Getting Started, Getting Better

Most people see chiropractors for relief from pain. Pain is a sign that something is not right - that you have been injured. There are basically two types of injury. The type we usually think of is the kind where 'something happens,' like a fall or an accident. In these cases we typically feel pain either immediately or a little after the incident. This is called an acute injury. In these injuries we always know the cause.

The second type of injury is actually more common. In this case the problem, which is frequently but not always painful, may begin gradually and we are not sure why, or even when, it started. Or it may be that what began as an acute injury never completely healed and has continued to be painful or weak or inflexible. These conditions are labeled chronic. 

There is a third type of injury in which an underlying, chronic problem either causes or contributes to a new injury.

Understanding the difference between these types of injuries is important because it points to the importance of fixing the problem not just stopping the pain. This brings us to 'phases of care.'

Phase 1: Relief Care

Regardless of the type of injury you have, if you are in pain when you come into our office, the first objective is to get you feeling better. Depending on the severity of your problem, it is typical to need relief care 2-3 times per week for 1-12 weeks.Usually the longer you have had a problem the longer it takes to get out of pain.

Phase 2: Corrective/Restorative Care

Relief from pain does not necessarily mean that the injury has fully healed. A joint or muscle that has had a significant injury will continue to be weak or inflexible even after the initial pain has faded. In acute injuries, corrective care focuses on strengthening and maintaining flexibility of the injured tissue so that it heals strong and flexible-- like it was before you were hurt.

In chronic conditions 'correction' is made more complicated by our innate instinct to favor or compensate for a weak or injured area. For example weak or tight hips will lead to more use and strain on the back or knees (or both). The most common cause of injury to the rotator cuff of the shoulder is tightness in the chest muscles. Relaxation and strengthening the mid back can relieve shoulder pain and prevent subsequent surgery.

Successful treatment of these types of injuries requires knowledge of the mechanics of body use, repair of injured tissue and repeatedly using the injured muscles and joints properly. This means that in addition to the physical treatment that you will receive in our office, you will also be given exercises to do at home and an explanation of why you are doing them.

The time it takes to correct a chronic problem obviously varies greatly, but usually it takes at least six weeks to replace and re-form damaged tissue. Successful correction requires a plan. Making a plan requires taking responsibility for your health and leads naturally to the idea of wellness.

Phase 3: Wellness Care

Wellness care is based on the conviction that you are more likely to be healthy if you put your efforts into doing healthy things than you will be by just trying to avoid disease or injury. The challenge is to discover what these 'healthy things' are.

In our office we emphasize and explain the impact on  your health of common everyday activities such as as: breathing, diet and digestion, joint flexibility, nerve function, sleeping, exercise, posture and mental attitude. You will be surprised to find how much difference you can make in your life by improving the way you do the things that you already do every day.