OK, I've treated many patients before and this has just crossed my mind today, as it is one of the most difficult to manage in a practice.
Patient expectations.
When we go see a doctor, we all want the instant gratification of getting back to 100% as quickly and painlessly as possible. We want that magic bullet that's going to make us like a well-oiled machine again. I understand the want for instant gratification, as I am guilty of such as well. The reality is it's not an easy task to accomplish. Yes, I've had patients that have been "fixed" in one visit, but I've also had some that have required 16+ visits before significant results are witnessed.
Let's take the example of mechanical low back pain. Many cases of mechanical low back pain resolve on their own, but it's not an overnight phenomenon that occurs. It can take weeks to improve without any medical intervention. However, chiropractic and medical intervention are tools used to facilitate the process by making the recovery period less painful, prevent
recurrence, and to prevent chronic pain cycles. This process is a multi-visit plan that needs to be followed, otherwise one can easily revert back to baseline levels of pain.
Now I want all potential patients to know that the pain is merely a symptom and the injury is an accumulation of mechanical aberrations over days, weeks, months, and years. The problem didn't occur in one day, and thus cannot be resolved in such a fashion either. Appropriate pain management, exercise, and close communication with
MDs, Chiropractors, and other professionals alike are the key to managing the situation.
Best,
Norman T. Eng, DC,
CSCS
