After 40 years of practice, I have heard many patients say they never thought of visiting a chiropractor first. We are so used to the medical world of specialists of everything and then months or years later of poor outcomes, ineffective medical procedures to address a symptom, joint replacements and medications, the chronic patient visits us to see what kind of answers a chiropractor has for their symptoms after others have failed to help. Most patients had no idea how knowledgeable chiropractic sports physicians were and did not realize that improving did not require all those tests, drugs, therapies and referrals. It has often been said that who you visit first will determine your results and cost for the problem. Imagine one chiropractic sports physician who practices primary care for the musculoskeletal system resolving most if not all of your complaints by understanding you in the context of your symptoms, while improving the reasons behind why you hurt. After 40 years of practice, patients are still buying into the symptom model and the multiple specialist idea, yet most of them are being labeled with syndromes or polymyalgia or fibromyalgia without an explanation as to why they hurt. The human body is an integrated system which is why the specialist for everything model for musculoskeletal pain often fails to help conservatively. When things do not work, the answer is a medication, or an injection , an MRI worse, a surgery which adds risk and is often avoidable. When you visit our chiropractic offices, care is detailed thorough and scientifically based. Our evaluations will result in sensible diagnosis before treatment is introduced and if we suspect a problem requiring medical attention, we will refer you to the appropriate practitioner who we may know professionally as a great choice for care. Keep it simple by thinking chiropractic first. How the typical chiropractic visit begins. Patients have expectations and typically find out their chiropractic visit was very professional, unpretentious and thorough. Patients expectations are routinely exceeded on their first visit and many feel improvements from their first visit. During your first visit, with our staff guiding you through the hallway to our evaluation and x-ray room. Patients have their blood pressure checked by our staff and then I meet them and have a conversation about their current and past problems. As their doctor I use these questions to understand what they may have been experiencing and to understand how to evaluate them. The evaluation involves typical neurologic and orthopedic evaluations as well as functional evaluation. I share every finding with them and explain what those findings mean in the context of their symptoms. We use our exam to better understand the symptoms and the malfunction that is causing it. The exam and history is holistic meaning we look for clues and look at everything including those things people consider normal. Often normal means what they are used to and abnormal are things that are not going away. We may also suggest x rays if needed, Foot orthotics to correct an imbalance beginning at the feet and we often treat on the first visit. What and how we treat on the first visit Our first treatment is designed to help reduce pain and enhance how someone feels and functions. We may use Manual manipulation of the spine or extremities. Myofascial release of the fascia surrounding the spine and extremities. Exercises to help you move better in certain cases. Our goals are your goals and care is personalized to your unique needs. Patients are often surprised at how I approach their problems and how we describe the rationale. They are also surprised at how we are willing to take the time to reevaluate to solve their problems. Unlike the protocoled medical care and rehab which may have failed to help, everything we do is designed to help them feel, function and move better. Often, these problems are from inherited traits and patients may have siblings and others. Many patients will then send their family members in after understanding this and are surprised at how we help them too. Patient centered care is what we do. Thorough is what we do. Holistic care is what we do. Drug free rehab is what we do. Need help today? Book online or call today.