FAQ
- Will you be cracking my back?
- Does treatment hurt?
- How many treatments will I need?
- How long will I have to wait for an appointment?
- I am in pain now, what can I do to relieve my pain before I come in?
- What happens to my records?
- I have health insurance, is treatment covered?
- How much does treatment cost?
- Is chiropractic treatment available on the NHS?
- Do I need to be referred by my GP?
- What if chiropractic treatment isn’t what I need?
Will you be cracking my back?
Chiropractic Adjustments (or Joint Manipulation) is one of the services that we offer at Gloucester Chiropractors, and this treatment method can cause clicks or pops in the joints being adjusted.
The clicks and pops associated with manipulation are just like those when someone “cracks” their knuckles. The cause is a small pocket of gas forming when the joint is stretched.
Clicks and pops are totally harmless and have been shown to have no clinical significance – that is to say, if you don’t pop it doesn’t mean treatment hasn’t worked, and if you do pop it doesn’t mean you will suddenly get better.
Adjusting is just one of the treatment methods used at Gloucester Chiropractors.
We will discuss with you which treatment methods are likely to bring you best results once we have examined you. Usually, a combination of treatments are used together for best effect.
Please contact us for further information.
Does treatment hurt?
Chiropractic treatment is not painful.
There is a risk, however, that having treatment can aggravate your existing symptoms.
So, while treatment itself should not hurt while you are having it, it is not unusual to experience some temporary worsening afterwards.
Studies (and our own clinical audits) suggest this temporary worsening affects around 1 in 5 patients.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to predict who will experience worsening of symptoms.
At Gloucester Chiropractors, we do our best to balance the risk of agitating symptoms with the benefit of treatment. We also adjust our treatment approach according to different people and their response to previous treatment.
It is worth saying that any worsening of symptoms is temporary and does not affect your chances of getting better.
Please contact us for further information.
How many treatments will I need?
This is a very difficult question to answer accurately, as the answer varies depending on the nature of your problem.
It is quite normal to need a number of sessions close together for rapid relief of a problem. As a very rough guide, this might be 4-6 sessions over 2-4 weeks.
Thereafter, it can be helpful to have less frequent visits, ensuring that the initial problem does not begin to creep back.
Studies have shown that patients that do visit a chiropractor on a preventative basis end up having fewer painful episodes and fewer treatments than those that don’t, so we do advocate periodic check-ups.
That said, at Gloucester Chiropractors we will never try and sell you treatment you don’t need.
For this reason, we don’t do bulk buy discounts or block booking for appointments.
Please contact us for further information.
How long will I have to wait for an appointment?
Generally speaking, we will be able to offer you an appointment within a day or two of you contacting us.
If you require a specific time or day, it is possible that there may be a slightly longer wait, but we will do everything we can to accommodate you.
Please contact us for further information.
I am in pain now, what can I do to relieve my pain before I come in?
We have created a pre-appointment advice page explaining what to do before your chiropractic appointment.
In most instances, you should keep moving as much as possible. While easier said than done, keeping moving prevents your joints and muscles from stiffening up.
As a rule, over the counter anti-inflammatories are very effective at relieving pain. While nobody likes taking medication, particularly if it is not addressing the underlying problem, a short and intense course in the early stages of a problem tends to be the most effective.
Ice packs are also very helpful as an anti-inflammatory. You can place an ice pack on the painful area for 20 minutes, with an hour’s break in between sessions.
Topical rubs and gels can provide some relief. The best tend to be those that provide a cooling or heating sensation, as this sensation can interfere with pain signals. Anti-inflammatory gels are generally not very effective because of the minimal dose obtained.
Please contact us for further information.
What happens to my records?
Your records are held securely and confidentially.
Gloucester Chiropractors are obliged to keep a copy of your records for 8 years after your last visit.
After this time, your records will be destroyed.
If you would like a copy of your records, you can just ask your chiropractor or you can contact the clinic.
Please contact us for further information.
I have health insurance, is treatment covered?
Chiropractic treatment is covered by most health insurance companies.
Our chiropractors are fully registered and meet the criteria for all insurance companies in the UK.
We ask patients to pay for treatment themselves and we will provide a receipt containing all the information needed for you to claim back the cost of treatment.
More information is contained on our Gloucester Chiropractors Prices page.
Please contact us for further information.
How much does treatment cost?
An initial consultation costs £85. This fee includes treatment where possible, and this is usually carried out on during your first appointment.
Follow up appointments cost £49.
More information is included on our Gloucester Chiropractors Prices page.
Please contact us for further information.
Is chiropractic treatment available on the NHS?
Chiropractic treatment is available on the NHS in some parts of the country.
Because of the way clinical services are commissioned, availability can change from year to year.
Gloucester Chiropractors have no intention of becoming an NHS provider.
Instead, we are focussing our efforts on being the best private provider of chiropractic services in Gloucestershire.
Please contact us for further information.
Do I need to be referred by my GP?
You do not need to be referred by your GP in order to see a chiropractor.
As registered primary care practitioners, chiropractors have the training and skill to assess patients and to spot when chiropractic treatment is not the best option.
This helps to speed up access to chiropractic services, and an earlier appointment tends to lead to a faster and better outcome.
Please contact us for further information.
What if chiropractic treatment isn’t what I need?
If chiropractic care is not the best option for you, our chiropractors will advise you on what to do next.
You will have opportunity to discuss your options with your chiropractor, who will provide their recommendation.
Where referral is necessary for further investigation (eg. blood tests or scans), we will usually write to your GP requesting this. We can also write a private referral in most cases.
Please contact us for further information.
