Tag: preventative care

Posted on

Diagnosing pain.

Did you know that there is a diagnosis code for virtually every part of your body plus the word “pain.”

Low back pain M54.5
Pain in the Thoracic Spine M54.6
Pain in the left foot M76.672
Chronic Bladder Pain R39.82

There are also diagnosis codes for significantly more detailed problems. This is often the reason for the “pain” diagnosis. I can diagnose right facet joint arthritis, or cervical degeneration that causes radiculopathy. There is value in both forms of diagnosis.

When you, the patient, comes in, you usually tell me about how you’re feeling. This discussion revolves, most commonly, around your pain. I will dig around and ask some questions and let you tell me your story. At this point, I can easily diagnose you with your specific pain diagnosis. You come in with neck pain, and I can diagnose neck pain in about 3 minutes of meeting you.

In the next step, I get to dig around and find out if there is an even more specific diagnosis that explains the “pain” diagnosis. This is the part where I rule out the really serious diagnoses, like a broken bone or a torn ligament. It is the part that takes a lot longer, occasionally more than one visit sort of longer. This is the part where we will usually throw out the fancy words. “Hip Impingement” or “Arthritis.” (And occasionally these fancy words come with an even fancier test.)

Now here is the really tricky part. Getting rid of pain can be really easy. (Tylenol, Gabapentin, Codeine) But getting rid of the fancier word part, the actual cause… now that is a lot harder. Just like diagnosing it requires a deeper understanding by your doctor to name it, it also requires a deeper understanding by you, for you to heal it.

Notice I said “You” to heal it. I can help you get rid of the pain and understand what needs to be done to heal, but the longer term changes, that is going to take more than just coming to see me a few times and taking tylenol for a couple weeks. There is a good chance you’ll need to support your body with movement, nutrition, rest and time.

This is a process. I hope to teach you everything you need to learn to heal, but it takes time. It takes time for us to peel away the layers that got you into pain in the first place and it takes time to explain each new healing step as we reach it. It will take time for you to make the changes you need to stay out of pain.

As Always,
Keep Moving.

Dr Cate

Posted on

It is not what you do, it is WHY you do it.

This weekend I filled in another page on my websites. I got right to the point and stated what I did, and how it could help. This morning I got to the office and had a short break between patients. I was feeling more energetic than the spa music that is usually playing in my office so I decided to turn on a Ted Talk while I did my weekly organization.

I started (and ended) today with Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action. At the end of the talk I thought back to how pathetic my writing was this weekend for the website. I realized I described what I do with great fluency but I barely touched upon the “Why.”

So here are some Why’s of my office:

Its always your choice

Because I believe that women with “Unexplained Infertility” can have the joy of becoming pregnant and having healthy babies.
Because I believe that drugs and medications can be very harmful and that western medicine fails to adequately explain these negatives.
Because I want women to feel empowered by their decisions.
Because I feel that the act of placing my hands on someone can be very healing.
Because I want you to feel strong and capable in your own body.
Because feeling stuck in a cycle of disease isn’t a good way to live.
Because I want my support women through their journey so they can in turn support their families and friends and the world will slowly become a more loving place.

Yes, I’m a chiropractor and a Mercier Therapist. Yes, I adjust the spine and the pelvis and increase blood flow to the ovaries. But the “why” is so much more than that and i just wanted to share.

As always,
Keep Moving.
Dr Cate

Posted on

Your Treatment Goals

I get excited when new patients are coming into my office. I mean – legitimately excited. So excited that I often text my next door neighbor,Colleen at The Balance Point Acupuncture when I see a new patient on my schedule!

Why do I get so excited? Because I have the chance to meet someone new and I have a new puzzle!! But lets be honest, odds are, you aren’t as excited to be in my office as I am to have you. Why not? Because you’re in pain. Maybe you’re scared. Maybe you’ve been in chiropractic offices before and you didn’t get the results you expected.  Or maybe you’re afraid its going to cost more than it said on my website.

I’ve come to learn that those fears and concerns I’ve just described are actually one of the biggest pieces to the puzzle.  Without evaluating them, there is a good chance that neither of us are going to leave the appointments as satisfied as we would have liked. The biggest thing that I’m learning I need to ask my patients are, Why have you come to my office and what are your hopes for today’s visit? Do you have treatment goals?

Some people simply want their diagnosis and what I would suggest. These clients are often going to go home, think it through and decide whether or not they want to take my advice. Some patients are ready for me to fix them, starting right now! And some patients want to know if they can fix themselves, with limited help from me or anyone else.

Each of these attitudes is completely acceptable. I’m happy to tell you my diagnosis and my treatment plan for you. The tricky part is the being certain we are on the same page together. I need you to tell me how you’re feeling each and every time. I need you to let me know if we aren’t getting where you want to be. I need to know and I need you to know what you’re looking for from my office.

So what exactly are your treatment goals? What is the reason you’re seeking my care? Let me know and I’ll be happy to help you with whatever you decide!

As Always,
Keep Moving.

Dr Cate

Posted on

Healing Time for an injury

knee painHello Friend – I’ve been looking into ideas to continue teaching my readers and a friend suggested I use the most commonly asked questions I hear in the office. If you have a question you would like me to answer, please feel free to comment below and I’ll put it on my list!

How long will this take?

That depends on what is diagnosed, and whether there is one diagnosis or multiple issues. Are you here for simply a spinal check? Or did you have a sudden onset of pain? Do you also have ongoing neck aching that you’d like to treat and fix?

Healing takes time and you need the facts:

 

1. A damaged muscle will have a healing time between 3 and 6 weeks to heal. (Think pulled hamstring.)
2. A damaged tendon or ligament can take 2-6 months in healing time. (Think twisted ankle.)
3. A broken bone will take 6-8 weeks to heal. (Think broken arm that gets a cast.)
4. A ligament or tendon damaged from “repetitive stress trauma” can actually take months to years to realign and regrow properly. (Think neck pain that started slowly after years on a computer with poor posture.)

 

Together we will address your complaints and determine what the possible diagnosis is/are. You will always have options in treatment.

 

1. Relief Care: We address primarily the area that is in pain. We help that area heal and get you back on your feet. The specifics of your treatment plan will be discussed as we begin your treatment.
2. Corrective Care: We dive deeper into the problem, work on the area that is in pain, and then look further to determine other areas in the body that may be contributing to that pain cycle or to other pain cycles.
3. Wellness or Preventative Care: We look top to bottom, address all the areas that need maintenance to keep your body functioning 100%. It is especially important in preventing repetitive stress trauma pain and is the type of care that chiropractors provide to their family.
Similar to how we believe that if you have teeth you should have a dentist, I believe that if you have a spine, you need a chiropractor. (If you don’t have a spine, then goodness, I would love to meet you as well!)
Similar to how the dentist expects you to go home and brush your teeth daily, floss and follow their instructions,I LOVE to give my patients homework. Movement is important in healing and whether I send you home with simple breathing exercises or more complicated release-activation exercises, they are a valuable part of your treatment plan.
I’m a little different than a lot of chiropractors out there as well. My passion involves a lot more than simply adjusting the spine. I enjoy treating your elbows, shoulders, knees, and headaches. The truth is, there is no one size fits all treatment and there is no one size fits all plan.

Of course you still have questions, so call today and we can get you answers!