If you have never been to a chiropractor before, the uncertainty of what to expect is often the main thing stopping you from booking. You have heard the adjustments described as cracking or popping. You are not sure if it will hurt. You do not know how long it takes, what they will do to you, or how to explain your problem in a way that actually helps.
These are the questions every first-time chiropractic patient has. The good news is that the first visit is far more straightforward than most people expect, and understanding the process before you arrive makes the entire experience easier and more productive.
This is a complete, honest walkthrough of exactly what happens during your first chiropractic visit at Citrin Chiropractic in St. Louis, from the paperwork before you arrive to the treatment plan you leave with.
| Ready to book your first visit? New patients seen same week at Citrin Chiropractic St. Louis.Call (314) 890-2400 or book your free consultation online. |
Before You Arrive: Paperwork and Insurance
The first visit starts before you walk through the door. Understanding the administrative side in advance removes the friction that makes people run late or feel flustered on arrival.
New Patient Forms
Like any medical appointment, your first chiropractic visit begins with intake paperwork. At Citrin, new patient forms cover your health history, current symptoms, previous treatments for the same condition, medications, and the details of how your pain began, whether from an accident, gradual onset, or a specific incident. Completing this accurately and thoroughly is the single most useful thing you can do before your first appointment because it shapes the entire evaluation.
We recommend arriving 10 to 15 minutes before your appointment time to complete paperwork in the office, or calling us in advance to request forms to complete at home. For accident patients, bring any documentation you have, accident report, ER discharge papers, insurance information, and attorney contact details if applicable.
Insurance Verification
Our billing specialist Kim verifies your insurance coverage before your first visit at no charge. Whether you have health insurance, auto insurance MedPay or PIP after an accident, a workers compensation claim, or you are self-pay, we identify the correct billing pathway in advance so there are no surprises. For new chiropractic patients coming after a car accident, bring your auto insurance card, we handle the rest.
What to bring to your first visit: photo ID, insurance card (health and/or auto), any relevant imaging (X-rays, MRI, CT scans) on disc or printed, a list of current medications, and a description of when and how your pain started. If you were in a car accident, bring the accident report and any attorney or insurance adjuster contact information.
The First Visit: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough
A typical first chiropractic appointment at Citrin runs approximately 60 minutes, longer than subsequent visits, which are usually 20 to 30 minutes. Here is exactly what happens, in sequence.
01 Minutes 1-10 | Intake Review With Your Doctor
Your doctor reviews your completed intake forms and asks follow-up questions to clarify your history. This conversation is clinical, not administrative, your doctor is building a picture of the mechanism of your pain, its progression, and what has and has not worked previously. Be specific: when did it start, what makes it worse, what makes it better, has it changed over time, and have you had any imaging done. The more specific your answers, the more targeted the evaluation that follows.
Tip: do not minimize your symptoms out of politeness. Describe your pain at its worst, not its average. Doctors work with what patients tell them, underreporting leads to undertreatment.
02 Minutes 10-30 | Physical and Orthopedic Examination
This is the core of your first visit and what distinguishes chiropractic evaluation from a general practitioner appointment. Your doctor performs a musculoskeletal and neurological examination that includes postural analysis to identify alignment and compensatory patterns, range of motion testing of the spine and relevant joints, orthopedic tests specific to your complaint, each designed to stress particular structures and identify which ones are involved, palpation of the spine and soft tissue to locate restricted joints, tender areas, and trigger points, and neurological screening to check reflexes, sensation, and muscle strength where nerve involvement is suspected.
Note: wear comfortable clothing that allows access to the spine and affected area. You will remain clothed throughout the examination.
03 Minutes 25-35 | Digital X-Rays (If Indicated)
Citrin Chiropractic has digital X-ray equipment on site. X-rays are taken when your doctor determines they are clinically indicated, typically for acute injuries, suspected fractures, significant degenerative findings suggested by the examination, post-accident evaluation, or first presentations of spinal pain in older patients. Digital X-rays at our clinic produce high-resolution images with significantly lower radiation exposure than traditional film X-rays and are reviewed with you immediately.
When X-rays are NOT taken: not every patient needs X-rays on the first visit. If your history and examination findings are clear and there are no red flags or contraindications, your doctor may proceed directly to treatment. Imaging is ordered when it changes the treatment plan, not as a routine box-checking exercise.
04 Minutes 35-50 | Your Diagnosis and Treatment Plan
After the examination and any imaging, your doctor explains their findings clearly, what the diagnosis is, what structures are involved, what is driving your pain, and what the treatment plan looks like. This is not a brief summary before being rushed out the door. At Citrin, we believe patients who understand their condition make better decisions and have better outcomes. Your doctor explains the anatomy involved, why the proposed treatment addresses it, what the expected timeline looks like, and what your role in recovery is between appointments. You leave the first visit knowing exactly what is wrong and what is being done about it.
Treatment plan elements: visit frequency, duration of care, which services are involved (adjustment, decompression, massage, rehabilitation), realistic milestones, and how progress will be measured.
05 Minutes 50-60 | Your First Treatment
In most cases, treatment begins at the first visit. Your doctor performs the initial chiropractic adjustment based on the examination findings, targeting the specific joint restrictions identified during palpation and orthopedic testing. The first adjustment is typically gentler than subsequent sessions as your doctor assesses how your spine responds. If massage therapy or other modalities are indicated, those may be scheduled for the same visit or the next appointment.
What the adjustment feels like: most patients describe chiropractic adjustment as a feeling of pressure followed by release, often accompanied by an audible pop. The sound is not bones cracking, it is the release of gas from the joint capsule as pressure equalizes. The vast majority of patients find adjustment comfortable and leave the first visit with some immediate relief.
| From Dr. Citrin: The first visit is as much about building trust as it is about diagnosis. Patients who arrive anxious leave understanding what we found and why the treatment plan makes sense. That clarity is what produces compliance with the care plan, and compliance is what produces outcomes. We do not rush first visits. |
Common First-Visit Myths, Debunked
Most hesitation about booking a first chiropractic appointment comes from misconceptions that are easy to clear up.
MYTH: Chiropractic adjustments are painful.
REALITY: The vast majority of patients find adjustments comfortable or even relieving. Some soreness in the adjusted area within 24 hours of the first visit is common, similar to post-exercise muscle soreness, and typically resolves quickly. If any technique causes discomfort, your doctor adjusts the approach immediately.
MYTH: You will need to come forever once you start.
REALITY: Your treatment plan has a defined duration with measurable milestones. Some patients choose ongoing maintenance care after their condition resolves, that is their decision, not a requirement. Most patients complete a defined course of care and are discharged when their goals are met.
MYTH: You need a referral from your GP to see a chiropractor.
REALITY: No referral is required in Missouri. You can book directly as a new patient, no GP visit, no authorization required. For auto accident patients, you can come directly from the accident scene without any intermediate steps.
MYTH: Chiropractic is only for back pain.
REALITY: Chiropractic care at Citrin addresses neck pain, headaches, sciatica, disc herniation, sports injuries, neuropathy, post-accident injuries, and more. The first visit evaluation assesses the full picture of what is driving your condition, whatever that condition is.
Cost, Billing, and Insurance at Your First Visit
One of the most common reasons people delay their first chiropractic appointment is uncertainty about cost. Here is exactly how billing works at Citrin:
- Health insurance: most major health insurance plans cover chiropractic care with a co-pay and subject to your deductible. Kim verifies your specific benefits before your first visit.
- Auto accident patients: MedPay and PIP coverage pay for chiropractic care directly. We bill your auto insurer and you pay nothing out of pocket during treatment.
- Medical liens: for patients with personal injury attorneys, we accept medical liens and letters of protection. Treatment begins immediately and payment comes from your settlement.
- Workers compensation: we accept workers compensation for work-related injuries. We handle the billing and documentation required.
- Self-pay: rates are available by phone. Many patients find chiropractic care at Citrin significantly less expensive than they expected, particularly compared to specialist co-pays and prescription costs.
- HSA and FSA: chiropractic care qualifies as a medical expense for both Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts.
No surprises policy: we confirm your coverage and explain your financial responsibility before your first treatment. You will never receive a bill you were not expecting from Citrin Chiropractic.
| Ready for your first visit? Call us today, new patients seen the same week.Call (314) 890-2400 or book your free consultation online. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to my first chiropractic appointment?
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that allows your doctor access to your spine and the affected area. You remain fully clothed throughout your first chiropractic visit. Avoid tight jeans, restrictive waistbands, or belts that make it difficult to assess your lumbar spine. Athletic wear or comfortable casual clothing is ideal.
Will I get adjusted on my first visit?
In most cases, yes. After the examination and any imaging, your doctor typically performs the first chiropractic adjustment at the end of the first visit. The first adjustment is generally gentle as your doctor assesses your spine’s response. If there are any contraindications identified during the examination, recent fracture, severe osteoporosis, or other factors, treatment is modified accordingly.
How long does the first chiropractic visit take?
Your first chiropractic appointment at Citrin takes approximately 60 minutes. This includes the intake review, physical and orthopedic examination, imaging if indicated, diagnosis discussion, treatment plan explanation, and first adjustment. Subsequent visits are typically 20 to 30 minutes.
Do I need to bring my medical records?
If you have relevant imaging, X-rays, MRI, or CT scans, bring them on disc or printed. They help your doctor understand your history and avoid duplicating tests unnecessarily. If you have seen other providers for the same condition, a brief summary of what was tried and how you responded is useful. Previous medical records are helpful but not required to be seen as a new patient.
Is chiropractic care safe for the first visit?
Chiropractic care has an excellent safety profile. The examination specifically screens for contraindications before any treatment is performed. First visit chiropractic adjustment is tailored to your specific examination findings, not a one-size-fits-all protocol. Serious adverse events from chiropractic adjustment are extremely rare. Your doctor discusses any specific considerations relevant to your condition before treatment begins.
What if I am nervous about the adjustment?
Tell your doctor. This is one of the most common things first-time patients say, and it completely changes the approach, slower technique, more explanation, gentler initial pressure. Many patients who arrive nervous leave wondering why they waited so long. The goal of your first chiropractic visit is to build trust as much as to provide treatment, and that starts with how your doctor responds to your comfort level.
