According to the latest statistics, somewhere in the neighborhood of 10% of Americans have used chiropractic medicine in order to treat a wide range of different health issues. While the treatment is becoming increasingly common, it can be difficult to find a practitioner who is skilled in treating the type of ailment you're seeking relief for. Keep reading to learn more about finding a chiropractor who can give you the kind of treatment you need.

Find great Oakland chiropractors here >>

The best way to begin is to ask your general practitioner about any chiropractors they recommend for your condition. Your primary care position may have suggestions for local chiropractors who specialize in providing the treatment you're looking for.  You can also ask your family, friends and colleagues for recommendations; however, you should keep in mind that they may not be seeking this treatment for the same conditions as you are. If you hear a recommendation for a chiropractor who sounds promising to you, then the next step is to get in touch to learn more.

A lot of us aren't sure what questions they should ask a chiropractor. Remember that you should talk to the chiropractor rather than to their receptionist or other staff members in order to make sure that you can have all of your questions answered. If they're not able to speak with you when you call, ask for a time that you can speak to them in person. Find out if they're experienced in treating your condition and what kind of treatments they provide; some practitioners offer massage and hot compresses, while others perform only spinal adjustments. It's also a good idea to find out if the chiropractor accepts your insurance and if they're accepting new patients when you speak to them for the first time.

When you're talking to chiropractors, watch out for any practitioners who try to sell you on some sort of purported miracle cure or if they want to immediately schedule X-rays and other tests - this could mean that they're just trying to get as much money out of your insurer as they can. You should also beware of chiropractors who contact you unprompted trying to drum up business.

You shouldn't have to wait a month or more for an appointment, since many conditions are ongoing, and could get worse. You should have to wait no longer than a week for any appointment, and any one that tells you that they can fix your problem in the first one or two treatments is lying. It usually takes at least four to six treatments for their techniques to sink in and actually start being beneficial.

Some other things to be observant about are when you come in for your first appointment. Is the receptionist friendly? First impressions can be an early indication of how their treatment of you is going to be. Is the office itself neat and orderly? Does the secretary give you forms to fill out right away? These are just some of the things to watch out for. Many chiropractors are very nice, and can fulfill your needs. It is a good idea to check their services online, rather than the local phone book.