Natalie's Improvement with Chiropractic

I am thrilled and honored to be your ‘Patient of the Month’ for November! This wouldn’t be possible without your care, guidance, and support.

 

When I first came to you, it was over a year and a half after my back injury occurred. I felt depressed, frustrated, and defeated, after going through months of physical therapy, with little pain relief or improvement. I saw a handful of orthopedic doctors who would scan my MRI results, diagnose me with degenerative disc disease, and tell me that the next logical step was to get an injection- if that failed, one doctor even told me to anticipate surgery. They would always prescribe more painkillers, and muscle relaxers, too. I hated the way muscle relaxers made me feel, and after a year of taking a minimum of 800mg of Ibuprofen every single day, I felt like I was becoming immune to it because it was no longer helping with my pain. I knew something deeper was wrong with my back because I wasn’t healing. Something was missing. However, I also refused to believe that an injection or surgery was my only option. I wasn’t willing to go to that extreme, yet. 

 

My quality of life had greatly diminished. I felt useless and exhausted all the time. For over a year, I could only walk for about 20 minutes at a time, before I would get lightheaded, and the pain/spasms in my lower back would force me to stop and rest. I had to use a heating pad throughout the day, and each night before bed, when the pain would increase and the pain killers didn’t work. My physical therapist told me not to bend, twist, or lift anything above 10 pounds in weight. Running was my favorite form of cardio, but obviously, that was no longer possible. My whole life, I had been very active and involved in high impact sports; when I could no longer do the things I loved for exercise, I became very sedentary, and gained weight, because my injury forced me to sit or lay down, constantly. I couldn’t drive or tie my own shoes without help for months, and up until I began receiving your chiropractic care, the thought of sitting in the car for a long drive, or going out to watch a movie, was unbearable. I couldn’t do it. I became very self-conscious because I no longer believed I could be out in public places for long periods of time. I couldn’t do simple things, like get out of bed in the morning without struggle, or walk in high heels without having back spasms. I couldn’t lay on either side in bed at night; eventually, the only position that became practical for me to fall asleep in was by propping my head up with two pillows in a reclined position with both knees bent (I now know how terrible this is for my neck, thanks to you!)…I would always wake up with aches and pains in my neck and upper back too, but I never thought for a minute that it was all related to what had happened to my lower back. I felt hopeless. I reluctantly began to accept the fact that this was my new normal. I was thankful my injury wasn’t worse, but I felt like a shadow of the person I used to be. It was hard to imagine living the rest of my life like that.

 

I am forever grateful that a conversation my Mom had with her neighbor one day, led me to you! I had been to a couple of chiropractors in the last year, but their approaches were nothing like yours- they don’t even compare. I left previous chiropractor’s sessions feeling more sore and tense, even angry; one in particular always gave me a headache within minutes of leaving his office. 

 

From the moment I walked into your office, I knew it would be different. Actually, from the moment we began texting back and forth to schedule my initial consultation, I felt like my prayers had been answered. You’re both so kind and compassionate; you both have a genuine, thorough approach, as well as knowledge and technology that puts you lightyears ahead of other chiropractors I’ve seen. Other places made me feel like a number they called in, to collect a fee, without feeling any different, or better- sometimes I left feeling worse. You were the first ones to address my entire spine- I couldn’t believe that no one else I had gone to before even considered it.

 

The night after my first adjustment, I slept better than I have in YEARS (I also admit that I ugly cried the next day. I remember thinking it was so weird because it came out of nowhere, but it felt like a huge release of pain I’d been holding onto). Whether it was due to stress or my lower back injury, I was having very irregular periods and hadn’t had a period in 3 months when I first came to you- by my second adjustment, and ever since then, I have had regular periods. I can’t tell you what a relief it has been! Since my first adjustment, it honestly feels like my body is resetting itself, by following your lead. Within two weeks of being adjusted, it felt so uncomfortable and unnatural to sleep with two pillows propped under my head and neck, even though that was the only way I could fall asleep for over a year, after injuring my back! I now sleep with one pillow, like a normal person! Three weeks into my adjustments, I startled myself one morning when I woke up laying on my right side! This is something I avoided at all costs, because of the excruciating, sharp pain that would shoot up the left side of my back when I tried. I am now able to lay on either side again. I also felt the muscle that runs along the left side of my mid-lower back finally release tension that had been persistent and tight, ever since the day I injured my back. Each week, I noticed I was able to sit more comfortably and drive longer distances without feeling destroyed by it the next day; I no longer feel the need to use a heating pad to get through a day. I can walk without pain again, and I can’t even tell you what that means to me. To be able to stand for long periods of time, and walk around without pain or having to stop and rest is something that felt completely foreign to me- it was something I didn’t think would be possible again. Gradually, each week, I have been going for 3-mile walks; I started out walking 3 miles one day a week, then two days a week, and increased the number of days I’d walk to three or four days a week. Last week, I walked 3 miles a day, 7 days in a row. I have not been able to do this since before I injured my back. I have more energy now, and I’ve gained trust in myself again, instead of living with the overwhelming fear of re-injuring myself that kept me from even attempting a 3-mile walk, for over a year. You’ve given me hope that I will be able to run again, soon.        

 

I am standing taller with each adjustment, and thanks to the awesome foam that you introduced me to, my neck feels longer, and like it’s shifting back into the position it’s meant to be in. The exercises you’ve taught me have helped me gain mobility back that I lost with my injury. Numbness in my fingers is very minimal now, and usually only occurs if something needs a little adjusting. The fiery pain in my heels that was relentless, is now less frequent and manageable with the help of your incredible vibration plate! 

 

Going to your office to get adjusted is something I look forward to every week! Valentina is always so welcoming and kind, too! The whole atmosphere you’ve created puts everyone at ease, it’s so calming and positive. You’re giving me my life back, and changing my entire mindset, by introducing me to meditation and daily affirmations. It’s still a learning process for me, but practicing self-love has really opened my eyes to how powerful our minds are, and how critical positive thinking is to our healing. None of this would have been possible without you. Thank you. I am so thankful that you both exist and chose the path you’re on. You truly heal people from the inside out, and change lives, for the better. You’ve helped me, and my family, in more ways than you know. I only wish I’d known about you sooner!     

 

Sincerely,

Natalie