What to Expect at Your First Chiropractic Visit

Most people who walk into a chiropractor's office for the first time are a little nervous. That is normal. Plenty of us have heard stories about cracking sounds, quick twists and dramatic videos on social media. If that picture is the thing keeping you from picking up the phone, it helps to know exactly what a first visit looks like, step by step, before you ever sit down in the waiting room.

At Earnst Chiropractic Clinic in High Point, new patients get a consultation, a spinal exam and a first treatment for $75. That is one visit with three parts. Here is how each part usually goes, and what you can do ahead of time so the hour feels easy instead of stressful.

Before you arrive

Registration forms are available on the insurance and new patient page of this website. Filling them out at home means you can take your time with the questions instead of balancing a clipboard on your knee. Write down anything you think matters: where it hurts, when it started, what makes it better or worse, and any medicines you take.

Wear clothes you can move in. A stiff waistband or a very fitted outfit makes any physical exam harder for everyone involved. The clinic is at 231 Baker Road, between South High Point and Archdale. Look for the blue house and you have found it.

The consultation

The first part of the visit is a conversation. Dr. Tyler Earnst will ask about what brought you in, your daily routine and your health history. A chiropractor needs to hear about your work, your sleep, your old injuries and what you do for fun, because every one of those details can shape what he checks next.

This is your chance to talk, not to be rushed through. Patients have written in their Google reviews that he takes time to listen and explains things so that they make sense. If a term goes by that you do not follow, ask him to say it another way. Good care starts with you understanding what is being said about your own body.

Be honest about anything that worries you, including pain that wakes you at night, numbness, weakness, or a recent fall or car accident. Those details help the doctor decide whether chiropractic care fits your situation or whether you should see another kind of doctor first. Speaking up early is never a bother.

The spinal exam

Next comes the physical exam. Expect to be watched while you stand, bend and turn so the doctor can see how you move. He may look at your posture, feel along your spine and the muscles beside it, and test how far your neck, back or the joint that bothers you will comfortably go.

The exact steps depend on what brought you in. A stiff neck and a sore lower back call for different checks, and a child's visit looks different from an adult's. The clinic cares for both adults and children, so you can ask about bringing a family member in as well. If the exam is uncomfortable at any point, say so right then.

The first treatment

Your first visit includes a first treatment, so you do not leave with only a list of findings. Which method the doctor uses depends on you. The clinic offers full spine and extremity adjusting, with both Activator and Diversified technique, and another article on this blog explains how those two differ.

One new patient wrote that it was her first time seeing a chiropractor, that she had been afraid because of what she had seen online, and that he was gentle and it was not painful. Every person's experience is different, but that is a fair picture of the tone to expect: calm, explained and unhurried.

Some people feel a little tired or slightly sore afterward, the way you might after any new kind of physical work. If something feels wrong or gets worse, do not wait it out. Call the office and describe what you are noticing.

What to ask before you leave

A first visit goes best when you leave with answers. Bring a short list of questions on paper, because it is easy to forget them once you are in the room. These are good ones to start with.

• In plain words, what do you think is behind my problem?
• How often should I come in, and how will we know whether it is working?
• Is there anything I should avoid, or do differently, at home or at work?
• Are there stretches or exercises I can do between visits?
• If this does not help, what would you suggest next?

After the exam and first treatment, the doctor will usually talk through a plan with you. Some patients also receive stretches or activity advice to use at home, which we cover in a separate article about why your chiropractor gives you homework.

One safety note. If you have sudden severe pain, chest pain, trouble breathing, or sudden weakness in an arm or leg, do not wait for an appointment. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

If your back, neck or head has been bothering you and you have been putting off a visit, the next step is a short phone call. Call (336) 434-4600 or stop by 231 Baker Road in High Point and ask for the $75 new patient visit. Questions about insurance and payment are covered on the insurance page, and the office staff can answer the rest.