If you've never been to a doctor of chiropractic (DC), it's natural to wonder what to expect on your first visit. To dispel any fears or uncertainties, we've prepared the following guide. Your chiropractor or the office manager will greet you, take your name and ask you to fill out some forms and a questionnaire. That questionnaire will cover your medical background, family history and any previou
s treatment or surgery. When your DC is ready to see you, you will talk together in detail about the history of your complaint. The DC will also ask detailed questions about your health history. Chiropractors examine patients in much the same way that medical doctors do. They may also take your temperature and your pulse. Range of motion is of particular interest to chiropractors, so expect a test to see how far certain joints in your body bend comfortably. Your chiropractor may also order x-rays or use other techniques to complete or confirm a diagnosis. Be sure to ask questions about any procedures you aren't familiar with. If your DC finds a problem with joints in your spine, they may use adjustments to care for these joints. An adjustment is a quick but gentle pressure on a joint to loosen it. Doctors receive years of training to learn about manipulating bones in the back safely. Adjustments can produce a popping sound, similar to that of a cracking knuckle, when pressure in the joint is released. The sound is caused by bubbles of carbon dioxide gas escaping from the fluid surrounding the joints. The sound is harmless and the gas will eventually dissolve back into the fluid. Adjustments shouldn't be painful, although you may feel some discomfort until the pressure in the joint is relieved. Depending on your condition, your chiropractor may schedule a series of visits for care. If so many visits seem unusual, consider this: when you see a medical doctor, they may prescribe pills to treat your condition. Because you can take the pills yourself, you don't have to go back to the doctor's office. Your chiropractor's care, on the other hand, involves adjustments and tests that must be done in person.
