Many people who walk into a Chiropractor's office for the first time really don't know what to expect. From time to time we hear: "I don't think this is going to work, but I'll give it a couple of tries." Ok, so now you walked in with a negative attitude. Your Chiropractor takes the time to explain if and how he/she feels Chiropractic can help you. You still leave the office thinking that this is too good to be true. The first thing to understand is that Chiropractic does NOT cure. It does not cure your pain, symptoms and diseases. A Chiropractor will gently give you an adjustment, which will align your spine and remove spinal nerve interference. Proper nerve messages are now able to flow from the brain, down the spine and out to all the organs. Your body has now been given the ability to heal itself. Patients must follow the care schedule given to them by their Chiropractor. I cannot emphasize how important this is! How bad do you want to be better? I wanted it bad! In 1980, at 18 years old, I had a nasty lower back accident. I slipped and fell in a sitting position straight on the tip of my coccyx impacting my spine. I couldn't walk for two weeks. Orthopedics, physical therapy and drugs didn't help me. In 1984 I refused the Orthopedic surgeon's suggestion of surgery on my L4-L5 herniated discs. I complained and suffered for six long years until I finally found Chiropractic care in 1986. Before I started care at 24 years old, my body felt like it was 60 years old. (Now at 42, I feel 24). Chiropractic was my last hope! When I walked into my first Chiropractor's office, I had no clue what Chiropractic was about. He educated me very well. I entered with a positive attitude that this was going to make me better. After my exam and first adjustment, I left his office and said, "I know Chiropractic will help me!" In my case, I felt great after my first adjustment. To me it was a miracle; I knew I was going to get my life back. After a month of getting adjusted 5 times a week, sometimes twice a day, I felt like my back accident never happened. I started to resume all my old activities. I knew my injury was healed, but I didn't want to stop getting adjusted. I noticed the more I was adjusted, the better I felt. I asked my Chiropractor one-day, "When do I stop getting adjusted?" He smiled and said to me, "You will know." It is now 18 years later, and I am still "well-adjusted." I was only under care a few months when I discovered that besides getting out of pain there was a lot more to Chiropractic than meets the spine! Now I began the road to wellness. I learned that the symptoms that started after my back accident were a result of me being so subluxated. I had so many bones out of place putting pressure on my nerves that my organs were not getting the proper messages. After so many adjustments, my aches and pains were gone. I had had sciatica so bad that I had to wear a back brace quite often, or I just crawled around my house when my leg gave out. Well, the sciatica and brace became history. Headaches were gone that lasted 3 days at a time, as well as my stomach and digestive problems. My allergy symptoms disappeared and so did the allergy shots. My spirit became high again. Due to the back pain I had to live with, I suffered depression at times. The best was learning how and why my immune system became so strong. I realized I wasn't getting "sick" anymore. Until I started Chiropractic care, I had chronic strep throat, tonsilitis and head colds. I was on and off antibiotics all winter, every winter. Medication also became the past for me. Now all the "medicine" I need if I don't feel 100% is an adjustment. My power is always turned on! I had my answer: to stay healthy and keep my nervous system balanced, I would be adjusted for the rest of my life! I started my crusade by referring everyone I knew to Chiropractic care, and explaining why he or she should be adjusted. I would tell them how amazing Chiropractic is and how your body has the ability to heal itself. I also told my story how Chiropractic changed my life. When I talk about Chiropractic to someone, I speak it with urgency, authority and from the heart. From one patient to the next, everyone has his or her own healing story.