NERVOUS NELLIE

Years ago, I encountered a woman who related to me that she suffered from daily lower back pain for many years. Medical doctors diagnosed her with a vertebral fracture of unknown origin along with some degenerative changes in her spine. They suggested surgery, putting rods and screws in her spine. She had seen a couple of chiropractors in the past but was not satisfied with the results of her care. I asked her what type of techniques the chiropractors used to adjust her spine, and she said they were the twisting, cracking, crunching type of techniques. It’s what I call the ‘ol “rack and stack” techniques. Admittedly, the adjustments, or rather, manipulations, were effective but the results did not last, and the doctors wanted to see her several times a week for several months. She also mentioned the manipulations were somewhat painful and uncomfortable and “scary.” I explained that back-in-the-day chiropractic techniques utilized more of a brute force approach whereas today we have techniques that use physics that utilize more gentle forces to mobilize spinal segments. In addition, there is a difference between manipulation and adjustment. Manipulations are gross mobilizations of several vertebrae or regions of the spine whereas adjustments are more specific and metered. An adjustment is a specific force on a specific vertebra to bring about a specific change or result in abnormally locked spinal segments. It’s gentle, metered and specific. In my opinion, it also is more effective and lasting and brings about better results with far fewer visits. I use instruments and other mechanical devices that allow me to adjust the spine in a relaxed state versus bringing everything to tension and then driving through the tension to cause a release or “crack.”

So, if you are a Nervous Nellie or know of one facing options for care, call 324-0100 for an appointment today, and we can discuss several types of treatment options for spinal conditions. There is nothing scarier than rods and screws in your spine, not to mention there is a 15% increased chance of having a life-threatening situation occurring with spinal surgery. At Heib Chiropractic we know the way you FEEL is related to the condition of the FORM of your body and the degree of FUNCTION of your musculoskeletal system. If you are wearing yourself down, we will help build you back up! Call us today!