On your first consultation we will make sure that you do not have a serious injury/illness. Many people experience severe back pain, neck pain or sciatica, and in 98% of cases there is nothing serious underlying. However, this is normally a concern for most people and it is important to rule out pathology before progressing to treatment. One of our chiropractors or physiotherapists will give you a thorough examination during which he will be looking for signs of something serious underlying. If there are any signs of this he will refer you to the right person (A&E, surgeon, oncologist etc) with a covering letter that will get you instant attention.In most cases there is nothing wrong, and the next stage of the examination is to diagnose the cause (Muscle strain, joint sprain, Disc herniation, arthritis flare up (spondylosis) etc ) Diagnosis of the problem leads naturally to a treatment plan. The right diagnosis of the problem will lead to the right treatment. The first part of the treatment plan is always pain management, using techniques such as gentle exercises, heat or ice and breathing techniques. Once your pain has reduced we will start to treat its root cause, usually at a later session.
Some people just want to get rid of the pain, and once they have done that they do not want any other treatment. The problem with this approach is that the pain may have a tendency to return as the underlying condition worsens. If you want to get to the root of the problem, in most cases you will benefit from a rehabilitation programme which may include, stretching, strengthening and postural exercises as well as occasional check-ups.
