Dr. Jennifer Lynn Mccleary, D.C.

Headaches have many different classifications. They can be multifactorial (of multiple causes) and complex to resolve at times. It sounds to me that the true source has yet to be identified or the right sequence of interventions have not been utilized. Chiropractic Physicians are specialists that have an excellent reputation for treating various types of headaches. In my own practice the vast majority of those I see do get exceptional results. Keep in mind, I don’t take every case and haven’t been able to resolve the headaches in every patient. I would recommend seeking out a consultation first to see if the practitioner is a good fit. That is an excellent time to learn about the doctor’s philosophy, techniques, and areas of interest in addition to spinal manipulation (ie. functional medicine, acupuncture, corrective exercises, soft tissue techniques, or energy medicine). From there you can schedule an exam if it appears to be a good fit. Ultimately, be encouraged. The fact that your headaches have been there a long time does not mean they cannot be resolved.

This is probably a question best for your own chiropractor since there are many different techniques that we use when someone is coming in for an “adjustment”, and since each condition and body is slightly different as well. Although movement is usually good for recovery you want to return with caution after an injury to prevent set backs. In my office, what I usually suggest is that your pain is consistently under a 4/10 when you return to exercise or fitness training. Also I suggest that everyone (even after a maintenance adjustment) to wait 20-30 minutes after a spinal manipulation to do any heavy lifting or strenuous activity.

There are lots of common things that your chiropractor will discuss with you that supports the other recommendations in your care plan. Basically, these sorts of things (like hydration) can help you get better faster and stay better for longer from visit to visit. Drinking extra water after spinal manipulation or soft tissue work (like a massage or deep stretch) can minimize soreness, help with pain and inflammation. If you don’t follow your doctor’s recommendations or just forget from time it is perfectly fine, just know that you may not get the outcomes that they are expecting at least not on the same time line.

Scoliosis is defined by having a sideways curvature in the spine that has progressed to a certain number of degrees and best identified by x-ray. Depending on how you were evaluated as a child and at what ages could explain why it was not brought to your attention and that of your parents when young. The most important thing is to know the exact degrees of your curvature(s) and to monitor it by having a follow up x-ray every so often. Keep in mind, when you have an abnormal curvature in your spine is not always obvious by simply through observation or even a physical exam. People may also go for many years before it causes any discomfort. Your chiropractor should be able to identify the type of curvature you have (whether it is a true scoliosis) and the cause like past injury, other body imbalances affecting your spinal alignment, or idiopathic, meaning of unknown cause.

The school nurse has a very important role in identifying early signs of abnormal posture and abnormal curves. There are also various specialists who can do a more detailed evaluation outside of the initial screening that they do at her school. It should include a physical exam and x-ray. This will help to determine the degrees of her curvature and the causes. As far as treatment goes, you may find a wide array of professional opinions. Depending on the cause you may have a number of conservative options including, exercise, bracing, spinal manipulation, heel/shoe lifts, or other lifestyle changes. A chiropractor is a trusted professional to consult with if you are seeking early intervention and a comprehensive evaluation that looks at the whole body to find the cause.

Some chiropractors do specialize in a holistic approach to caring for special conditions like ADHD. This means, specific spinal manipulation, nutrition, along with well researched and emerging therapies to improve your son's quality of life. I would suggest to find a practitioner that has this holistic approach and is willing to work with your family physician for a respectful team approach.

A joint is made up of two adjacent bones that are held stable through the surface of the bones and supported by ligaments. Some joints move a lot and some move a little. Spinal manipulation is performed once a skilled practitioner has identified some minor misalignment. There are lots of different methods to perform spinal manipulation. The goal is to change the function of the joint which can have various affects on the structures nearby (ie disc, muscles, and nerves).

Pain in the lower legs can have many causes. You may want to see a healthcare provider that can evaluate the many causes and decide if are a good candidate for soft tissue techniques. Your chiropractor may be than person or another physician.

Our office offers a complimentary consultation and it is a common practice for many Chiropractic Physicians. We have found it is a better way to answer some of your concerns before having a full examination. You can meet the office staff, tour the facility, ask about techniques, get a feel for the doctor's philosophy, and find out if they think you are a good candidate for care. You won't be able to find out "what is wrong" with you in a consultation, that would be an examination, but they can often be done on the same day if there is time in the doctor's schedule. A complimentary consultation is usually last 10-15 minutes.

This is a great question. Many chiropractors have X-ray equipment in their office, so it can be an excellent way to get more details about the health of your spine. In many cases, chiropractors are having to refer out for your X-rays to be taken, so they may wait until there is a more serious concern to recommend that you have them done. Don't forget chiropractors are all a bit different just as there are different specialists within the medical community. Either way, it is quite common to have initial X-rays. In fact, if your doctor is recommending an X-ray, it may have to do with the doctor's philosophy on spinal correction or maybe even the specific techniques that they specialize in. You might consider asking them their opinion on how often you should get an updated X-ray to understand more.

This is a very common question. Yes, your weight can contribute to spinal problems. We can often see on x-ray signs of changes to the joints when someone has been overweight for many years, but for most people the loss of strength and stability of the muscles that support our spine appears to be the biggest factor in back problems. Many times when we no longer maintaining a healthy weight, other habits (like our level of physical activity) have also changed. In fact, during pregnancy there are a number of physical changes that happen not just changing weight that can contribute to back problems including spinal imbalances and weakness in the core muscles. Seeing a conservative spinal specialist that can perform a through exam and offer the proper strengthening exercises would be a positive action step for your issues. As you feel better, and become stronger, you will be more likely to increase the necessary physical activity that goes along with the healthy eating habits. With the right team of health care providers I am sure you will be back to your pre-baby weight in no time!

It is quite possible that manual manipulation done by non-invasive specialist like a Doctor of Chiropractic would be able to help your father. Minor misalignments of the spine or an extremely common and overlooked cause for back pain, but “back problems” come in many forms. The first step would be to have him schedule an appointment for a complete examination. Your chiropractor is going to take a history and evaluate his condition through different physical test. They may even have some diagnostic imaging taken like an x-ray. From that information only then can you determine if he is a good chiropractic candidate and what is the source of his pain. It is very important to seek professional help so that he can understand the cause of his problem. In some cases people will wait too long to consider seeking treatment and they are less likely to completely correct the problem through conservative care. Either way, in most cases in individual can start with the chiropractor and can referred out for other studies like an MRI or to see other specialist like an orthopedic doctor, neurosurgeon, or pain management when indicated.

This is a tricky question because we know that movement often benefits the healing process by promoting circulation exercising muscles around injury, and maintaining joint mobility. I usually start my patients with something like a gentle cat-cow stretch, 2-3 times a day. The phase of recovery that you are in and the severity of your condition will really make all the difference how quickly the person can return to exercise. There may bevspecific movements that your doctor will recommend in the early stages of your recovery and likely some movements to avoid as well. My general recommendation with injuries is to not incorporate exercise until the patient has pain that is consistently under a 4 out of 10 intensity (with 10 being the worst pain). With that being said, you should express your interest in wanting to do more exercises to your doctor. They will be able to advise you on what is appropriate for your condition and what to expect in the future. Don’t be discouraged. All healing takes time. It sounds like you also have a very proactive attitude and that should help you get the best long-term outcomes!

There is a lot of synergy between chiropractic care and massage therapy. I recommend everyone see both periodically to keep the body well maintained. They are both distinct and unique practices, but both the muscles and joints work together so you can understand how they both have their benefits. I suggest that you find a chiropractor in your area with a great reputation and get evaluated. You won't know what is happening in your body until you have an expert to check it out and offer their recommendations. Every day habits not only create tension, but sometimes can lead to dysfunction in the spine and nervous system. Minor misalignments in the spine are common (even when they are not yet painful) but the good news is that they can easily and quickly be corrected by a highly skilled Doctor of Chiropractic.

Depending on the kind of procedure that you just had, you should be able to see a chiropractor again. Many times the work you are doing with you chiropractor will help address any underlying imbalances that may have contributed to your initial condition and help maintain the health of your spine moving forward. It will be important for them to know your history, have various manipulation and mobilization techniques that they are well skilled at using. I definitely would wait until you are cleared by your surgeon.

If you are going to be finding a new chiropractor it is often a good idea to schedule a consultation only the first visit to see if it is a good fit.

I am unsure with how spina bifida will affect your chances of becoming pregnant (naturally), but as you probably already know, there is a direct relationship between the nerves of the low back and the function of the reproductive organs for both men and women.

Never the less, maintaining a healthy spine and nervous system along with your other healthy habits will give your body the best opportunity for healing. Hope this helps!