Chiropractors

Conventional medicine is a passive experience for most patients. When you go to your medical doctor, usually you first describe your symptoms. Some tests may be run, and then you may be given a drug. Your entire role in the process has been to point the doctor in a specific direction to guide his or her diagnosis, take whatever's prescribed for you, and pay handsomely for the privilege.

Chiropractic, on the other hand, involves teamwork, with you and your doctor as equal players. Chiropractors usually request that you take an active role in every part of your health care relationship with them. Often there are classes to attend, videos to watch, literature to read, and perhaps exercises to do. Much of what is asked of patients is based on chiropractic philosophy, which states that 100 percent health comes from 100 percent expression of Innate Intelligence. Since health comes from the expression of Innate Intelligence flowing freely through the body, it is not something that can be imposed from the outside. Therefore, the patient is responsible for his or her own experience of health.

Chiropractic care has been in the forefront of the movement toward natural health and patient responsibility for over a century. Chiropractic recognizes patients as equal partners in their health decisions. The chiropractor is not there to dictate but to educate, guide, and inform patients about achieving optimal health. But patients must do their part, through lifestyle choices and maintaining some kind of regular health care regimen.

Once you've chosen your chiropractor, you'll make an appointment for an initial consultation and exam. Most chiropractors will have at least three goals for your first visit: (1) gathering information about you, (2) giving you basic information about chiropractic, and (3) creating what the doctor hopes will be a long-term health partnership between patient and practitioner.

Most people are very pleasantly surprised when they walk into chiropractic offices, because they are far more friendly and welcoming than what they may have experienced with other health care providers. There is usually a waiting area and reception desk where someone will greet you and confirm your appointment. If it's your first visit, the receptionist will also give you paperwork to fill out. In our offices, the paperwork comes with a cover sheet explaining what will happen during your first visit.

In addition to the standard contact and billing information, most chiropractic patients are asked to complete a personal health history. This may include questions regarding their primary complaint, general health, lifestyle, and family health history. Chiropractic care potentially can help a wide range of health problems that on that surface may not be associated with back or neck pain. So if you experience any kind of chronic conditionfrom asthma to digestive problems, high blood pressure, or problems with your eyesmake sure to include the information in your health history or mention it to your chiropractor.

After you've completed all the paperwork and returned to the receptionist, you may see the doctor right away, or you may sit with a chiropractic assistant who is trained in the basic diagnostic elements of chiropractic. The assistant will review your health history with you, then present the main points to the doctor prior to your seeing him or her. The assistant might also talk with you briefly about what to expect from the doctor and give you some general patient education information. Some doctors request that all new patients watch a ten-minute video on their first visit, to give them a brief introduction to the principles of chiropractic philosophy. Other doctors give patients some reading material or a pamphlet to take home following their consultation.