To help you best, we need to get a little more information about you. During your first visit, we will ask you to fill out some brief paperwork that will give us more of an idea of your health history and your health goals. If we think we can help, we'll do an examination. We'll study the way you turn and bend. We may test your reflexes or take x-rays. Although our examination is thorough, it is also tailored to you. If you don't require x-rays, none will be taken.
We'll study the results of the tests and discuss our findings with you and what we believe will help you achieve your health goals best. If we find that you'd benefit from consulting a different practitioner, we'll make the proper referral. Otherwise we'll recommend a program of specific chiropractic adjustments.
With your plan in place, we'll schedule your future visits. Future visits will be much quicker, generally only taking a few minutes. The purpose of the subsequent but frequent visits will be to locate and reduce the misalignment in your spine and monitor the healing process. There will be more frequent visits at first, but as your body heals, we may be able to slow and reduce the number of visits.
You may have other questions, here are a few of the most common ones we're asked:
How long until I feel better?
Some patients experience almost instant relief while others discover that the healing process can take months or sometimes years. Everyone recovers at his or her own pace based on a lot of different factors including age, overall health, muscle tone and diet. Even your attitude plays a part in your healing process. We understand this, and will be sensitive to your concerns and do our best to encourage and help you take charge of your own healing process.
When will I get my first adjustment?
That depends on your complaint and how long it takes us to study your examination and come up with the best plan to help you heal.
Will I receive any medication for my pain?
No. Chiropractic doctors don't dispense drugs because we rely on more natural methods to reduce and control pain. We'll instruct you on the proper way to use ice to control any painful symptoms, which when properly applied, can have an analgesic effect without the side effects associated with pain medications.
