I just received a call this morning from a woman asking me about neck and back pain.  She was also complaining of a jaw problem.  After speaking with her for a few minutes she told me how badly she was hurting and doesn't know why her back and neck had been bothering her off and on for 10 years.

Then I asked her a critical question..."Did you have a car accident or other trauma about 10 years ago?"

She said "You know, about 10 or 11 years ago I had a car accident.  It wasn't that bad, but I do remember my neck hurting a little bit afterward."

I had the "AHA!" moment of her history!

Most likely, her car accident when she was 16 started a cascade of pain and muscle tightness which gradually worsened over time.  Unfortunately, she had never received Chiropractic care for the seemingly minor injuries she sustained in that Motor Vehicle Accident.  Now, in her late 20's, she suffers from chronic neck, back and jaw pain. 

This is all too common the history I see in my patients who enter my office with years of neck and back pain.  They have a history of a car accident, big fall, broken bones (and subsequent limping on crutches), or the most surprising history which was a patient who in her words "pile drivered her head into the sand surfing in Hawaii".

These patients did not know that Chiropractic could have made the difference and prevented years and years of neck and back pain.  In extreme cases, if Chiropractic care would have been utilized at the time of injury, patients would have much less arthritis and degenerative changes in their spine.  

How does Chiropractic help return the body to pre-injury status?

During an injury, the body absorbs all kinds of energy from the force of the impact.  This force jams the vertebrae of the spine together, triggering swelling, pain, muscle spasms, and in severe cases, bruising. 

Adjusting these misalignments in the spine helps take the pressure off of the nervous system, thus reducing muscle spasms, pain, and swelling.  It is important to receive regular Chiropractic adjustments at first immediately following an injury because the body will not hold the proper alignment for long.  Over a period of time (and each patient is different) the body begins to hold it's adjustment for a longer period of time.  As my patients stabilize and they see results, their treatment frequency is reduced.

Neck and back pain are among the most common complaints I see in my office.  I am an expert in helping people with neck and back pain.  I look at the body from a holistic perspective, including asking questions about:

-diet/nutrition

-exercise

-sleep and sleeping posture

-stress level

-thorough history of accidents and injuries

If you are suffering from neck and back pain, and are ready to take action to improve your health, please call me.

I would be happy to help!

Yours in Health,

Dr. Kristine Baker