Most people at some point in their lives experience back pain. As a chiropractor, I find myself in a common scenario where someone I know asks for advice for themselves or for a loved one that is experiencing some kind of pain in their back or neck. They will describe to me what is going on, when it started, how it feels, and what seems to make it worse or better. The next thing that happens is, I smile because I know I can help. They ask me if this is something chiropractic can help and my answer is almost always, “YES!”. Chiropractic focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system. Neuromuscular conditions related to but not limited to the low back, mid, and upper back along with the neck. This can include pain or numbness and tingling that radiates to the arms and legs. It also includes headaches, muscle stiffness, or weakness. Chiropractors work with other parts of the body too, knees, shoulders, and TMJ to name a few.
People often want to try the most conservative approaches first such as ibuprofen, waiting it out, heat, and ice but when things don’t resolve with that they start exploring more options but sometimes don’t quite know where to start or what to expect. Chiropractic is also conservative care so it is the perfect next step. It is non-invasive, natural, safe, and effective. It is also relatively simple to make an appointment. No referral is needed, you just pick up the phone and call. From there the staff will find an appointment time that best fits your schedule. At Complete Care Chiropractic, we are open 7 days a week and have 4 doctors on staff so making an appointment is easy.
At the first visit, there will be some paperwork to fill out before the appointment and then you will see the Chiropractor. The initial visit takes about 30 minutes and a history and physical exam will be done. The chiropractor will evaluate range of motion, alignment, reflexes, muscle function, neurologic, and sensory function and conduct some orthopedic testing. If more information is needed you may be referred for imaging or additional testing. This information will be used to determine a diagnosis and structure a treatment plan for your condition. The chiropractor will explain your condition, recommend a treatment plan and review the benefits and risks of all the procedures.
Most often you will be treated on the first visit. Treatment may consist of many different techniques depending on your condition. A chiropractic adjustment is almost always performed, and can be paired with muscle work, stretching or additional modalities such as cold laser or instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization such as the Graston® Technique. The purpose of a chiropractic adjustment is to restore joint mobility by applying a high velocity, low amplitude force into joints that have become hypomobile as a result of tissue injury. The injury can be caused by numerous causes varying from accidents, repetitive stress, poor posture, and improper lifting among many others. A chiropractic adjustment restores mobility, therefore, reducing inflammation, muscle tightness, and pain to promote healing. At the end of the visit, you will be given recommendations for home care for example some stretching exercises or perhaps icing instructions. Often a patient leaves the office feeling better than when they came in.
Through the eyes of a doctor, I can honestly say there are few more rewarding experiences than helping a patient get better so they can do all the things that are meaningful to them in their life again. I am so thankful when a friend or family member trusts me and asks for advice so I can open the door to wellness for them. At Complete Care Chiropractic we are dedicated to helping you reach your wellness goals. Complete Care Chiropractic is open 7 days a week and is always accepting new patients. We welcome you to call and schedule an appointment with us today at (716) 580-3577 to take the next step toward improving your overall health.