On your first visit you will be asked about your general medical history in order to provide the best possible care tailored to your circumstances. You will also be given a thorough examination and a series of orthopoedic tests in order to establish the nature of your current condition and how it affects your life.
Please allow up to half an hour for the history and a half hour for the physical appointment. For this appointment and be prepared to undress to your underwear, you will be offered a gown.
History and examination
This will include questions about your medical history including any injuries. If you have any recent XRay, CT or MRI reports it would be helpful if you could bring these with you. A variety of orthopaedic tests will be performed to determine what parts of your body are affected and to what extent.
You will be given a working diagnosis of your condition, probable cause and the treatment that is recommended for you.
Same day treatment
Once the examination is complete, patients will generally have their first treatment during the same visit unless further medical information is needed; whereas the treatment would be put off for a more suitable time.
If, following examination I feel that your condition is not one which will benefit from chiropractic treatment I will advise you of this and you will only be charged for the assessment (£20).
Home instructions
You will be given advice about ways in which you can help your recovery between treatment. This may include eg the appropriate applications of ice or heat; postural advice; avoidance of certain activities; or home exercises.
Subsequent appointments
A course of treatment will be recommended depending on the severity of your condition. Most patients attend on a weekly basis at first with appointments becoming more widely spaced as their condition improves.