Consultation
During your first visit, your practitioner will ask you questions not only about the pain or complaint that may have brought you to us, but also about your past medical history and general lifestyle. This will ensure that your diagnosis is accurate and that a cause is established.
At Alba Spinal Health Centre, we believe that identifying and treating the cause of a problem will result in a quicker and longer-lasting response to care.
Your details are confidential and no one else will be allowed to see your notes without express permission.
Examination
Once the case history is complete, an examination will be performed, which will concentrate on your nerves, muscles and joints (known as the neuromusculoskeletal system), but it may also be necessary to check areas such as your heart, lungs and abdomen to rule out other causes.
Should your practitioner require you to get undressed, gowns are made available for you to wear during the examination.
People often come to us after previous treatments elsewhere have proved unsuccessful and we want to be the last clinicians you consult. This is another reason why our practitioners like to give your case due consideration before commencing care.
As people can often be sore after the initial examination, you may not receive your first adjustment during this appointment. In this instance, we usually recommend that an ice pack is applied to the affected area at home a few times a day for up to 20 minutes. This process is repeated until your next visit, so that the inflammation has a chance to subside; then the first adjustment can take place. (Ice packs are available to purchase at reception.)
X ray
We also have an onsite state of the art digital X ray machine. If we feel like X rays are clinically needed, this will be included for you during your initial consultation.
X ray imaging is a great way to see the internal boney structures of your spine to gain a better understanding of where your pain or discomfort is coming from and to better know how to treat it.
Not every case will need X ray imaging and your practitioner will discuss with you if it would be beneficial for you during your consultation.
Report of Findings
Upon completion of your examination, you will be booked in for your Report of Findings (RoF) appointment, where care can commence as soon as is convenient for you. In urgent cases, this can be on the same day, but we always aim for the following day.
Your RoF appointment is an opportunity for your practitioner to explain in detail what their examination found and talk you through any imaging that was take. Most importantly, they will outline how they think they can help, how long they expect it will take and how much it will cost.
You are encouraged to bring a friend or family member to this appointment so that they can also hear first-hand from your practitioner about your wellness journey. During your Report appointment you are both welcomed to ask any questions that you may have at this time.
Follow up
After your consultation and RoF our Friendly Clinic Assistant Team can help you to book in your appointments at a time that is convenient to you. They can also help you with any discounts or block bookings that you may be interested in too.
Throughout your care plan your practitioner will regularly review your case to make sure you are making the expected improvements.
At the end of your recommended course of care they will also the best maintenance options available for you, so you don’t go back to where you started.
