So, you’ve been seeing your chiropractor for a couple of years now. You visit her for those little aches and pains that pop up occasionally, maybe those signs of age and inflexibility that have begun to creep up on you. But you’re scared to tell her all those other things that are going on – things you tell other doctors, perhaps, but not your chiropractor.
Maybe you’re embarrassed about your bladder control issues, or those creaky knees. Maybe you’re not really sure what’s going on with your digestive health, or those sciatic flare-ups.
It’s natural to see your body as a network, where some things make sense and others are as mysterious as the universe itself! But chiropractors are in a unique position – we understand the body/mind/spirit connection and therefore, we might be able to help you understand what is happening. That can be particularly helpful as you age, when the parts of your body don’t work as efficiently (it seems) as they used to.
We also strongly encourage you to share information with each doctor and wellness practitioner you visit. We want to know if you are on medication for an infection, or recently diagnosed with a chronic illness or autoimmune disorder. And we promise that by having an open dialogue with anyone who is treating you, you’re going to feel much more empowered and hopeful with making health decisions.
If you’re someone who isn’t comfortable having those awkward conversations with how the body works, we might suggest starting by keeping a journal. Log your complaints – physical, emotional and mental – and write down what you think might be causing them. Then, when you are coming to see your chiropractor for your next visit, look back on your journal and write down anything that you haven’t yet self-diagnosed. Just put together a short list of questions and concerns. We can look that over, while you are with us for your next adjustment. We may have some ideas and suggestions that can help ease your mind, or we might refer you to a specialist if there is an area of concern that we think someone else is best suited to help you with.
Where we see areas and issues that we can help with, we will discuss those treatment plans with you in advance. During that session, we may be able to offer an adjustment or maneuver that can help alleviate the problem or we may have a longer-term solution in mind. You’ll then be able to write down our suggestions and ideas on your list, and take that list to your next practitioner.
In time, as you share this list with multiple doctors and specialists, you’re going to naturally start to feel more comfortable having this conversation. Eventually, you may not need to rely upon a printed list. You’re going to better understand what is happening, what the recommended treatment plan is and what you can expect from it. Ask us how we can support your important health conversations!
