What to Expect
When you first enter our office, our receptionist will welcome you and request that you complete our patient forms. This paperwork provides us with the information we need about your condition, your health history, and any billing information.
For your convenience, you can download the appropriate forms to complete prior to your initial visit. You can also download our Notice of Privacy Practices.
Next, you will have a consultation with the doctor to discuss your health-related problems, concerns, and potential treatment options. This initial visit is designed for the doctor to learn more about you, your condition, and your expectations to determine the best course of care for you.
After your consultation and examination, your doctor will take the time to explain his findings and answer your questions. He will also make recommendations in regard to your case that include:
- Treatment options or further evaluation if necessary
- How long it will take for your recovery
- How often treatment will be needed
- Referral to another health care provider if needed
After your consultation, the doctor will perform a complete chiropractic examination, evaluating your range of motion, posture, and flexibility. Other standard neurological, orthopedic, and physical tests will be performed as well. However, nothing will be done in our office without your consent.
The majority of cases do not require X-rays or special testing. However, these studies might be recommended by your doctor to properly evaluate your condition and provide you with the care you deserve.
Treatment is often provided at the first visit and will include the therapies you discussed with the doctor. Common therapies performed include spinal manipulation (adjustments), massage, exercise rehab, ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation, and cold laser. If you have any concerns with regard to your treatment plan, your doctor will discuss these with you.
Prior to leaving, the doctor will suggest a wellness program to incorporate outside of treatment. If you are in pain when you first come into our office, this may include ice or heat application instructions, certain activities or positions to avoid, and at-home exercises and/or stretches.
If you desire, our wellness team will work with you to create healthy habits and routines for your lifestyle. Every person is unique; therefore, everyone requires a customized wellness plan. The purpose of our wellness program is for you to achieve good spinal alignment, have a healthy diet, exercise, and maintain a positive mental state.
The Process
Phase 1: Relief Care
Many people first visit a chiropractor to get out of pain. During this first phase of care, the primary goal is to reduce your symptoms. It is generally expected that most patients will experience decreased pain within 1–3 treatments. How quickly you experience relief depends on the problem, its severity, and other factors.
Most people mistakenly assume that the absence of pain means that there is absolutely nothing wrong with them. They assume that they are completely healthy. Pain, unfortunately, is a poor indicator of true health. The symptom of pain often only comes around when a condition or disease is very advanced. Once a problem has become this advanced, it can be more difficult to manage it and let the body fully heal.
One example is a cavity in your tooth. Does it hurt when it first develops or only after it has become serious? Another example is heart disease. A significant number of people die from this disease without ever knowing there is a problem. Cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stress, or musculoskeletal problems (like neck and back problems) usually do not cause pain until they have gotten really bad. When you begin chiropractic care, pain is also the first symptom to disappear, even though many of the underlying causes remain.
Phase 2: Corrective Care
Taking care of symptoms, such as pain, is often the easiest part of a patient's care. If the chiropractor only decreases these symptoms and then stops there, it is very likely that the symptoms of pain will return. In order to prevent a rapid recurrence of symptoms, it is beneficial to continue receiving care even though the initial pain is gone.
During this second phase of care, it is not necessary to receive treatments as frequently as you did during the first phase of care. Depending on your circumstances, we may begin recommending exercises and stretches in our clinic or in your own home. Properly performing your home exercises will significantly decrease the likelihood of your problem(s) returning.
During this phase of care, mild flare-ups are common. Do not let them discourage you; your body has not fully healed. Think about spraining your ankle. As the ankle heals and you begin to walk, the pain may slightly return. If you decide to run with an ankle that is still injured, you will likely significantly increase the pain. Your body needs time and proper treatment in order to fully heal. This phase of care could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few years, depending on the severity of the injury, the amount of time you have had it, and the choices you make as you recover.
Phase 3: Wellness Care
When your body has completely healed, routine chiropractic care can help you ensure that your physical problems stay away. A chiropractor is a mechanic for the body. Just like an automobile mechanic performs routine tune-ups to keep a vehicle running as smoothly as possible, chiropractic care can help maintain proper biomechanical function and improve quality of life.
When you make the choice for yourself to have chiropractic care be a part of your lifestyle, you avoid many of the aches and pains that so many people suffer with. It is never normal to hurt; it only becomes more common. Proper joint movement will help your joints last longer and keep you doing the activities that you love.
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Connect With Your Path To Wellness
Fill out the contact form below to book an appointment or to ask any questions. Let's start your wellness journey together with Balance Point Wellness.