Are you visiting a chiropractor in Penrith (or indeed anywhere) for the first time? In case you are nervous, knowing what happens during the visit will be particularly helpful. In fact, having information about chiropractic care gives you a better experience during your appointment.
What is Chiropractic Care and Why Do You Need It?
Chiropractic care is an alternative to medications for pain relief in the bones, joints, muscles, and tissues such as tendons, cartilages, and ligaments. Sometimes, it is used alongside conventional medication. Anyone can benefit from chiropractic care. It does not matter if you suffer chronic pains or acute aches, chiropractic care remains a good way to keep up your overall wellness.
It is particularly designed to aid your body in supporting optimal health by being proactive in handling spinal misalignments so that they do not develop into serious issues. With chiropractic care, a chiropractor carries out treatments periodically to prevent mobility issues instead of handling serious conditions long after they have occurred. Additionally, if you were an accident victim, some chiropractors such as arrowhead clinic chiropractor in Brunswick can refer you to a personal injury lawyer
If you currently suffer from serious or acute back pain, mobility issues, or neck pain, chances are you’ll need chiropractic care. If you have never seen a chiropractor, your initial visit will be an in-depth evaluation and consultation to determine the exact care you need.
What You Should Expect During Your First Consultation
Your initial consultation with a chiropractor consists of a rigorous consultation to evaluate your present condition and ascertain what treatments are appropriate to your needs. Things you should expect in the appointment include:
An In-Depth Exam
This usually involves testing of motion range, posture analysis, reflex analysis, body palpitations, and questions to properly diagnose you and ascertain your needs. Some other diagnostic tests may be included e.g., neurological integrity, muscle strength, urinalysis, blood work, and muscle tone.
Advice
The chiropractor might advise you on how to maintain your adjustments or prescribe exercises you can do at home.
Symptoms and Patient History
You will be required to fill forms providing background information concerning your condition and symptoms. Questions might include:
- Where do you feel the pain?
- Was it caused by an injury?
- How and when did it start?
- What activities do you indulge in that aggravates or relieves the pain?
Leg Measurements
If one of your legs is longer, it might be a sign of many issues like a pelvis that is poorly aligned.
Pain
A major worry of a first-time patient is mostly about pain. It does not hurt one bit. You might feel some discomfort or awkwardness only because your body is not familiar with being pulled, contorted, or twisted in some directions. You rarely feel pain during the procedure. However, some people have reported soreness after an adjustment, but it is not worth worrying over because it eventually goes away in a few days.
Leg Raise
You will be asked to lie down and lift your leg and keep your knees straight. This helps the chiropractor look out for problems with legs muscles or static nerves.
Patient Diagnosis
Depending on the discretion of the chiropractor or findings from your exam, you might get an adjustment on your first visit. The diagnosis once established, aids the chiropractor to determine if your condition can be taken care of by chiropractic care. This is because some conditions like tumors, infections, or fractures cannot be treated using chiropractic methods. They require the attention of another specialist.
Walking Examination
Your chiropractor might ask you to walk a little distance to know if you are having problems with your pelvis, legs, or spine.
Adjustment
You would likely get chiropractic adjustment on your first visit and in most cases, it is a painless and quick procedure. Your chiropractor might pull, push, or twist your body to realign all misalignments along your spine.
You might hear “popping sounds” once your joints are readjusted. This should not be a cause for worry as it’s a mere side effect. It has even been reported that realignment brings instant relief. You may get this instant relief on your first visit or not depending on the severity of your condition. You can read this article for more explanation on why you may feel pain after getting an adjustment.
Final Notes
Ultimately, you should expect a follow-up exam/visit scheduled for you. Chiropractic treatments may last several weeks and your chiropractor might require you to return twice or thrice in a week. Usually, these visits are shorter compared to your initial visit. If you experience persistent pain or soreness that won’t go away, inform your chiropractor about it.
