Chiropractors / spinal specialists usa

Dr. Joe Henry Rodriguez, Austin, TX

My Chiropractic Story By Lily P.

I believe that God brings people into our lives each for a unique purpose. Over a year ago, Shoreline Chiropractic joined a business networking group that I belong to. At that time, I had already visited a few other chiropractors for some minor neck pain I was experiencing, but had never really felt that I was benefiting from their treatments. One of the chiropractors did not take x-rays, so I always wondered how he could possibly know what my spine really looked like, and the other chiropractor would crack my neck as part of his adjustment and it would always result in more pain. Consequently, I was rather skeptical of chiropractors in general.

Perhaps because of our networking group connection or perhaps I was listening to my inner conscience or guardian angel, I decided to come in for a consultation with Dr. Rodriguez. My first appointment was in May of 2005. I came in with a perception of myself as a relatively healthy 27 year old who was active in sports and had a healthy diet. I had become used to having to deal with my allergy problems and was accustomed to getting about five sinus infections a year! All of which I would have to resort to using an antibiotic or allergy medication to get over.

I had been taking allergy shots form the time I was 5 years old until I was 26. In June of 2004, I went into anaphylactic shock about three hours after haven been given my allergy shot by my allergy doctor. It was one of the scariest moments of my life when my throat began to swell and I struggled to breathe. Luckily, the paramedics resuscitated me and were able to stop the fatal reaction. Thanks be to God! Needless to say, that was the last time that I would ever take another allergy shot! My perception of myself as a healthy young woman changed upon receiving the results of my x-rays. Dr. Rodriquez showed me how my neck had a negative curve (i.e. it was curving forward instead of backwards) and that I had a significant amount of calcification on my vertebrae as well as my thyroid.

Here I was 27, sporting a neck of a 50 year old woman! Additionally he informed me that my allergies were not normal, that through proper treatment, proper diet, and chiropractic care they could significantly improve. How is this I thought? My allergy doctors had always told me that allergies were hereditary. So I decided to do some research on this matter. I found that allergies are directly related to our immune system. In fact allergies are defined as being an autoimmune response where our body's immune system overreacts and tries to attack the foreign substance "allergen" by producing histamines. The reaction occurs because the body's immune system is weakened. When the immune system is strong, the body will not panic when foreign elements invade its domain. For example, particles of dust, viruses, and bacteria are always in the air. We breathe them all the time.

If the immune system is strong, it will handle them. However, when the immune system is weak, the body reacts to one or many of the foreign substances in the environment to protect itself. I never had thought that my allergies were a direct result of a weakened immune system. In understanding how the human body works and how the spine is the master control system of the body, it all started to come together. My neck injuries, probably sustained when I was an infant, were directly affecting my health. The calcification in my neck was probably also affecting my Thymus Glad, the master glad of the immune system which is located just below the thyroid. If that was the case, then not only was my thyroid probably not functioning properly but neither was my thymus glad (i.e. my immune system)! Bingo, why was it that none of my family doctors or allergy doctors had ever mentioned this as a possibility?

I then made my second realization..the reality of western medicine and its focus on prescription drugs. I knew first hand that prescription drugs or injections could be fatal (remember my almost fatal allergic reaction) and when Dr. Rodriguez stated in one of his presentations that prescription drugs were the number three killer in the United States third to heart disease and cancer, I was not at all surprised. After doing my own due diligence and research regarding my health, I decided to start making some changes. After all, God gave me a second chance after my near fatal reaction, and He above all others wants me to be healthy, for He has big plans for me (as he does all of us) and I feel that in order to do the works that He has called me to, I need to maintain the highest level of health and wellbeing possible. As part of this decision, I committed to a years worth of chiropractic care with Dr. Rodriguez.

I also decided to wean myself of all of my allergy medications and other prescription drugs, to cut out the junk that was still a part of my diet, to continue to work out on a regular basis, and most importantly to pray for my own health and healing. During the first three months of care I actually experienced some pain, my spine was adjusting to being put in its proper position and my neck muscles were being strained in the opposite direction of where they had been stabilizing my neck. It was hard to maintain faith that the Chiropractic care I was receiving was beneficial. However, I slowly started to feel better. I also noticed increased mental clarity and an increase in energy.

It wasn't until my first set of x-rays that I was truly convinced of the power of chiropractic care and overall health management. My neck no longer had a reverse (negative) curve, instead it had a positive 10 degree curve...still a considerable amount off from the desired 45 degree neck curve, but never the less, a major improvement. It was also around this time that I started to notice that my allergies were getting better. I was no longer taking any medication, and the only "pills" that I was taking were vitamins and a few supplements that would directly support and help strengthen my immune system.

It's been a year now since I made these life changing / life saving decisions! Dr. Rodriguez and Dr. Ditto reviewed my one year x-rays with huge smiles because in one year I went from having a negative neck curve to having a plus 22 degree curve!! I was elated! I am so grateful for Dr. Rodriguez and the Shoreline Chiropractic Team and thank God each and everyday for bringing them into my life. I have decided to continue my treatment plan for a second year. I still have some calcification, which will take some time for my body to reabsorb once my injured neck is back in its proper position (positive 45 degree curve) which will also take more time and a continued commitment to chiropractic adjustments, traction, exercise, diet, and most importantly prayer!