Step 1) Get a Background Check (prior post)

Step 2) Make Sure You Get Full Disclosure (prior post)

Step 3) Force the Doctor to Set Expectations (prior post)

Step 4) Make Sure You Get Routine Questioning (prior post)

Step 5) Never Settle for Just The Adjustment (prior post)

Step 6) It’s All About The Progress Report (prior post)

Step 7)  Bring on the Witnesses!

Every successful chiropractor will have helped many patients get out of pain and stay out of pain.  And for this people are infinitely grateful (as you soon should be as well). 

Therefore, your doctor should be able to provide you with reference letters or testimonies of people with similar situations as yours which he/she has already helped. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for these references – especially since you cannot judge how well the doctor can help you by the style of his/her office, the clinic staff or even the amount of fancy equipment on hand. 

Only the true stories of how the doctor has helped other people can give you a realistic assessment of how well he or she may be able to help you.  

So ask your doctor for copies of his/her “success stories” of patients he/she has treated with similar conditions as yours – it will affirm your choice of doctor and motivate you to get started – with the right doctor!!

All the best,

Dr. Anthony Gondesen
HealthSource of Clear Lake
900 Apollo Lane, Suite A
Clear Lake / Houston TX 77058
Tel. 281-286-2229
www.HealthSourceClearLake.com

Step 1) Get a Background Check (prior post)

Step 2) Make Sure You Get Full Disclosure (prior post)

Step 3) Force the Doctor to Set Expectations (prior post)

Step 4) Make Sure You Get Routine Questioning (prior post)

Step 5) Never Settle for Just The Adjustment (prior post)

Step 6) It’s All About The Progress Report

In order to ensure that the expected progress is being made and that you are getting a return on your investment, your doctor should complete an interim examination every 30 days. 

The interim examination won’t be as comprehensive as the initial exam, but should focus the doctor’s attention on your problem area with a review of the rest of your spine as well. 

The doctor should rely not only on his or her expertise and experience with you, but also include another EMG scan to show progress to date and corresponding changes (good or bad) in other areas up and down your spine.  The EMG scan will provide you with tangible and objective data to corroborate the doctor’s analysis, while also ensuring that no new issues have come up.

Of course, it goes without saying that the doctor should review progress versus measured goals/expectations and also adjust your treatment plan as needed to ensure continued progress towards eliminating you pain… the doctor should never just rely on how you feel or what pain level you have.

So make sure that your doctor has a way to tangibly communicate quantifiable progress on your condition with you – after all, if you’re investing in his/her program of care, you most certainly want to see results!

This is especially true if you are looking to eliminate the pain and not just “feel better”….

All the best,

Dr. Anthony Gondesen
HealthSource of Clear Lake
900 Apollo Lane, Suite A
Clear Lake / Houston TX 77058
Tel. 281-286-2229
www.HealthSourceClearLake.com

Step 1) Get a Background Check (prior post)

Step 2) Make Sure You Get Full Disclosure (prior post)

Step 3) Force the Doctor to Set Expectations (prior post)

Step 4) Make Sure You Get Routine Questioning (prior post)

Step 5)  Never Settle for Just The Adjustment

Chiropractic adjustment alone can never eliminate your headaches, migraines, neck pain, shoulder pain or back pain of any type. 

Every bone in your spine is connected to one or more muscles, so although your doctor can bring immediate relief by adjustment of one or more vertebrae in your spine, those vertebrae may move right back into the wrong place as soon as you stand up, get in your car or go back to your daily activities. 

It is therefore absolutely essential that your doctor prescribe exercises that complement the spinal adjustment so that your vertebrae can stay where the doctor put it.  Repetitive exercise of the muscles is like the braces used by orthodontists – it helps move the bone (teeth) back to into the correct position. 

Making sure that the vertebrae are kept in the right place is the only way to eliminate your pain for good.  And that calls for more than just adjustment by the chiropractor.

So ask your doctor about a program of exercise that complements his/her chiropractic adjustments – and please note that in this case we are not referring to the passive “feel-good” exercise like electrical stimulation or rolelr tables to relax the muscles – but bonafide muscle movement & strengthening exercise.

Without the muscle strengthening, you may not be eliminating the pain and may find yourself coming back for other treatments on the same condition – again and again…

All the best,

Dr. Anthony Gondesen
HealthSource of Clear Lake
900 Apollo Lane, Suite A
Clear Lake / Houston TX 77058
Tel. 281-286-2229
www.HealthSourceClearLake.com

Step 1) Get a Background Check (prior post)

Step 2) Make Sure You Get Full Disclosure (prior post)

Step 3) Force the Doctor to Set Expectations (prior post)

Step 4) Make Sure You Get Routine Questioning

As you visit with your doctor for treatments, it is extremely important that the doctor knows how you are progressing or if there are any new issues that should be considered. 

Therefore, your doctor should have a standard way for you to communicate this progress or new developments – preferably as part of the standard sign-in process at each visit. 

The doctor should also be available for private consultation at any time throughout your treatment plan – you should be able to request a one-on-one appointment at any time to express your concerns, ask questions or bring new information to the doctor.

And, of course, any of this chit-chat with the doctor should come at no extra charge!

So remember… don’t be shy – you are the customer and if you’re going to invest in a program of care with this doctor, you want to be sure that you can ask questions – and get answers – any time!

All the best,

Dr. Anthony Gondesen
HealthSource of Clear Lake
900 Apollo Lane, Suite A
Clear Lake / Houston TX 77058
Tel. 281-286-2229
www.HealthSourceClearLake.com

Step 1) Get a Background Check (prior post)

Step 2) Make Sure You Get Full Disclosure (prior post)

Step 3) Force the Doctor to Set Expectations

Once the doctor has explained your particular issues to you and outlined you specific treatment plan, he/she should also be able to explain to you  what results are expected. 

If you’re looking for a chiropractor, you’re likely trying to solve a problem or eliminate pain.  And, if you’re like most people, you’ve already been living with that problem for a while…  So it’s not realistic or fair to expect that this can be corrected in a single visit either! 

Even so, you should put your doctor on the spot to give you his or her best estimate of what results can be expected and when.   After all, he/she is the expert and should have some idea of how quickly your problem can be corrected…

In addition, although doctors are not allowed to guarantee your care, they are able to guarantee your satisfaction, so be sure ask them about this.  You certainly don’t want to invest in a program of care where the doctor is not willing to stand behind his/her treatment plan!

Lastly, make sure that the costs of the treatment plan are clear and in writing, and that your doctor’s office gives you a copy of their financial policy so that there is no confusion on fees or payments. 

Now you’ve got a full set of expectations that you can work with.

Remember… don’t be shy – you are the customer and if you’re going to invest in a program of care with this doctor, you at least want to know what to expect!

All the best,

Dr. Anthony Gondesen
HealthSource of Clear Lake
900 Apollo Lane, Suite A
Clear Lake / Houston TX 77058
Tel. 281-286-2229
www.HealthSourceClearLake.com

Step 1) Get a Background Check  (prior post)

Step 2) Make Sure You Get Full Disclosure

Following the detailed examinations made by your doctor, make sure that he/she plans to meet with you to explain the findings and recommended treatment plan. 

The doctor should present and discuss your x-rays and EMG scans with you, explaining exactly what he/she sees as the problem and why.  And you should be able to ask any questions you want!

In addition to presenting the findings of his/her analysis, the doctor should outline the proposed treatment plan and explain how that plan will help correct your problem. 

The review meeting with the doctor can never take place in the same visit as when you had your x-rays & EMG scan done – if that were the case, then the doctor isn’t taking the time to carefully study your results and complete any research necessary to develop a treatment plan tailored to your specific problem. 

Remember, there is no “one size fits all” solution!  And you want your doctor to work out the details of what’s best for you!

So… don’t be shy – make sure the doctor does his/her homework and shares those results with you….

All the best,

Dr. Anthony Gondesen
HealthSource of Clear Lake
900 Apollo Lane, Suite A
Clear Lake / Houston TX 77058
Tel. 281-286-2229
www.HealthSourceClearLake.com

Step 1)   Get a Background Check

Before you sign up for care at any chiropractic clinic, you need to verify that the doctor will do a full set of exams before starting any treatment. 

Even if your pain is so bad that you just want to try anything, make sure the doctor should always take the time to complete a full set of examinations.

The scope of the examinations must include neurological, orthopedic and physiological exams plus x-rays and surface EMG scan (which will reveal any hidden neurological or muscular issues).

All of these tests are necessary so that your chiropractor knows exactly how best to treat your specific conditions.  

Since it is often the case that pain in one area is related to a problem in another,  it is essential to fully understand how the other parts of your body may be contributing to your current symptoms. 

Without the right analysis, it will not be possible for the chiropractor to eliminate your pain, except by good luck – not really the approach most patients want to take to their pain problem!

So… don’t be shy – be sure to check what tests & examinations the doctor has planned BEFORE you sign up for any care.

All the best,

Dr. Anthony Gondesen
HealthSource of Clear Lake
900 Apollo Lane, Suite A
Clear Lake / Houston TX 77058
Tel. 281-286-2229
www.HealthSourceClearLake.com

Over the years, I have documented 7 simple steps for finding the right chiropractor, and  I now want to share that experience with you.

Once we finish that 7-part series, we’ll move on to the topic of back pain, and other places a chiropractor can help you – often better than any drugs, surgery or other form of treatment.

I plan posting an update once a week, usually on the weekend.

See you soon!

Dr. Anthony Gondesen
HealthSource of Clear Lake
900 Apollo Lane, Suite A
Clear Lake / Houston TX 77058
Tel. 281-286-2229
www.HealthSourceClearLake.com