21/07/2026
Ever wonder what a chiropractor’s SOAP notes for a patient encounter look like? A doctor should be writing notes on every visit to document the encounter. This soap note is from me after my day…enjoy:
SOAP NOTE:
The Doctor Becomes the Patient
SUBJECTIVE:
Patient reports sudden onset of severe right-sided flank and lower rib pain while treating patients at The Palms. Pain was described as a diffuse, dull ache rated approximately 6/10 and was aggravated by right lateral flexion. Patient also experienced two episodes of vomiting, which may sound alarming but is somewhat less impressive once it is disclosed that the patient is, medically speaking, “kind of a baby” and frequently vomits when experiencing pain.
Throughout the day, the patient continued treating because apparently common sense was unavailable.
Between appointments, the patient crawled into his office, closed the door, and briefly died for several minutes before returning to care for the next patient.
Meanwhile, Kara Rae Loucks transitioned seamlessly into Chiropractic Assistant Superwoman Mode, escorting patients from the treatment room to their various modalities, keeping the clinic running smoothly, and doing an absolutely spectacular job while the doctor quietly fell apart behind a closed office door.
OBJECTIVE:
* Right lower thoracic and flank pain
* Positive Schepelmann’s test with right lateral flexion
* Significant relief with TENS and segmental traction
* Relief while reclined in the passenger seat as Kara drove out baby home
* Normal temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate
* No urinary symptoms
* Patient placed in bed with an ice pack by Kara
* Kara then initiated an unsupervised therapeutic shopping excursion
After approximately one hour of sleep, the patient rose from bed and experienced a loud audible cavitation from the right lower rib cage, followed by immediate relief of the primary pain. Residual muscular soreness remained.
ASSESSMENT:
Possible right 11th or 12th rib subluxation with associated thoracolumbar and intercostal muscle spasm.
Secondary diagnosis: Temporary loss of physician dignity.
Kara demonstrated exceptional clinical judgment, patient management, crisis response, and retail therapy skills.
PLAN:
* Adjustment performed spontaneously through positional change and gravitational assistance
* Cryotherapy as directed by Kara
* Continued rest
* Avoid lifting, twisting, and dramatic declarations of impending death
* Therapeutic positioning utilizing one king-size Serta mattress
* Shopping intervention completed by caregiver; clinical necessity remains under review
* Reevaluate tomorrow unless the rib cage chooses to adjust itself again
PROGNOSIS:
Excellent.
SPECIAL THANKS:
Thank you, Kara, for taking such incredible care of me today. Every time I finished treating a patient, you stepped in, took over, guided them through their therapies, and kept The Palms running without missing a beat. You were calm, professional, compassionate, and absolutely amazing.
While I was crawling into my office between patients, shutting the door, and dying for a few minutes, you became Chiropractic Assistant Superwoman.
I love you, and I truly could not have made it through today without you.
The shopping trip remains under investigation. 😂
