First appointments with any kind of doctor or health care provider can be quite unsettling, especially if you don’t know what to expect.
Is this going to be your first appointment at a chiropractic clinic and are not too sure what to expect and came here fishing for knowledge? Then you have come to just the right place. We are here to tell you exactly how to prepare yourself for your first appointment at the chiropractor in Atlanta.
But before we go into the ways or tips on how to prepare for your first appointment, let us first help diminish some common myths or misunderstandings you might have and get rid of those fears you may be holding on to.
- Chiropractors aren’t witch doctors. In fact, they are specialists that are specially trained to heal and treat injuries and disorders in the spine and other musculoskeletal disorders.
- Chiropractors believe in a more holistic approach to healing, which means they will take your body as a whole and find the root cause of your problem and avoid giving you pills to make you feel better instantly.
- Most chiropractors believe in a non-surgical and noninvasive approach to healing and can take several sessions to find the root cause and help you on your journey to self-healing and help you lead a healthier and fulfilling life.
On this page
Before the appointment
If you visited any other doctors or had any tests such as MRI, X Rays or blood work done prior to visiting the chiropractor, then make sure you take all your necessary medical data and information along with you. Make sure to take along medical history that the Chiropractor will find important.
Not only will this save you time and money, but prior medical results and history of any ailments will help the chiropractor diagnose your illness more quickly and also understand what is troubling you more easily and thus start treating you as soon as possible.
Tips for your first appointment
1. Try to arrive early
Since it is your first appointment, you will do well by arriving early. It is advisable to arrive at least ten minutes before the actual time of your appointment.
This time will help you to do any necessary paperwork such as filling out new patient information, filling insurance details, medical history, preliminary routine checks such as height and weight details, etc.
2. Dress comfortably
In most cases, your first appointment at the chiropractor also means your first adjustment. This means that you might be required to lie in different positions, so you ought to dress in something that you are comfortable in.
A chiropractor will rarely ask you to remove any clothing, but there might be cases such as the need of an MRI where you would have to change into something that is more appropriate.
Avoid wearing uncomfortable or impractical shoes such as heels or platforms; steer clear of tight-fitting clothes that won’t give during your adjustment. Clothes such as tight fitting jackets or something with too many decorative metal embellishments are also discouraged.
3. Don’t be afraid to talk
Although your new chiropractor might be an expert in his field, he is not a mind reader. So don’t shy away from talking to him about all your issues, problems and fears.
He is there to make you feel better and help you heal. Make sure you are completely comfortable with the practice and are fully aware and comprehend the practice and healing routine.
4. Chiropractors are like any other doctors
Even you are going to a chiropractor and expect to be healed instantly, then you are sadly mistaken. A chiropractor is like any doctor and won’t treat you without a proper diagnosis. They might order routine tests, such as MRI, x Rays or even ask for certain blood works before they start any treatment or adjustment.
Be sure to tell your chiropractor about any previous medical history, especially auto related injuries or sports injuries that you might have suffered in the past. Recovering cancer patients should also talk to their health care provider before seeking chiropractic intervention.
5. Unexpected massages!
Treatment at the chiropractic clinic also means that you might be given massages before or after your adjustments. This is to relax your muscles and it can certainly seem very relaxing. Most patients don’t expect such treatment and are always pleasantly surprised.
6. Adjustments do not hurt
While you might have seen videos of patients at the chiropractor’s office and seen adjustments videos with loud cracking or popping sounds, don’t let these videos scare you.
Chiropractic adjustments can be quite relieving and offer instant comfort. Most of the time, a chiropractor works with his hands, but in some cases, they can use a tool to help you feel better than well.
In more severe cases, a chiropractor will also prescribe you medications along with adjustments and other treatments. This is for more serious cases where healing can’t be achieved with chiropractic intervention alone.
After the appointment
It is quite common to feel a little sore after your first adjustment, and it will take you a day or even two to feel better.
Other common sides followed after a chiropractic appointment include:
- Toxic release in the body can cause a runny nose or flu-like symptoms. Adjustments cause the release of toxic substances in your body, which means that the treatment is working.
- Nausea is another common side effect, and this is common with people who have just had their necks adjusted or had any sort of spinal manipulation done.
- Other side effects may include (but not necessarily happen to you) symptoms such as headaches, dizziness or brain fog.
Although all these symptoms are pretty common and are no cause for concern, you should call your health care provider or visit the emergency if these symptoms persist for more than two days or get more unbearable.
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