50% relief of pain, measured subjectively and objectively, is the goal within the first 30 days of care.

Caveat: Chiropractic patients like yourself often experience relief within the first few visits. Radicular pain -- pain down a leg or arm -- may take a little longer and see relief in the second week or so of care. Often 50% relief is reported in a day or two, sometimes (in more painful conditions) it isn't reported until weeks two to three of care. Know that we will set the treatment plan and carefully monitor your progress.

If 50% relief of pain is not achieved in 30 days of cooperative care, further imaging, testing, or surgical consultation will be arranged. Imaging and other tests are not generally ordered unless progressive neurological deficit or cauda equina syndrome is present or appears during the course of care.

How 50% Relief is Measured

A chiropractic re-examination is scheduled every couple of weeks, but as you likely will find improvement more quickly in the first few weeks, the re-examination may happen more often. A re-examination involves, like the initial examination, your subjective input (like on a pain drawing and on scale of 1 to 10) as well as objective input from clinical tests (like straight leg raise and range of motion).  

The Rule of 50% is established to give us all confidence in knowing where we are going with the treatment plan, that pain relief is possible. The 50% Rule is central to your treatment plan and pain relief with Cox Technic. Pain relief and a return to your quality of life is our goal!

Reference
  1. Cox, JM, Feller JA, Cox JA: Distraction Chiropractic Adjusting: Clinical Application, Treatment Algorithms,  and Clinical Outcomes of 1000 Cases Studied. Topics in Clinical Chiropractic 1996; (3)3:45-59, 79-81