WHAT CONDITIONS BRING PEOPLE TO THE CHIROPRACTOR?

Back pain is the # 1 reason people consult a chiropractor, with the low back the primary offender. Patients also come in for neck pain, headaches, and pains which radiate down the arms or legs. These are signs of advanced nerve damage and most of these cases respond well to chiropractic care.

A spine free of nerve interference allows the body to function nearer to 100 per cent.

WHAT DOES A CHIROPRACTOR DO?

On your first visit, a case history will be taken and a spinal examination conducted to determine the cause of your problem.

You will be placed face down on the chiropractic adjusting table. After palpation, the misaligned segments of your spine are gently readjusted by hand.

Depending on the results of your examination, you will be placed on a programme of regular chiropractic adjustments, usually starting out at three times per week for the first several weeks until your long-established spinal problem begins to demonstrate significant change for the better.

WHAT KIND OF RESULTS CAN I EXPECT?

Most patients feel immediate relief after their first adjustment. A minority of patients will experience some soreness in the beginning of care; something like the way you feel after going to the gym for the first time in a year. That’s because of the build-up of scar tissue in the spinal ligaments as sequelae of old traumatic injury. When the chiropractor first begins to adjust these cases, there is a necessary disturbance of this tissue to prevent its otherwise uninterrupted progression.

Serious cases, where spinal arthritis has persisted for decades, may take some time before the patient sees significant improvement. Even the most severe cases generally begin to see encouraging changes after the first month of regular chiropractic care.

The long-term goal of chiropractic care is improved function and a longer lasting body.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CORRECT MY SPINE?

One visit to the chiropractor doesn’t correct years of damage to the spine. It takes a series of chiropractic adjustments over several months to effectuate a change in a pattern which has usually taken decades to develop. The good news is that most patients begin to feel better even after just the first adjustment.

By age 40, most Jamaicans have had their spines pounded by potholes into an ultra-stiff degenerative spinal arthritis. Since these are progressive conditions, the problems compound with time, manifesting more pain, decreased mobility, bone spurring, calcified ligaments, discal diminution, and dehydration along with nerve compression in increasing severity, this further limits normal function in the body.

Obviously, those starting chiropractic care earlier in life have a better chance of achieving longer lasting results from a regular programme. That doesn’t mean there is no hope for older Jamaicans. Regular chiropractic care, over time, results in improved mobility and flexibility along with a feeling of youthfulness and well-being. Improved organ and muscle capabilities prove the value of chiropractic to those for whom it is a new approach to health.

We believe for optimum health, after the symptoms are decreased significantly or gone, and the spine/nervous system is stabilised, that everyone should continue maintenance care at least once or twice a month for life.

Dr Harvey is a 1980 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic and Dr Chris Davis “The Spinal Mechanic”, a 1999 graduate of Parker College of Chiropractic. Dr Harvey has offices in Kingston, Portmore, May Pen, Mandeville, and Negril and has rendered over one million chiropractic spinal adjustments in his career. Call 890-0265 for appointment. Don’t forget to “Ask Your Chiropractor”, where your questions and answers could be published in following articles. Address your questions to Dr Chris Davis: movethebone@gmail.com or, Dr Michael Harvey: dr.michael_harvey@yahoo.com