Hippocrates said, “Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.”
A patient of mine shared a story recently that reflects on the journey that each of us must take at some point in our lives, when we are afflicted with chronic and/or debilitating pain. While everyone is unique, including any pain that impacts their daily lives, I share this story, because it is a reflection of the many paths to health and wellness.
This patient, who I’ll call Laura, has lived a healthy lifestyle. At 60+ years old, she regularly exercises and eats a healthy diet. She has a personal trainer, which is how I came to know Laura. When Laura began to suffer from TMJ (pain in the jaw joint) earlier this year, he suggested that she come speak with me and my team. Pain from the TMJ had manifested for about three months when I first evaluated Laura, and while at first it wasn’t severe, it got progressively worse and increasingly debilitating to her daily activities.
Our evaluative approach investigated multiple factors, including both physical and lifestyle, to look for root causes. I have learned over the decades of my practice that listening to patient needs and their stories can be critical to uncovering the appropriate steps to removing the pain. We identified that neck pain and external stressors were a primary cause of Laura’s TMJ.
Our office is hyper-diligent about our knowledge of chiropractic treatment and understanding the latest techniques, while maintaining the most innovative tools to address healing. We were able to apply many of these to Laura’s treatment, as well as exercises and therapies that she can do on her own, which has led to sustained positive outcomes.
From Laura, “Dr. Gray knows so much about the body and how each part is integrated and working together. He listens to me, and he’s also a consummate teacher. His heart is so into his work, and the attention I received made me feel like I was his only patient. He is constantly researching, learning and improving, and he got to the core of my pain and has helped me understand that with the right approach, the body can heal itself. He thinks ‘preventative’ for long-term health, which means he also focuses on nutrition as a healing force.
“I love his office and staff. He’s not your normal chiropractor, and I’m so pleased to have found him.”
It thrills my staff and me when patients show such improvements, and this is further validated when they tell their friends and family about their successes. In Laura’s case, she recommended that her husband and niece come to Gray Chiropractic to address their pain, and I’m happy to say we are seeing positive outcomes with the two of them, as well.
Hippocrates is also known for having said, “Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.”
Thank you, Laura, for sharing your story, and thank you to our other patients who have entrusted Gray Chiropractic and Sports Associates with addressing their acute and chronic pain. If you are a patient, we would love you to share your story. If you are suffering from chronic pain that has impacted your life, please come share that story with us and see how we can help get you on the path to living painfree.