Why Am I Not Getting Better?

How many visits and how frequently should I see my Chiropractor?  These are great questions. I like to take one visit at a time and see if what I am doing is helping my patients. There is no recipe for all injuries and all patients.

Your first visit includes an exam, a review of your condition, age, lifestyle, attitude and an evaluation of other such relevant factors.   Each of these factors plays a role in your treatment plan.  You can choose to be aggressive and come twice a week or treat it less aggressively and come once a week.  Sometimes if the visits are too far apart the body does not have enough treatment to change the dynamics of the injury.  Sometimes the visits are too frequent and the body does not have time to repair and rebuild your dysfunctional tissue. Every injury and body’s response is unique.

Other times there are other factors that impede your recovery. Activity, lack of activity or pharmacological treatment might affect recovery positively or negatively. Each visit I re-evaluate so that I can determine what is working or not working for you and the specific injury you have. 

Missed VisitsThis speaks for itself.  If you do not make time to get better, your progress is impeded and so is the evaluation process.  I know time and money play a role in your ability to get treated.  But, in order to fully recover, you have to make time to yourself!

Be patientBasic Science regarding tissue repairing and rebuilding says it takes 4-6 weeks.  It is a process that takes time.   This time varies and is different from person to person.  Other factors are how acute or chronic the injury is. Have you had this issue for greater than 3 months?   If so, the injury is now chronic and may require a more aggressive approach and more time to repair.  But, like I tell all my patients, “You heal yourself!.” I am just the catalyst.
Home careWhat are doing after treatment?  Are you doing something that can slow down the process?  For example: Activities that cause you pain should be avoided. Also, you should incorporate a home exercise program to help with your progress.
What kind of lifestyle changes have you make to help yourself? Be honest with yourself

1. Drink water
2. Rest
3. Nutrition
4. Yoga 1-2 times a week
5. Foam rolling or TP Kit 1-3 times a day
6. Stretch after activity
7. Stress reduction or coping mechanism
Referral
If after 3-5 visits there is no change in your condition, I will refer you for diagnostic tests and/or many refer you to another specialist depending on the results. Like you, I am concerned with decreasing your pain and improving your function. 
If I am not meeting your expectations, let me know so I can respond appropriately and help you get the results you deserve!

Visit our website to learn more about our services. 

The Importance of Hip Strength and Motion

Did you know that a great deal of strength comes from your hips?  A dysfunction in hip strength can cause problems with your knees. back, neck, shoulders, legs, feet, etc.Your hip joint along with the labrum, capsule, tendons, ligaments and muscles help you walk and run. When there is an injury, you are unable to move without pain or dysfunction.


Also important is the fact that a decrease in hip motion (due to restrictions in either the hip capsule or the hip muscles) will often cause excessive force to be directed into the lower back and knees. This lack of force dissipation results in your body making compensations from your lower back into your knee, neck and shoulders and can cause a series of chronic injuries.  Does this sound like anything you have experienced?


Another major problem that occurs in conjunction with hip restriction is osteoarthritis. Restrictions in your hip prevent proper dissipation of force. Ideally this energy is stored and released with normal leg motion. However if, due to restrictions, the head of your femur (leg bone) is jamming directly into your pelvis (socket joint), you will see excessive wear and tear of the hip joint. This eventually can lead to a frayed labrum or a tear in the labrum which will cause osteoarthritis, and eventually hip replacement.


Basically if your hips are restricted, your body will compensate for this lack of motion by creating excessive motion in other parts of your body. Stress in your low back and knee (due to lack of hip motion) causes compensations all the way back up to your shoulders and your neck.

Schedule a visit to Austin Family and Sports Chiropractic if you are experiencing any of the symptoms described above.  Our experienced staff can treat the root cause of your pain and can show you exercises for building strength.  We want you to hurt less and play more!  www.austinfamilyandsportschiropractic.com