While some people see the chiropractor regularly as part of their healthcare plan, others have never been to one of these professionals. If you’re one of those who haven’t seen a chiropractor before and have decided to do so, you may be wondering what to expect. In some ways, a visit to a personal injury chiropractor in Phoenix isn’t much different from seeing a doctor, but in other ways, it is. Having a rough idea of what you can expect when you visit one of these experts can help you be less anxious about your appointment.
Discuss Your Health and Your Needs
Similar to visiting a new doctor for the first time, you’ll start your first chiropractic visit by filling out some basic information. You’ll answer questions about your health, your family’s health, and any previous injuries you may have had. You’ll also need to answer a list of questions about the pain you’re in. This will give the chiropractor an idea of what the problem is.
Meeting the Chiropractor and Getting Examined
Next, you’ll meet the chiropractor and go through a basic chiropractic exam. This exam will include some basic information such as taking your pulse and your blood pressure. It also looks at your muscle strength and tone, your range of motion, and your reflexes. The chiropractor will pay close attention to the areas where you have pain, feeling around your spine, examining your neck, and checking other areas.
Sometimes, the cause of pain isn’t necessarily the area that hurts. A car accident chiropractor in Phoenix has studied the body for years and will be able to determine what’s causing your pain, even if that cause isn’t something obvious.
While rare, in some cases your chiropractor may need to do more advanced tests such as having you get X-rays or have an MRI. This doesn’t happen that often, but for those with more serious injuries, it may be necessary.
Preparing a Treatment Plan
Next, you and your chiropractor will discuss your course of treatment. This treatment plan will be customized to handle your particular injuries and will consider your overall health, your spine’s condition, and your goals.
Many people go to a chiropractor to become completely pain-free, but that’s not always possible. In some cases, the chiropractor may only be able to greatly reduce the amount of pain you’re in. It’s also possible that you will need to return to the chiropractor for regular adjustments. You will discuss all of this during your first visit.
Your treatment plan will include how often you need to visit the chiropractor, what will be done when you do, and what type of at-home exercises you can do to help improve your condition between visits. It may also outline restrictions on physical activities. For example, some people need to be careful how the turn or how much weight they lift. By following these restrictions, you’ll avoid further damage to your body while it heals.
Getting an Adjustment
You’ll likely get your first chiropractic adjustment after you determine your plan of care. An adjustment is the basic type of treatment a chiropractor provides. It involves using leverage, velocity, controlled force, and direction to manipulate the joint. Most often, an adjustment is done on the spine, but it can also be done on a shoulder, knee, wrist, elbow, or ankle if that’s where the pain or lack of mobility is.
An adjustment is done because something is out of alignment. The adjustment helps return your body to normal and relieves any pain you might have.
While some adjustments are only needed once, you may need repeat adjustments if you were in a serious accident. Give us a call today to talk to an experienced accident and injury chiropractic professional in Phoenix.