3 Things To Ask Your Prospective Chiropractor

So you've made the decision to become part of the nearly 10% of the population that visits a chiropractor. While more than 50% of people surveyed have indicated that they would consider going to chiropractor for their health concern many still don't because they're not sure what to expect.

If you're considering chiropractor care, here are three things you should ask the potential chiropractor:

1. Will my problem be helped with chiropractic care?

You don't want to undergo a course of treatment if it's not going to help anyway. No chiropractor should even consider accepting you as a patient unless you should expect to get results.

However, this question cannot realistically be answered over the phone. Some potential new patients will call the office and ask if the doctor can help with (insert your condition here).

A good answer might be "the doctor has successfully treated patients with that condition." The best answer would be "the doctor won't be able to answer whether or not your condition can be helped with chiropractic care until he has a chance to examine you."

You wouldn't expect a mechanic to diagnose your condition by saying it makes a "ping" noise. There are many things that can cause any symptom, and it's up to the chiropractor to determine if your condition can be helped by his available treatments.

2. How much will my first visit cost?

While you really shouldn't be bargain-hunting for your healthcare, you should feel comfortable knowing what you can expect from your first visit.

A bad answer is "we'll see what your insurance will cover." A better answer is "an examination is $80, and any additional costs like x-rays or treatment will be explained to you before you're charged any further."

Ahh... now you can relax. You know that by the time the doctor is done with your consultation and examination, you'll know what's wrong and if chiropractic can help.

It's certainly no fun being in pain and wondering the whole time how much the bill is growing with every minute you're spending with the doctor.

You can then make an educated decision about the types of treatment and the type of treatment program with which you feel most comfortable.

3. How late is the office open?

I know this questions seems pretty obvious, but since most people don't understand the nature of chiropractic care (you may and likely will have to go more than once) this is an important consideration.

Your ability to be successful with your chiropractic are program is directly related to your ability to show up for your appointments. If the office hours aren't convenient for you or maybe the office is just a bit too far for you to make your appointments consistently, you'll have trouble getting the results you're after.

A good chiropractor may be worth making some adjustments to your schedule, but making sure you can be consistent with your visits will make all the difference with your chiropractic experience.