What to Expect When You Visit a Chiropractor
If you have been having severe back pain for quite some time, you need to see a chiropractor. The pain may be due to muscle or ligament strains, poor posture or other issues such as herniation, cancer or kidney problems, among others. Chiropractors use manual therapy to treat or manage musculoskeletal-related conditions. For this therapy to be effective, it is combined with lifestyle modification, exercise and nutritional advice. Here are some things you can expect to experience with an initial visit to a chiropractor.
Initial Assessment
The chiropractor will perform a physical exam and ask for your history to be able to make a diagnosis. You may also be asked what other symptoms you are experiencing, such as disturbance from your bladder or bowel. Additionally, you may be questioned on the severity of your pain on a scale of one to ten.
First Treatment Plan
The first thing your chiropractor will try to do is relieve your pain. He or she may recommend over-the-counter drugs if your symptoms are in the early stages of severe pain. Additionally, heat and cold treatments may be prescribed coupled with exercises. You may also be advised on how to carry yourself daily, including sleeping, standing, sitting and lifting.
After some time, you may be asked to go in for another consultation, which reassesses your condition after the treatment. The chiropractor will be able to note whether the treatment plan is effective or not. You might receive a massage or spinal manipulation, but this depends on your condition. If you are not responding to the first treatment or your pain is getting worse, your chiropractor may require to refer you for imaging.
Second Treatment Plan
If the first treatment plan is not yielding the required results, the chiropractor will continue manual therapy but may consider referring you to another professional who needs to check for other contributing factors. These factors can be psychological or pathological. You may be sent for pathological tests, imaging or to a psychologist for psychosocial risk factor investigations.
Third Treatment Management Plan
At this point, your pain may have disappeared. You could be feeling great or your pain may have reduced but hasn't subsided completely. Your chiropractor may still need you to go in for consultations to monitor your pain and function. This will all depend on your condition and if the remedies are effective. In some cases, some back pain cannot be entirely alleviated, and you will have to live with some pain and pain management practises. You may be required to carry out various exercises and change some of your daily habits.
In order to learn more about lower back pain management, contact Advanced Chiropractic Clinic.
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