When Am I…
Two related questions I hear in the office… When am I going to start feeling better? Or how long is this going to take?
Well, I have good news and bad news for you.
And thankfully they both have the same answer. The answer is… drumroll please…
It depends!
Depends on what?
It depends on you.
And you have more control than you think. Control is good! After all it is your health. Making decisions regarding your level of health and wellness typically reflects your values and priorities. No surprise there. That is the good news. You are in control.
Control means you can either choose to change your habits and get better, or not.
Asking someone to change a behavior can be bad news. We are the way we are because of our willingness, or lack thereof, to change. We are the sum total of the decisions we have made. Making the decision to consult our office is a brave one because we usually ask people to change some behaviors. The people who listen and act get better results. We don’t have easy answers, but we do have simple ones. And simple, repeatable actions have profound effects.
Good news and bad news. Your choice. Success in our office comes from you, not from us.
So, what you do away from the office, between visits, is the biggest determining factor. The habits you bring to the table are the best indicator for your success. Your actions, your daily habits, reveal your real priorities about your commitment to being well. What you say isn’t even close to as powerful as what you do. The speed and quality of your health and wellness depends on your daily habits.
What type of habits increase your chances of success?
How is your breathing? Do you breathe properly? Healing and wellness both depend on oxygenation of your tissues. Low tissue oxygen saturation means slower healing time. (And a pulse/ox meter is a poor representation because it measures the oxygen saturation of the blood, not the tissue.) Do you drink water? Hydration is critical. Do you eat a bunch of processed foods? These things are largely inflammatory and nutrient deficient. Keeping inflammation in check requires nutrients. Do you get regular sleep? Do you move more than sit? Do you get outside every day? You get the idea.
All these things depend on you. And the good news is you are in control. Any one of them will make a difference. All of them combined is a slam dunk.
“If I am going to do all the work, what do I need you for Mr. Chiropractor?”
Good question.
My job is to identify imbalances and asymmetries in your nervous system that are keeping you from health and wellness. In other words, I find areas of your spine that are affecting your health, and these areas can’t be identified on your own. Remember your nervous system controls and coordinates everything that happens inside of you. Keeping it functioning optimally gives you the best chance of quality healing and wellness. My job is to make a plan to restore as much balance and symmetry as possible, to your nervous system through your spine. My job is to keep your expectations real about how far we can go based on what you bring to the table. My job is to help you become aware of where change is needed and to make a plan to get you there. My job is to do things you can’t do for yourself.
How long will this take?
It depends!
And it's your choice!
Choose health and wellness.
Cheers,
Dr. Swaim
