As more Americans seek treatment for neck and back pain from chiropractic schools and private providers, the need for doctors of chiropractic medicine is expected to grow by more than 15% in the next decade. Meeting with a chiropractor does involve an initial consultation, and potential patients may wonder exactly what will occur during their first meeting with their new doctor.
Training for chiropractors is extensive, and there is a range of chiropractic services available, from x-rays to spinal manipulation that is performed by hand. Affordable chiropractic services are increasingly covered by many major health insurance companies; a track record of success over the course of the last three decades has allowed for the field to become more widely accepted by health care consumers in search of treatment.
The first visit to a chiropractor should include a chance for the patient to share their treatment history with the doctor. Chiropractors are trained to address many back and neck pain issues, and patients with chronic conditions may look to chiropractic care as an alternative to surgery. Back and neck pain can also lead to headaches, loss of time from work, and even mental problems associated with stress and exhaustion.
Patients may want to write down their history of pain in advance of their first meeting with a chiropractic doctor, in order to ensure that they communicate their condition in the most thorough way possible. If back or neck pain follows a regular pattern, such as being most extreme in the morning or evening, or if pain is getting steadily worse over a period of time, chiropractic patients should make sure to include this in their initial report.
Chiropractic patients should also bring their pain medications, if any, to their first visit with their new doctor. The goal of affordable chiropractic is often to eliminate the need for pain medication, and doctors may be able to address sciatica, scoliosis, and other issues of chronic pain. After having a conversation with their new patient about pain symptoms and history, chiropractors may conduct a physical examination.
During the physical exam portion of the chiropractic consultation, patients may be asked to demonstrate their posture or may be asked to sit, stand, or walk. Examining the affected area to get a sense of muscles’ strength and tone may be a part of the process of determining a course of treatment, and patients may be asked to demonstrate their range of motion in their neck, legs, arms, or back.
If the chiropractic patient should experience pain in the course of the exam, they should be sure to alert their doctor. Chiropractors need to develop a course of treatment for people with neck and back injuries, and knowing how injuries affect their patients’ ability to move, sit, bend, and stand is very important.
After the exam, doctors may recommend that their patients have x-rays performed, and in some cases an MRI. The more knowledge that they can acquire about a patient’s condition, the better chance they have to provide effective treatment options. Affordable chiropractic doctors will work with patients to reduce levels of pain, and may recommend specialized shoes or pillows in the course of treatment.
Finding a doctor can take a bit of research, but chiropractic patients are likely to recommend centers with effective and affordable chiropractic. Finding a referral from a colleague or family member may be the first step toward treating chronic neck and back conditions and could be an essential preventative measure that helps avoid the need for surgery. Taking time to share the details of their condition with doctors, however, could be the most important step for patients looking to establish an effective treatment plan for neck and back pain.