What to Expect with Your First Visit to A Chiropractor

You’re in pain and friends suggest that you go to the chiropractor. You’ve never been to one  before, so you want some idea as to what to expect. Your first visit to a chiropractor is not nearly as scary as what you’re making it out to be in your head, but there are a few things to know, which can help to calm the nerves.

A chiropractor is board certified. It isn’t like some random person is going to start cracking your spine. This is a common misconception and one that needs to be cleared up first and foremost.
You will sit down with the chiropractor and go over your aches and pains. You may be given a sheet of paper of the body to circle where it hurts or you may be asked to show directly on your body. It’s important to be as specific as possible. The pain may not be limited to one area, either.
Questions will be asked about the level of pain that you are in. You need to be able to put into words whether the pain is sharp, pulsing, or constant. You may be asked to rate the pain on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst. This will tell the chiropractor not only what areas hurt the most but also what your threshold for pain is.
An x-ray may be ordered and this doesn’t necessarily mean that something is wrong. It is often used as a guide to see what the spine looks like so that the chiropractor knows what areas should be adjusted. It can also be used to rule out any kind of pathology, such as a tumor or fracture.
If you have recently had a traumatic injury or you have been sick or had surgery, these are things that you will need to share with the chiropractor. The more you tell him, the easier it will be for him to determine the cause of the pain and establish a treatment plan.
The adjustment that you are likely going to receive is done on a table. You may be required to lie on your stomach and then flip over and lie on your back. This is done to help make the necessary adjustments on your body, and the different positions that you assume make this possible.
There is a strong possibility of you hearing cracks and pops. This doesn’t mean that anything is amiss. Sometimes it is the sound of something popping back into place. In most instances, it is the escape of air from between the joints, and it is completely normal.
After you have received your adjustment, other things may be done as well. This could include traction, warm compresses, and more. Your chiropractor will sit down and discuss a treatment plan for managing the pain moving forward. You may need to visit the office a few times a week for several months in order to get your spine back into shape and your pain under control.