When Will I Be Fixed?

One of the most common asked questions I get is this: "how long will it be until I get fixed and feel better?" There are as many answers to that question as there are people who ask it. My normal response is, "that depends". It is important to remember that no two people are the same - we are uniquely created - each with our own strengths and weaknesses physically. To better answer this question I think it would be helpful to explain the different treatment phases that lead to restored health. An understanding of the treatment phases will allow you the patient to see yourself on the spectrum of "getting fixed" and then you can better evaluate when you will "get fixed". I will identify three phases that I see a patient experience in my office as they "get fixed" or feel better.

The first phase I would describe as the "Acute Phase". In this phase the patient is most often experiencing significant pain and discomfort. They may be suffering from muscle spasms, muscle guarding, and/or restrict movement. When a patient enters my office in this phase the first and most important goal of treatment is to reduce the pain and inflammation so that the body can begin to heal itself. The mode of treatment at this time is an adjustment to reduce the subluxation. In many cases, the adjustment is supplemented by using cold (ice) between scheduled treatments. Before there can be a reduction in pain intensity, there must be a reduction in inflammation. As an example, most everyone can identify with the pain and swelling that goes along with a sprained ankle. The swelling is inflammation and when that swelling goes down (ie. reduced inflammation), you realize the pain intensity has reduced.

The second phase is the "Rehabilitative Phase". This phase begins to occur after the inflammation has been reduced. There may be some intermittent recurrences of pain and inflammation but they are short-lived. There is a decreased intensity and frequency of pain. The patient begins to use terms like discomfort, aching, and stiffness to describe how they feel as opposed to pain. During this phase the body begins to not only heal itself, but begins to strengthen itself. Treatment consists of adjustments (usually not as frequent) to continue to reduce the level of subluxation, cold (ice)treatment to keep inflammation in check, moist heat treatment to relax muscle fibers, and incorporation of specific exercises to stretch and strengthen the involved areas.

The third phase of treatment is the "Maintenance or Wellness Phase". This phase is characterized by having most, if not all symptoms relieved, and the patient feels good on a daily basis. The primary focus of treatment at this time is early detection of subluxations. If the subluxations are left unattended, they may cause reoccurring symptoms. By following through with the maintenance/wellness phase, every patient benefits from a healthier life. This phase is the most beneficial to the patient's overall good health and if/when problems arise in the future, they are more easily corrected.

So, by describing the phases of treatment, I hope you the patient has a better understanding of how difficult it is to answer the original question - "when will I be fixed?" My experience has shown that the Acute Phase is the shortest and in most cases, what the patient concentrates on. Remember, pain is a great motivator and once the pain is under control further treatment is often neglected. A large percentage of patients follow through with most of the recommended Rehabilitative Phase. A smaller percentage make the Maintenance Phase a priority. I would contend that as health care costs continue to rise, it is in the best interest of patients to stay as healthy as possible to keep their budgeted health care dollars to a minimum. Studies show that Chiropractic Care is both a cost effective and natural way to good health. Remember - it is easier to stay healthy than to get healthy!

What is a Subluxation?

If you think about it, all professions, trades, and hobbyists have terms that are unique to their specific areas of interest. For chiropractors, that term is "subluxation". Anyone who has visited a chiropractic office or knows someone who has, has heard this term. While the term "subluxation" can be somewhat confusing, it need not be intimidating. A good working definition would be as follows: a "subluxation" is a misalignment of two or more segments of the spinal column in which normal motion and integrity of the affected joint is compromised. This misalignment causes a mechanical stress on the affected joint, that left uncorrected, results in accelerated wear and tear on the area. This compromised state of the segments, directly affects the surrounding muscles, ligaments, discs, and other soft tissues which included nerve roots. When the nerve tissue is involved, the communication system of the body becomes less effective, which can and often does, result in jeopardized health and wellness of the individual. Some of the more common physical symptoms that are a result of the subluxation are pain, palpatory tenderness, inflammation, muscle spasm, decrease mobility, and hypertonicity (tight muscles).

The causes of the subluxation can be varied and come from many different sources. The first cause could be physical in nature. Examples of this type of subluxation would be acute trauma (ie. auto accident, falls), job responsibilities that involve repetitive movements, poor posture, improper work stations, and weak or imbalanced spinal muscles. A second cause could be described as chemical. This would include poor diet and nutrition, drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, environmental pollutants in our food source, the water we drink, and the air that we breath. The third, and of recent time more common than ever before, would be best described as emotional. Recent studies show a direct connection between excessive stress, the lack of stress management, and a compromised immunity system. If the body's immunity system is compromised, we are more susceptable to all diseases.

Chiropractors are the only health care providers with extensive training and education for detecting, locating, and correcting a subluxation. This is accomplished by what is commonly known as an adjustment. The adjustments I give are delivered by hand and consist of a gentle force to the subluxated segment. I use a segmental drop piece treatment table to maximize the comfort to the patient. A series of adjustments restores normal mechanics to the subluxated segments, which in turn increases muscle tone, strenth and decreases the adverse effects of the wear and tear on the joint.

Since we are dynamic individuals and not static creatures, everyone at some point in time will suffer from a subluxation. That is why it is a good idea to seek periodic spinal evaluations to check for the presence of subluxations or other spinal abnormalities.

There are some new and exciting things happening!! I am now treating patients at my new office location at 6347 Constitution Dr in Fort Wayne, IN. For those interested, my new phone number is 260-459-2424. The move went quite smoothly and the transition is almost complete. I'm still trying to get into a groove but in just a week, it is already beginning to feel comfortable. I'm enjoying the space and look forward to its future use.

One of the new things is this blog. Through this form of communication, I hopefully will be able to provide some timely updates and practical information as it pertains to good health, wellness and my practice of chiropractic health care. From time to time I might throw in a few personal tidbits. I'm always open to suggestions, so if you have a question or topic you'd like me to comment on, let me know.

In this my first entry, I must say "THANK YOU" to some very dear friends (Jill, Kathy, Judy, Carl, Jim, and June) who have provided great encouragement and support during this transition time. I am humbled by their very genuine prayers, concerns, suggestions and counsel in my life. Most of all, I thank my loving and supportive wife, Cheryl, for her strength and quiet courage. She has been such a blessing in this undertaking!

So this is the beginning of something new - let's see where we it takes us!