Recently, I met a 70-year-old woman I had adjusted about 20 years ago.  She had a low back and neck problem, and I adjusted her for three weeks and she felt much better.  I had recommended further care, but since she felt better, she didn’t think she needed any more care.

Well, in the past seven years, she has had both hips replaced, one knee replaced, walks with a walker, and is bent over like an unhealthy 90–year-old.  She can hardly walk.  I blew it.  These surgeries and her disability might have been avoided, because I didn’t teach her how important it was to take care of her spine.  I didn’t teach her the greater value of regular chiropractic care.  Instead, she thought like many others think, my back feels better, why do I need more adjustments?, and she never got adjusted again.

I’ll tell you why you need adjustments.  Because most of our spines have endured many injuries, from traumatic births, to falls, to car accidents, and if left uncorrected, they tend to break down due to faulty mechanics.  Like driving a car with the front end misaligned, the damage is ongoing.  Most commonly, it occurs in the mid to lower neck (C 4-5-6), and the low back (L4-5).  And unfortunately, it’s often painless for months and years.  The diminished mobility and weakened body is often ignored, considered normal, or attributed to aging.

The arthritic, degenerative breakdown of the spine not only causes further mechanical problems (walking, bending, moving), but a gradual diminishing of nerve function as well.  This leads to weakened organ, gland, and immune function, less energy, and an overall diminished and crappier life.

So, I would like to sincerely apologize to those of you that I haven’t been strong with, that I haven’t gotten the message across about the importance, and the benefits, of regular chiropractic care.  Like brushing your teeth, it really does work best when used regularly.  If I, in any way, led you to believe that chiropractic is simply about removing back or neck pain, then I have failed you, and I am sorry.

I’m sorry for your children and grandchildren, too, because if they wait until they have back pain before getting adjusted, their spines are likely going to be in pretty poor shape as they grow and age. 

I wish you love and happiness, and long and healthy lives,
Dr. Rick