What To Expect During Your First Chiropractic Visit
When you go see a chiropractor in Crofton, MD for the first time it can feel like you are stepping into the unknown. For some, that isn’t an issue but if you are one of the many people who get nervous then we here at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic want to help you know what to expect when you come into our office.
Seeing a chiropractor is just like seeing a regular doctor. There are steps you have to take when you come in for your first visit. Seeing as chiropractor doctors go to school for about as long as medical doctors, you can know that you are going to be in good hands. Read on to learn what to expect during your first visit.
Your First Visit
Your first visit is going to last about an hour as there are many things to go over. Here is what you can expect to happen:
Medical History
Your first visit is going to last about an hour as there are many things to go over. The very first thing is going to be your medical history. When you start telling them about your medical history here is a list of what to talk about:
- Why you want help
- Any past injuries
- All your medical conditions
- Any medications you take
- Any use of drugs or alcohol
- What your lifestyle habits are
The most important thing to remember is that you need to be honest when telling your chiropractor these things. This way they can help treat you in a way that won’t harm your body. In some cases, there is a new patient form that you can fill out before you step foot in a doctor’s office.
Physical Exam
Once your medical history is known it is time for a physical examination. Your chiropractor may feel your spine, move your joints, and watch how you walk. You can also expect a test of your muscle strength, reflexes, and range of motion. Sometimes the chiropractor will want X-rays or a blood pressure check before starting.
Treatment
Once the exam is done it is time to start treatment in most cases. Here is what you can expect to happen:
- You will lie on a special treatment table for your adjustment
- The chiropractor will move the area being treated to its maximum range
- The chiropractor will give an extra thrust to make the adjustment
- You may hear a popping sound during this
- There should be no pain
If you experience pain you should let your chiropractor know. Once your adjustment is done your chiropractor will go over what you can do at home to ease any soreness that may happen, and any exercise you can do at home. From there you may be recommended to return in 2 or 3 weeks for a visit. The follow-ups are often shorter than your first visit and you can be done in 10 to 20 minus.
If you are suffering from pain and want a different solution then contacting a chiropractor in Crofton, Maryland may be in your best interest. Don’t hesitate to reach out today to see what we can do for you.
Who Can Benefit from Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care can be utilized to enrich the physical and mental health of many patients. Although patients that have recently suffered a serious injury or are suffering from chronic back pain seek to gain the most by seeing a chiropractor, chiropractic care can be helpful even for individuals facing minor aches or pains. Among the long list of benefits chiropractic care offers, some benefits include:
- Lowering blood pressure and preventing hypertension.
- Increasing flexibility, balance, and improving posture.
- Treating medical conditions such as Scolosis.
- Increasing blood-flow.
How Long Will Treatment Last?
Every patient is different and when it comes to minor injuries or back pain, some patients find that just a couple of sessions are enough. For patients that have severe injuries or medical conditions, they may need several sessions spread out over the course of a few months. Finally, for some patients, it’s recommended that they receive care indefinitely. Ultimately, your physician will help to formulate a plan that makes the most sense for your needs. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t receive immediate relief either. Most of the time, back pain doesn’t happen overnight and thus it may take several sessions before you start to notice results. Additionally, relief may come in different stages before you reach a full recovery.
How Else Can I Treat My Back Pain?
In addition to regular sessions, your chiropractor in Crofton, MD might recommend supplemental treatment. Some of these treatments may include:
- Take-home exercises.
- Making changes to your lifestyle such as becoming more active, eating a healthier diet, staying hydrated, and receiving enough sleep.
- Eliminating stress through methods like deep-breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, exploring a new hobby, managing relationships, etc.
- Practicing good posture.
Often back pain is caused and/or exacerbated by factors such as a poor diet as well as stress. You don’t necessarily need to have a laborious job or suffer from a severe injury to have back pain.
How Do I Prepare for My First Session?
To prepare for your first session it’s recommended to get to the office at least ten minutes early as you’ll need to fill out some paperwork. While sometimes an office will allow you to do this beforehand via email or an online portal, it’s still recommended to arrive early. Most sessions last about 30 minutes, but your first session may take an hour as your chiropractor will likely ask you questions such as your family history, when did your pain start, etc. You will want to have these questions in mind. Something else to think about before your first session is if you have any specific goals in and when you can fit chiropractic care into your schedule.
Contact Us Today
Chiropractic care has a wide range of benefits and when you visit Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic you will be paired with a great chiropractor in Crofton, MD. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
What Does A Chiropractic Adjustment Entail?
Adjustments are one of the most common treatments chiropractors perform. During the treatment, a chiropractor will use his or her hands or small instruments to apply force to the spine. An adjustment is intended to correct misalignment in the spine, ultimately increasing range of motion and alleviating pain. The adjustment shouldn’t cause you any discomfort.
When Will I Feel Better?
When you are dealing with constant pain, you naturally want to feel better as soon as possible. However, how long it takes to feel relief will depend on several factors, such as the severity of your injury, age and how long you’ve been in pain. Some patients may feel relief after just one chiropractic session while others may take weeks to notice results.
Can I Just Have a Friend or Family Member Adjust Me?
No. Performing safe chiropractic adjustments takes a lot of training and skill. If you allow someone without proper training to perform an adjustment, you could get injured. Leave it up to a professional chiropractor to perform your adjustments.
What Can I Expect from My First Chiropractic Visit?
Your initial appointment with a chiropractor in Crofton, MD will be longer and more involved. Your chiropractor will ask questions about your medical history and current condition. He or she may also conduct a physical exam and take X-rays to find the source of your ailment.
After your chiropractor has made a diagnosis, he or she will recommend the appropriate treatment plan and estimate how many sessions you will need.
How Can I Improve My Condition at Home?
In addition to getting regular adjustments, your chiropractor may recommend making certain lifestyle changes to improve your condition. For example, your chiropractor may advise you to improve your posture, buy a better mattress and perform certain exercises. He or she may also suggest for you to clean up your diet and drink more water throughout the day.
If you have chronic pain, you may want to schedule an appointment with a chiropractor in Crofton, MD today.
Is Seeing A Chiropractor Safe During Your Pregnancy?
Chiropractic care is considered to be the maintenance of your spinal column as well as the adjustment of your misaligned joints. There are no drugs or surgery involved, this is a noninvasive, not surgical type of physical therapy that can help with spinal nerve stress and lead to a healthier body. Chiropractic care is very common, and the complications for chiropractic care are extremely rare.
You should always talk to your primary care doctor before you start to see a chiropractor, especially if you are pregnant, because while chiropractic care is believed to be safe during pregnancy, there are always circumstances where chiropractic care is not going to be the process that you need to undergo, pregnant or not.
If you are experiencing vaginal bleeding, placenta previa or placental abruption, ectopic pregnancy or moderate to severe toxemia and chiropractic care is not going to be for you. All licensed chiropractors have received training in relation to pregnancy or prenatal care, they may even specialize in prenatal care, and if you are looking for a chiropractor who has a specialization in prenatal care or pregnancy you should recheck your general physician so that you can find a doctor with that specialization.
If the chiropractor is adjusting a pregnant woman, they’re going to use tables to accommodate the fact that this woman has a growing belly and cannot lay on her stomach. All chiropractors when dealing with pregnant women are going to use techniques that will not put pressure on the abdomen.
How can chiropractic care help me during my pregnancy?
Because there are many hormonal and physical changes that people undergo when they are pregnant, there are many areas of the body affected. Your posture and your comfort levels are definitely effective, and as the fetus becomes heavier your center of gravity is going to shift and your posture is going to adjust to suit the center of gravity change. His physical changes are often going to cause misaligned spine and joints.
Some other uncomfortable changes that are common during pregnancy might include a protruding abdomen which causes an increase to grow bigger back, changes to the pelvis as your body prepares for labor, and adaptations to your posture to support your changing center of gravity.
Regular visits to the chiropractor can address these issues, and it can be done safely. Because her chiropractor in Crofton MD about all of your questions.
Wills Are “Living” Estate Documents
Wills Lawyer
One of the reasons why so many people are hesitant to create their estate plans is that they are under the impression that once they have created a will or another type of estate planning document, they cannot change whatever they have written. In reality, wills are so-called living estate documents. This means that they can generally be changed as often as the creator needs to alter them.
There are some exceptions to this general rule. They usually come into play in the event that the creator no longer is in a position to execute changes with their full mental faculties intact. For example, a patient with Alzheimer’s may not be in a position to change the terms of their will unless qualified medical professionals can confirm that such changes were made when the patient was fully lucid. With such limited exceptions, the creator of a will can generally alter the terms of that will as often as they need to.
The Process of Updating or Changing the Terms of a Will
As an experienced Knoxville, TN wills lawyer – including those who practice at Carpenter & Lewis PLLC – can confirm, the process of updating or otherwise altering the terms of a will varies based upon the state in which the will creator is living. Each state sets its own guidelines and regulations for how wills and other estate planning documentation must be drafted, altered, processed, and executed. As a result, it is important to speak with a local lawyer when looking to update your will or other estate planning documentation.
Failure to check with the lawyer about how you must go about changing the terms of your will or otherwise updating it can leave that document vulnerable to misinterpretation. Additionally, if your will was to be challenged in probate, the court may not honor your most recent updates or alterations if they have not been attended to in specific ways. For example, some states may honor an alteration as long as it is initialed by the will creator and dated. Other states may question whether such updates are sufficiently documented in ways that can be verified. It is far better to be safe than sorry, so it is a good idea to check with the lawyer about how to go about updating your living estate documentation.
Reasons to Update or Change the Terms of a Will
The court is not generally empowered to make assumptions on your behalf. Therefore, you cannot rely on logic when it comes to updating your will. Say that you have a current draft of your will ready to go in the event of your death. The terms of your will provide for each of your children. If you have another child before you die, you will need to update your will to reflect that you wish to name that youngest child as a beneficiary of your estate. The court will not simply assume that you wanted to include that child in your will unless certain provisions of state law come into play. As a result, if you have any reason at all to update your will, you will need to do so explicitly.