Phase One: Pain reduction phase
When a patient begins chiropractic care the focus is initially on the reduction of pain, inflammation, and swelling. This phase can last from a few weeks to a few months depending on the severity of the injury and how long it has gone undiagnosed and untreated. During this phase you may be seen daily or three times per week, and it is common for your pain to be significantly reduced or go away altogether. This absense of pain does not mean your underlying condition has been completely corrected. However, some patients will elect to stop care at the end of this phase due to financial or time constraints. Although stopping at this point can increase the likelihood that your pain/symptoms may return at some future date, we at Williams Chiropractic Center honor a patient's right to choose, and therefore, we offer a minimal treatment plan option. For further explanation of what this treatment plan entails, call our office and ask for details. (Please note: Dr. Williams does not offer a one time adjustment option. The techniques used by Dr. Williams require the patient to be seen on specific schedule tailored to their individual condition, even if the minimal option has been chosen).
Phase Two: Corrective/rehabilitative phase
While pain is usually the reason a patient first visits a chiropractic physician, it is a poor indicator of the underlying problem. Pain is the last symptom to appear and the first to go away. No pain does not equal-no problem. You can have a serious condition such as arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease, and feel fine until a serious complication occurs. The same can be said of misalignments. You can have them for years until finally the last symptom-pain, shows up, and prompts you to take action. During this second phase of care, your underlying problem is corrected and stabilized to the greatest extent possible. Most patients choose this treatment option. As your condition improves, your visits are then reduced to two times per week for a period of time, then one time a week and so on.
Phase Three: Supportive/wellness phase
This phase is completely elective and is chosen by patients who want to maintain the level of success they are able to achieve through Dr. Williams' treatments and is only available to patients who have completed phase one and phase two of care. If you choose this option, you will be seen periodically to check for dysfucntional joints and muscles that are the result of everyday stresses due to work or repetitive activities. This phase involves you seeing Dr. Williams once every 4 to 12 weeks depending on how long your body can hold its adjustments, this option is not covered by most insurance companies.