We always ask patients to arrive 5-10 minutes early on their first appointment to allow time to complete your new patient forms. On your first visit the aim is to find out what exactly is the root cause of your problem. We understand that people sometimes get anxious or nervous, but remember we excel at putting people at ease. You will find all of the team, friendly, professional and approachable.
Your first visit will normally last 45 minutes. We insist on taking this time to allow a thorough consultation. During that time your Chiropractor will
- take a full medical, presenting symptom and lifestyle history
- perform a thorough physical, orthopaedic and neurological examination
- arrange for x-rays or MRI scan if necessary
- refer you to another health professional if Chiropractic care is not suitable for you.
- set health goals and targets for your treatment
At the end of your first appointment your chiropractor will be able to tell you if chiropractic care is suitable for you and your complaint. If it is then we will make arrangements for you to return to the clinic as soon as possible to begin treatment. Often following examination, patients may be a little ‘achey’, for that reason we generally do not treat on the same day as examination, as it can be counterproductive. Initial visits depend on the level of your problem, following that, regular visits you can expect to be in and out of the clinic within 15 minutes.
Your Second visit to the Clinic
Your second visit is ideally within two days of your first visit and is approximately 30mins. We always recommend that you bring somebody close to you to this appointment, to be an extra pair of ears and eyes. During that time your Chiropractor will clearly explain
- what they found in your examination and what it means
- the results of your x-rays or MRI scan (if taken)
- your proposed treatment plan
- any lifestyle changes that need to be addressed
We will take our time at this stage in explaining our findings to you. We know through experience that patients who fully understand their problem, not only get better quicker, but also stay better longer. We actively encourage questions, more the better, remember ‘knowledge is power’ and the better you understand your problem, and how we aim to treat it, the more in control you will be.
If you are happy with everything at this point, then we can actively start the process of getting you better there and then and give you your first treatment
Regular Treatment Visits
At this point you will know what the problem is and more importantly how we are treating it. So the good news is that treatment visits are quick and straightforward and wont impact greatly on your day.
Remember that treatment is a team effort between you and the chiropractor. We only ask that you keep your appointments and carry out any ‘homework’ as instructed. Like a regular workout at the gym, each visit builds on the ones before. Missed visits can interfere with the momentum necessary to make the needed changes.
We want to help you regain your health and to maintain it for the future as well. We will try to keep educating you about your spine, and ‘spinal health’ and the wonders of your nervous system on each visit.
