The physical examination is a fantastic tool, employed by chiropractors, that can be used to identify and correct high-level imbalances or abnormalities. Exams typically test a patient’s blood pressure, range of motion, muscle strength, and posture. These individual pieces of information provide valuable insight into your overall health, as well as illuminating areas that still need work.
Your chiropractor is not a mind reader, however. If you are experiencing muscle soreness or sporadic pain after a traumatic injury, then it’s your job to communicate this during your appointment. A good chiropractor will use the time before each and every adjustment to ask if there’s anything giving you trouble. But how should you respond? How can you effectively convey your needs to receive the best treatment? Read on for a few tips on this subject.
Begin With the Location
The origin point of your symptoms is arguably the most important place to begin. Where in your body are you experiencing pain or immobility? This is critical information, as it will have direct bearing on potential causes and treatments. For example, neck pain is very different from upper leg pain. Start the conversation by showing your chiropractor the problem area or demonstrating its effects, such as muscle weakness or decreased range of motion.
Describe the Pain
There are many ways to identify painful sensations, and patients have been known to be very colorful when describing their symptoms. Different words suggest different types of injury, from nerve damage to muscular strain. The former is often characterized by a sharp, burning, stabbing pain, while the latter might be accompanied by dull, throbbing, aching pain. The correct adjectives can help your chiropractor better understand what and how you’re feeling.
Address Behavior & Triggers
To get an even more profound understanding of your symptoms, it’s important that your chiropractor have the whole picture. For example, how severe is the pain on a scale of 1 to 10? Is it constant, or does it come and go? Is it a traveling pain, or does it stay in one spot? At what times of the day and during what activities is it most prevalent? Does anything successfully make the pain go away? These questions will be extremely beneficial in helping you receive the treatment you need.
We’re Here for You!
Whether you’re new to chiropractic care or you’re looking for a chiropractor that practices effective communication, we’d love to have you join us here at DiBella Chiropractic Center. We employ numerous treatment techniques to help patients will all kinds of symptoms and injuries. Stop by our offices in Gastonia, NC, or contact us today to schedule an appointment!
