Back pain is an incredibly common issue, with experts estimating that up to 80% of the population will, at some point in their lives, experience back pain?
Have you been plagued with back, neck, or other spinal or musculoskeletal health issues?
If so, you might consider joining the 35 million Americans that visit a chiropractor every year.
It’s worth taking the time and energy to find the right chiropractor for you, though. Let’s take a look at 7 tips on how to find a good chiropractor.
1. Ask for Referrals
Have you been experiencing neck pain that just won’t go away? One of the first things you can do when looking for the best chiropractor in Lexington is to ask your primary care physician for a referral list.
It can also be a good idea to ask other healthcare providers as well as family and friends for recommendations.
2. Consider How Much Experience a Chiropractor Has
When a chiropractor is tasked with helping you with spine or musculoskeletal health issues, you want to be sure they have a lot of experience in their field. Feel free to ask a prospective chiropractor how many other patients they’ve treated with the same condition that you have.
This is also a great time to ask about complication rates. You can learn the risk of complications you face and also the complications the chiropractor has encountered.
3. Research Their Credentials
It’s essential that any chiropractor that performs work on your body is properly licensed. Licensure tells you that the chiropractor has undergone the necessary training and possesses the skills and experience to provide proper care.
Through researching their credentials, you can also learn whether or not they have any history of malpractice claims or any disciplinary actions against them. Research a prospective chiropractors training hospital, medical school, certifications, and disciplinary and malpractice history on state-run websites.
4. Read Reviews from Other Patients
You probably read online reviews before checking out a new restaurant or store, so it only makes sense to read online reviews for prospective chiropractors as well. Reviews can give you a sense of how the practice is operated and how the chiropractor provides care.
Reviews can help you understand whether or not a particular chiropractor seems like a credible practitioner.
It can also be an indication of how many patients they see. If they don’t have many reviews, it’s possible they haven’t had many patients. Of course, this can also mean that they haven’t thrown many resources into managing their internet presence as a business.
5. Ask About Prices and Insurance Coverage
You may want to look for a chiropractor that participates in your healthcare plan so that you can pay the least amount of money out-of-pocket for your chiropractic care. While price shouldn’t be the most important factor, it’s, of course, a practical matter and entirely relevant. If a place is significantly more expensive than others in the area but does not seem to offer any exceptional services, it’s possibly simply overpriced.
You might also want to ask if the chiropractic clinic offers any cash discount programs for services that are denied by your insurance.
6. Evaluate Their Communication Style
Choosing a chiropractor has as much to do with practical considerations as it does with personal preference. It’s important that the chiropractor’s care style works well for you and makes you feel as comfortable as possible.
Any health professional’s communication is a vital part of meeting your needs as a patient. When you first meet with your chiropractor, ask them a question and then pay attention to the way they respond. Do you feel like they are receptive to your questioning and do they answer in a way that’s easily understandable for you?
You want to find a chiropractor that is interested in getting to know you and will tailor your treatment plan to your preferences. It’s also essential that they respect your decision-making process.
7. Consider Their Location and Availability
If you’re going to be regularly visiting a chiropractor, you don’t want to have to travel any farther than necessary. Though the location isn’t the only factor to take into consideration, it can definitely help you narrow down your options.
You can simply Google “best chiropractor near me,” but you can also ask around your neighborhood and see if anyone has had positive experiences at specific clinics.
You’ll also want to check in about the availability of the list of chiropractors you’ve come up with. You can call different offices and ask if they’re accepting new patients. If they are, ask how soon you’d be able to set up an appointment to have an initial interview with the chiropractor.
How to Find a Good Chiropractor: It’s Time-Consuming but Worth the Effort!
When you’re entrusting a health professional with the care of any health problem, it’s essential to find someone you believe is well-suited for the task and trustworthy. There are many places in life where it doesn’t hurt to cut corners, but this isn’t one of them.
If you’re wondering how to find a good chiropractor, remember that your personal preferences are just as important as any practical consideration. Take the time to call different clinics, ask questions, and set up an interview with several different chiropractors.
Doing your research ahead of time will ensure that you feel more comfortable during your first session and that you’ve found a practitioner you’re happy to visit regularly.
Is it time for you to visit a chiropractor? Contact us today to schedule an appointment!