Frequently Asked Questions: Chiropractic
What can I expect on my first Chiropractic visit?
Your first visit will take approximately 45 minutes. The Doctor of Chiropractic will take a thorough history and ask lots of questions about your injury or reason for coming to the office. She will want to know about any previous trauma, health concerns, family history, dietary habits, exercise etc. She will then perform a physical examination to try and determine what the problem is. She will do a careful examination of your spine and extremities and look for any structural abnormalities that may be affecting your condition. Sometimes she will need x‐rays before performing any treatment but not always. The exam and history will help determine if x‐rays are needed. Once the Doctor has determined what the problem is, she will explain it to you as a report of findings and decide on the appropriate form of treatment. A treatment plan will be explained and outlined.
Will I receive any treatment on my first visit?
Most of the time, you will have a treatment during your initial visit. We want you to feel good as soon as possible. However, if the Doctor wants to request x‐rays or more medical information she may delay your first adjustment until she has all the information she needs to make a thorough diagnosis.
What is an adjustment?
The main method of treatment to remove spinal misalignments is the “chiropractic adjustment” or spinal manipulation. There are many types of adjustments and techniques. The Doctor will find one that best works for you.
Does it hurt?
The adjustment is generally a painless procedure. You may feel a sensation like a mild muscle stretch during the adjustment or a little pressure but not usually pain. If a problem has been around for a while, you may feel little uncomfortable at first as the muscles and ligaments get accustomed to the new spinal movement and position.
When can I expect to feel better?
Every body is different just as in life. Different patients have different healing times. Some experience relief immediately, some with a few hours and some within a week or two. It really depends on the situation and how long this problem has been around. Please don’t be alarmed if you don’t feel relief right away. Your body has to adapt and get used to the new movement. Try and follow the Doctor’s suggestions and treatment plan. That will help you get results much quicker.
What is the cracking sound? Are bones cracking?
The cracking sound that is sometimes associated with an adjustment is simply just gases, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen that are changing pressure within the joint space. When there is movement of the joint or the joints gap apart a little bit, the gases change and pressure and with that drop in pressure, comes the popping noise. The fancy name for the pop is “cavitation”. There are no bones cracking! It is important to know that not every adjustment results in a popping sound. In fact some chiropractic adjusting techniques never cavitate the joint. The point is, while a ‘pop’ is sometimes felt when giving an adjustment (which feels really good when it does happen) it is not an indicator of whether or not the misaligned bone was moved correctly or whether the adjustment “worked” or not.
Do I have to keep coming back forever?
NO! You can continue your care as long as you want. The choice is always yours! We just want you to feel better and continue to live a healthy lifestyle. The Doctor suggests a treatment plan that is specific for you, to rid you of that acute pain and for your overall well‐being. Once you are out of pain, we want to make sure that pain doesn’t come back. We encourage regular spinal checks as part of a healthy lifestyle just like dental check‐ups. Once you start to feel the difference chiropractic can make in your life, you will likely want to keep coming back for spinal checks. You only have one spine for your whole lifetime. We want to keep it healthy and happy!
Do I have to have a problem or back pain to come to the Chiropractor?
Absolutely not! We encourage a spinal check up as mentioned above. Prevention is key. We can try and detect spinal changes before they become a problem! Our goal is to educate you on how your body works and how to keep it healthy. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please let us know. Don’t ever hesitate to call us, email us, or ask us a question during your adjustment. We are here to help you!
