One of my biggest fears/concerns in practice is failing to get the point across. I mean making and keeping the main thing…well, the main thing. Don’t get me wrong, we do a lot of things right at Crossroads, of which I am proud. We give great chiropractic care, we sincerely care about our practice members well being, our care cost wise is a very good value, and we work hard as a team to bring our practice members {and the public too) any info they could want via workshops, articles of the day, a weekly radio show on 107.7 fm, and a monthly column in the Weirs Times. Yet, there is one piece of info, that myself at least, has failed to get out as strongly as I need to lately. Here it is:
HOW WE FEEL (PAIN OR NO PAIN) HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH HOW HEALTHY WE ARE
I bring this up, because I have had a few folks recently, who are some of the most wonderful practice members, ask me if they need continued chiropractic care anymore, because they are feeling so well. Kinda like, hey we did it, Doc! I feel great! Now, first and foremost I am very happy they feel great! I want this for all of us. However, next I am bummed because, I didn’t teach them well. So now I am trying to rectify that.
Here we go: while pain is important as an indicator of what is happening to your body, it is not a great indicator of how healthy you are. Think of an individual that has a heart attack; this didn’t happen overnight. They were sick for many years and eventually the heart attack occurred, often as the first symptom. For this reason, we don’t trust symptoms, but rather look at actual structure. Imagine a person that is hunched forward and then has a huge bend in their spine, causing them to lean to their side. Yet, imagine they had no pain. Would you think this a healthy spine and scenario, even though they have no pain? Of course not. It’s not about pain, it’s about structure of the spine and function of the nerve system. Their poor posture is enough reason for care. Let’s go further: what if we correct this person’s spine and they still are asymptomatic. Should we stop caring for their spine? No, of course not. No, maintenance is the answer. Many people say: if I get adjusted do I have to always get adjusted? I understand the question, but it’s a misguided thought process. To say that, would be akin to saying: if I start brushing my teeth, do I always have to brush them? Weren’t they cleaned already? See my point? You have a body, it as parts. They have to be maintained, protected, and cared for. Whether you do it or not, does not change that fact. So my point is this, move beyond symptoms and step to the next level of health: optimal function. Get there and stay there.
We care about you deeply and if we neglect connecting you to chiropractic care as more than pain relief, then we have failed you. This is unacceptable. You are worth total health, full function, and a life that you want. So here is my bottom line: Get adjusted, exercise, eat healthy, sleep, drink water, and think positively. Do these in good seasons and bad seasons and the long term benefits will snow ball and give you your best chance at health.
Wishing you true health and full life, Dr. Graham