before treatment begins specifically to identify any factors that would make chiropractic inadvisable. If those factors are present, he will not proceed with adjusting and will discuss appropriate alternatives or referrals.
Do I have to keep getting adjusted forever to see results?
No. Most patients complete a defined course of care for their presenting complaint and are discharged when the condition has resolved or reached maximum improvement. Some choose to continue with periodic wellness care afterward because they find it beneficial. That decision is always the patient's to make.
About The Practice FAQs
How long has Lagoni Chiropractic been open?
Lagoni Chiropractic has been serving the Pendleton area for nearly 20 years. Dr. Jay graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 2005 and has been in continuous practice in Pendleton since shortly after graduating.
Will I always see Dr. Jay or will I be passed off to someone else?
Dr. Jay is your doctor from your first visit to your last. This is a one-doctor practice, not a revolving door of associates. On the rare occasion he takes planned time off, he arranges coverage so patients on active care plans are not left without care.
Is this a franchise or corporate practice?
No. Lagoni Chiropractic is an independent solo practice. Dr. Jay owns and operates the office and sees every patient himself. There is no corporate model, no production quotas, and no pressure to hit visit numbers. Care decisions are made based on what is right for the patient.
Does Dr. Jay live in Pendleton?
Yes. Dr. Jay lives in Pendleton, his sons go to school here, and the practice has been part of the community long enough to have treated three generations of numerous local families. This is not a provider who commutes in from somewhere else. He is a neighbor.
Do you see walk-in patients?
Walk-ins are welcome for current patients. New patients are seen by scheduled appointment so Dr. Jay has the time needed to conduct a thorough evaluation. Same-week appointments are often available for new patients.
What are your office hours?
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8am -12pm and 2pm - 6pm
Tuesday: 9am - 12pm and 3pm to 7pm
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Closed
Where is the office located?
Lagoni Chiropractic is located at 6535 IN-67, Suite 200, Pendleton, Indiana 46064. The office is on the IN-67 corridor and is convenient for patients coming from Pendleton, Anderson, Fortville, and Lapel.
Does Dr. Jay coordinate with other healthcare providers?
Yes, regularly. Dr. Jay communicates with patients' other providers when it is relevant to their care, facilitates referrals when a condition requires specialist evaluation, and has working relationships with stand-alone MRI facilities for advanced imaging. Chiropractic care does not exist in a silo and Dr. Jay treats it as part of the broader healthcare picture for each patient.
Special Populations FAQs
Do you treat children?
Absolutely. Dr. Jay has treated pediatric patients of all ages, from newborns to high school athletes, including his own three sons. Adjusting techniques for children use significantly less force than adult adjustments and are adapted to the size and development of each child. Chiropractic care for kids is gentle, safe, and effective for a range of conditions including sports injuries, postural concerns, and back or neck pain from backpacks and prolonged sitting.
Do you treat pregnant patients?
Yes. Pregnancy-related back pain and sciatica are among the more common conditions treated at Lagoni Chiropractic. Treatment is adapted to each trimester and to the specific complaints and physical changes of each patient. Positioning and techniques are modified throughout the pregnancy to ensure comfort and safety. The Arthrostim instrument is particularly useful during pregnancy for patients who prefer a lower force approach.
Do you treat athletes?
Yes. Dr. Jay treats athletes of all ages and levels, from Pendleton Heights student athletes to middle-aged adults who are not ready to slow down. He has a personal background in wrestling and understands the physical demands of competitive sport. Sports injuries, performance-related conditions, and the cumulative effects of training are all within the regular scope of care at Lagoni Chiropractic.
Do you treat elderly patients?
Yes. Dr. Jay has treated patients ranging from newborn to 103 years old. Care for older patients is adapted to account for changes in bone density, joint health, and overall physical condition. The Arthrostim instrument and Thompson drop technique are particularly useful for elderly patients who benefit from a lower force approach. Older patients are some of the most consistent beneficiaries of regular chiropractic care for managing the mechanical effects of aging on the spine and joints.
Do you treat patients with osteoporosis?
Patients with osteoporosis can often receive chiropractic care with appropriate modifications to technique and force. Dr. Jay will review bone density history and any relevant imaging as part of the initial evaluation and will adjust the treatment approach accordingly. If the degree of bone loss makes manual adjusting inadvisable, instrument adjusting with the Arthrostim is frequently a safe and effective alternative.
Do you treat patients who have had spinal surgery?
It depends on the type of surgery, how long ago it was performed, and the current condition of the spine. Many post-surgical patients benefit from chiropractic care, particularly for the segments above and below the surgical level. Dr. Jay will review surgical history and any available imaging before developing a care plan and will be straightforward about what is and is not appropriate given the surgical history.
Do you accept personal injury cases?
Yes. Dr. Jay accepts personal injury cases and can work with legal representation when documentation of care and outcomes is needed. If you were injured in an auto accident or another incident that may involve a personal injury claim, call us to discuss how care can be coordinated alongside your legal case.