Provide Your Chiropractor With These Helpful Details During Your Initial Consultation
When you're suffering from a type of pain that compels you to seek treatment from a chiropractor, you'll typically have a consultation at the start of your first appointment. This component gives you a chance to ask any questions about chiropractic care, which is especially insightful if you haven't previously had an adjustment and are curious about the process. The consultation also gives you an opportunity to provide your chiropractor with valuable details about your pain issue that will help him or her to more effectively treat you. Customarily, you'll fill out a health questionnaire, but you'll also want to be sure to discuss the following details.
Emergence Of Your Pain
When the chiropractor can understand how your pain has emerged, he or she will be able to tailor the adjustment accordingly. Think back to when you first encountered the pain. For some people, back pain can result from a jarring impact. This may occur during a fall or a motor vehicle accident, for example. Or, you might have simply woken up with a stiff neck that hasn't gone away in the days since. In some cases, you may have no idea how the pain emerged — for example, what might have begun as minor discomfort has gradually worsened over time.
Past Treatments Sought
It's useful for your chiropractor to know what other forms of treatment you've attempted to deal with your pain. While it's possible that your local chiropractor is the first practitioner you've made an appointment with, you might have taken other routes, too. For example, you might have gone to a massage therapist, acupuncturist, or physical therapist. Or, perhaps you've attempted to manage the pain yourself by icing or heating the affected area and stretching your body through disciplines such as yoga.
When The Pain Worsens
Explaining when your pain gets worse — as well as when it's at its least — will further help your chiropractor evaluate your pain and use this information to adjust your body accordingly. Think thoroughly about how you notice your pain. For example, it might be most bothersome immediately after you wake up, but subside to a degree throughout the day. Or, conversely, you might feel physically free of pain when you get up in the morning, but notice that you're stiff and sore by the end of the day. This information will also help your chiropractor give you some lifestyle suggestions that you can use to keep the pain at bay after your adjustment.
If you need more information, check out chiropractors' sites like http://www.dilschiropractic.com.