Your first visit to us
Your first visit to us
Case history
When you meet your chiropractor for the first time, he/she will start with a discussion about you, your health and your reasons for seeking chiropractic care.
You will be asked for a great deal of information, not just about the pain or complaint that may have brought you to the clinic, but also about your past health history. To ensure that chiropractic care is appropriate for your condition, the chiropractor will need to establish an overall health picture. If chiropractic appears not to be suitable for you, you will be referred to your GP or relevant specialist.
Your details are confidential. No one else will be allowed to see your notes without your permission.
Examination
The examination will concentrate on your neuromusculoskeletal system (nerves, muscles and joints). This will include standard orthopaedic and neurological tests, analysing the movement of your spine and related joints, and assessing muscle strength and function. To help with this examination, please wear loose fitting or flexible items clothing that can be easily adjusted to see the area of complaint. Gowns can be made available to change into if necessary for the examination, as well as any following treatments. After the initial consultation, examination and report of findings, your chiropractor may offer you treatment immediately. However, if it is necessary to make a referral for an X-ray or MRI scan, or to obtain further information from your GP (for example blood test results) treatment may be delayed a little until the results are obtained. Any imaging will only be requested where clinically justified, in line with current legislation and guidelines.
Report of findings
Before starting treatment, your chiropractor will tell you, in clear, simple language, what is wrong with you, what can be done about it and what you should expect when you receive your first adjustment. You will probably be told about any exercises or changes to your lifestyle or diet that may be beneficial, so that you can help yourself. A part of getting better is up to you, so please follow any instructions and advice carefully and completely.
You will also be advised of all costs that relate to your future care. It would be appropriate, at this point, for your chiropractor to tell you of any likelihood of a recurrence of your problem, and the possible need for any ongoing supportive care. This is not an unusual situation for patients for instance who have long-term problems due to wear and tear to certain joints.
Treatment
Chiropractic treatment mainly involves safe, often gentle, specific spinal manipulation to free joints in the spine, or other areas of the body related to the back, that are not moving properly. Most often, this requires a short thrust to a joint that can result in an audible ‘pop’ and may bring relief of symptoms as well as better mobility. The 'pop' is simply the sound of bubbles of gas popping in the fluid of the joint as the pressure is released.
Apart from the manipulation, your chiropractor may use a wide variety of techniques including ice, heat, ultrasound, exercise and acupuncture as well as advice about posture and lifestyle. If you have questions about any of these, just ask.