Should I Get a Referral From an MD to See a Chiropractor?

By Brandi Goodman

Many people are unsure of exactly how a visit to the chiropractor works. Do you require a referral first? Are you supposed to use your insurance? Is insurance even necessary? With your questions answered, you can feel more confident about stopping in at your local chiropractic office and getting an adjustment that could benefit your body.

Does Seeing a Chiropractor Require a Referral From a Medical Doctor?

While it’s never a bad idea to involve your primary care physician in conversations related to your physical well-being, you don’t need a referral in order to receive chiropractic care. You can walk right in and receive treatment when it’s needed. We encourage you to let your doctor, your physical therapist, and anyone else who treats you, know when you start receiving routine chiropractic care. It’s wise to have all details related to your care listed and available to everyone for the most comprehensive plan of treatment.

Are There Circumstances Where a Referral Is Provided?

Although it isn’t required, you may still get a referral from a medical professional if you are having back problems. Medical care isn’t always a one-size-fits-all solution. Although some patients may recover with rest, others might need more serious intervention. Your doctor might refer you to a chiropractor if you’re having chronic back pain, have experienced a car accident or other injury, or if their prior treatment options have not worked. It’s often recommended to try chiropractic before jumping to surgery. But the referral is not necessary to see the chiropractor.

What Does Chiropractic Treat?

A chiropractor primarily sees patients who require spine care, though there are a number of ailments that chiropractic can affect. You may benefit from chiropractic if you have:

• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Arthritis
• A sprain
• A strain
• An injury
• A cold
• An earache
• Trouble sleeping

Whatever your personal circumstances, the doctor of chiropractic (which is called a DC) will develop a treatment plan with you that best suits your situation.

Is There a Benefit to Seeing a Chiropractor Before Seeing a Primary Care Physician?

In some cases, it is beneficial to see a chiropractor first before you attempt to speak to a medical doctor. If you experience discomfort while twisting, lifting, or moving, for example, you may want to head right into the chiropractor’s office to have the pain addressed. In the case of The Joint Chiropractic, it saves you the hassle of having to wait for an appointment slot to open up with your primary doctor, and costs far less money; The Joint doesn’t even take appointments, it has a walk-in policy. The DC will recommend that you see your physician if they find underlying illness or have concerns they cannot address themselves.

Do I Need to Have, or Use, Insurance to See a Chiropractor?

Though some chiropractors accept insurance, many do not require it. The Joint Chiropractic does not accept insurance at all, making chiropractic care accessible to anyone. The prices are also affordably set for most potential patients. This is actually a more efficient option for the general public because you do not need to wait to see if your particular insurance is accepted, or get turned away for having none.

Receive Chiropractic Care From The Joint Chiropractic

With no need to fight with your insurance to see if services are covered, and no referral required from a doctor, you can stop right into The Joint Chiropractic to receive care. The no-hassle insurance policy is complemented by walk-in availability and extended hours at our more than 800 locations around the nation, including evenings and weekends. Receive prompt treatment on your schedule at a fair price.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.