What are you trying to accomplish?

The first phase of care is Pain/Symptom Relief and the main goal is to reduce your symptoms and regain more normal function.  For most people this phase is relatively brief, if recommendations for visits and home care are followed.  Visit frequency during this time is typically fairly intense.  Dr. Julie may make recommendations for ice, heat, and supplements that will assist your body to heal.  Dr. Julie's rule of thumb for this phase of care is as follows:  you will be considered to be in the pain relief phase of care until you have had 14 consecutive days symptom-free. 

The next phase is a re-training/re-building phase.  Care during this time is important to help your body learn a new way of being in more normal balance.  Visits will likely be reduced in frequency, and home care will likely include recommendations for stretches, exercises, and lifestyle changes to enhance ongoing healing and balance.

It is during this phase that most people want to know:  "When will I be done?"  Dr. Julie's answer is:  "You can be done anytime you want to be done."  However, there is an excellent argument to be made for ongoing care.

Are you ever "done" brushing your teeth, or shaving, or washing your hair, or feeding yourself?  Of course not!  The human body requires a certain amount of attention and management in order to feel and function well.

Ongoing/Maintenance Care:  Most people are under the assumption that if they don’t feel any pain there is nothing wrong with them – that they are healthy. Unfortunately, pain is a very poor indicator of health. In fact, pain and other symptoms frequently only appear after a disease or other condition has become advanced.  Truly healthy people have lots of energy, are rarely sick, and participate in the activities of their daily lives without pain/stiffness/hesitation.

Regardless of whether you are talking about cancer, heart disease, frequent illness, stress or problems with the spine, pain is usually the last thing to appear. When you begin chiropractic care, pain is also the first symptom to disappear, even though much of the underlying condition remains.

Patients at The Human Joint never get hassled about how much care they should receive.  Dr. Julie will make suggestions and gently nudge you toward an ideal care schedule, but how much care you get is always up to you.