Why I Love Chiropractic Care

Posted by: Lindsay

Yesterday morning began like any other morning when I have to be at work by 9:30. I woke up to my alarm, snoozed for ten more minutes, lounged under the warm covers for three minutes more (wishing I could take them with me), and then rushed through a shower to make up time.

The pain began when I was blow-drying my hair. I’d had pain similar to this before: sharp and throbbing, contained to one particular spot on one side of my head (but sometimes radiating to the other), exacerbated if I bent over. The pain would recede as the day wore on, surprising me in intervals but turning into nothing more than a slight nuisance.

I was not so lucky yesterday. As I walked fifteen minutes to the train, every step seemed to make the pain worsen. By the time I was on the Red Line, I was almost dizzy with discomfort. Nausea overtook me, and my stomach roiled with the swaying of the car. My headache added to the nausea and the nausea augmented the headache. I counted down the stops with increasing desperation, wanting nothing more than fresh air and solid ground. And, of course, for the pain to stop!

Needless to say, by the time I reached the office, I was a useless wreck. I could barely get my heavy snow boots off and explain to my coworkers that I was feeling at least slightly ill. 

My office manager told me that I could have stayed home. And I was certainly planning on heading straight back there. 

But not before I got an adjustment.

I am beyond fortunate to work in an office that provides absolutely world-class chiropractic care. As awful as I was feeling, I knew that I stood an infinitely better chance of feeling better if I could make it to the office and get onto an adjusting table.

Dr. Dan himself provided my adjustment. He corrected my neck, adjusted my upper back, worked on my head, and corrected my neck again. I stood up from the table and felt a little dizzy, and lightheaded, but in the good way, as if I was floating and free. One of the best parts? The pain was gone. 

As I sit at my desk today, I am so grateful that I work with some of the most talented healers in Chicago. It’s liberating to know that my pain was addressed at its root level and not just masked by a painkiller. 

My story is not unique. Countless people come to The Balancing Center seeking relief. Some people enter unable to walk and leave dancing; others suffer from monthly migraines that recede into memory as they progress in their care. The doctors here strive to bring wondrous healing to everyone who comes through our doors. 

Some important takeaways: 

Healing takes time and progresses in stages: the damage of a few years is not cured within a few days. Like braces remold your teeth over time, chiropractic care heals your spine over time.

New pain might actually be old pain that is allowed to resurface and come to light. Has your foot ever fallen asleep and gone numb? Well, it’s undoubtedly a good thing that it comes back to life, even if the pins and needles are new and painful.

Regular chiropractic care is better than sporadic chiropractic care, just like regular flossing and tooth-brushing are better than sporadic tooth care. Regular care keeps you healthy and out of crisis just like regular tooth-brushing keeps the cavities away.

Finally, when you feel awful and want to cancel your appointment, come in anyway. Yesterday’s train ride was one of the longest, most unpleasant experiences of my adult life, but it was absolutely worth it for the relief and healing I received.

After Dr. Dan finished adjusting me, I went home to sleep off the remainder of the monster headache. Little twinges of pain did return as the day progressed, but rarely and not nearly at the same intensity of the morning. It was almost a miracle.

I say “almost” because while my healing was wondrous, it certainly wasn’t unusual, extraordinary, or unexpected. This is what chiropractic care does and is meant to do, after all! We think of the results as miraculous because they can be so profound and personally meaningful--in that way, this care is indeed miraculous. Chiropractic care, however, is not a supernatural phenomenon that is unavailable or inexplicable: if you’re willing to give it a try, you can welcome some wonder into your everyday life.

Straight Teeth, Straight Spine

Posted by: The Balancing Center

Whenever a patient is hesitant to commit to consistent and long-term chiropractic care, I like to talk to her about dentistry.

Two common reasons you might see the dentist: 1) you have a toothache and 2) your teeth are crooked. Toothaches tend to be quicker fixes--cavity fillings and root canals might require one or two visits to the office. But if your teeth are crooked, that means an orthodontist, braces for two or more years, and a retainer after that for several more years or maybe permanently.

One common misconception about chiropractic care is that it will provide you with lasting, significant relief after one or two visits. For certain kinds of back pain, this might be true. But more often, this is not the case. And this is why I like to talk about dentists with hesitant patients.

Very often, backaches and back pains are not like cavities. Because backaches and similar pains often come from misalignments in the spine, backaches require a treatment plan similar to one for braces. As those of you who've had braces know, this is not just one or two visits.

Just like braces gradually remold your teeth, chiropractic care gradually resets the alignment of your spine. Braces need periodic tightening and maintenance. A spine needs periodic adjustments to keep its correct alignment. Just as you might need to wear braces and visit your orthodontist for months or years, you might need to visit your chiropractor for spinal adjustments for month or years.

Some people don’t want to hear that and that’s understandable. Not everybody likes to hear that they need to alter their lifestyle or spend more money or that his or her pain won’t be fixed immediately.But reality doesn't change whether you like it or not, and your spine is unlikely to realign itself.

And you could always look at it like this: wouldn't it be wonderful to boast a straight spine along with that winning smile? The benefits of long-term chiropractic care are almost countless. A straight spine can mean fewer allergies, alleviated asthma, less back pain, fewer colds, a clearer head, no more headaches, just to list a few. Long-term commitment means long-term health--the results might not be immediate, but they can be profound and lasting.

So if you desire to not only get out of pain but improve your overall, long term health, a commitment to chiropractic care might be just what the dentist ordered.

Chiropractic Care Helps Straighten Teeth!

Posted by: Dr. Dan

Most people experience a lot of pain from orthodontic procedures. Dr. Dan’s young son Ram got his braces on earlier this spring. In Dr. Dan’s words, “When the teeth get adjusted, the body goes into defense.” Dr. Dan describes how the changes go deeper than just the mouth and jaw. As soon as Ram got his braces on Dr. Dan checked and adjusted him. He was able to use chiropractic techniques, working closely with the cranial bones in Ram’s head to release the tension in his body. As a result, Ram’s body stayed in balance as his teeth moved into an even sweeter smile.

Ram is 10 years old and every time his braces get tightened his father releases the tension and the teeth are free to move more easily. He experiences very little pain from the braces, but this is not the only benefit. Recently Ram returned from a trip to the orthodontist with exciting news: thanks to his father’s adjustments his palate is responding better than expected to the braces. He is about four months ahead of schedule! The teeth seem to move easier and quicker when the body is not fighting against itself. It seems as though Chiropractic care has allowed the orthodontic system to work better, faster, and more efficiently.

As another example of the unexpected relationship between the skeletal system and teeth, Dr. Ken encourages his patients to bring in their night guards to ensure that the nervous system has integrated the guard. I’m sure you have experienced a time when the doctor had you turn your head to the left and then right. One way your arm was strong and leg loose, the other way your arm went weak and your leg tightened (defensive physiology). Your body can respond in the same manner (defensive physiology) when you put in your mouth guard. If the doctor sees your body go into defense, he can help your nervous system integrate the guard, allowing your body to actually rest and repair at night with or without the guard.

Most people would never think to discuss their teeth with a chiropractor, but this is just one of the many anatomical and physiological systems that can be positively affected by chiropractic care. Both of these stories are also a testament to the benefits of inviting your friends and family into The Balancing Center community. Until they meet with a doctor, there is no way of knowing how their lives may be improved. Schedule an individual appointment for a family member, or bring them as a guest next time you come in. We can’t wait to meet them!