Backs and necks do not seize up at convenient times. If you have woken up unable to turn your head, or your lower back went as you lifted something, you want to be seen today. Here is how to get in quickly with a chiropractor on the Sunshine Coast, and how to tell whether you need a doctor first.
How to get a same-day appointment
- Call rather than wait. Online booking shows open times, but the front desk also knows about cancellations and can sometimes fit an urgent case in. Call before midday if you can.
- Say it is acute. Tell reception what happened and when, so the right length of appointment is booked.
- Be flexible on clinic and practitioner. If Mooloolaba is full, Nambour may have room, and the reverse.
We keep space in the diary for new and urgent cases at both clinics. Mooloolaba is (07) 5478 2333 and Nambour is (07) 5441 4768.
Opening hours, including Saturday
| Clinic | Monday to Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|
| Mooloolaba | 8am to 7pm | 8am to 12:30pm |
| Nambour | 8am to 6pm | 8am to 12pm |
Both clinics are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Saturday mornings fill early in the week, so book ahead if Saturday is the only day you can come.
What to do while you wait
- Keep moving gently. Short walks are usually better than bed rest for an acute back or neck.
- Change position often and avoid long periods of sitting.
- Use heat or a cold pack for 15 to 20 minutes if it eases the pain.
- Ask your pharmacist about pain relief that is suitable for you.
Need to see someone on the Sunshine Coast?
Our chiropractors and physiotherapists consult in Mooloolaba and Nambour six days a week — same-day appointments are often available.
When to see a doctor or go to hospital instead
Call 000 or go to an emergency department if back or neck pain comes with any of the following: loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin or inner thighs, weakness in both legs, pain after a significant fall or accident, chest pain, fever, or a sudden severe headache unlike any you have had before. Sunshine Coast University Hospital at Birtinya and Nambour General Hospital both have emergency departments.
What happens at an urgent visit
A history and examination come first, to work out what has happened and to make sure chiropractic care is appropriate. If it is, treatment normally starts in the same visit. If imaging is clinically needed, our Mooloolaba clinic has digital X-ray on site. The full process is on our what to expect page.
