Friday, January 8, 2010

If I go to a Chiropractor,will I have to go forever?

A good many patients that come to my clinic have never been to a Chiropractor before. When I meet a patient for the first time, shake their hand and look into their eyes, I can sometimes see desperate anxiety lurking just beneath the surface. Often, they have been to numerous other doctors, undergone a variety of treatments and are still trying to find a better answer to their problem. Patients are generally sent by friends and family that are tired of seeing them suffer or they may have spent time on the Internet studying everything about Chiropractic and those doctors practicing in the area, before deciding on us.

I generally try to put them at ease by asking about any questions or concerns they may have. Once the subject is broached, most of them are more than willing to tell you just exactly what they are anxious about. Almost without exception, I am able to ease their fears and move forward helping them with their complaints. Over time, even the most stubborn patients not only have their health improved through Chiropractic but also become longtime friends.

However.....between the time of the first tenuous handshake and actual understanding, it can be interesting, challenging, heart warming and sometimes even humorous.

No matter how hard Chiropractors try to inform the public about the wonderful service we provide, it seems that some people still see us as an odd fringe profession. As a result, people come with all kinds of preconceived ideas. I have listed a few of the common concerns I have heard, as well as the paraphrased versions of my responses.

Patients will say.........


- Will it hurt? No more than you already do. At this clinic, we always start slow and easy, telling you everything we plan to do. The best part....no knives or needles.

- The sound of joints popping scares me. The sound isn't bones grinding or breaking....I promise. A joint is a capsule, completely enclosed. When you stretch a joint, it creates a vacuum, sucking in air and making a popping noise. Along with the noise, lubricant is pulled into the joint. The lubrication and alignment of the vertebral joint is what makes it work better. If it works better, it feels better and wears out slower.

- My doctor said Chiropractic treatments only work temporarily. This one has always puzzled me. Almost nothing we do for our health is permanent. Taking medicine, even though it can be necessary, isn't a permanent fix either. Exercise, hygiene and diet are all things that must be continuously maintained to insure a good quality of life. Chiropractic is good maintenance.

- People say Chiropractors think they can cure anything. Not true, but if your problem is related to spinal dysfunction, not much else will work better. And if that dysfunction causes pressure on the nerves that come through the spine and control other areas, you could feel pain just about anywhere.

- Once you go to a Chiropractor will you have to go forever? No, but let's say you had never brushed your teeth in your whole life, and then one day you picked up a toothbrush and tried it. Would you now say "Oh no, now I have to do this the rest of my life" or did you just find a better way? Chiropractic is kind of like that. You don't have to do it, but it feels good now and can help a whole lot in the future.

The longer I practice, the more amazed I become at just what can be done with Chiropractic adjustments. No, Chiropractors can't cure everything, but I think that conservative care should always be tried first. Like almost everything in our lives, maintenance is required. Our spine is no different. Take care of it and it will serve you for a lifetime. Your spine is important, it supports your whole body, allows you to move around and protects the nerves that run through it.

Do you have questions or concerns about Chiropractic. I would love to hear them all. Call us up and come by. Find out if Chiropractic can help you.

Yours for better health care naturally,

Dr. Flint

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