How To Choose A Chiropractor: Everything You Need To Know

An estimated 20.4% of Americans suffer from chronic pain. Although pain can feel like a very isolating experience, you’re not alone — there is help out there, and one of the best people to seek out is a chiropractor.

Chiropractors are known for their effective methods of treating the root of the problem. However, getting the best result requires choosing a chiropractor in your area.

Here are all the things you should consider when looking at your options for chiropractors.

ASK FOR REFERENCES

The first thing you should do when looking for a chiropractor is to ask friends and family for references. If you know anyone who’s had effective chiropractic treatment in the past, asking about their experience could help you find some places to look at.

READ THE REVIEWS

The first thing you should do is read the reviews. You can do this by looking on a chiropractor’s website to see client testimonials and typing their business into Google to see if there are any Google reviews or third-party reviews you can browse.

When reading online reviews of any service, you should look for a good overall star rating to ensure customers are generally satisfied.

You can also dive into the high and low reviews to see what they did well and what they didn’t.

CONSIDER THEIR SPECIALTIES

While chiropractic treatment techniques have been proven to be effective in treating pain, you should also consider any specialties your chiropractor has — especially if you know the cause of the pain.

Make sure you ask questions, such as if they’ve treated similar cases and if they’re confident in their abilities to improve your pain.

They should, however, set realistic expectations. Any chiropractor who says they can make you pain-free in one session is a red flag, as it usually takes multiple sessions to make a big difference in your life.

ASK ABOUT THEIR AVAILABILITY

Before committing to a chiropractor, you need to make sure they have appointments available when you can make them. This can be difficult for those who work full-time jobs, as some chiropractors may only be available between 9-5 and there’s no point in getting invested in one who you then can never make the time to see.

This is especially true before effective chiropractic treatments rely on consistency. You’ll have to find the time to make an appointment every week or two.

Ask about the chiropractor’s hours and ensure they’ll work for your schedule for the foreseeable future. You can also ask for a rough estimate on how long they expect the treatment to take so you can better estimate your availability than theirs.

EVALUATE THE OFFICE

When you go in for a consultation or a first appointment, you should make sure of two things about the office:

• That it’s in a convenient location
• That it feels like a relaxing space

The staff should be friendly, making it feel like a good space where you feel welcome. It’s not just about the chiropractor themselves but the supporting staff — if they make you feel judged or unwelcome, it may not be a good place to be.

It also needs to be in a good location for home or work, wherever you plan on commuting from. Otherwise, the journey might become stressful and tiring very quickly.

CONSIDER THE COST

Comparing chiropractic treatment costs is also essential before you make your decision.

Often, insurance doesn’t cover chiropractor costs — or it may only cover a little. In this case, you should make sure you can afford the out-of-pocket costs by asking about the total for the treatment. Some chiropractors may also offer to finance for those who don’t have insurance plans.

Knowing your options is critical.

If you have insurance that’s willing to cover your chiropractor’s costs, make sure the chiropractor is in-network or that your insurance will reimburse you. Remember to ask not just how much one appointment might cost but how much it’ll cost over time for the number of appointments you need for your condition.

CONSIDER YOUR GUT FEELING

As well as all the logistics about price and treatment, you should consider how the chiropractor makes you feel. You should feel like they’re asking questions and genuinely trying to understand your pain, not brushing you off.

Everyone’s situation is unique, and a good chiropractor will work hard to understand what they can do for you and tailor a custom treatment plan to suit your needs.

They should also have a good communication style. If you ever have questions, they should be transparent and upfront, as well as being careful not to make false promises — and they should never tire of the questions. Any patient wants to know much about the treatment plan and how it will work for them.

CONSIDER THESE THINGS TO CHOOSE A CHIROPRACTOR

If you want to choose a chiropractor, these are the things you should consider. You should make sure that your chiropractor is in a good location for you, has availability, is experienced, makes you feel comfortable, and has affordable costs (or accepts your insurance).

It can be daunting to find the right chiropractor, but if you do all these things, you won’t have to worry.

Looking for innovative chiropractic treatments in Arizona? Integrated Pain Consultants has three offices to suit your needs. Contact us today to set up an appointment!