A patient asked me today,  
"I refer people to you, but they don't call you to go in."

 

ANSWER:

 

1. THE PATIENT DOESN'T THINK IT IS SAFE OR EFFECTIVE:
I tell them to ask themselves why most professional athletics go to the chiropractor for "Peak Performance", not pain. They know that their game is enhanced when their body is balanced and has no interference to the function. Besides, if they are benched for too long they know they are off the team and loose their amazing salary.  Madonna goes to the chiropractor, has bodyguards to protect her and a team of people making sure she is safe.  The Prince Charles gets adjusted and supports the  Chiropractic Colleges there, and has an entire entourage keeping him safe.  Barbara Streisand has a chiropractic room in her mansion and a personal chiropractor comes regularly to keep her "tuned" up. She also has a team of professionals that keep her safe.  The Olympics has a team of chiropractors on had to support the needs of the participants.  Recently the Super-Bowl had a team of chiropractors on had for the needs of the football players.  THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN IF CHIROPRACTORS WERE NOT SAFE!

2.  THE PATIENT DOESN'T THINK IT WILL HELP THEM:
Prospective new chiropractic patients think that it won't work for them, based on their lack of knowledge, things they've heard from other people, and fear.  Like, "My aunt Susie's grandmothers brother went one time and felt worse after his adjustment".  Like, going to the gym won't make you sore after the first few workouts that CHANGE the muscles and ligaments from ill use.  It's called DOMS. Delayed Onset Muscle Syndrome, very common when you first start to exercise. Or, after you pull weeds and cut the grass and rake on a Saturday afternoon and you're sore as HE-double-hockey-sticks over the next few days. I blame the chiropractor for not warning the patient that he has to change the structure to start the healing process, and assure them that it is a gentle procedure...then MAKE IT SO.

3. THE PATIENT THINKS THAT ONCE YOU START, YOU HAVE TO GO FOREVER:
This is probably the biggest misconception of them all.  There are three stages to tissue healing. The first stage is to reduce the inflammation by gently decompressing the areas that are "stuck". this takes one-two weeks.  The second stage the production of new tissue to replaced the damaged and inflamed tissues, and that takes six-eight weeks. (think about it...how long is a person in a cast after they've broken a bone?)  The third stage is the strengthening of that new tissue and that takes two-four months.  However our GOAL is to educate the new chiropractic "client" to have a "wellness regime" which is smart and effective and we hope that they see the inherent need to get checked on a regular basis which I call "Spinal Hygiene". Of course, good nutrition, rest, meditation/relaxation and exercise is part of that ongoing package.

4. THE PATIENT THINKS IT WILL COST TOO MUCH:

IT DOESN'T....it pays!  Remember, it is much easier to keep a body HEALTHY and functioning properly than to get a SICK AND DISEASED body well and maintain health!

 Our clinic has family plans, monthly plans, prepay plans and we offer a buyers group called PCD (Preferred Chiropractic Doctor) which allows for SUBSTANTIAL reduction in the fees associated with the patients care.

So why does the patient need to see a chiropractor during this time? Think of it logically. If you have pain, you have tissue damage.  If you have tissue damage you have an inherent loss of strength and stamina to hold the adjustment (that zone of flexibility the vertebra must have to move and function properly).

This is where physical therapy misses it.  They jump right to the strengthening phase and skip the tissue production phase. So, in effect they are strengthening the problem. And while that causes temporary pain relief, the patient has lost the opportunity to replace damaged contracted tissue with healthier LONG STRETCH TISSUE FIBERS.  Research has proven that physical therapy and chiropractic are equally effective in the first thirty days, however the chiropractic patient that continues on with periodic care and ongoing spinal hygiene has better more lasting resolve in their problems

The chiropractor locates the subluxation in the vertebral column, restores the motion, takes the pressure of the nerve roots and aids the patient in producing new stretch tissues by specific movements that retrain the tissues.  The genetics of how the brain produces a specific tissue is initiated by the language of movement that the brain must produce to support the new action in the damaged area.

And THAT....is another topic that I will expand on soon.

Be well, think great thoughts and smile at yourself after you brush your teeth every morning. LOL

drken