Chiropractors may be treating your back pain, but they are very concerned about the role your back plays in your overall health. Your chiropractor needs a complete picture of your health in order to provide the best possible treatment for you as an individual. Plan to spend up to one hour on your first visit to the chiropractor. Here's what you might expect on your first visit.

History: When you enter our office, you will fill out some new patient forms. These forms will ask questions pertaining to your health and the health of family members. This information is used during the consultation, and also directs an examination to pertinent areas for diagnostic purposes. Furthermore, it is used to provide a reference point to your present health and have a point of comparison for post treatment. The history usually involves listening to you describe your pain and symptoms. You will be asked questions such as location, onset, mechanisms, and referral patterns of your pain. We will also determine if other parts of your back or body are affected by the problem (for example, pain in our back can change the way we walk or sit, and this may result in pain in completely different parts of our body like our hips or knees).

Examination: The chiropractic examination will include any of the following components: · Inspection - such as posture and gait analysis as well as general appearance · Palpation - that is, the doctor placing hands on the patient to examine by touch · Percussion - a diagnostic technique to determine relative densities of underlying tissues · Ranges of motion - spinal and may include extremities · Orthopedic - usually only at the region of complaint · Neurological - muscle tests, reflex testing, and skin sensation · X-ray - to determine bone alignment and condition.

TIP: Wear comfortable clothes and shoes for your visit to the chiropractor!

A careful spinal examination will be performed to determine any structural or functional abnormalities. This will be the primary focus as spinal problems are often the root of the patients condition. All of the above examinations need not be performed on every patient, as every patient is different. Information from other tests does not necessarily alter the care plan, but rather, provides a reference point for determining the extent of a persons health or lack of. This information may be valuable to do comparative examinations in the future. These assessments give me a better picture of your complete health. If I diagnose a problem better treated by another health care professional, I will make an appropriate referral. Otherwise, I will focus on the specific cause of your back pain.

Adjustments: A spinal adjustment involves the specific moving of a bone of the axial skeleton to make a correction to the position and function of a vertebral motor unit for the purpose of improving nerve impulses. Simply put, this is what makes the patient better. Most chiropractors employ several different techniques and are able to take care of anyone with a subluxation. Sometimes there are "cracking noises" associated with the moving of a bone. Usually, adjustments do not hurt. Most patients find them very enjoyable and look forward to getting adjusted. Sometimes there is a temporary discomfort during and immediately following the correction. Other times, there is minor muscle soreness the following day associated with the correction. Sometimes good things, like exercise and adjustments, cause muscle soreness.

Home treatments: The chiropractor is responsible for adjusting subluxations and providing the patient with instruction that will aid the patient in heath and general wellness. Home treatments may include ice, heat, stretching, exercise, nutrition, rest, etc.

Treatment Protocols: There are different ways a chiropractor can care for your back depending on your condition. Generally there are three levels of care, but for most new patients, the need is for immediate relief. Relief care is provided for immediate pain and discomfort. Depending on the diagnosis, your age and physical condition, several visits over a relatively short period of time may be necessary. Corrective care treats long term spinal problems. Because these problems have existed for some time they require a longer, more complex period of care, which may include a customized exercise program. Supportive or maintenance care helps you maintain and enjoy the benefits you've achieved from relief and corrective care. Continuing to work with your chiropractor and having adjustments once in a while will keep your spine as healthy as possible. Once a course of care is determined, and the matter of informed consent has been discussed, treatment usually begins. Because of chiropractic's concern for your overall well-being, most treatment is accompanied by exercise, diet, and other healthy living suggestions to help keep your back healthy and strong.

How often do you need to see the chiropractor? A common question is how long chiropractic treatment should continue. We will discuss the need for ongoing care with you as the treatment protocol progresses, and it will depend on your specific back problem and how you are recovering. For some people chiropractic treatment is like a regular tune-up for their back, to help deal with the daily wear and tear of life. For others, it's simply an effective treatment when back pain strikes.