A special thanks to Jonathan Currier, a Swansea Chiropractor, for providing this article.

Imagine this scenario: You’ve been battling a painful condition for months…maybe even years, but have been frustrated with the results of the typical treatment approach.

You’ve been to urgent care, the ER, your primary doctor, sent to physical therapy and ultimately the specialist, but still no answers! You’ve been given pain-killers, muscle relaxers, and anti-inflammatory medication, but remain in pain! You’ve had xrays, MRI’s, radio frequency ablations, epidurals, steroid injections, maybe even surgery…but still suffering! You’ve “tried it all,” but have you?

This article will reveal the number one profession in America that can (1) determine the cause of your pain, (2) conservatively care for your pain without drugs or surgery, (3) give you lifelong satisfaction knowing you are an active participant in your future quality of life.

It will also provide you with three tips in how to effectively go about choosing the right provider.

Each year, it is estimated that Doctors of Chiropractic treat more than 30 million people in the United States annually. Combined, Chiropractors are the third largest doctorate-level primary-care providers in the nation; second only to medical doctors and dentists.

Furthermore, and even more impressive are the results common to Chiropractors for the treatment of common musculoskeletal complaints such as neck pain, back pain, and headaches.

A 2019 study published in the Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice titled “Ratings of perceived effectiveness, patient satisfaction and adverse events experienced by wellness chiropractic patients in a practice-based research network” found that following a course of chiropractic care 87% assessed their care as effective/very effective.
The same study found Chiropractic wellness patients were highly satisfied with their care giving an astonishing 95% satisfaction rating! With rates of success that high, its incredible that some people are still turning to Chiropractic care as a last-resort rather than the first line of defense for eliminating painful conditions without the use of drugs or surgery.
So, you’ve determined that your problem is not getting better on its own, and that Chiropractic could be the best option to determine the true cause of your pain, and to hopefully care for it naturally, without the use of harmful unwanted drugs or surgery. The next step is choosing the right Chiropractor for you. Follow these tips!

The first tip to find the best Chiropractor is to research! It sounds simple, and it is! But, don’t stop your research after the first Google search. Rather look for these clues to narrow it down.

The first clue in your research should look at the online reviews. Having a LOT of reviews can be a good thing, but don’t make your decision based solely on the quantity of reviews, but also look at the quality of reviews and how current they are. This can be important, let me share a secret as to why:

Some clinics spend a ton of money each year to buy reviews! These can show up as a 5-star review, but have no written substance to them, or may have a two-word description such as “would recommend”. These certainly help the business rank higher, and may even get you to click on their website first, but are these reviews even real? Do they speak to the credibility and effectiveness of the doctor and their staff? Will they take great care of you? How current are the reviews? All of these questions can begin to give you confidence in your decision.

The next thing to consider in your research is practice style. Chiropractic is unique because it involves a lot of one-on-one time with the doctor and staff. In fact, the average number of visits required to ease or eliminate a painful bout of low back pain or neck pain is about seven visits. It’s important you feel comfortable with the doctors’ personality and within the environment of the clinic space.
I recommend visiting the website to get a sneak peek. In this day-of-age, successful business owners understand the value of having an attractive website, as they want to work hard to stand-out from the competition around them. If the clinic doesn’t look good online where great effort is taken to MAKE IT look good, are you going to be comfortable actually being there?

Again, what is the style of practice? Not all Chiropractors are alike, nor do they practice the same way and offer the same techniques! Is it a family-oriented practice that primarily sees pregnant women or children? Or, is it a sports-medicine style practice that focuses on athletes and athletic injuries? Does it offer therapies like spine decompression for conditions like disc bulges or sciatica? Do they have other doctors or providers that work together in the clinic such as: licensed massage therapists, physical therapists, pain management doctors, or acupuncturists?

Regardless of who or where you choose the last tip I recommend in choosing the right Chiropractor is your satisfaction after your first visit. If you don’t feel comfortable for any reason after your first visit, it is prudent to consider thanking the doctor for their time and visiting a different clinic. Afterall, the reason why you’re searching for help in the first place is to FIND COMFORT!

So, because you’ve made it this far, I have one more bonus tip for you: Consider choosing a doctor who performs the proper exams required to determine the cause of your problem, and who can clearly communicate the results to you.

The length of each visit may vary…but typically, the first one or two should be longer, as they should involve a one-on-one consultation with the doctor, a focused examination measuring range of motion, muscle symmetry and strength, postural alignment, gait, and others. A complete report of findings should be included before a full trial of care is recommended or committed to by the patient. If they doctor can’t explain what is going on, and what they can do about it, why would they recommend care…and why would you accept it?!

When you do decide to make the commitment to Chiropractic care, stay committed! Like many things in life, the more you put in the more you get out.

By Dr. Jonathan T. Currier, DC
www.lifespinecenter.com