Your First Visit

Your chiropractor may be treating your muscle or joint pain, but he or she needs to understand how your body functions as a whole. In particular he or she will focus on your spine, joints, muscles, and nervous system. Your Doctor of chiropractic needs a complete picture of your health history and overall current health in order to provide the best possible treatment for you.
Set aside at least 45 minutes for your first visit to the chiropractic clinic. Future visits typically last 15 minutes or so. Here’s what you might expect

The First Visit

Your intern may ask about the following

personal and family medical history
major illnesses
surgeries or operations
prescription or over the counter medications
a description of your present condition
steps you have taken to manage your condition
diet and exercise routine
herbal remedies and other supplements
your sleeping habits, daily activities, work routine, stress level, and home life

<h5 style="text-align: justify;">TIP: Wear comfortable clothes and shoes</h5> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li>check your blood pressure, pulse, and breathing</li> <li>test your reflexes, strength, and sensations</li> <li>assess your posture</li> <li>analyse your overall movement – through observing how you walk, turn, bend or lift things</li> <li>evaluation of how well your spine moves, identifying restrictions and areas of improper motion</li> <li>x-ray your spine</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <h5 style="text-align: justify;">TIP: Bring a copy of any x-rays or radiology reports you have</h5> <p style="text-align: justify;">These assessments give your Dr. a better picture of your health. The Dr. will make a diagnosis, prescribe a course of treatment, and once the matter of informed consent has been discussed, treatment begins. Treatment may commence during the first or in the next follow-up visit. If your Dr. diagnoses a condition more appropriately treated by another health care professional, he will make a referral. Your treatment from the Dr. will often include exercise, diet, and other healthy living suggestions.</p> <h5 style="text-align: justify;">What is an adjustment and how do I benefit from this procedure?</h5> <p style="text-align: justify;">An adjustment (also known as manipulation) is a precise procedure, usually applied by hand, to the joints of the body. Your Dr. has received extensive training to perform this procedure. Adjustments work to improve mobility, restore range of motion, and increase movement of the adjoining muscles to relieve pressure and tension. Patients typically notice a reduction of pain, soreness and stiffness, and improved mobility.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Since your neck is an important part of the spine, a neck adjustment may be prescribed. Your Dr. is trained to determine if this procedure is right for you. He may decide to use massage, ultrasound, or other therapies to treat your condition.</p> <h5 style="text-align: justify;">Stages of Care</h5> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li>Relief care is provided for relief of immediate pain, restricted mobility, and discomfort. Depending on the diagnosis, your age, physical condition, how long you have had the current complaint, and previous injuries, a few or several visits over a relatively short period of time, may be necessary.</li> <li>Corrective care treats conditions that are more severe, recurring or have existed with or without pain for some time. These may require a longer, more complex period of care. Once the severity of your condition has decreased through relief care, corrective care helps to restore normal function to your spine, muscles, supporting tissues, and the nerves affected by them.</li> <li>Supportive care helps you maintain and preserve the benefits you’ve achieved from relief and corrective care. Chiropractors are also trained to detect conditions in their early stages, often before you feel pain or reduced mobility. Continuing to work with your intern and having periodic spinal check-ups and treatments, if needed, will keep your spine as healthy as possible. Your intern will work with you to find a maintenance schedule that suits your condition, health care goals, and lifestyle.</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <h5 style="text-align: justify;">How often do I need to see a Dr. of chiropractic?</h5> <p style="text-align: justify;">Your Dr. will discuss a schedule of care, which will depend on your specific circumstances. Initially the most common frequency is 3 times per week. Some patients are seen more frequently, daily in fact. Other patients are les frequent. For some people chiropractic treatment is like a regular tune-up, to help deal with the regular wear and tear of life. For others, it’s simply an effective treatment when pain or discomfort strikes.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Take the time to discuss with your intern the treatment plan that’s best for you.</p> <p>

The First Visit

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