What to Expect During Your First Visit
We Make People Feel Better
No matter what brings you to our office, we want you to be comfortable and informed at all times during your visits. Our friendly staff is here to help you truly enjoy your experience of getting better and working toward overall wellness. We understand that new treatment plans come with a lot of questions. With that in mind, we would like to provide some specific information about what to expect during your first treatment session. Select the service you are receiving below to display the information. And if you have any additional questions, please just ask—we would be happy to help!
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST CHIROPRACTIC APPOINTMENT
If you have any questions regarding your care at our office, please feel free to speak with any of our expert team members or one of our chiropractic physicians. We want you to feel comfortable and confident with your treatment here, along with knowing that your health care is our first priority.
CONSULTATION
You will be asked to fill out New Patient Forms which will receive in your email to help us gain some information about yourself and your condition. Please take your time to fill them out completely. The more information you are able to provide, the better we will be able to help you. For your convenience you may access the NEW PATIENT FORMS here if you haven’t already filled them out. All forms will remain strictly confidential (see our HIPPA privacy policy for more information).
The chiropractor will ask you questions to assess your condition and how it is affecting you, and then will proceed with an examination. Nothing will be done in our office without your consent.
EXAMINATION
You will receive a thorough physical exam which will include standard orthopedic, neurologic, postural, and other examinations as required. After the initial Examination, the chiropractic physician may order additional testing to be performed. The chiropractor will do this to determine the cause of your complaint. No additional testing will be performed in our office without a full explanation of the procedure, your options, and your consent.
Additional testing which may be ordered may include: X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound, EKG, Stress Test, or Laboratory Testing.
If you have recently had testing done: Please bring in copies of the films, reports, and laboratory results to your first appointment along with a list of your current medications (include herbal and over the counter).
REVIEW OF FINDINGS
After the doctor has gathered and analyzed your information, examination, imaging, and testing results, the doctor will review his findings with you and explain recommendations for treatment.
A spouse or family member is always welcome to attend.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST ACUPUNCTURE VISIT
MEETING YOUR ACUPUNCTURIST AND DEVELOPING YOUR TREATMENT PLAN
Your acupuncturist will begin the session by taking your medical history and discussing it with you along with your goals for treatment. This will be reviewed along with your progress at subsequent visits. Your session progression will be explained to you at this time. Please feel free to ask any questions at any point during your treatment. Your acupuncturist will take a detailed pulse and tongue diagnosis during each session from which an individualized treatment strategy will be developed that may involve one or more of the Traditional Chinese Medicine approaches. This will be a different type of plan than you may be used to in the Western Model of Medicine, because it will incorporate treatment strategies for your physical, nutritional and emotional state.
YOUR ACUPUNCTURE ROOM / WHAT TO WEAR
Your room is private and depending on the treatment plan created by your acupuncturist you may be seated comfortably in a chair or laying on a table. Try to wear comfortable clothing to your therapy session. If you forget comfy clothes we have cloth gowns available to make you more comfortable (please ask for one). The tables are equipped with a heating option that can be adjusted as needed so please let your acupuncturist know if you are too warm or too cold.
ABOUT THE ACUPUNCTURE NEEDLES
We only use single-use, pre-sterilized, flexible stainless steel needles. New needles are used for each treatment. There are various lengths of needles that are used but all are generally no thicker than a hair. The gentle and expert placement and number of needles used during your treatment is individualized and determined by your acupuncturist based on disease, patient and season. A typical acupuncture session may include 6-18 points for treatment. These points are usually located along the meridians which may include points from your head, your toes, and all the points in between.
The depth the needles are inserted varies with each point. Some areas such as the hands and feet may only be needled at a depth of 0.5cm whereas points on the upper thigh and buttocks may go as deep as several inches.
The needles may also be inserted at different angles , also depending on which point is being needled. The needles may be retained anywhere from 15 to 40 minutes depending on the condition. This is a great time to relax and your acupuncturist will be checking on you and repositioning needles for maximum benefit and comfort.
WHAT ACUPUNCTURE FEELS LIKE
You may feel a slight pinch while the needle is being inserted which should subside almost immediately. Acupuncture is not generally regarded as painful. Once the needles are retained you may feel movement of your qi, this is good and a strong indication of the therapeutic effects of your treatment session. People experience their qi moving differently and this can even vary session to session. This feeling may feel like a tingling or electrical sensation, or you may experience a feeling of heaviness, distention, warmth, or even a traveling sensation along the meridian. Most people feel very relaxed during the treatment session and may even fall asleep and feel energized afterwards.
There are usually no side effects from acupuncture, however it is important to note that energy is being redirected in your body and chemicals and hormones are being stimulated. Occasionally the original symptom may worsen for a few days or other general changes may occur in the body or an emotional state may be triggered. This should not be cause for alarm because it is an indication that the acupuncture therapy is starting to work and it is common to happen especially within the first two treatment sessions; however, if you are concerned or would like to discuss it, we encourage you to call our office right away.
We can be reached at 773.878.7330
We are located in Andersonville on Ravenswood near Foster. We are open 6 days a week and always happy to answer any questions that you may have about acupuncture.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST MASSAGE VISIT
DEVELOPING YOUR TREATMENT GOALS
If you are a new patient in our office, you will be asked questions about your health history and the doctor will perform a physical exam. During the exam the doctor will be assessing your problem areas and developing a treatment plan so that you will have the most beneficial massage possible. The doctor will also be checking for any conditions that may contraindicate massage therapy. The doctor will review his findings with you and the massage therapist.
MEETING YOUR MASSAGE THERAPIST
You will be introduced to the Massage Therapist who will briefly review your therapy goals with you and how your therapy session will proceed. Our therapists use an assortment of the highest quality non-staining, hypoallergenic oils and lotions. If you experience sensitivity to a lotion or oil, please let your therapist know. Your therapist will leave the room while you get ready.
PREPARING TO RELAX
It is generally preferable that the area being worked on is undressed however, you should dress to your level of comfort whether this be undressed, partially undressed or fully clothed. A sheet (and blanket if requested) will cover you at all times with only the area being worked on exposed. We have gowns available if you are coming from work (or somewhere else) and forgot comfy clothes. When you are through, lay down on the table as the therapist instructed and drape the sheet/blanket over you. The therapist will knock before re-entering. Our tables are available with a heated option that is adjusted to your comfort level. Be sure to let your therapist know if you want the heat turned down, turned up, or if you would like a blanket.
YOUR MASSAGE
It is important to breathe slowly and deeply during your massage to allow the most oxygen to get to your muscles allowing them to release tension more freely. Your therapist may ask you to breathe in different ways to assist with the techniques they are performing. You will also be asked for feedback on pressure and technique so that the therapist can perform the massage with the best possible benefit to you. Some people close their eyes and relax, some fall asleep, while others prefer to talk, what ever you prefer is up to you. After your massage session is completed, your therapist will leave the room while you dress. When you are through, your therapist will encourage you to drink plenty of water.
PROLONG THE EFFECTS OF YOUR MASSAGE
- Always drink plenty of water after your massage to encourage the removal of waste products that therapy has released.
- If there is a sore area where deep tissue work was performed, apply ice according to our instructions.
- Take a warm Epsom salt bath to help further relax your muscles.
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