Do I need to be referred by my GP?

No.

As chiropractic is primary private healthcare, you can book an appointment without being referred by your GP. Chiropractors undergo extensive training to be able to identify and diagnose conditions and sometimes you may need to be referred to another healthcare professional prior to treatment.

How many treatments will I need?

This all depends on the individual. We are all different and all respond differently to chiropractic care and this can depend on many factors including age, duration of condition, medication, lifestyle, occupation, the list goes on! Generally the earlier you seek chiropractic care the faster your body is able to recover, the more chronic the injury the slower often the recovery. Your participation in your recovery is vital thus if you follow our treatment plan and advice you should see positive results. Re- assessment is carried out at each visit so if the chiropractor is not happy with how your condition is progressing it will be reviewed and we will refer you to someone who maybe able to help.

Will I need an x-ray?

This all depends on your condition and once a full case history and examination has been carried out the chiropractor can make an informed decision whether an x-ray is warranted or not and a full explanation of this will be given.

What is the difference between a chiropractor and osteopath?

The most important factor is that the professional you see is properly trained and a member of a regulatory body. Chiropractors and osteopaths use similar techniques however a chiropractor tends to use short lever as opposed to an osteopaths long lever techniques. Chiropractors are also trained to take and read x-rays.

Will the treatment hurt?

The treatment should not be painful. Gentle and specific low force techniques are used to restore motion to certain joints and sometimes a ‘popping’ sound can be heard which is gas being released from the joint and this is not painful. However we do not perform adjustments on all patients, again each individual has a different treatment plan. Many people feel great after a chiropractic treatment however you may experience some discomfort post-treatment up to 48hrs which is a normal response and the chiropractor will give you advice on aftercare post-treatment.

Is Chiropractic care safe?

Chiropractic when carried out by a fully qualified chiropractor is remarkedly safe. In fact, in one study comparing a course of chiropractic care with a course of anti-inflammatory drugs, chiropractic was shown to be up to a few hundred times safer (Dabbs,V., & Lauretti,W.J. (1995). A Risk Assessment of Cervical Manipulation vs NSAIDs for the Treatment of Neck Pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 18(8), 530-536)

However as with any type of medical treatment there is always risks involved however small they maybe. Any risks associated with your treatment will be fully explained by your chiropractor and if you have any concerns before or during your treatment do not hesitate to voice them.  Many people feel great after a chiropractic treatment however one of the most common side effects is that you may experience some discomfort post-treatment up to 48hrs which is a normal response and the chiropractor will give you advice on aftercare post-treatment.