• (828) 485-2990​
  • [email protected]
HEALTHY LIVING SPINAL CARE | Hickory, North Carolina
  • Home
  • About
  • How We CAn Help You
  • Our TEAM
  • CONTACT US
  • TEST 2
  • Health Conditions
  • Home
  • How We Help
  • Our Team
  • Health Conditions
    • Asthma and Allergies
    • Back Pain
    • Digestive Disorders
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Migraine Headaches
  • Reviews
  • Contact
  • UC Documentary
  • Home
  • How We Help
  • Our Team
  • Health Conditions
    • Asthma and Allergies
    • Back Pain
    • Digestive Disorders
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Migraine Headaches
  • Reviews
  • Contact
  • UC Documentary

Chiropractic Care: How to Select Right Specialist & Program

2/15/2022

0 Comments

 
The constant stresses of daily life, along with long hours sitting behind the desk, have significantly increased the need for chiropractic care in the last decade or so. The challenge for many is finding the right specialist with techniques and practices in line with their needs. There's a wide range of techniques and philosophies among care providers. Since virtually all programs involve hands-on procedures, people need to be careful about choosing a specialist with a style and program that fits their physical requirements and schedule. Most people don't know what to expect on their first visit and aren't clear on the qualities of the right specialist and potential red flags that show questionable approaches and techniques. This article will provide a guideline on finding the right specialist and program.

How to Find the Right Specialist
There are multiple issues to consider when choosing a chiropractic doctor. But, gathering recommendations, asking relevant questions, and knowing possible red flags can significantly help one on that journey. Let’s explore them one by one.

Gathering Recommendations
One of the best ways to find a reliable specialist is to ask physicians and medical specialists in the same field to recommend someone competent and trustworthy. For instance, when looking to find an upper cervical chiropractor in Hickory, it’s best to ask experts in the same region for a recommendation. But, some professionals may not regularly be in touch with each other and therefore cannot provide a helpful suggestion. 

In that case, it helps to ask friends, colleagues, and neighbors who’ve had a successful experience visiting a clinic or a specialist. It’s better to narrow the search to a specialist that’s an expert on a specific part of the body.  For instance, instead of asking for an upper cervical chiropractic care provider, it’s better to look for an expert on back pain in Hickory or a chiropractor for migraines in Hickory. It’s vital to find someone compatible with an individual’s unique needs. 

Another place to obtain recommendations is online review platforms where people leave comments and rate their experience visiting specialists. That’s a sure-fire way to find a reliable person because positive reviews from a large number of people are usually a good sign as far as credentials. For instance, when looking for a fibromyalgia chiropractor in Hickory, it’s wiser to shortlist the ones who have the highest average rating from the most number of people. 

Asking Questions
In addition to seeking recommendations, it's advisable to do a little research by asking questions. A good way would be to ask questions over the phone or arrange a consultation meeting to find out more about the care provider, the clinic, and the techniques.

It's critical for most people to feel comfortable with the specialist and have a positive experience during the entire process. That's ultimately a subjective preference. For instance, some don't like to sit in the waiting room for a long time or drive a long distance to the clinic because they have busy schedules. On the other hand, some prefer to stay as long as they need to for the right specialist.

Here below are some of the suggested questions that can clarify the experience with a specialist or the clinic staff:
  1. 1. Is the specialist friendly?
  2. 2. Do patients feel comfortable sharing their issues with them?
  3. 3. Does the specialist thoroughly answer all questions?
  4. 4. How many years of experience does the specialist have?

It's recommended to find out about any possible disciplinary actions against the specialist. People can obtain information regarding this matter from the regulatory and licensing board of the relevant state (usually available online).  Selecting the right professional is not something that should be done on a whim. Don't just choose the first chiropractic care provider that you encounter. Personal preferences and needs are the primary selection criteria. 

Possible Red Flags
Most professionals agree that some chiropractic techniques are questionable. The following are a few examples:
  • Working on areas of the body and spine showing no signs of a problem. Generally, the chiropractic care process shouldn’t adjust symptom-free parts of the body. For instance, if the patient doesn’t feel a shoulder ache, it’s best not to adjust that area. 
  • Using the same program for all patients: It’s crucial to avoid care providers prescribing uniform long-term and short-term plans for all patients, regardless of their age, needs, and medical history. 
  • Prematurely issuing a long-term plan. Some specialists recommend long-term plans after just a visit or two that span several months. Many patients will feel considerable relief after a short period. When signs of relief aren't felt after a while, it’s time to change the program. Hence, specialists need to continuously adjust and hone their plan based on the patient’s response to the previous course of action. 
If a patient experiences the above, it’s wiser to seek another expert in the area or get a second opinion. 

How to Find the Right Program
Part of a successful chiropractic experience is to find the right program able to meet one’s needs and preferences. Since the program is mainly specific to the clinic or the care provider, it’s essential to ask specific questions. For instance, when looking for an expert on neck pain in Hickory and nearby areas, it’s crucial to find out how their program will work on that part of the body.

Questions to Ask
Here are some questions to ask:
  • What’s the general practice pattern of the care provider?
  • What specific services do they offer? For instance, they may provide massage, rehabilitation, and even nutritional counseling.
  • What’s the specialist’s plan B if the original program doesn’t achieve its desired objectives in time? In case of issues with the medical history, a reliable specialist will always suggest that the patient consults with a physician in that area.
  • Can their programs and plans be tailored to meet specific needs or timeframes?
  • Does the care provider set a clear anticipated timeline to achieve the program objectives?
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

How To Manage A Pinched Nerve With A Chiropractor for Migraines In Hickory

Neck pain in Hickory, or soreness in other parts of your body, can come from a variety of different sources. These range from arthritis to tendonitis to torn cartilages in your joints. This also doesn’t include the variety of other conditions that have back pain in Hickory as a common symptom. One common such example is getting a pinched nerve in the upper part of the spine, also known as cervical radiculopathy. This generally occurs when bone spurs start to appear around the discs in the spine. When everything is working well, the discs should absorb the shocks between each individual vertebra. A bone spur is a small bit of bone that is formed as we age and discs get weaker. When things go properly, bone spurs support the vertebrae as they get weaker, However, in some cases, those spurs press on nerve roots, leading to other symptoms.
 
Symptoms of Pinched Nerves
How do you tell that the soreness you are dealing with stems from a pinched nerve? No matter what area it’s in, you’re going to need to have an in-depth exam of the affected area to be absolutely certain. As an example, a pinched nerve is generally localized in one area. Another thing to note is that these are normally very sharp soreness. By comparison, if you simply overexerted a muscle, the sensation would likely be a duller strain. In some cases, a pinch may never have any other symptoms. Some people feel a sensation of pins and needles in a certain area. Others may feel numbness or weakness when trying to lift something.
 
Depending on where you feel your symptoms and the exact nature of them, your medical professional may be able to determine if it is a pinched nerve or not quite quickly. Generally, though, an exam will still be administered. These start by testing sensitivity, strength, and reflexes. You may be told to do different stretches and movements to determine what leads to symptoms and what relieves them. You’ll also likely need to provide details about your pain. For example, be sure to have a record of when the pain started, and any activities that you do that cause soreness to flare up. If it is soothed by certain activities, be sure to mention those as well. Your doctor might also ask if you have had other health changes or recently increased your physical activities. If the spinal nerves are impacted, they can manifest in surprising ways, like bladder and bowel issues.
 
Say that your standard exam isn’t enough to get to the root of these issues. Your doctor may instead decide to do imaging tests to figure out what’s causing the pinched nerve and where it is. This is mostly administered through X-rays or MRI scans. An X-ray can showcase details going on with your bones, but won’t show your discs and nerves. With this said, they can be useful for determining if you have narrow vertebrae or bone spurs. An MRI is able to do more, showing how healthy your nerves and discs are in detail. In some cases, an X-ray may be done to a certain area to check for bone injury. Lastly, if the issue is due to injured ligaments or tendons, an ultrasound may be needed.
 
Working With Your Fibromyalgia Chiropractor In Hickory
So, if you suspect that a pinched nerve is behind your soreness, or know it for a fact, what can you do? One asset that you have is doing a posture adjustment. To start, try and find a position that helps you feel comfortable with your soreness. After this, you can adapt your lifestyle and living spaces to help you stay in that posture as much as possible. For a lot of people, doing this in the workplace is a major source of problems. One way to get around this is by using a standing workplace. These help prevent pinched nerves, treat existing ones, and just lower overall soreness. You can either ask the HR department to modify your existing space or buy your own.
 
Another thing to note is that whenever you are dealing with a pinched nerve, you want to make sure that you are as rested as possible, along with lowering any activity that leads to soreness. Try and keep the cycle of rest going until your symptoms subside. After this, you can begin to start testing things together. For certain types of issues, like carpal tunnel syndrome, you may be able to use a splint to protect your wrist.
 
You have a lot of options that you can do at home to help lower soreness from pinched nerves. For example, a gentle stretch can help provide relief, but you don’t want to overextend yourself. Focus on smaller movements, and if you find yourself getting sore again, try and do something less intensive. Think about applying heat to your muscles in the affected area to help them loosen. Heat also supports healing by promoting blood flow. Generally, you want to apply it for 10-15 minutes at a time. You can also do ice instead if you prefer. Simply get some ice, wrap it in a washcloth, and apply it to the area for 10-15 minutes as well.
 
If you want additional help, consider looking into NSAIDs. These can help quite a bit with mild soreness and can be brought over the counter. With that said, just make sure that you read and stick to the recommended dosage. These aren’t going to be able to provide total coverage as well. If you find that you’re dealing with consistent, extreme, or repeated soreness, reach out to a medical professional. On top of performing the exams before, they may be able to provide a prescription for more powerful medication. They may also recommend a specialist like a chiropractor in Hickory. This will help you get the treatment you need.

Healthy Living Spinal Care
1055 13th St., SE , Hickory, NC 28602

828-485-2990

Office Hours:
Monday: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Tuesday: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Thursday: 9:00am - 2:00pm
Friday: 9:00am - 2:00pm

Our Office in Hickory, NC


CONTACT US  |  REVIEWS  |  MINDSET  |  SPINAL CARE  |  HABITS  |  NUTRITION  |  MOVEMENT  |  DETOX   |   HOW WE CAN HELP   |   OUR TEAM   |   ASTHMA & ALLERGIES    |   BACK PAIN   |   DIGESTIVE DISORDERS   |   FIBROMYALGIA   |   MIGRAINE HEADACHES   |   BLOG   |   UPPER CERVICAL DOCUMENTARY
Order Supplements (Doctor Code: NCMI10)

Voted by the Community of Catawba County - Best Chiropractor
Best of Catawba Valley
​Website developed by Healthy Chiropractice

Chiropractic Clinic  •  Chiropractor for Digestive Disorders  •  Asthma Chiropractor  •  Fibromyalgia Chiropractor  •  Low Back Pain
© 2020 Healthy Living Spinal Care, Inc.