There’s a lot of information around chiropractic care, pain, scans, adjustments and recovery. Here are straightforward answers to some of the questions I’m asked most often, including what treatment involves, what the evidence tells us, and what you can realistically expect from care.
What you might be wondering...
How many sessions will I need?
The honest answer is that it depends on what you're dealing with.
Some musculoskeletal problems respond quickly. Others are more persistent, recurrent, or influenced by multiple factors and take longer to improve.
After the first appointment, you'll have an honest assessment of your situation, a clear starting plan, and a realistic discussion about what to expect. Some people need only a few visits. Others benefit from a longer period of rehabilitation and support.
What you won't get is an open-ended plan with no clear purpose or review process.
How do we know if treatment is working?
We'll agree on what success looks like before we start.
That might be less pain, improved movement, returning to sport, walking longer distances, getting back to the gym, sleeping more comfortably, or simply feeling more confident using your body.
Recovery isn't always linear, and progress isn't measured by pain alone. We'll regularly review how things are changing and adjust the plan as new information emerges.
What happens if treatment isn't
helping?
Not every plan works exactly as expected.
Healthcare is often an iterative process: we make decisions using the best available information, monitor the response, and refine the approach where needed.
If you're not progressing as expected, we'll discuss why. That may involve changing the treatment approach, modifying rehabilitation, seeking further investigation, or considering referral to another healthcare professional.
What is spinal manipulation?
Spinal manipulation (often called a chiropractic adjustment) is a hands-on technique involving a quick, controlled movement applied to a joint.
The goal is to introduce a small amount of movement into the joint and surrounding tissues. Some people experience an audible "click" or "pop" during treatment, while others do not.
That sound is thought to result from changes in pressure within the joint, sometimes referred to as cavitation. It is not bones moving back into place, and the presence or absence of a click does not determine whether treatment has been successful.
Spinal manipulation is one of several tools that may be used during chiropractic care. It is not required for every patient and is always discussed before treatment.
Do chiropractic adjustments hurt?
Most people find chiropractic adjustments or spinal manipulation comfortable.
Some people experience mild soreness afterwards, similar to what you might feel after exercise. This usually settles quickly.
Treatment is always adapted to the individual. If a particular technique doesn't feel right, there are usually several alternative approaches available.
Do I have to be adjusted?
No. Spinal manipulation is one treatment option, not a requirement.
Some people prefer chiropractic adjustments and find them helpful. Others would rather use mobilisation, soft tissue work, exercise rehabilitation, or a combination of approaches.
There are also situations where spinal manipulation may not be the most appropriate option. Depending on your presentation, medical history, examination findings, preferences, or specific health conditions, I may recommend a different approach altogether.
What conditions do you usually see?
At Nic Lechault Chiropractic I manage a wide variety of conditions including but not limited to back pain, sciatica, nerve-related leg pain, neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, hip pain, knee pain, running-related injuries, sports injuries, mid-back pain, rib-related pain, jaw pain (TMJ disorders), tennis elbow, golfers elbow, foot pain, ankle pain and generalised musculoskeletal aches and pains.
Where are you based?
Nic Lechault Chiropractic is based at two locations; Gaydon, Warwickshire and Bloxham, Oxfordshire offering free parking at both clinics. Serving patients from Warwick, Leamington Spa, Banbury, Stratford-upon-Avon, Southam, Harbury, Kineton, Bishops Itchington, Fenny Compton, Tysoe, Edgehill, Wellesbourne, Ettington, Shipston-on-Stour, Bloxham, Banbury, Chipping Norton, Deddington, Adderbury, Milcombe, Hook Norton and across Warwickshire and North Oxfordshire.
Can I exercise while receiving treatment?
In most cases, yes.
The question is usually how much and what type of exercise is appropriate right now, rather than whether you should stop moving altogether.
Part of the process is working out how to keep you active while respecting the current limitations of the problem. For many people, maintaining some level of activity is an important part of recovery.
Do I need an MRI or X-ray before booking?
In most cases, no.
Current clinical guidelines, including NICE guidance, advise against routine imaging for common musculoskeletal problems such as back pain and sciatica, when it is unlikely to change management.
A thorough clinical assessment usually provides more useful information than imaging alone. If I believe further investigation would genuinely change management, I'll explain why and discuss the most appropriate next steps.
My MRI shows a disc bulge, degeneration or arthritis. Is that what's causing my pain?
It might be contributing, but it may also be incidental.
Research consistently shows that findings such as disc bulges, degenerative changes and arthritis become increasingly common with age, including in people who have no pain at all.
Your pain is real, but the scan doesn't always tell us why it's there.
What matters most is understanding how your symptoms behave, how they affect your life, what factors may be contributing, and what is most likely to help you move forward.
Can you arrange imaging if it's needed?
I can't directly request NHS imaging, but I can write to your GP with clear clinical reasoning if I think further investigation would be useful.
Private MRI can also be arranged where there is a genuine clinical indication.
Imaging should answer an important question or change management. It isn't something that is recommended routinely or simply for reassurance.
Will I need ongoing treatment forever?
No. My goal is not to create dependency on care.
The aim is to help you understand your situation, build confidence in your body, and become as independent as possible.
As things improve, visits usually become less frequent and the focus shifts toward what you're doing independently.
Some people choose periodic support because they find value in it for accountability, symptom management, rehabilitation, healthy ageing, or performance goals. That's a legitimate choice and one I'm happy to support.
The difference is that it should always be your informed decision, not something presented as a necessity when it isn't.