I’m Injured - Who do I see?
Experiencing an injury can be scary in and of itself. Trying to figure out what you should do for said injury can be even scarier.
Do you ice? Do you heat? Do you rest? Do you need imaging? Do you just need a massage?
If you have experienced an injury, I’m sure questions like the above have run rampant in your mind.
The scariest part of it all may be trying to decide who to see for said injury. Trying to navigate our healthcare system can be incredibly confusing and overwhelming, especially because we do such a poor job of educating people on where they should start when experiencing an injury.
Many patients I see in the clinic have seemingly seen everyone and tried everything before landing in my office. Multiple providers have either given them no answers or completely bogus answers, and each one has a different opinion and advice for them. Can you see where putting patients through the healthcare wringer leaves them more confused than when they started?
Let’s first break down rehab chiropractic as a conservative care option, meaning an option that involves nonsurgical and less invasive options such as adjustments, muscle work, dry needling, cupping, and rehab exercise. (You may be thinking, “this sounds a lot like physical therapy?” Yes! In my humble opinion, you shouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a good chiro and a good PT.)
As a chiropractor, my scope of practice includes the diagnosis and conservative treatment of musculoskeletal pain and injury. I am considered a primary care physician, meaning you will never need a referral to have access to my care. At any given time, you are welcome to schedule an appointment if any musculoskeletal injury is to arise. All of that to say, if you think your injury involves either a bone or a joint, I can likely help or point you in the right direction for help!
My caveat to this is: while I am your go-to for injuries involving muscles and joints, this excludes any traumatic injuries. If you suspect something is broken or dislocated, please don’t come to my office first. In these instances, you should seek medical care through an urgent care or ER.
That being said, conservative care is THE BEST place to start if your injury involves a non-emergent muscle or joint condition. Seeking conservative care first opens the door for you to begin resolving your injury without the need for unnecessary imaging, medications, or specialist.
Here is a non-extensive list of conditions that have excellent outcomes when treated with conservative care:
Headaches and migraines
Neck pain
Jaw pain
Mid back pain
Low back pain
SI joint pain
Golfer’s elbow
Tennis elbow
Shoulder pain
Rotator cuff pain
Tendonitis
Bursitis
Shoulder impingement
Hip pain
Sciatica
Knee pain
Plantar fasciitis
Ankle sprains
Any conditions related to the above are very much within the conservative care wheelhouse. If a conservative care provider can’t help you manage the condition, they may refer you to add additional resources to your care team like a massage therapist, functional medicine practitioner, personal trainer, mental health provider, or PCP.
Looking for a conservative care clinic? Motive offers the most comprehensive conservative care in Norman, OK and surrounding areas. Motive is Norman’s one-stop-shop for chiropractic adjustments, physiotherapy, dry needling, cupping, scraping, and rehabilitative exercise all under the same roof. We understand where injury management can be scary and frustrating, and we’re always here to help. If you have any questions or still have confusion on deciding where to start with an injury, we can help point you in the right direction, even if that doesn’t start with us!
