Can I tell if I have a subluxation without consulting a chiropractor?

Not always. A subluxation or nerve pressure is like a dental cavity - you may have it for a long time before symptoms appear. That's why periodic checkups are so important. One common symptom of nerve stress is fatigue. Unbalanced body structure causes you to lose energy - you may feel like you don't get enough sleep or you wake up tired. Although it may be possible to know you have spinal nerve stress, it is rarely possible to be sure you don't. An occasional spinal checkup is always a good idea.

An adjustment makes all the difference

Today, I was feeling incredibly uneasy and frustrated. I know I was driving Kim nuts. I couldn't even stand myself-I figured I needed to get out of the house.

I went to have coffee with my friend Dr. Juan Rodriguez. He was having some aches and suggested that we stop by his office and I would adjust him and he would return the favor.

WOW! As soon as I got my adjustment-I felt myself returning to normal, my mood changed, the anxiety left, and the heartburn that I had been experiencing for the past three days was GONE!

Now, I was pretty sure that I was subluxated (out of alignment), but had no idea of the effect it was having on my mood. Another good reason to visit your chiropractor even when you are not feeling any pain.

Nasty Fall

Today, as most Sundays, I serve at Oak Leaf Church. As I was walking backstage, I tripped over a storage container and took a nasty fall. It was pretty funny. A few minutes later, I started having intense pain in my neck and a stabbing behind the eye.

I knew something wasn't right. Fortunately, I knew there was a fellow chiropractor in church and after a quick adjustment- I was back to where I could function.

Even a minor trauma can affect your skeletal and nervous system. If you experience trauma, definitely have your spine checked by a chiropractor. It makes all the difference in the world.

Chiropractors Help Pregnant Women With Pain

The above headline comes from the August 14, 2007 issue of the Dallas Morning Star. In this article, Special Contributor Kathleen Green, starts off by stating, " Moms-to-be once resigned themselves to nine months of misery. But, frankly, they've had enough." She continues, " More women are exploring options and seeking alternatives to ease back pain, headaches, exhaustion and much more. One place many are finding relief is at a chiropractor's office."

The article follows several chiropractors and their pregnant patients and views their reasons for choosing chiropractic and their results. One such patient was Teresa Seymour, who started chiropractic treatment during her first pregnancy with her daughter who is now 2 years old. Teresa said, "If there were times when I could feel that I was starting to get sore in the back, I would go to the chiropractor." During her second pregnancy, she reported, "Just picking up my daughter could knock a hip a little bit the wrong way and kind of pinch a nerve," she says. "I went to [my chiropractor], and he'd adjust my back and my hips." <

The article interviews Dr. Ken Wilson, a chiropractor who sees a lot of pregnant women in his practice and estimates that about 20 percent of his patients are pregnant. He stated, "My focus has changed more to pregnant moms and kids nowadays. My wife had to go through the constant low back [pain] and headaches and really being uncomfortable all of the time. I wanted to help her personally."

Chris Burfield, an educational director with Dr. Wilson added, "When spinal bones get pulled out of place, those bones push up against or irritate the nerves. Those nerves will start to send pain signals off to the brain to let the brain know there's a problem."

Sara Townsley, a former high school science teacher received chiropractic care two years ago during her first pregnancy. She recalled, "If I do a lot of cleaning, like bathroom cleaning where I'm bending over, when I'm pregnant, that's usually when I have my sciatica." She continued, "Ella [her daughter] really sat on my hips, and it helped to have them aligned regularly to relieve some pressure and nerve pinching."

The article also interviews a medical physician, Dr. Walter Evans, an obstetrician-gynecologist in private practice at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. According to the article, Dr. Evans acknowledges a chiropractor's potential in prenatal care, sometimes referring patients with lower back pain to chiropractors. He states, "I've had good luck working with some chiropractors with patients who have low back pain during pregnancy."

Mississippi

I am always honored when someone travels a long way to come see me. Last week, a couple drove all the way from Mississippi to come and get an adjustment. I assumed that they were visiting family or friends and someone recommended they see me before they return home, since that happens often.

This couple had HEARD about me from someone living here , but they got in their car and drove almost eight hours for ONE adjustment.

Then they got in their car and drove eight hours back.

Homer Simpson goes to the chiropractor!

Hey watch this old Simpson's clip "Chirotown" see how many chiro stereotypes you can count,

Another busy week

How can you tell when it's been a busy day at your chiropractor's? Check out the wastepaper baskets!

We must have had a two-basket day-because we were extremely busy-like most Saturdays.

Record Week

Last week we hit a record in the number of patients that we have seen. I gave my assistants a bonus-since they worked hard to get us there!

Atlanta is just too far

Today I had to refer a patient to another chiropractor in Atlanta. This patient had heard about me from a friend and had been coming in and getting great results.

She was driving from the East side of the metro area and it would take her over two hours to get here (depending on the traffic situation)

She needs more frequency in visits-but her schedule doesn't allow her to be away almost half a day when she comes to see me.

I referred her to a good friend who is a great adjuster. I hope she does well.

Don't get me wrong-I have people driving from all over to see me, just that in this case-I felt she needed more frequent care than she could get from driving all the way here.

Swamped!

We were extremely busy today. I kept running late this afternoon and at one point-I was told that it was an hour wait to get an adjustment.

What was interesting is that I was very distressed and apologetic , but my patients kept telling me how happy they were to see that business was good.

I don't think anyone left (although I wouldn't blame them if they did) and everyone seemed to be chatting amongst themselves and having a good time.

Apology

I was reading some of the previous posts -and I must apologize if I sound like I am tooting my own horn.

Anyone that knows me personally knows that no matter what incredible miracles we experience in our office, I really try to keep everything in perspective and remain humble.

You see, I know it's not me who is doing the healing. I am merely an instrument to allow each person's inborn healing ability to come out.

I consider myself the "electrician" for your nervous system. If there is no power flowing through certain areas, I try to restore the flow with an adjustment. Then, I merely stand back and observe the "miracles" that occur.

So, forgive me if I am too eager to tell everything that happens, but it's like I know of a wonderful secret and I have to share it with the entire planet.

Suicide

Sometimes people are in so much pain and have so little hope that they contemplate suicide. A patient confided in me that I am their last resort-that if they don't see relief, they will check themselves out.

Now I didn't know what to say except that this person really needed me to be confident and offer hope-I did. I also offered a hug and listened to them vent their frustrations a little.

This person's gonna be OK.

Tennessee

We have been getting a lot of patients coming from Chattanooga and the surrounding areas.

Sure, it's not that far from us (35 miles) - but it goes to show you that if you provide good service and treat people well, they will travel large distances.

We also have truck driver patients that will travel from Salt Lake City to see us. (OK, when they happen to be in the state)

I try to visualize people coming from all parts of the world to Dalton, GA to get aligned. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Snow, sleet and Ice (oh my!)

I made it in to work this morning. If i had listened to the weather reports, I probably would have closed the office today-but I am in.

I just hope I don't get stuck in the office tonight!

How chiropractic works

read the article How Chiropractic works

Driving 4 hours

I have a practice member that drives 3-4 hours (each way) to see me at my office.

Some people drive from Atlanta, Gainesville, Dallas, Lawrenceville, Chattanooga and Cleveland, Tennessee. I think the one that drove the furthest was from North Carolina.

I sometimes wonder what makes people travel such long distances-driving past hundreds of other chiropractic offices-past older and more experienced and (possibly) better doctors.

I don't really think I would do the same-not for a doctor. I would drive hundreds of miles to see a friend-someone who cares about my health and about me.

Maybe the reason that some of these people come from so far away is that they feel cared for and loved and not seen as dollar signs.

Hey, and if you are one of those people and are reading this:

I love you!

The Truth

This is my favorite B.J. Palmer quote, and I thought I would share:

The Truth
by BJ Palmer, developer of chiropractic

We chiropractors work with the subtle substance of the soul. We release the imprisoned impulse, the tiny rivulet of force, that emanates from the mind and flows over the nerves to the cells, and stirs them into life. We deal with the magic power that transforms common food into living, loving, thinking clay; that robes the earth with beauty, and hues and scents the flowers with the glory of the air.

In the dim, dark, distant long ago, when the sun first bowed to the morning star, this power spoke and there was life; it quickened the slime of the sea and the dust of the earth and drove the cell to union with its fellows in countless living forms. Through eons of time it finned the fish and winged the bird and fanged the beast. Endlessly it worked, evolving its form until it produced the crowning glory of them all. With tireless energy it blows the bubble of each individual life and then silently, relentlessly dissolves the form, and absorbs the spirit into itself again.

And yet you ask, ? Can Chiropractic cure appendicitis or the flu?? Have you more faith in a knife or a spoonful of medicine than in the power that animates the living world?

By B. J. Palmer, D.C., Ph. C

Am I old-fashioned?

The other day I mentioned to a patient that I had been to Dr. Langley's 100th birthday party. He mentioned that he had seen Dr. Langley previously and that I actually reminded him of Dr. Langley.

I took it to mean that there are no fancy bells and whistles in my office, you get chiropractic care, good chiropractic care-and thats it. Some offices have fancy spinal decompression, rehab and physical therapy.

Yes, we do have a massage therapist working here and we do sell vitamins and supplements-but what I do as a chiropractor is offer chiropractic. If that makes me akin to a 100 year old doctor, then I take that as a compliment.

Now, I hope he didn't mean that I look like I'm 100....

100 years old

Today I had the pleasure to be invited to the birthday party of the world's oldest living (and practicing!) chiropractor. Dr. Langley turned 100 today.

He still practice 3 days a week. One interesting thing he said is that what has kept him young for so long was a wife that took care of him, eating well (he only eats vegetables) , and chiropractic.

It's amazing to me that this man was taught in school by some of the founders of our profession.

I'm glad I got to share in this event in my own little way.

Truckstop Chiropractor

I just saw this at a truck stop today. What a great idea! Truck drivers spend the whole day driving-back hurts, get adjusted at the truck stop. Brilliant!