From One Patient to Another

Hi, my name is Wren and I’ve been a patient of Dr. Richey’s for the past 6 years. Prior to seeing Dr. Richey regularly, I suffered from back, neck, and shoulder pain on a regular basis. I had learned to live with the discomfort and to assume it was normal. I was referred to Living Well Chiropractic by a friend who was a patient and who swore by the results he and his wife had both experienced from Dr. Richey’s care.

After taking x-rays of my neck and spine, Dr. Richey and I discussed my treatment options and began working together through the long-term spinal restoration process, which included weekly adjustments, in-office and at-home traction. It was truly mind-boggling to me when we took the next set of x-rays months later and I saw the comparison to my original spine; the changes that had taken place were undeniable (not to mention I was out of pain for the first time in my memory)!

Once we had reached my ideal spinal position and agreed that I would come in for appointments less often, I went about my life as usual for quite some time. That was, of course, until I was involved in a bad car accident. I was rear ended on the freeway, with the car behind me going approximately 65-70 miles per hour. Needless to say, Dr. Richey was one of the first calls I made after that accident.

We set up an appointment for that very afternoon -- one of the many reasons I love being a patient at Living Well Chiropractic is his flexible schedule and willingness to see me whenever I need him! We took x-rays again that day and found that my spine had reverted to a position very closely resembling what I had started with before my treatment with Dr. Richey. I suffered from whiplash, severe neck pain, and headaches, none of which are uncommon after a rear end collision. 

According to neurologist D.H. Todman, “early mobilization of the neck followed by neck muscle exercises are associated with better outcomes than the use of a cervical collar for prolonged intervals and rest.” This was precisely Dr. Richey’s approach to my injuries; on the day of my accident, I had a very gentle adjustment and was sent home with instructions to ice my injuries and to come back to see him twice more that week (hence, the “early mobilization of the neck followed by neck muscle exercises”). With a continued treatment program, we were able to mobilize my neck, get my spine back to its pre-accident condition much more quickly than with the first round of treatment, and I found myself living pain-free once again. 

I tell you this story as a fellow patient, not as a specialist, a doctor, or a salesperson. In my experience, the personalized care I received from Dr. Richey at Living Well Chiropractic had a huge influence on my overall health and wellness, and it certainly sped up my recovery after my car accident. Rather than going straight home to lay in bed and try not to move at all (as would’ve been my instinct after the accident), I decided to go to the person who had relieved my pain regularly for years and who I trusted completely with my health. I have never once regretted the decision to make Living Well Chiropractic a part of my health and wellness maintenance routine -- in fact, I can’t imagine where I’d be today without it!