Show & Tell

You may remember show and tell from your days in pre-school and kindergarten, and if you are like so many of us, the anticipation of sharing and learning was tantamount to Christmas or your birthday. No matter what your age, curiosity is still alive and well in all of us. As a chiropractor, I get to play show and tell every day with new members of my practice when we are moving from the initial interview through the examination process, goal setting, and finally to optimal recommendations for care. Luckily for me and the people I work with the show and tell process is often a progression of better and more exciting discoveries. As is the culture of our system of health care, most (but not all) people come to my office with a condition or a “problem” that is interfering with their quality of life. In this phase of show and tell we are looking for the cause of the problem and the solution. Part of that show and tell series is a discussion of what is wrong, why it is wrong, and what caused it to go wrong.

When someone tells me they bent over to pick up a piece of paper and “their back went out” it is time for show and tell. When that same person is standing upright and their right hip is higher than their left, their left shoulder is higher than their right, and their head is tilted to the left, it is time for show and tell. When we review the x-ray of that same person and we see arthritis that has been developing for decades without them being aware of it, it is time for show and tell. The most important discovery is that     symptoms are not the problem, they are the result.  That back pain is no different than the chest pain, tooth ache, reflux, or the sores that come at the end of heart disease, tooth decay, digestive       disorders, or diabetes respectively. The symptoms are the result not the cause.

Initially, show and tell with a new practice member leads to an unfortunate surprise that is registered with the disbelief that they have lost their health without even knowing it. The fortunate and exciting part of show and tell with that same person is the empowerment that comes with knowing they can take control of their health, regain their wellbeing and  become stronger, more balanced and in control of their future. It is never too early to take charge of your health and your life. If you are interested in a life of optimal wellbeing, call today and schedule a time to play a life changing game of show and tell.

Dr. Fermin A. de la Jara, C.C.S.P.