growing up with back pain

I am someone who grew up with a lot of back spasms, I had all sorts of knots in my back and there were times I would have to crawl on the ground because it was too painful to stand up. When I was living in Queens (New York), I went to a chiropractor for the first time (around age 22). I don’t remember much, except that he was one train stop before my normal stop and I went several times but then stopped. Maybe I felt better? I don’t know, but I do remember he took x-rays and told me I had an unlevel pelvis and mild scoliosis and that was why I had pain.

Then a few years later, I was in my first car accident – a dump truck pulled in front of me as I was passing it, and we collided.  My roommate at the time worked for a chiropractor and convinced me to go in to get adjusted. I became a patient and went several times a week. The chiropractor was into all this spiritual stuff (okay, some of it was odd), yet it was intriguing. But then I felt better, so I quit care.

About 5 years later, I started getting bad headaches and a friend encouraged me to get adjusted. I thought it was because I was in a stressful job and had no idea that a chiropractor could help me with my headaches. After about three weeks of care, my headaches were gone, and I was shocked. I had no idea that a chiropractor could help a headache, I thought it was about back pain. I loved how this chiropractor was so excited about chiropractic, and was talking to me about health, and the nervous system, and function. He explained that my body would work better if I got adjusted and removed the subluxation. My symptoms decreased, my energy improved, and I felt amazing.  Long story short, I quit my job and became a chiropractor (ok that full story is written in another blog, you can read that here).

I tell you this story because I was like many people out there.  Going a few times, getting better, and then quitting care. That’s like brushing your teeth for a short time, and then stopping, because your teeth were clean. I thought chiropractic was all about low back pain, I didn’t know it was more than that. Perhaps the other chiropractors told me what chiropractic was about, I’m not sure, but if they did, I wasn’t ready for the message. I was focused on back pain and nothing else. But then when this third chiropractor told me the “truth” about chiropractic, I was ready to listen. I was ready to live a better life. I was ready to get rid of headaches and maximize my health.

If you are one that has dropped out of care, I get it. I’ve been there. Perhaps I need to keep talking to you until you are ready for the message. When you are open to change, then change will come. If I annoy you about following through with care, it’s because I know (or hope) eventually you will be ready to change. I understand chiropractic so well, that I know how much it can help people. It’s not about back pain, it’s about health, performance, and function.  I wish my parents knew that. I had so much back pain in high school, and I suffered from allergies, that all went away once I started getting adjusted. I wish I had been adjusted as a child. I think of the kids who get adjusted now and realize how lucky they are! Their parents get it (thank you parents!) and these children are growing up under care, correcting problems as they happen (and before they happen) and their health is maximized.

So don’t give up. Chiropractic works, be open to the message, be open to better health, and be open for positive change in your life.