Cases of the Month

May 2008
My ten year old son had been on ADHD meds since he was four years old. These meds had many unwanted side effects. He had no appetite and no desire to eat. It was war at night to get him to bed. These meds wore off around 4:00pm each day and he’d be twice as hyper as normal because the “balance” was tipped ever further in his little brain. He had severe mood swings; he’d be happy, then angry, then sad all in a matter of minutes. These swings caused him to talk about suicide which led me to McKennan Behavioral-he was there for 6 days; at least now he’s “med-free.”

I met my new chiropractor through my daughter’s school. His knowledge, faith, and eagerness to help people was just the answer I needed. He readily bonded with my son.  His  patience with him was very genuine and natural. We’ve had a family chiropractor for years, yet THIS  chiropractor’s full spectrum of care, nutrition and exercise was something I hadn’t heard much about. My son is a “work in progress.” I see small changes every day. His quite literal addiction to sugar has definitely  decreased. He used to get into my brown sugar container and eat all the “lumps.” His behavior, I feel, will  continue to improve as his care continues.

My opinion of our new chiropractor and his staff is ‘Awesome.’ The staff  is so warm and welcoming when we come in. Our new chiropractor has the amazing power to balance professionalism, genuine concern and flexibility. These qualities are not found easily in doctors.

If a person is thinking about care with a chiropractor, I say…”Quit thinking about it and DO IT.” There’s nothing to be lost and everything to be gained. The drug companies that hold America hostage with never ending drug therapies know that Chiropractic is the best kept secret. With our new chiropractor’s help, there are no drug induced side effects and no large purchases at the pharmacy. There is one-on-one care as if you are a person and not a chart number.

Sincerely,

Peggy
 

April 2008
My husband, Chase and I discovered we were expecting a baby on Christmas Eve four years ago. It was considered a high risk pregnancy due to my “advanced maternal age” of thirty-five. During the ultrasound the technician noted she could not determine the sex of the baby due to some “anomalies.” At 22 weeks it was determined that it was a boy and he had a very rare birth defect which caused his organs from the waist down to be exposed, his hips were not fused and he had Spina Bifida. We were also told he would be wheelchair bound if we decided to keep him. We were encouraged to abort the baby because the defects “were not compatible with human life.” This was not an option for us.

Christian was born at 33 weeks via emergency c-section. Since then he has undergone numerous reparative surgeries and therapy. We were told that, as he grew, the nerves in his spine would stretch and it would cause him to be wheelchair bound.  Amidst all of the stress, my husband started to have back problems. So, he started seeing a chiropractor who then  asked us if he could take a look at Christian. Honestly I didn’t want anyone touching my baby outside of his current physicians and caretakers. Through time and osmosis I began to learn and understand the many benefits of chiropractic care for children.

Christian began seeing our chiropractor and received a nervous system scan. It turned out that the worst interference was at his neck and shoulders - not in his hips or lower portion of his body. So over time we started getting Christian adjusted. By his third adjustment Christian started complaining of pain in his toes. The doctors had told us that Christian would never have any sensation in his feet or legs. After two weeks of care we noticed he was able to stand and balance without holding onto anything for more than just a second. After another week of adjusting Christian started taking a step and then another without his walker! The more he worked with his chiropractor the more he improved. The medical doctors did not think chiropractic care would “help” but that it “probably wouldn’t hurt anything either.”

Christian is now 3 1/2 years old and he is walking–WALKING without a walker or without crutches! He climbs onto “his” table at “his” chiropractor’s office and nothing stops him. We believe our chiropractor is an essential part of our “team” and we look forward with great anticipation and wonder at what Christian and our chiropractor will thrill us with next.

 

March 2008
Headaches! Really, really BAD headaches!  That is the first thing that brought me to my chiropractor’s office.  Not mild headaches...I’m talking nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to sounds.  I used to wake up in the morning, about once a month or every 3-5 weeks and sometimes more often, and these headaches were so bad that they ruined my whole day!!!  I used to take a variety of medications to combat them or their symptoms, such as: Gravol, Advil liquid-gels, Zomig Rapimelt (Zolmitripton) and Maxalt RPD (rizatriptan).  In most cases the meds didn’t even give me any relief!

And then someone recommended that I go to their chiropractor.  I was skeptical.  Boy am I glad I did go.  My headaches have decreased and they are much less severe.  No more nausea, which is a relief.

As an added benefit, my blood pressure has dropped!  This is something I hadn’t counted on, but… Hallelujah!  I have had high blood pressure for a long time and had been taking medication for it.  My family doctor was very skeptical to begin with.  On one of my last visits my blood pressure was 116/80 - the best it’s been in years.  I could have danced out of there, I was so happy - another gift from my chiropractor.  My medical doctor is extremely pleased and is now asking questions about chiropractic.

I have peace of mind because of the care my chiropractor has given me.  There are few things that I have had to give up for my health, but it’s a small price to pay.

I have to say that I came here full of doubts, but in desperation.  I was impressed with the explanation of “wellness”.  The fact is, chiropractic can only do so much; we are the ones living in our bodies.  I decided to really work on this.  I did my exercises, made a food journal and started writing down info every time I had a headache.  I did all this for me.  My chiropractor and his staff have been very encouraging and I highly recommend them to all.                                                                               

-L.M.

 
February 2008
This is a note of profound gratitude to my chiropractor for helping me back to the active lifestyle I had enjoyed my entire life until about nine years ago when, after the birth of my daughter, I developed severe Rheumatoid Arthritis.                         

The medical profession offers no cure for arthritis.  The underlying cause is unknown.  Therefore, most medical doctors treat the symptoms of arthritis—a lifetime of taking prescribed drugs, surgery, and similar invasive treatments are suggested. I avoided using medications as long as I could but, within a few months after my daughter’s birth, the pain was so debilitating that I was unable to properly care for my young daughter.  I believed my only choice was to turn to prescription drugs and a Rheumatologist started me on the traditional course of treatment. I tried numerous medications in an attempt to manage the pain, stiffness, inflammation, depression and fatigue, and even took additional medications to combat the side effects of the arthritis drugs.  While the drugs masked the symptoms of the disease, and my body seemed better, I was under constant supervision in order to monitor liver function, blood cell count, retina toxicity and drug induced ulcers.  Through
research, I also became aware of the serious dangers from long term use of these medications, and since I didn’t want to further put myself at risk for major complications, I decided it was time to find a safer alternative.  Then a friend told me about a chiropractor and his wellness clinic.  It was my hope that the treatments would help with some of the stiffness, but what has happened since seeing my chiropractor has far exceeded my expectations.                  

While I can’t pin point exactly when I noticed a difference in my health, what stands out in my mind is that one day I realized that several days had passed and I hadn’t taken my medications.  This was a profound realization!  You see, typically the pain and stiffness was a constant reminder to take the meds.  But since there was no pain, I wasn’t even thinking about medicating myself.  It wasn’t long before I simply stopped taking all the meds.  Now I can honestly say that I have been able to eliminate my pain and just as importantly my dependency on pharmaceutical drugs and their ongoing astronomical costs.

Since receiving chiropractic care, I’ve learned that vertebral subluxations weaken your nervous system, stress the immune system, put the body in a weakened state and can set the stage for sickness and diseases of all types-arthritis included.  Don’t wait until you have a degenerative problem.  I urge anyone reading this to take control of their own health and avoid prescription drugs and the risk of their dangerous side-effects.  Prevention is the key to good health and I sincerely believe that chiropractic care has played an important part in increasing my healing capacity.  I’m now thriving rather than merely surviving.  Thank you to my chiropractor and his wonderful staff!

-Adrienna
 

January 2008
The first thing I noticed while I was undergoing chiropractic care was an enormous surge of energy which I have never felt before. In the past, I felt very tired, lethargic, and uninspired to do much; you could really say I had an enormous lack of motivation!
                                                                                                                                                               
I also suffered severe neck pain where my neck would make terrible cracking noises, and I would often put up with dizzy spells after walking up stairs. It got so bad once that I nearly lost my balance and crashed into the wall! It gave me such a fright!   
                      
To my delight, I am pleased to say that I do not experience this any longer. My neck is free from pain and those dreadful noises it used to make.  I really do feel like I own a new neck as a result of the chiropractic adjustments. The benefits don’t actually end there.  I feel more at ease than I have ever felt. My whole body feels connected.  My mind is more sharper. I value myself more, and it feels like I have new energy flowing through me.                           

I now opt for more nutritious food instead of junk food, as my body now rejects old food habits. I am able to deal with stress a lot easier than I used to. I now own a new frame of mind and a new body. It feels like the whole process of getting adjusted regularly and eating right has been one truly educating and fascinating journey of discovery and I would urge anyone to sample it for themselves.


-Susan 
 

December 2007
Last week, Ashton came into my office.  Ashton is a seven week old baby who was diagnosed with colic and put on Nexium for gastric reflux/heartburn.  The word colic, to some, brings to mind visions of a baby who just cries a lot.  This baby had been in pain for seven weeks and would scream while the parents stood by helplessly and the pediatrician said, “The baby will grow out of it, but expect it to get worse before it gets better.”

The parents were apprehensive about bringing their baby to a chiropractor as they felt this delicate little baby was too fragile to have its spine “cracked.”  But, they thought, “What other options do we have?”

They came in to have some questions answered.   After a few minutes of explanation they asked me to scan and adjust their baby.   This is the  same baby that had an umbilical cord wrapped around its neck and whom the doctors extracted while the mother was only 8cm dilated.  This baby’s heart had stopped for a short time after birth.  This same baby  was such a shade of purple  at birth that the parents became alarmed.  This baby shrieked in pain as if someone had just pinched him.  This baby arched  its head back in an unnatural way, according to the parents (the baby was likely trying to find relief).  This baby would be awake for hours at a time.  This baby  had vertebral subluxations.

An easy adjustment occurred that day, and a few days later, the dad brought his little guy back in.  The same baby who had cried for seven weeks had transformed into a regular baby who cried when he was hungry and then went to sleep after he was nourished.  Mom and Dad had gotten to go back to sleep too.  The dad thanked me and shook my hand.  The parents are telling everyone they know about this little miracle.  The little miracle is not really a miracle at all.  Rather, it’s  the normal expression when vertebral subluxations are removed.

 

November 2007
Almost ten years ago I was in a tragic accident, that resulted in a TBI, a traumatic brain injury which put  me in a coma for 10 days.  After that I had to re-learn how to read, write, walk, talk and be potty trained along with other activities of daily living. I had an amazing recovery. My recovery happened so quickly and so well that nothing else besides my hospital stay was considered. No side effects were considered. Many tests were done on me before I left the hospital. My results fell within the standard deviation for people of my age. I was dismissed from the hospital then told to come back up for a check up in one year and then again in five years for my final check up.                                                                 

About three years ago headaches became an everyday event. When I mentioned it to my friends they suggested I should take Ibuprofen. My parents told me I should see the doctor. When I went to see the doctor I was told that headaches are common with a brain injury and that I should just take Ibuprofen. And that’s what I did till 4 months ago. I used to get massages to help me relax and help my headaches go away. One of my regular massage therapists who knew about my brain injury and headaches suggested I see a chiropractor,
Dr. Swenson. I was skeptical so I asked her a bunch of questions and it sounded risk-free, plus I would get a free x-ray and consultation. So I thought I would give it a try. I’m so glad I did! Dr. Erick was so helpful. After meeting with him he explained how chiropractic worked and why I was having headaches.   He listened to my story, then asked me questions to fully understand my chiropractic needs. He took an x-ray and the results were shocking. My neck was like a train wreck. Dr. Swenson assured me that it was something he could help.  Well he did. My headaches have been less frequent and I can get on with living. Life is now like Nirvana without headaches.          


-Carolyn                                  

 
October 2007
Thank you so much for all your help during my pregnancy. You really opened my eyes to the power of chiropractic care! And, as this was my first time using it, I was completely in awe of how it helped me.

When I first came to you, I was in my third trimester and suffering with horrible lower back pain and my baby was breech. My midwife suggested I consult a chiropractor and fortunately I found you!

Your gentle, yet effective, adjustments relieved me of the back pain, which I thought was simply unpleasant but “normal” part of pregnancy.  I now know that this pain is not necessary or normal for pregnancy.

More importantly, your adjustments were able to turn the baby out of the breech position! Not only, did this allow for an easier delivery, but it allowed me to have a home delivery. What a beautiful experience and one that I would not have been able to have if it weren’t for your expertise.

So, thank you to my wonderful chiropractor, from the bottom of my heart. You truly have left a wonderful mark on me and my family.  We look forward to continuing to see you as we now have a better understanding of the benefits of chiropractic.
 

 - Warmest Regards, Cara     

 

September 2007
 My family and I were introduced to chiropractic care while we were searching for relief for our daughter’s migraines. Our journey began in August 2005 when Tori was 10.  From August 2005 to February 2006, Tori had five to six episodes of strep throat, two sinus infections and a bout with Mono.  During this six month period, Tori was rarely able to go a week without missing school.  In February of 2006, she had her tonsils and adenoids removed.  Soon after her surgery, she started having migraines.  Tori was missing school days, at times, because of the severity of her migraines.  She underwent a CT Scan and met with a neurologist who prescribed 500mg of Depakote per day.  The medicine decreased the severity and frequency of the migraines but she was still missing at least one day a week of school.  After a period on the Depakote, she started to have stomach pains, a side effect of the medicine.  We knew the medicine was causing her stomach pains and we knew it was only covering up the pain from the migraines.  It was not fixing the cause of the problem.

While we were going through this very difficult time with my daughter, a client of mine recommended her chiropractor.  I was skeptical of chiropractic so I did not pursue that recommendation immediately.  Then one day when we were at the mall, I was walking behind Tori and I noticed that her shoulders were not at the same height.  One was tipped lower than the other.  At that point, I understood that something was not right with her structure.  We decided to give chiropractic a try to see if we could find help for Tori.  We went in for Tori’s initial assessment.  Everything the chiropractor said made sense to us and the evaluation discovered a probable cause to Tori’s headaches and decreased immune system. 

Tori received her first adjustment on January 31, 2007.   She has been under consistent care now for six months and we have seen tremendous results.  Her headaches have decreased from at least one time per week to only two in four months.  She went from missing one day of school a week to missing one day in four months.  We have been able to decrease her medication by half and with the help of our medical doctor, hope to wean her off the medication completely throughout the summer.  Once Tori started seeing such great results, we all decided to have our entire family evaluated. Now we all get adjusted regularly to help keep everyone healthy.  I guess you could call us a well adjusted family. If you are considering chiropractic for you or your kids or have a desire to stay healthy, I would strongly recommend you go and see the chiropractor.  It really was one of the best decisions we have ever made.                


 -Terry                                                                                                     

August 2007

Before I started coming to the chiropractor I was receiving regular steroid shots, on six medications, morbidly depressed and in great overall pain. I could hardly walk, nor could I sit comfortably. I could only stand for very brief moments of time. I carried a gel pack and pillow almost everywhere I went. At first I was very speculative, and considered my chiropractor’s method of treatment very weird.  I could not see how his strange, gentle style of adjustment could accomplish anything, however the results I have received while being under his care have made a true believer out of me. You do truly have to experience it to believe it. I am a whole new person. My chiropractor literally gave me my life back.

I can honestly say that “I’ve come a long way, Baby!”  Now I can walk, sit, and stand without pain. I am off four of the six medications and am no longer receiving steroid shots. I feel 100% better emotionally, physically, and mentally. My initial x-rays made my spine look like an out of shape accordion.  A few months afterward my chiropractor did a follow up x-ray. I was amazed at the difference between the two. No wonder I felt better, it looked a whole lot better!

I am happy to say that I have noticed a 100% turn around in my moods and stress level, and for the most part my depression is gone. When you are in so much pain you stay stressed out all the time. Now I’m not because my pain level has decreased tremendously.

Before the pain was so bad, I did not feel like doing anything;  I became so sedentary. Now I feel like doing more and am going to work on becoming more active. I have recommended my chiropractor to many people.                                                                           

Sincerely,

-Betty

July  2007
When asking most people their ideas of a hero, most would answer back with policeman, fireman, military personnel or a prominent world leader. I would also include my chiropractor.

I started taking some medications one day prescribed by my medical doctor. Within a week, the left side of my face became numb. I was told to stop taking the medication at once, which I did. The numbness did not go away; it gradually got worse and ended up down the whole left side of my body. From there I started losing my short term memory, grew very fatigued and could not concentrate. I went in to see my medical doctor and in two months had gone through more tests than I care to remember. First I was told that I had suffered a stroke, then I was told I could have a brain tumor and from there I saw a neurologist who said that I probably had MS. I was scared, to say the least, and spent those two months worrying how I was going to recover.

I had asked every doctor I saw during this time, if my symptoms could be related to neck or back problems as a result of two ugly car accidents. As I had been rear ended twice, I thought it could be a possibility. Every doctor, without checking it out, indicated that it had nothing to do with my neck or back. On my last visit to the neurologist, he said, “You don’t have MS. I am not sure what it is. You are just going to have to get used to your symptoms and learn to live with them.”

Then my hero, my chiropractor, came along. My husband had started to get treatments from him about the time I started this whole circus with the doctors. My husband explained my symptoms and told him everything the doctor had done. My chiropractor asked me to come in and, after the usual x-ray and exam, low and behold he found the problem. Due to the accidents, my vertebra were rotated out of place and this was pinching the nerves in my neck and back. After a week of adjustments, I was no longer numb, had my memory back and had energy again.

I have continued to seek treatment from my chiropractor and always recommend him to friends and family. He
is definitely my hero.  I hope that anyone who comes to see him ends up as happy as I am with his professionalism, diligence, humor, care and concern. My chiropractor rocks!                     

     
-Sara