Understanding Your First Chiropractic Treatment

When you made your decision to visit a chiropractor, you had already decided to try something new, something alternative to the medical care you have experienced so far. Perhaps the fact that you would be treated as a whole person rather than just as a problem area appealed to you, or maybe it is just the notion that for so long you have relied on conventional medical methodology that in the long run does not appear to have really helped you. Your first chiropractic visit is bound to be a bit different from what you had expected and also from that to which you were accustomed. You most likely were asked a battery of questions that dealt with your medical condition, medical history as well as treatment history, family medical history, and also the kind of work environment you are experiencing every day as well as the kinds of hobbies you like to engage in.

After the questions came the examination which was focused once again on you as an entire person and not just on a certain part of your body; granted, the affected area about which you have complained will of course come under the closest scrutiny, but in general the rest of your body will also be examined to get a good picture of how one area might be affecting the rest of the body as well. At this point in time you are ready for treatment. You have probably heard all the jokes about the bone cracking that allegedly goes on in a chiropractor’s office, and as such it is not surprising that many a patient is a bit apprehensive about this portion of the visit. Yet if you have the facts, there is nothing to be worried about:

* Once your chiropractor is sure that she or he has a good idea of what the problem is, and also how this problem may have been affecting other areas of your body, she or he will want to do some adjustments. This is the term commonly used to describe the kinds of manipulations of your spine – specifically the vertebrae – are indicated to help you. There is a lot more to these spinal adjustments than simply “cracking bones.” Chiropractors take years to learn the finer aspects of vertebrae adjustments and once it is determined that this is a course of action needed in your case, your care professional will put these years of experience to good use.

* Another misconception rests on the fact that spinal manipulation is always done by hand. As a matter of fact, there are plenty of times when pressure is applied to the spine with a help of specially designed instruments. Thus, the combination of educated touch as well as technical know-how permits you to benefit doubly from your visit to this professional!

It is surprising that not more pain sufferers are discovering the sophisticated techniques used by today’s chiropractors, as well as the personalized care that cannot so easily be found elsewhere.