5 Tips for Picking a Chiropractor

More and more Americans are turning to chiropractors for their health care needs. In fact, experts say the number of practitioners of chiropractic medicine should increase by at least 15% between 2012 and 2022. This makes this the fastest growing medical specialty in the country. If you suffer from back pain, between 80 and 90% of Americans do, you may be considering seeking out affordable chiropractic services. People who are treated by chiropractors for back pain are much less likely to end up getting surgery than people who seek out surgeons first.

Tips for Finding the Right Chiropractic Medicine Practitioner 
Get personal recommendations. Talk to your friends and relatives. Ask your doctor. You probably know at least one person who has visited a chiropractor. Getting bad reviews for a practice can be just as helpful as a good one as you can weed out certain offices. Look online for reviews at sites such as Yelp, Facebook and WebMd. Check the practice’s website and see if they list testimonials.

Look at your insurance policy. Many plans cover some chiropractic medicine services. Fins out if they have providers that are in your network and what the copayment is. If you are unsure about terminology, call the company for clarification.

Check their education and credentials. The chiropractors education is very specific. The degree providers need is the Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) and they must be licensed the state where they practice. This is a four year program that also requires at least three years of undergraduate college. Verify the credentials of anyone you see.

Consider your consultation to be an interview. How comfortable are you with the chiropractor? Do they listen to and answer your questions? Like any medical practitioner, people in chiropractic medicine need to be responsive to your needs. You also need to be open and honest with them about what is and is not working so it is essential that you be comfortable discussing your issues and concerns with them. Also the hand-on nature of chiropractic medicine requires an additional level of comfort with the provider.

Ask about their experience with your problem. Every person and every problem is unique. The more experience they have dealing with your specific issues, the better the chances are that they can help you. You can get more information about your condition and treatment options on chiropractic websites.

Selecting a chiropractor, or any medical professional is a very personal decision. Do some homework and research and you should be able to find someone who can best treat your problem. Any time you spend doing your research before you see a practitioner will pay off when you get the best treatment available.