Don’t worry if you’re feeling hesitant on what you should say when visiting a chiropractor for the first time. Doing anything for the first time, especially if it involves medical treatments, is always a cause of anxiety. The best way to make you feel better about it is to do a little research before you go.
You’ve probably thought about all the things you should say to your chiropractor. Where your pain is, how it feels, how you got your injury, what your expectations are, etc. But what about the things you shouldn’t say? Do yourself a favor and scan through our list of the top eight things you should never say to your chiropractor before you attend your appointment.
1. “I know this is stupid, but…”
No concern, query, worry, or question you have is stupid. Everything that comes out of your mouth is 100% valid in our clinics. If you don’t understand something or you want to know more about something, just ask!
We’ll do our best to explain it in a clear and easy-to-understand way. Never feel embarrassed to ask us to repeat something or explain it in another way.
2. “I can’t make an appointment. I don’t have the money.”
Chiropractic care is a lot more affordable than you think. In some instances, it’s even free. Many different healthcare plans (including the ones provided by employers) cover chiropractic care.
Even if you’ve got to pay for your treatment out of your own pocket, it’s much more affordable to pay for chiropractic care to treat a minor injury than pay for expensive invasive surgery when your small injury develops into something serious.
3. “My pain level is 11/10.”
If that were true, you’d be lying on the ground unconscious. We use a pain level between 0 and 10 to determine how your pain improves or gets worse over time. Here’s a quick guide to pain levels, so you can give an accurate number at your next appointment.
- Pain-free
- Mild pain that’s barely noticeable
- Minor pain that’s annoying
- Uncomfortable pain that is noticeable and distracting
- Moderate pain that you can ignore only if you concentrate
- Distracting pain that you can’t ignore for more than a few minutes
- Distressing pain that interferes with your daily life
- Severe pain that severely limits your abilities to do everyday things
- Intense pain where physical activity is limited and talking requires a lot of effort
- Excruciating pain when you’re unable to speak and you moan/cry out uncontrollably
- Unspeakable pain when you’re bedridden and delirious — very few people will ever experience this level of pain
4. “Sorry, I didn’t get time to shave this morning.”
Please don’t apologize for your body! We’re not here to evaluate your body hair. All we care about is how you’re doing on the inside and we’d be pretty confused if you’d managed to shave your spine.
5. “I exercise every day.”
This is something you should definitely tell your chiropractor…when it’s true. It’s something you should absolutely avoid saying if you’re not being honest. It’s important to always be truthful with your chiropractor when it comes to your activity level, how much physical labor you do, and your lifestyle. The only way we can help you is if you’re completely honest with us.
6. “I know I’m wasting your time, but…”
You should not say that you think your pain is too mild to make an appointment. A lot of people schedule a session when they’re in pain and the next day, when they come into the clinic, they’re feeling better. Attending your appointment if your pain has lessened or disappeared completely certainly isn’t wasting our time!
The human body is confusing and pain can come and go. If you’ve experienced any type of physical pain over the past few days, especially if you’ve recently been involved in an accident, it’s always worth making an appointment and coming in.
7. “I feel fine now, I won’t need any more treatment.”
Very few problems can be fixed with a single chiropractic treatment. Most issues need weekly treatments for at least 3-4 months before the root of the pain has been addressed and resolved.
Don’t be fooled when you feel great immediately after your first chiropractic appointment. While this high could last days, it is going to end at some point. When you follow the custom treatment plan put together by your chiropractor and attend regular sessions, you’ll find that the pain-free high lasts longer and longer, until one day your pain disappears completely.
And a little fun for the final one…
8. “Can you take a look at my toenails?”
No. You’ve made an appointment to see a chiropractor. Not a chiropodist.
Now you’re ready
Now you know what not to say to your chiropractor, it’s time to make your first appointment! Visiting any kind of medical professional for the first time can make you feel nervous, but now you’ve got a better idea of what to expect, you should feel a little calmer and more at ease. Remember — we’re here to help you get over the pain and discomfort which have become an ordinary part of your life.
About the author
Matt has been helping providers within the healthcare setting for over a decade. He realizes how best to solve a patient’s problem by understanding the individualism of each patient. Therefore knowing what their true needs are. To focus on the patient and the “Why” they need their particular service that goes beyond the initial reason for them to seek treatment.
Matt has been with Veeva since 2018. He also has access to over 75 years of combined real-life hands-on experiences from the many doctors within the Veeva Chiropractic landscape.
