How Chiropractic Helped Me
My chiropractic journey started when I was expecting my child. Prior to that I never really understood much about chiropractic and it kinda weirded me out. I never had a desire for someone to “crack my back” and it seemed uncomfortable and scary to me, especially for the neck. “No thank you”, I said.
Fast forward to me sitting in my OB’s office at 34 weeks pregnant talking about how I can feel every joint in my pelvis being sore, and I had a concern about a previous injury to my tail bone and if that would affect a natural birth. The OB referred me to a chiropractor certified in prenatal care. If it hadn’t been my concern for a smooth natural birth I likely would not have gone. Even still I thought that I would just go for the assessment and decline an adjustment. The chiropractor examined me and with my consent patiently and gently adjusted me. Guess what. My pelvic soreness reduced dramatically, and I have been receiving regular chiropractic care ever since.
What is Chiropractic
Chiropractic care is integral for whole-body health and wellness. Chiropractic incorporates the restoring of normal range of motion to the joints of the spine and limbs which in turn reduces inflammation around the nerves and allows the nerves’ functioning to improve. The practitioner’s hands are used to correct the areas of restriction, known as subluxations, by applying a specific movement to the bone of the joint. This is known as the adjustment.
Subluxations occur with the normal everyday stressors of life, both physical and emotional. And they occur frequently – weekly or daily even. It does not mean that the joint is out of place. In the chiropractic definition of subluxation, the bones are within the normal joint space, but they are slightly off placement within that space. It has been scientifically demonstrated that just this slight change causes increased pressure on the nerves in the region and inflammation; this interferes with the neurological signaling. Neurological signaling is essential for life and comes from the brain to the spinal cord which is housed within the spine and then to the nerves exiting the spine which supply the entire body. Thus, a subluxation in one joint of the spine can negatively affect all of the organs and systems that the associated nerves supply. This is why every creature with a spine benefits from regular, continuous chiropractic examination and adjustment. Chiropractic is about more than being able to walk and move freely. It is about the health and optimal functioning of every system of the body.
Routine chiropractic care for whole-body health and wellness support is recommended throughout life, from birth onward. Once monthly adjustment is usually recommended for maintenance in healthy animals. More frequent care may be needed if there are disease conditions present such as metabolic or endocrine disorders and musculoskeletal or neurological disorders. Some disorders in which animals can particularly benefit from chiropractic care include arthritis, constipation, cranial cruciate ligament tears, feline idiopathic cystitis (a cause of urinating outside the box), hip dysplasia, intervertebral disc disease or extrusion (IVDD/IVDE), lick granulomas or over grooming (dermatome affected by irritated nerve), lumbosacral stenosis, luxating patellae, seizures, spondylosis (arthritis of the spine), sprains/strains, urinary incontinence, etcetera.
My Journey into Animal Chiropractic
When was the first time you heard about animal chiropractic? Were you surprised that you had not heard of it before? Such was the case for me, and I was a veterinarian when I first heard the words animal chiropractic.
The American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) was officially formed in 1989. However, a chiropractor named BJ Palmer was adjusting animals in the early 1900’s and it is likely that chiropractic-like care has been performed for animals in previous centuries as that is known to be the case for humans. Even with this being the case, I never heard about animal chiropractic in veterinary school when I graduated in 2016. It is my hope and prayer that this changes for the future generations of veterinarians.
When I started receiving chiropractic care for myself, I was already a veterinarian and also pregnant with my child. I remember during that first year of visiting my chiropractor I would sit in the office wondering if I had missed my calling, feeling the desire to be a chiropractor. I found chiropractic fascinating. I had also become disheartened within my veterinary career; that is a story for another essay. Then a veterinary colleague of mine whom I had become acquainted with through a social media group shared that she was becoming certified in animal chiropractic and that it brought her so much joy. That story was like glory shining down from heaven giving me hope and excitement. I can be a part of chiropractic as a veterinarian?! Count me in! When I learned that one of the only 5 post graduate animal chiropractic programs approved by the AVCA in the United States was being offered locally at Parker University in Dallas it was almost too good to be true. I knew that I could not say no and eagerly awaited the next enrollment period. I further fell in love with chiropractic during the program and met some amazing people. It has been a true joy to create Nose to Tail Animal Care.
Office Visit Location:
2041 State Highway 78 North
Suite 106
Wylie, Texas 75098
Inside North 78 Pet Hospital
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