YOUR FIRST VISIT
HISTORY AND EXAMINATION
When you come into the office you will be required to fill out some paperwork to give us some background information about you and your family history. The doctor will ask you some additional questions about your health history and your injury. Next, the doctor will perform a physical examination on you that may include, but not limited to: areas of pain, palpation, range of motion assessment, muscle testing, and orthopedic and neurological testing. In most cases a diagnosis can be given at this stage. The diagnosis is given based upon your health history, mechanism of injury, and physical examination findings. If more information is needed, then additional testing will be performed.
IMAGING
Imaging is a common test that is ordered, but it is not necessarily needed for every patient case. It is used for diagnostic and evaluation purposes, and to monitor treatment progression in some cases (e.g. scoliosis – lateral curvature of the spine). The most common imaging tests include x-ray, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), CT scan (Computed Tomography), Ultrasound, and Doppler Ultrasound.
Our office only uses imaging when medically necessary based upon a person’s age, health history, and the nature of their problem. We do not x-ray everyone that comes into the office since this is unnecessary, unethical, and can be dangerous in many cases. In summary, many conditions can be diagnosed and treated without the use of imaging.
LABORATORY TESTING
Most cases do not require laboratory testing, and again, it is only performed when necessary. It is helpful in difficult cases in order to diagnose them correctly. There are many types of conditions that all look the same from the outside (e.g. during the physical examination stage), and the patient’s blood test results (or similar tests) can be helpful in diagnosing them. For example, laboratory testing is commonly used to help diagnose autoimmune conditions that have swollen and painful joints. Another common condition where laboratory testing is helpful is rheumatoid arthritis. Diagnoses, in most cases, can be ruled in or ruled out based upon the test results.
WHAT IS MY DIAGNOSIS?
Adjustments and manipulation are primarily used for pain control and to optimize the performance of the body, especially in sports. They are also used to reset the brain and the nervous system to its optimal state. Chiropractic adjustments and joint mobilization can be performed on most joints, and it is not limited just to the spine. Examples of joints that are manipulated (adjusted) are the hand, wrist, spine, elbow, ankle, hip, and pelvis. These adjustments help the nervous system, joints, muscles, tendons, and the surrounding connective tissue to function at their peak performance.