So, let’s just say you “Googled” and did a general search “chiropractor near me” or simply, “chiropractor”. Maybe you just searched by your symptom “sciatica” or “headaches” and you’ve landed on our page. Let’s also say you’ve never been to a chiropractor before. Maybe you’ve seen a YouTube video or heard stories, both good and bad with everyone having a seemingly unique experience. In this blog post, I will explain what you can expect on your first visit to our office.
Consultation
Once you’ve completed your necessary patient forms and the front desk has collected all the necessary documents to create your patient file, a staff member will take you back and collect a health history. The health history is just a series of questions, many of them relating to your chief complaint.
They’ll ask about its location and if you are experiencing any referred symptoms. Referred symptoms meaning any pain radiating from the main area of concern - whether that be numbness, tingling, shooting pain, or weakness.
The staff member will also dive into questions regarding the onset of your pain and get specific details as to the mechanism of your injury. Commonly, you could be asked if there was a single traumatic incident that caused the pain or if it was something that gradually came on overtime. In addition, the staff member will ask about what makes your pain better (heat, ice, exercise, sitting, laying down, etc.) and what activities make it worse (heat, ice, medication, specific activities, etc.).
You will also be asked about your treatment history - any traumas, surgeries, recent imaging studies (x-rays, MRI, CT, etc.) so be prepared to provide that information if necessary.
Next, they will also ask a variety of questions regarding your overall health and lifestyle choices. These questions may include, but are not limited to, asking about your diet, alcohol consumption, tobacco/recreational drug use, as well as any supplements or medications you could be taking. In addition, getting information about your exercise habits and activity modifications will also be hugely helpful in tailoring treatment specific to your fitness goals. They can also ask about your sleep habits and about any other stressors in your life that could be contributing to your pain.
Phew, interview over! Now the doctor should have a clear picture and understanding of your chief complaint, and past medical/social history.
Examination
Evidence-based chiropractors like to perform very thorough and detailed examinations to determine what specifically is causing your pain or movement dysfunction.
It is important that the entire body is assessed while stressing multiple structures as dysfunctions elsewhere in the body could be contributing to your site of pain. For example, chronic knee pain could be a result of nerve impingement in the low back, or shoulder pain may be related to a lack of stability through the contralateral hip.
Next, the doctor will perform a neurological exam. Basically, check to see if the nerves in your upper body and lower body are working properly. They will test your reflexes, muscle strength, and skin sensation. Depending on what is found during those tests, further tests may be performed to screen for any pathology that can be affecting your central nervous system (disc herniation, spinal or brain tumor, or other disease processes). I know that may sound scary, but most neurological exams come up normal. That said, most positive findings in a neurological exam are related to non-pathological processes that can be treated and corrected in the chiropractic office without the need for medication or surgery.
Once those examinations are completed, the doctor will move on to the orthopedic exam. This exam includes “stress tests” to provoke symptoms in several different tissues - joints, muscles, and nerves. These stress tests are meant to elicit pain, and likely recreate your pain. So, you may wind up feeling sore afterward. However, these tests are not damaging. They are only performed to figure out the major source of the pain and the best course of care for you.
Finally, the doctor may take you through a functional movement examination. This includes a series of movements like a sit-to-stand, single-leg sit-to-stand, heel raises active range of motion, or passive range of motion to gain insight into your ability to perform activities of daily living. When a dysfunction is found, the doctor will be able to give you the right movement corrections that will yield the most benefit for you.
Digital Imaging & Analysis
One of the most important elements of chiropractic care is diagnostics. Chiropractors rely on a variety of diagnostic techniques to fully understand what is occurring in the patient’s musculoskeletal system, and how a given treatment intervention could bring about positive results in said patient.
One of the most heavily relied on diagnostic techniques in chiropractic care is the X-ray. Chiropractic care is free of any sort of surgery, leaving chiropractors only to need to see the layout of the bones in the body, which is exactly what the X-ray provides.
Because chiropractic care uses spinal manipulation and other techniques that involve the movement of skeletal components with the hands or with the use of the instrument, an X-ray can show a chiropractor exactly what is happening in the body in terms of alignment and structure. The X-ray conveys some other information too, such as the presence of scar tissue or arthritis in each area, both occurrences that need to be considered when forming some sort of treatment pathway.
It is important to highlight that X-rays are not used universally in chiropractic care. In most cases, the chiropractor can determine what is occurring in the musculoskeletal system without the need for imaging technology. X-rays are usually reserved for the more severe cases in which there may be a serious condition present, such as scoliosis, osteoporosis, spinal stenosis, or anything else.
There are some other imaging technologies that are used in chiropractic care, but these are even rarer. To fully grasp the condition of a given patient’s musculoskeletal health, an X-ray may be used to gain additional insight after the initial examination. By looking at the spine and joints from different angles, there may be a discovery that wouldn't have been noted before. Some are concerned about the use of x-rays, but the benefits far outweigh the risks.
After the X-rays, the chiropractor may want to perform an adjustment after reviewing your x-rays (not every patient gets adjusted on the first visit). The doctor may also have a staff digitally scan your feet to evaluate your postural health and kinetic chain. After your feet are scanned, the machine will create a digital image of your feet and show the weight distribution on each foot, and indicate any imbalance or weakness in your feet. In some cases, he will also send our Whole Life Q a nutritional assessment that we use in our office.
A new patient visit in our office is about 45 minutes- an hour, the front desk when then get you scheduled for your report of findings apt. After your new patient visit, the doctor and the rehab team will then review the exam that was performed and imaging that was performed that day and create a program for you.
At your report of findings visit, you will meet with the doctor to go over the program his team created for you, which typically includes chiropractic adjustments and corrective exercises. Next, you will meet with our case manager to discuss any financial responsibilities and any insurance questions you may have to get you started on the doctor's recommended program. To book your new patient visit click here or call the office at 219-696.8916 we look forward to seeing you soon.
