Choosing The Right Chiropractor
Getting Started
Finding the right chiropractor isn’t always as easy as going with first one Google delivers. When it comes to your health, you want to make sure you’re going to someone who’s qualified, trustworthy, helpful and friendly — not to mention experienced in treating the specific problems you’re having and/or the specific treatment you need.
If you’re in need of chiropractic care, East End Chiropractic can help. Our website offers information about our office who we are and the treatments we specialize in you can also call us with any questions you might have). If you’re just starting your search for a new chiropractor, though, here are a few steps worth taking to make sure you find the right match for you.
Take your time and do the research. It is critical that you feel confident about your choice.
Research In Person and Online
Asking friends and family for their personal experiences is always helpful, particularly if you know people who’ve been treated for issues similar to the ones you’re experiencing. But if you come up short on personal recommendations, the web remains a valuable tool. East End Chiropractic is listed among Yelp’s Best Chiropractors in Nashville with a 5 star rating, and has 4 and 1/2 stars on Google reviews. The great web feedback we receive makes us proud, because it’s an outgrowth of helping our patients which is our goal and our passion. And we’ve found that when you truly strive to meet your patients’ needs, a good online reputation follows.
Ask Questions
Different chiropractors specialize in a variety of treatments and methods. At one office, you might see high-tech tools and treatments; at another, a greater focus on myofascial release or acupuncture. If you’ve had a great response to a certain technique or treatment in the past, talk to potential chiropractors about their approach and find out if you might be able to continue that treatment. If you have a particular symptom that you want treated — like headaches, which we treat regularly and successfully at our office — see if that’s among your potential doctor’s specialties. Never hesitate to ask questions when it comes to finding the right treatment. That’s what we’re here for!
Call Your Insurance Company, Or Check Its Website
Sometimes, your health insurance policy will help cover chiropractic care. Your insurance’s customer service line or website can be a great place to start, so you can collect a list of in-network chiropractors to research further. (Also, if you don’t have insurance or if we’re not in-network with your insurance carrier, chiropractic care can still be an affordable option at our office. We offer discounts to self-pay patients who pay at the time of service.)
If there’s anything you want to know about chiropractic care or what to expect on a first chiropractic visit, let us know! You can reach us at (615) 650-6533 or info@eastendchiro.com.
Spooktacular!
Happy Halloween from East End Chiro!
Hallway of Horror (kind of)
Good bones make us generous. Come get some CANDY!
BEWARE! Scaredy Cat truly is creepy.
What Exactly Is Chiropractic Care?
Restoring Mobility of the Spine
Chiropractic care mainly addresses the spine and relieves problems caused by dysfunctions of the spine. Your spine essentially serves two purposes: 1) it supports the weight of your body, allowing a great variety of movement, and 2) it encloses/protects the spinal cord, which connects your brain to the rest of your body. The spine contains 24 vertebral segments which connect to each other via a system of joints and are held together by muscles and ligaments.
Keeping your spine healthy means maintaining its full range of motion, without discomfort.
Problems arise when a joint in the spine becomes “stuck” and stops moving in its full range of motion. The lack of mobility leads to inflammation and swelling in the region surrounding the joint, along with muscle spasms and pain. It can also lead to symptoms which may not seem related to your spine (tension headaches, tingling or numbness in extremities, pain in knees/elbows, etc). Many things can cause a joint to get “stuck” such as a slip, fall, or even day-to-day routine activities. A spinal joint that is not working properly will require other joints to compensate, leading to altered motion patterns of the spine. Prolonged abnormal alignment of the spine can lead to permanent changes in the spinal structure which is why it is important to address spinal issues quickly.
A chiropractor focuses on restoring the full range of motion to a stuck joint utilizing precise and shallow adjustment of the spine. In most cases, the doctor will only use their hands to administer these adjustments. Often, when people complain of back and joint pain, they will say “something is out of place,” or “a bone in my back is dislocated.” Most often, this is not the case. Rather than being “out of place,” the joint is typically locked somewhere within its normal range of motion. The adjustments a chiropractor makes are done with the goal of restoring the normal motion of that joint.
Once the normal range of motion is reestablished, a person is able to move in a more comfortable manner. Other joints no longer have to compensate for the poorly moving joint. Pain, muscle spasm, and inflammation (the body’s most important defenses against dysfunctional joint movement) are no longer needed, and will dissipate.
See How We Can Help for more information on what types of treatment we offer at our office.
Have any questions about chiropractic care? Give us a call at 615-650-6533 or email us at info@eastendchiro.com.
Help with Headaches
Headaches Can Be Debilitating
Getting a chiropractic adjustment isn’t just for back pain. You might not think your back is related to that headache you’ve been getting over and over, but many issues we experience throughout our bodies relate to tension and misalignment of the spine—headaches included. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 Americans suffer from headaches. And yet, we are told that headaches are not normal. So what’s the deal? East End Chiropractic can help you by discussing a treatment plan to relieve recurring headaches.
There are a few different types of headaches and numerous triggers. Identifying this is an important step in stopping painful headaches.
How do we get headaches? The spine protects our nervous system, which communicates sensations to the brain. When our spinal motion and alignment is off, this puts tension on the nerves, resulting in a headache. There are many other things that affect our bodies and can create headaches, such as foods, environment, and physical activity. Americans often sit in one position for long periods of time (such as sitting in an office chair) and this causes spinal tension and alignment issues.
What kinds of headaches are there?
Migraine. The ‘mother’ of all headaches, this type is often accompanied by nausea, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and intense pain that can leave you bedridden even after taking maximum doses of pain medication.
Pain in the neck. A cervicogenic headache is just that—pain that originates from tension in the neck. These headaches usually are felt on the side of the head.
Tension is the modern American’s middle name, and it comes with headaches that can feel like your head is gripped in a vice. These can also originate from tension in the neck.
The National Institute of Health has concluded that chiropractic care is effective in the treatment of headaches. While chiropractic care offers immediate relief from your headache symptoms, ongoing treatment may be beneficial in keeping your spine moving correctly to prevent recurring issues. We can also discuss ways to improve your lifestyle that will benefit your overall health and well-being.
Contact us today at 615-650-6533 to schedule an appointment.
How Well Do You Know Dr. John?
Take this quiz to see how well you know your favorite chiropractor…
True or False?
- Dr. John is from the same town in North Carolina that Ava Gardner comes from.
- Before studying to become a Chiropractor, Dr. John studied Fine Arts.
- Dr. John himself has endured back pain and has been helped by chiropractic treatments.
- Dr. John plays the trumpet.
- His favorite new TV addiction is Arrested Development.
- In his free time, he likes to do ballroom dancing.
- His favorite reads are autobiographies.
- He met his wife on a cruise.
- Dr. John is a cat person.
- He can cook a mean crab cake.
** Answers (don’t look ahead!)
- True. Dr. John is from Smithfield, NC. (near Raleigh)
- False. He began as a Psychology major. His parents wanted him to become a professional piano player for churches.
- True. This is what started Dr. John’s career. He was suffering from low back pain and a chiropractor in his church began to treat him. When his own health improved, he wanted to change course and begin his training to become a chiropractor.
- False. The piano.
- True. He says, “It is the funniest show since Seinfeld.”
- False. In his spare time, he likes to “putter” and do woodwork.
- True. He is hoping to read the new book about Steve Jobs next.
- False. He met his wife at a Health Fair.
- False. Dr. John has a beloved dog named Bindi.
- True. His crab cakes are mean.
