If you have never been to a chiropractor before, you might be wondering exactly what to expect.

There are many misconceptions about this kind of alternative medicine. As a matter of fact, if you have some trepidation about a visit to a chiropractor in the first place, it is easy to get worried rather than look forward to some much-needed help.

So here are the facts you need to know before your very first visit to a chiropractor.

To begin, your chiropractor will probably ask you about your current health problems. But he or she won't want to hear about just your back pain or shoulder aches, they'll want to hear about frequent colds, susceptibility to infection, hearing problems, changes in weight, and even any cramping you might be experiencing.

So it's important that you state exactly what you are feeling, even if you think it might sound silly or you don't know the proper medical terminology for what you've suffered from.

Much of chiropractic relies on the sensitivity of touch, and the more detailed your description of the problem and its manifestation, the more able the chiropractor will be to clearly understand what it is that troubles you. It will most certainly make finding the problem and its source easier for them.

The next set of questions will deal with your medical history, including your family’s medical history, including a set of questions that deals with the medical care you are currently receiving as well as the care you have received in the past, no matter what the source of that care is.

Be sure to talk about hospitalizations, consultations with dietitians, physicians, and anyone else with whom you have undergone treatment for your health. Your chiropractor will take detailed notes to ensure that nothing is missed.

Next, your chiropractor will want to know about your job. She or he will not only inquire about the stress level of your job but also ask about the exact kind of work that you do, whether you sit or stand while performing your job and whether or not you operate any machinery.

They will want to know what you do for lunch, whether you walk at any time during your work day or are mostly sedentary, and quite possibly a host of other questions.

As you can see, the questions your chiropractor will ask deal with you as a whole person, not simply singling out your spine, a shoulder, or maybe a leg.

While this may be part and parcel of common medicine, the very fact that chiropractic care is considered alternative medicine makes it different in this respect. Your chiropractor understands that there is more to your health issues than simply a sprained ankle, a slipped disc, or a vertebra that is out of alignment.

The goal is to find out what caused the problem and how it can be corrected so that it will not trouble you again.