Your First Chiropractic Visit: What to Expect for a Comfortable & Effective Experience
At Abundant Health Chiropractic & Wellness, we understand that trying your first chiropractic visit can bring questions.
Our friendly team is here to make sure you feel comfortable and confident in your treatment.
We make your first chiropractic visit easy, stress-free, and focused on your health.
What to expect on your first chiropractic visit
Anything that is unfamiliar or unknown can really be scary. This is certainly the case for those seeking your first chiropractic visit. If you search the internet, you are likely to get many stories about visits to the chiropractor. Some are great, others are negative, and some fall right in between. If you’ve never been, then it can be hard to distinguish fact from fiction. Before you head to the clinic, the following will help to explain what to expect from your very first visit.
Consultation
On your first chiropractic visit your Chiropractor will start with a basic consultation. This will involve many questions like: Where is the pain located? How severe is the pain on a scale of 1-10? Do you have any other symptoms? These kinds of questions help the doctor determine the severity and the cause of your personal condition. We will also perform a physical exam and we will refer you for xrays if needed.
Adjustment
On your first chiropractic visit, expect a quick and painless procedure in most instances. The chiropractor may push, pull, or twist a section of your body in order to realign any misalignments along the spine. This may be accompanied by a “popping” sound as your joints readjust. The pop is nothing to worry about as it is a completely ordinary side effect.
Pain
One of the most common questions regarding first time chiropractic patients is about pain. Is it going to hurt? Most of the time, it doesn’t hurt at all. You may feel awkward or uncomfortable at first, just because you are not used to your body being contorted in a particular direction, but pain is rarely a part of the procedure. Some people do report a soreness following an adjustment. Not to worry! This soreness is common after any contorting of the body and will go away on its own shortly.
What will we treat?
So many people believe that you should only go to your first chiropractic visit if your back or neck are hurting. These are great reasons to see a chiropractor, but they are not the only reasons! Sore muscles, poor digestion, aching joints, and headaches are other common reasons to get to the clinic. In short, if you wonder about whether or not to see a chiropractor, go ahead and schedule an appointment or contact us to see whether this form of care can help you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Chiropractor?
Chiropractors specialize in neuro-muscular disorders and how they impact our physical and mental health.
They believe the human body can heal itself with help from chiropractic treatments, such as spinal manipulation and spinal decompression.
Despite common misconceptions, chiropractors are not trained to reject Western medicine.
Instead, they learn techniques that complement the treatment plans recommended by primary care physicians and other medical providers.
What kind of training do Chiropractors recieve?
Chiropractors undergo extensive training before treating patients for spine-related ailments.
On average, chiropractors spend four years working on their Doctor of Chiropractic (DC).
They cannot pursue this degree until they attend at least three years of undergraduate courses.
Chiropractic students complete a supervised clinical during their doctorate program prior to working as a solo practitioner.
Depending on the state, a chiropractor may also need to pass licensing exams before practicing without supervision.
Chiropractors also pursue additional educational opportunities through required Continuing Education courses after college so that they have a thorough understanding of modern wellness techniques.
What is Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractors believe the body’s musculoskeletal structure must be aligned correctly to prevent health issues.
Chiropractic care draws upon this belief, which is why chiropractors often focus on the condition of your spine.
Each patient receives care tailored toward their unique symptoms.
When you visit a chiropractor services may include manual manipulation, Spinal decompression, and therapeutic massage.
Chiropractic treatments are non-surgical and non-invasive.
Is Chiropractic Care appropriate for children?
Many chiropractors, including Abundant Health Chiropractic and Wellness, treat children.
In fact, some parents bring their children in for visits shortly after birth.
If you wait until your child gets older, you may notice they have neck or back pain.
These are common complaints regardless of whether your kids lead active or sedentary lifestyles.
Active kids can knock their spine out of alignment as they run, jump, or fall.
Kids who log plenty of screen time often experience neck pain or aches in their wrists.
So yes, chiropractic care is appropriate for children.
Is Chiropractic Care a new concept?
Many patients are cautious about new treatments, and understandably so.
However, chiropractic care has been around for more than a century.
Daniel David Palmer started the profession in 1895 after allegedly restoring the hearing of a deaf janitor.
Palmer performed a spinal manipulation on the janitor, helping him eliminate his hearing loss.
Standards for chiropractors were somewhat lax in the 1960s, which inspired some criticism regarding the profession.
Requirements are much more stringent now, and chiropractors are licensed doctors with extensive training.
Can you recieve Chiropractic Care during pregnancy?
Chiropractic care is generally safe during pregnancy, but it’s a good idea to double check with your OB/GYN before scheduling an appointment.
Many patients find that chiropractic treatments help alleviate the aches commonly associated with pregnancy.
Are Chiropractic Treatments Effective?
Our patients often find chiropractic treatments to be effective for a multitude of issues, including neck pain, back pain, and headaches.
In fact, chiropractic care helps many of our patients experience relief without the need for prescription medication or surgical procedures.
What causing a popping sound during an adjustment?
Most patients experience a popping or cracking sound during spinal manipulation.
This is not dangerous, and it typically does not cause discomfort for patients.
This sound occurs because gas and fluids are moving through your spine.
Your body depends on fluids to lubricate the bones between each section of your spinal joints, so it’s normal to have this fluid in your skeletal system.
How do I know if I need Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractors perform a thorough evaluation before recommending treatment.
This evaluation may include a physical examination, X-rays, CT scan, or MRI.
With your consent, we may also contact your other medical providers for information about your health.
This helps us work together to provide complementary treatment, increasing your chances of recovery or pain management.
Can I perform my own spinal adjustments?
You can, but we don’t recommend it.
It’s dangerous to adjust your own neck or back if you don’t have training in chiropractic care.
You might damage your spine or make your symptoms worse.
We’re available five days a week, so call us ASAP if you’re tempted to perform your own chiropractic adjustments.
We’re here to help.
Can I request Chiropractic Care without a referral?
We treat patients who do not have referrals from their primary care physicians or other medical providers.
In fact, some patients visit us before they see another doctor.
Are Chiropractic treatments painful?
Chiropractic treatments typically aren’t painful, though some patients experience minor discomfort after an appointment.
We can offer suggestions to decrease discomfort, such as using ice packs or a heating pad at home.
You may also find it helpful to perform gentle stretches after your appointment.
Most patients leave with less discomfort than they had upon arrival.
Progress takes time, but you may experience immediate relief after an adjustment or other services.
Let us know if you are sensitive to chiropractic care so we can help make your visit more enjoyable.
What conditions can benefit from Chiropractic Care?
Patients visit us for a variety of conditions, ranging from minor ailments to severe
conditions that haven’t benefited from conventional medicine.
Here are some conditions that we treat at Abundant Health:
• Neck, back, shoulder, leg, and foot pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tendonitis
• Tennis elbow
• Headaches and Migraines
• Sciatica
• Asthma
• Neuralgia
• Herniated discs
• Fibromyalgia
This is not a full list of ailments we treat.
Call us if you have a condition that isn’t on the list, and we’ll let you know how we can help.
What symptoms can Chiropractors treat?
Chiropractors treat a wide range of symptoms that impact your physical and emotional well-being.
Our team helps patients effectively manage the following symptoms:
• Pain
• Cramping
• Tingling
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Inflammation
• Limited range of mobility
• Exhaustion
Many patients also notice their mental health improves after a chiropractic session.
Living with chronic pain can trigger bouts of depression and anxiety, and many patients confess they felt hopeless about the future until they visited our office.
We help alleviate your discomfort so you can get back to living a normal healthy lifestyle.
How many visits does it take to get better?
Some patients only visit us a handful of times.
Other patients require weeks or months of consistent care.
The amount of time required for your recovery depends on several factors, including the severity of your condition and the level of improvement you want.
Some patients want their pain to reach a manageable level, while others want to visit us until it disappears completely.
Talk to us about your goals so we can develop a treatment plan tailored toward your wishes.
What are some common treatments Chiropractors use?
Many patients are familiar with the use of spinal manipulation in chiropractic care, which is when a doctor gently manipulates your spine with their hands or a tool.
However, chiropractors also utilize numerous other techniques and treatments, including:
• Spinal decompression
• Cervical decompression
• Cryotherapy
• Red light therapy
• Electrical stimulation
• Massage
• Physical therapy
• Stretches and other simple exercises
The treatments your chiropractor chooses will depend on the severity of your condition and your personal preferences.
We work with you to develop a treatment plan you’re comfortable receiving.
Your doctor may recommend a single treatment or combine multiple techniques to help you alleviate your
symptoms.
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica often strikes when patients are 30 to 50 years old, but we also treat teens and seniors with this debilitating condition.
It refers to pain that travels through your sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in your body.
Your sciatic nerve runs from your lower back to your feet.
When your sciatic nerve becomes irritated, injured, or compressed, it reacts by producing excruciating pain.
Ice packs and heating pads occasionally help, but sciatic pain often requires treatment from a skilled chiropractor.
A chiropractor can perform diagnostic tests to pinpoint the root of your nerve pain and then proceed accordingly.
This may mean performing a spinal adjustment to ease a herniated disc back into its designated spot or recommending spinal decompression therapy.
Some chiropractors also treat sciatic pain with lasers or electrical stimulation.
Can you get Chiropractic adjustments after back surgery?
Every situation is unique, but yes, it’s generally okay to get chiropractic adjustments after back surgery.
Our chiropractic team will carefully review your imaging reports and surgery notes to make sure you’re a good candidate for post-surgery adjustments.
Some patients find they only need cervical adjustments after back surgery, but it depends on your symptoms.
Surgery often weakens the surrounding joints and muscles because they overcompensate during the recovery process.
Chiropractic care can tackle these issues without disturbing the area where you received surgical treatment.
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(864) 631 – 1840
abundantchirowellness@gmail.com