What to expect
My first visit to a chiropractor’s office
We find that most people don’t know what to expect or how to prepare. Generally, they all have a few of the same questions, so we want to take the time to walk you through a general first visit to our office and what you can expect. As well as answer some of our frequently asked questions.
Medical History
Your first visit can often last about an hour. Your chiropractor will ask you about your medical history and any of your symptoms. You’ll tell your chiropractor about:
- Past injuries
- Why you want help
- Any medications you take
- All your medical conditions
- Any use of drugs or alcohol
- Your lifestyle habits, including exercise, diet, stress, and sleep
Physical Examination
After talking about and recording your history, your chiropractor will then do a physical exam. They may feel your spine, move some of your joints and watch how you walk. They will also test your muscle strength, reflexes, and range of motion. In some cases, the chiropractor might take X-rays or order other tests.
Post Treatment
Before you leave, the chiropractor may give you exercises to do later at home. Chiropractors also have the training to help you with your diet and nutrition. While they do not prescribe drugs, you may get advice on your diet, and your chiropractor might also recommend dietary supplements or vitamins.
Finally, you may be scheduled for a follow-up visit. Most chiropractic treatments last for a few weeks. They may recommend you return for 2 or 3 visits a week. Follow-up visits often are shorter than your first visit, lasting anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes. Make sure to ask your chiropractor how long your treatments may last and when you should start to feel better.
Treatment
Your chiropractor might start treatment during your first visit. If that’s the case, here are some things that may happen:
- You will lie on a special table for an adjustment.
- The chiropractor will take the part of your body being treated—possibly your neck or back—and move it to its max range.
- Then the chiropractor will give an extra movement to make the adjustment.
- You may hear a popping sound, like the sound of cracking your knuckles.
- You should not expect to feel pain during this.
Your chiropractor may give other treatments along with an adjustment. This could include heat or ice and a muscle massage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions do chiropractors treat?
Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) care for patients of all ages, with a variety of health conditions. They are especially well known for their expertise in caring for patients with back pain, neck pain and also care for problems with extremities and headaches using their highly skilled manipulations or chiropractic adjustments. DCs also care for patients with a wide range of injuries and disorders of the musculoskeletal system, which includes the muscles, ligaments and joints. These painful conditions may involve or impact the nervous system, which can cause referred pain and dysfunction distant to the region of injury. In addition, chiropractors offer advice to patients on diet, nutrition, exercise, healthy habits, and occupational and lifestyle modification.
What Insurance do you accept?
We accept the following insurance:
- Aetna
- THP – The Health Plan
- Aetna Coventry
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Benefit Assistance
- Care First
- Flume
- Freedom Blue
- Humana
- Meritain
- UMR
- United Health Care
- WV Laborers Trust
- Brickstreet Encova Worker’s Compensation.
- Medicare
- Medicaid (Aetna Better Health, THP – The Health Plan, Unicare)
- Other policies may also be accepted. You can call our office for more information, or call your insurance company directly to find out if we are “in network.”
- We also accept all major credit cards and cash patients.
How do I select a doctor of chiropractic?
One of the best ways to find a doctor of chiropractic (DC) is by getting a referral from a trusted friend, family member, colleague, or another healthcare provider.
Is chiropractic treatment safe?
Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest nondrug, noninvasive forms of health care available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness, stiffness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise. Current research shows that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades within 24 hours.
Does chiropractic treatment require a referral from my doctor?
A referral is usually not needed to see a doctor of chiropractic (DC); however, your health plan may have specific referral requirements. You may want to contact your insurance plan directly—to find out if there are referral requirements. Most plans allow you to just call and schedule an appointment with a chiropractor.
Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children?
Yes, children can benefit from chiropractic care. Children are very physically active and experience many types of falls and blows from activities of daily living as well as from participating in sports. Injuries such as these may cause many symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness, soreness or discomfort. Chiropractic care is always adapted to the individual patient. In the case of children, it is very gentle.
Are chiropractors allowed to practice in hospitals or use medical outpatient facilities?
An increasing number of doctors of chiropractic are being recognized to admit and treat patients in hospitals and to use outpatient clinical facilities (such as labs, x-rays, etc.) for their non-hospitalized patients. Hospital privileges were first granted to chiropractors in 1983.
Do insurance plans cover chiropractic?
Yes. Chiropractic care is included in most health insurance plans.
What type of education and training do chiropractors have?
Doctors of chiropracticare educated as primary-contact healthcare providers, with an emphasis on diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to the musculoskeletal system (the muscles, ligaments and joints of the spine and extremities) and the nerves that supply them. Educational requirements for doctors of chiropractic are among the most stringent of any of the healthcare professions. The applicant for chiropractic college has to have a bachelors degree in pre-medical undergraduate college, which including courses in biology, physics, psychology and related lab work.
How is a chiropractic adjustment performed?
What techniques are used:
- Palmer Package, Activator, Cox flexion-distraction
Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed during the doctor of chiropractic’s intensive years of chiropractic education. The chiropractic physician typically uses his or her hands or an instrument to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, in order to restore or enhance joint function. This often helps resolve joint inflammation and reduces the patient’s pain. Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. Patients often note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment.
Is chiropractic treatment ongoing?
The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what requires patients to visit the chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a chiropractor, a patient needs to be in his or her office. In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (i.e. taking a course of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks). A chiropractor may provide acute, chronic, and/or preventive care thus making a certain number of visits sometimes necessary. Your doctor of chiropractic should tell you the extent of treatment recommended and how long you can expect it to last.
Why is there a popping sound when a joint is adjusted?
Adjustment (or manipulation) of a joint may result in the release of a gas bubble between the joints, which makes a popping sound. The same thing occurs when you “crack” your knuckles. The noise is caused by the change of pressure within the joint, which results in gas bubbles being released. There is usually minimal, if any, discomfort involved.
Who We Are
Our staff has a good reputation for their friendliness, efficiency, and willingness to go the extra mile for patients. New patients often say they’ve heard everyone here is so nice.
Contact Us
Our Location
308 Patrick Street Plaza
Charleston, WV 25387
Get Directions
Office Hours
Mon, Wed – Fri: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tue: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed
Same-Day Appointments
Contact
Local: (304) 344-9077
Fax: (304) 344-3587
info@charlestonfamilychiro.com