Chiropractic adjustment or spinal manipulation is a popular pain relief treatment for many types of lower back pain, sciatica and neck pain.
Today I'm going to talk to you about what you can expect when you visit a chiropractor for the first time.
First, your chiropractor will review your patient history and symptoms. In preparation for the chiropractic consultation, the patient will be asked to fill out forms that provide background information about their symptoms and condition. Typical questions include when and how did the pain start? Where is the pain felt? What is the intensity of pain? Typically on a 0 to 10 scale. Describe the pain. Is it sharp, dull, searing, burning or throbbing? Does it come and go or is it constant? Did the pain start as the result of an injury? What activities or circumstances make it better or worse? Patients are usually asked to provide information on functional disability, usually in the form of a questionnaire. Other important information gathered includes family, medical history, any preexisting medical conditions or prior injuries, and previous and current treatments provided by other health care professionals.
Next, your chiropractor will take a thorough chiropractic exam which includes general tests such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, reflexes, and others. Specific orthopedic and neurological tests may be used to assess range of motion of the affected body parts muscle tone, muscle strength, neurological integrity. Further, chiropractic tests may be necessary to assess the affected area, such as having the patient move in a specific manner, postural analysis, or assess motion of the affected body part.
Based on the results of the patient's history, the chiropractic exam, diagnostic studies may be helpful in revealing pathologies and identifying structural abnormalities to more accurately diagnose the condition. While an X-ray is the most common diagnostic study used during an initial exam, it is not always needed. In general, an X-ray is used in the chiropractic setting to help diagnose some recent trauma, diagnose spondyloarthritis, study a spinal deformity that might progress, such as scoliosis. An X-ray study should only be undertaken if the chiropractor has a good reason to believe it will provide information needed to guide the patient's treatment. Due to associated risks of ionizing radiation exposure that occurs while taking an x ray, its use should be limited to cases when they are medically necessary.
While an x ray can help view the bones, it is not useful for studying the soft tissues. When soft tissue damage is suspected, such as a problem with a disc, a torn muscle, or a nerve compression, an MRI scan is likely to be recommended. Findings from the patient's history, physical exam, and diagnostic tests usually help the chiropractor to arrive at a specific diagnosis.
Once the diagnosis is established, the chiropractor can determine if the condition will respond to chiropractic care. Certain conditions such as fractures, tumors, infections, or spinal cord compression often prompt emergent care. At the end of the patient's initial visit, the chiropractor will explain the diagnosed condition, individualize chiropractic treatment plan or other treatments, the anticipated length of chiropractic care. Some chiropractors will also provide the above information in a written format so the patient can take it home, think about it, and conduct their own research.
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