In some ways, one could say that comprehensive care is a bit like building a house - certain things have to happen in a particular order in order for everything to stand strong and work together correctly. When building a house, if you tried to build your walls before you had a solid foundation, your walls would be weak and eventually may even collapse. If you tried to build your roof before the walls were ready, you would run into the same problem. These concepts apply to your body as well, and holistic care addresses many common reasons why people experience pain and other health issues. If something is not right with your body's foundation, than that needs to be addressed before true health can be achieved. With holistic medical care, your body has to go through a particular plan of care in order to repair itself correctly and fully. There are three general phases of care for lasting pain elimination . . .

Phase 1: Relief Care

Many people go to a physician because they are in pain. In this first phase of care, the main goal is to reduce your symptoms. Sometimes this will require daily visits, or two to three visits per week for a time.

 

Most people are under the assumption that if they don't feel any pain that 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.

 

For example, consider a cavity in your tooth. Does it hurt when it first develops or only after it has become serious? How about heart disease? Regardless of whether you are talking about cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stress or problems with the spine, pain is usually the last thing to appear. When you begin treatment, pain is also the first symptom to disappear, even though much of the underlying condition remains.

Phase 2: Corrective/Restorative Care

Most doctors regard the masking of symptoms as the easiest part of a person’s care. If all that the doctor does is to reduce the pain with medication and stop there, the chances of the condition recurring are much greater. In order to prevent a rapid recurrence of symptoms, it is necessary to continue receiving care even though your symptoms are gone.

 

During the corrective/ restorative phase of your care, you will not have to receive treatments as often as you did during the first phase of care and, depending on your particular circumstances, you may begin doing exercises and stretches either at the center or at home to help accelerate your healing.

 

Do not be discouraged if you have mild flare-ups in your symptoms on occasion. This is normal. Flare-ups are bound to occur during this phase because your body has not fully healed. Depending on the severity of your injury or condition and how long you have been suffering from it, this phase of your care may last anywhere from a few months to a couple of years.

 

The goal of corrective or restorative chiropractic care is to help bring your body back to its optimal functioning and allow you to return to your previous activities of daily living without pain and restriction. Regular care helps retrain your brain and muscles to function together to protect your joints.

Phase 3: Wellness Care

Once your body has fully healed, routine supportive care can help ensure that your physical problems do not return, and keep your body in optimal condition. Just like continuing an exercise program and eating well in order to sustain the benefits of exercise and proper diet, it is necessary to continue your care to ensure the health of your musculoskeletal system.

 

When you make routine supportive care a part of your lifestyle, you avoid many of the aches and pains that so many people suffer through, your joints will last longer and you will be able to engage in more of the activities you love.