What's Going to Happen During My First Visit?: The main point of the first visit is to get an adequate examination and make a diagnosis. You will need to fill out a few new patient history forms and you will be asked what specific problems you have been encountering and about the nature of your pain. The chiropractor will then examine you, which may involve a few tests, such as an X-ray, to see what is going on in your body or an evaluation of your current health status.
Once you have been diagnosed, the chiropractor will develop a personalized treatment plan. The plan may include how many treatments you need to return to a proper alignment and what other procedures might occur. Depending on what is causing your pain and the severity of the issue, you may receive treatment the same day. Adjustments and treatments may be scheduled for another time, depending on your treatment plan.
Will It Hurt?: Techniques emphasize using minimal force and gentle pressure. A chiropractic adjustment is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort. Many patients report a popping sound during their adjustment. The popping noises sometimes heard are tiny pockets of gas releasing from your joints, which is completely normal.
What Can I Do?: It is important to try to be as relaxed as possible and allow your chiropractor freedom to make the adjustments. Patients who are tense or who stiffen every time the chiropractor attempts the adjustment makes it hard for the chiropractor to work in the needed area.
Your chiropractor will be happy to talk you through any adjustments to ease any anxiety you may have. Remaining relaxed will pay off, as almost all patients find great relief when normal flexibility is returned to the affected vertebrae.
