When you’ve made the commitment to see a chiropractor, you probably want to know what your first appointment will be like, and what to expect from following visits if you continue treatment for an extended period of time. Chiropractic is one of the most popular treatments for people who suffer from pain in the back, neck and joints, though it can address other issues as well. To make your first appointment less stressful, here’s a general overview of what to expect.
Preparation
When you first find a potential chiropractor, don’t be afraid to schedule a consultation appointment simply to ask questions. This appointment is purely for you to get a better understanding of what the chiropractor can do for you and what may be involved in your treatment. It can also determine if you like the chiropractor.
The Initial Appointment
Once you’ve chosen a chiropractor, you’ll go in for an initial appointment that can help the chiropractor diagnose your problems and create a treatment plan specifically for you. You should bring information about your medical history, family history, any previous injuries you’ve had, medications you take, and diet and exercise habits. All of these factors can help a chiropractor make an accurate treatment plan. Next, you’ll need to go through a physical exam that may include the chiropractor feeling your spine or watching your gait. They may test your reflexes and muscle tone, too.
Follow-Up Visits
You may receive chiropractic care in the initial appointment or you may have to schedule a second visit to begin care. During this appointment, you may be asked to lay on a table for spinal manipulations or other adjustments depending on the area where your pain is rooted. This appointment may last up to 30 minutes. If you’re showing improvement from treatments, following appointments may be significantly shorter. Some treatment plans advise you to return to the chiropractor several times each week for two to four weeks. Many people report that going consistently to the chiropractor during this time showed major pain relief. You may want to continue treatment if pain returns, but you don’t need to if your pain displays vast improvements.
Don’t be shy about telling the chiropractor, like from AmeriWell Clinics, about your pain in your initial visit. This information can be crucial to identifying causes of your problems, and a chiropractor can’t do everything for you if they don’t know the full extent of your issues.