First Chiropractor Treatment
If you’ve never had chiropractic treatment before, then you probably have a lot of questions and concerns about what your first visit is going to be like. Your first visit will involve an examination in order to provide the chiropractor with a complete picture of your current health condition. The things that will be covered include: patient history, physical examination, diagnostic studies, diagnosis, and a chiropractic treatment plan. The patient history portion of your first chiropractic treatment consists usually of the standard forms that you’re used to filling out before any doctor’s visit. Questions usually concern your symptoms, medications you’re taking, whether you have been in a car accident, and the like.
When you are called in to see the chiropractor you’ll begin your physical examination. Don’t worry; this isn’t the standard physical you’re thinking of. Instead, you will be asked to move you head and neck so that the doctor can determine the full range of motion of the affected area. Other things he or she will look at include muscle tone and strength, neurological integrity, and posture. While diagnostic studies are the next part your first chiropractic treatment, they aren’t always required. It depends on the preference of the chiropractor. These include X-rays, MRIs, and other extensive tests.
The history, examination, and any diagnostic studies performed all come together for the diagnosis portion of your first chiropractic treatment. Here the doctor will determine what is causing the pain and which specific treatments he or she can use in order to treat you. The chiropractor will explain his diagnosis, his plan of treatment, and give you an estimate on how long you should receive care before you are better. If he or she feels you would benefit more from seeing a standard physician or specialist, they will refer you to one at this point. In some cases, such as lower back pain, you will be asked to receive treatment from other physicians while still seeing your chiropractor for regular adjustments.
Finally, if you and your chiropractor decide that you would benefit from treatment you will receive your fist chiropractic adjustment. You will have either heat or ice applied to the problem area for about 10 or so minutes. Afterwards the doctor will crack your back and neck in the appropriate places relevant to your ailment. Even though this process seems like quite a long time, it will probably only take about an hour or so to complete if no diagnostic tests are done.