What to Expect at Your First Visit to Castle Rock Chiropractic

Your first visit to Castle Rock Chiropractic starts with a conversation, not a treatment table. Dr. Dickason takes time to understand what’s going on before recommending anything – and in most cases, patients who come in for an initial evaluation do receive their first treatment that same day. Here’s exactly what that visit looks like from the time you walk in.

Before You Arrive

If you’ve scheduled as a new patient, the team will walk you through any intake paperwork ahead of time. It’s straightforward – health history, current symptoms, prior injuries or treatments, medications. The goal is to give Dr. Dickason useful background so your time together is spent on what matters, not on filling out forms in the waiting room.

If you’re coming in after a car accident, bring whatever documentation you have – insurance information, accident report, any paperwork from the ER if you went. Our team handles insurance verification and can clarify your benefits before care begins. No referral is needed to be seen.

The Conversation Comes First

Dr. Dickason starts every new patient visit by listening. Not the quick “where does it hurt, on a scale of one to ten” version – a real conversation about what’s been going on, how long it’s been happening, what makes it better or worse, what you’ve already tried, and what you’re hoping to get back to.

That last part matters more than people expect. Understanding whether someone wants to get back to hiking Castlewood Canyon trails, keep up with their kids at Philip S. Miller Park, or just be able to sit through a full workday without their back screaming at them – that shapes everything about how care is approached. There’s a difference between managing pain and restoring the function someone actually cares about.

The Examination

After the intake conversation, Dr. Dickason does a thorough physical evaluation. What that includes depends on your situation, but typically covers:

Posture and spinal alignment assessment – looking at how your spine is positioned and where compensations have developed.

Range of motion testing – how far you can move in each direction and whether there are restrictions or pain at specific points in the range.

Orthopedic tests – specific movement and pressure tests that help identify the source of pain. Different tests point toward different structures – discs, joints, muscles, ligaments.

Neurological screening – reflex testing, sensation, and muscle strength checks when arm or leg symptoms are present. This helps determine whether nerve root involvement is a factor. Dr. Dickason’s post-graduate neurology training from the Carrick Institute is particularly relevant here.

Palpation – hands-on assessment of the spine and surrounding soft tissue to identify restricted joints, muscle guarding, and tender points.

For patients coming in after a car accident, the evaluation also includes specific accident-injury screening. In some cases, that includes RightEye sensorimotor testing – a technology that evaluates brain-eye coordination to detect concussion or traumatic brain injury. It’s a differentiator for our auto accident care that most chiropractic offices simply don’t offer.

Do I Need X-Rays or an MRI?

Maybe, maybe not. Dr. Dickason will tell you honestly after the exam whether imaging is warranted for your situation. For many patients with straightforward musculoskeletal presentations, a thorough physical exam gives enough information to start care. Ordering imaging when it won’t change the initial approach isn’t helpful for anyone.

If imaging is needed – because of trauma, red flags in the exam, or a presentation that needs more clarity – we’ll tell you why and point you in the right direction. If you already have recent X-rays or an MRI, bring them or bring the disc. That information is useful and we’ll review it.

The Report of Findings

Once the exam is complete, Dr. Dickason sits down with you and explains what he found in plain language. What’s happening, what’s likely causing it, what the options are, and what care at Castle Rock Chiropractic would look like if that’s the direction you want to go.

This is where you get the honest timeline conversation. Some conditions respond quickly – acute joint restriction with no disc involvement, for example, often shifts within a handful of visits. Chronic disc problems, long-standing postural patterns, or significant injury cases take longer. Dr. Dickason is known specifically for being straight with patients about this, and it’s something patients consistently appreciate in reviews. You’ll know what to expect going in.

There’s no pressure to commit to a long-term plan on the first visit. You get the information, and you decide what makes sense for you.

First Treatment – Usually on the Same Visit

For most patients, the first treatment happens at the initial visit once the exam is done and the findings are reviewed. Dr. Dickason uses 20 distinct chiropractic techniques, which means the approach is matched to your body, your condition, and your comfort level – not a single method applied to everyone.

For spinal complaints, chiropractic adjustments address joint restriction, restore normal motion, and reduce nerve irritation. For disc-related conditions, that may be combined with Cox Flexion-Distraction or a recommendation to start spinal decompression therapy. The technique selection happens based on what the exam found – not a standard protocol.

If you’re nervous about adjustments, that’s worth mentioning before the treatment starts. There are gentler mobilization approaches and instrument-assisted techniques that achieve similar goals without the traditional manipulation. You won’t be pushed into anything that doesn’t feel right.

What Happens After the First Visit

After your first treatment, Dr. Dickason will give you specific guidance on what to do and not do in the next day or two. Some people feel immediate relief. Some feel a little sore, similar to the feeling after a good workout, as the body starts adapting to restored motion. Both are normal.

You’ll leave with a clear picture of the recommended care plan – how often, for how long, and what the goal is at each stage. Castle Rock Chiropractic doesn’t run open-ended care plans with no defined endpoint. The goal is always to get you to a point where you don’t need to come in as often, and eventually, to where you’re coming in for maintenance on your own terms rather than because you’re in pain.

A Few Things Patients Often Ask Beforehand

What should I wear?

Comfortable, flexible clothing. You don’t need to change – just wear something you can move around in. Athletic or casual wear is fine. Avoid restrictive waistbands or stiff denim if you can.

How long will the first appointment take?

Plan for about an hour. The intake conversation, exam, report of findings, and first treatment together take roughly that long. Follow-up visits are shorter – typically 20-30 minutes once we’re into the care plan.

Does chiropractic care hurt?

The adjustments themselves are not painful for most patients. If you’re coming in with an acute injury or significant inflammation, there may be some tenderness during the exam and soft tissue work. But the treatment itself is generally comfortable, and Dr. Dickason checks in throughout to make sure you are.

Do you accept my insurance?

Castle Rock Chiropractic accepts most major PPO insurance plans and Medicare. The team verifies your benefits before care begins so you know what to expect cost-wise. Self-pay options are available as well. If you’re coming in after a car accident, MedPay and PIP coverage typically apply – the team handles that coordination.

Ready to Come In?

The first visit is really just a conversation and an honest look at what’s going on. There’s no obligation beyond that. If you’ve been putting off getting your back pain, neck pain, or other symptoms evaluated, this is a low-pressure way to start.

Call Castle Rock Chiropractic at 303-688-2300 or schedule your first visit online. We’ll take it from there.