Kari likes to run and has been a consistent participant in various marathons throughout the years. She has a very competitive time and was very strict with her training and meal plan to be able to achieve it. However, a few months ago while running through the park, she tripped and hurt her ankle. She ended up having to cut her run short, and limp back to her apartment. She figured that since it was just a slight strain, she would just ice the area and the ankle for a week or two. She started feeling better after just a few days and was back to running by the end of the week. However, before she was even fully warmed up, her ankle started bothering her. She originally didn’t think the little fall was a big deal, but now she’s beginning to reconsider. She decided to make an appointment with a chiropractor, but first, she did a quick search on what typically happens at the first chiropractic appointment.
If you’ve never worked with a chiropractor before, you might be unsure of what to expect from the first appointment. You may also have certain expectations and tons of questions for the doctor. When you work with the RxWellness Spine & Health integrated medical team, we are here to help! We will answer all your questions, so you feel at ease with your recommended treatment plan and your overall chiropractic experience.
What typically happens at the first chiropractic appointment
At your first appointment with the RxWellness Spine & Health team, you can expect to complete paperwork, check-in, have your initial consultation, do some diagnostic testing, and receive treatment.
Complete Paperwork
In an effort to reduce waste and speed up the check-in process, we’ve made all medical forms digital. After you set your appointment, we email all the paperwork you will need to complete before your scheduled visit. This allows you to take all the time you need and be better prepared for your initial consultation.
Check-in
The entire check-in process is digital and paperless, and on regular visits, you can quickly check yourself in at one of the conveniently located tablets in the office. On your first visit, the front desk will provide you with your check-in information and help you get set up.
Initial Consultation with the Chiropractor
This is your opportunity to talk to the doctor and provide detailed information on your discomfort. This will include things like when it started, what makes it worse, what makes it better, and treatments you have tried in the past. The doctor might ask a lot of questions to help them better pinpoint the root of the problem, and you are encouraged to be as open and honest as possible. The more information you provide, the better they can help you.
Diagnostic Testing
This is when the doctor might take X-rays or ask you to complete different movements. For example, if you come in with chronic ankle pain, they might ask you to stand on your tippy toes. It might seem like a simple task, but they might want to document your movement, your muscle engagement, or your leg alignment. Everything they ask you to do is to help them better understand your discomfort, so they can recommend the correct treatment or exercise.
Treatment
If you choose to receive care, your RxWellness chiropractor may recommend spinal adjustments to help realign the spine or joints. We are an integrated medical team, so in addition to a chiropractor, we also have massage therapists who can provide soft tissue treatment to the affected muscles. This helps the muscles relax, so they stop pulling on the spine or nearby joints, which can help your body hold the adjustments longer.
Spinal adjustments and soft tissue manipulation are a great way to see effective and long-lasting results, but at RxWellness Spine & Health we take it a step further. We also provide services like dry needling, active release technique, cupping, electrotherapy, spinal decompression, and so much more. The best way to see the most results is with a tailor-made care plan, and at RxWellness Spine & Health, we will use every service at our disposal to help you get the best results.
RxWellness Spine & Health
When you work with the RxWellness Spine & Health integrated medical team, you will be working with the best wellness professionals in the DMV. The RxWellness care team is dedicated to helping you better understand your body’s needs, so you can reach your recovery goals in an appropriate timeline. We understand that trying anything for the first time can be accompanied by a myriad of emotions, so our doctors will always spend time answering your questions and helping you get comfortable with any recommended treatments. Our care team is very good at walking you through expectations and explaining the entire process so nothing is a surprise.
At RxWellness Spine & Health, you will be working with an integrated medical team that consists of a chiropractor, massage therapist, and nurse practitioner (if needed). Your body is interconnected, and one complication is likely the result of multiple problems at once. For example, shoulder pain can be the result of spinal misalignment and tight muscles. When you work with the RxWellness Spine & Health care team, you have access to a chiropractor to treat the misalignment and a massage therapist to relieve muscle pain. And if it is determined that the problem is more complicated, then you can be seen by a nurse practitioner who is quickly brought up to speed about the problem and past treatment plan. When you work with us, we combine a variety of professionals and techniques to heal one problem.
Contact Us
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what typically happens at the first chiropractic appointment with the RxWellness Spine & Health care team. You can always be sure that you will be working with a team of medical professionals who will work hard to understand your exact needs and create a plan to help you see change. Our entire team is very accommodating, and will always provide you with customized care aimed at helping you see major wellness improvement. We want to help you reduce chronic pain while also helping you improve your quality of wellness. If you have any questions or would like to set up a consultation at any of our offices across the Virginia, Maryland, and DC area please give us a call at 1(703) 904 9666 or book a consultation online.