What to Expect at Your First Chiropractic Visit for Back Pain

If you are experiencing some back pain and have scheduled a visit with a Chiropractor, you might have some questions about what to expect during your first visit. Does the adjustment hurt? How long does it take?

At Carpe Diem Chiropractic, we understand you may feel intimidated, more so if you are already having pain. We want you to be well informed and comfortable before you even step into our office.

Here are the details of what to expect on your first visit.

Consultation

On your first visit, we will start with a conversation. Before any treatment is done, we want to understand what is going on and how it is affecting your daily activities.

Some questions that are asked are when the pain started, what the pain feels like, what makes the pain worse or better, and if you have experienced pain like this before.

Other information will be collected, such as medical history and lifestyle factors that may contribute to your symptoms.

Examination

Following the consult will be a physical exam to get a better idea of how your body moves.

During the exam we will perform different tests such as:

• Posture to assess how you carry your body.
• Ranges of motion to see how you are bending and moving around.
• Muscles and joints to check for tightness or swelling.
• Orthopedic and neurological tests to check for differences in strength or sensations.

If we find that any part of this exam requires further assessment, we will take X-rays.

The First Treatment

The most common question asked during a patient’s first visit is whether they will get adjusted.

The answer depends on if the exam exposed any possible red flags.

If the exam shows that it is appropriate, we can go ahead with treatment.

The adjustment involves using HVLA or high velocity low amplitude movements to the specific joints to help increase mobility. You might hear some “cracking” sounds, but this is just gas being released from the joints, like that of opening a soda can. The bones do not actually crack.

Depending on your specific issue, we may recommend some additional therapies such as stretch, shockwave, spinal decompression, or specific strengthening or corrective exercises.

If there are any additional imaging or opinions that may be needed, treatment might need to be pushed to a follow-up appointment. Safety of the patient will always come first.

Personalized Care Plan

Pain is not experienced the safe for everyone, so your treatment needs to be personalized to your specific needs.

Following the exam, we will discuss what was found, go over options for treatment, and tailor a care plan based on symptoms, exam, and your personal goals.

The plan will include adjustments and any additional therapies that may benefit your healing journey.

Additionally, we will discuss how often you should come in for treatment and when re-examinations will take place to check progress.

Getting out of pain is the easy part, helping you move better and return to doing the things you love is the goal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does the First Visit Take?

Typically, a first visit should take around an hour. The exact timing can vary due to factors such as requiring a more detailed exam, longer medical history intake, or whether treatment is provided on the same day.

Follow-up visits require less time because the evaluation has already been completed.

What Should I wear?

Wearing loose fitting athletic clothes, such as shorts, leggings, and t-shirts is ideal. During most visits, there will be stretching and exercising that will require movements that will be restricted by form fitting clothing.

Does the Adjustment Hurt?

Most patients handle the adjustment well. You may feel some soreness the next day in the regions that were adjusted, in which case some ice may be helpful. However, most people sleep better that night and feel amazing the next day.

What Happens After the First Appointment?

After the first visit, you will receive at home instructions that will include stretches and exercises, heat or ice application advice, and possible exercises to do on the days you are not in the office.

You will also schedule follow-up visits, based on your needs.

Most people notice some improvement quickly, while other people may need some additional time. Healing depends on multiple factors, such as severity of back pain and overall health factors.

Ready to Take the First Step?

Don’t let back pain hold you back from doing the things you love.

Whether the problem has just started or has been going on for years, visiting with the Chiropractor can help you understand why you are having the pain and the different options on how to fix it.