Patient Success Story From Barely Able to Stand to Pain-Free in Five Visits She came in barely able to stand or sit. The pain had gotten bad enough that she took a day off work, and she had never been adjusted by a chiropractor before in her life. Plenty of people walk into my Plymouth office that way — hurting, a little scared, and unsure what chiropractic even is. This patient had been carrying low back discomfort for a while before that day, and she also had a past history of cancer, which changed how carefully I needed to approach her care. As the Chiropractor Plymouth MN patients travel to from across the West Metro, I see these cases often, but each one deserves its own plan. Key Takeaways THE CHALLENGEA first-time chiropractic patient arrived in severe low back pain with spinal degeneration, arthritic change, and a cancer history that made adjusting more delicate. THE CARE PLANIntersegmental traction and soft tissue work came first, followed by manual Diversified adjustments to the low back and mid-back. THE RESULTShe noticed real change by the fourth or fifth appointment and reported the pain was completely gone after five visits, then tapered down to wellness care. Pain this severe usually has a mechanical story behind it, and I wanted to know hers before I touched anything. We spent real time on the conversation first, then moved into a full history and examination so I could understand what was driving the discomfort instead of guessing at it. The goal was never to chase the ache — it was to get her spine moving the way it is supposed to move so her body could settle down. Project Summary Patient Profile: Adult patient, new to chiropractic, with a past history of cancer Project Location: Plymouth, Minnesota (West Metro, Twin Cities) Primary Objective: Relieve severe low back discomfort and restore normal daily function through Chiropractic Back Pain Treatment Techniques Used: Intersegmental traction, Active Release Technique, myofascial release, and manual Diversified Adjustment Methods Key Outcome: Pain resolved after five visits; frequency tapered from three times a week to every other week and then wellness care Her Exam and X-Ray Findings We started with a full history, then a neurological exam, orthopedic testing, and range of motion. Because she was nervous and had never been adjusted, I walked her through what chiropractic actually is, what I was looking for, and what her body needed in order to heal — before anything else happened. Her X-rays were telling. We saw a good amount of degeneration through the spine, some slight curvature, and arthritic change that explained why she was feeling what she was feeling. Her cancer history came out in that first conversation, and it mattered: she had a visible muscle imbalance, and knowing the medications she had been through made me look much more closely at bone density before deciding how to adjust her safely. How We Built Her Care Plan Her first visit ended on the intersegmental traction table, a roller table that loosens the spine segment by segment, and then I adjusted her. From there, soft tissue work came before any adjustment every time. I used Active Release Technique and myofascial release, with extra attention on the chest musculature — when surgery removes tissue, the fascia around that area can tighten and create restrictions somewhere else entirely, so we had to stretch that region out before the joints would cooperate. Her adjustments were manual Diversified work, mostly low back and mid-back, and she had stretches and exercises to do at home between visits. "After just five visits, the pain was completely gone. I was able to get back to my normal routine, which felt impossible on that first day." - (Erling, Patient) I want to be straight about the pacing, because this is where people get discouraged. Through her first few appointments she did not notice a big change, and that is normal — chiropractic is cumulative, not a switch that flips. The Soft Tissue Therapy loosened the muscles enough for the joints to move, and the Spinal Alignment Care held better each week because the muscles were no longer fighting it. Five Visits to Pain-Free Movement Around the fourth or fifth appointment, things turned. She noticed less discomfort when she woke up and less at the end of the day. She would still get sore at times, which I had warned her about, but the overall direction was clearly improving, and we were able to move from three times a week down to once a week, then every other week, and eventually into a Preventative Spine Care schedule. Here is the honest part. She came in consistently while her insurance benefits were helpful, and once she maxed out her visits for the year she decided to stop. That is not what I recommend, because the degeneration and arthritic change on her films did not disappear when the pain did — pain is the last thing to show up and the first thing to go away. I am hopeful she comes back in the new year when her benefits reset, and we can keep that spine functioning well instead of waiting for the next flare-up. Hurting and Not Sure Where to Start? We see patients every week who are nervous, in real pain, and have never been to a chiropractor. I will explain exactly what I am looking for, what the adjustment will feel like, and what your X-rays actually tell us about how your spine is functioning — before we do anything. You stay in control of your own care, and we will help you understand your coverage and Flexible Pricing Options up front. Dealing with back pain that makes it hard to stand or sit in Plymouth? Take the first step toward a healthier, pain-free life. Bomberg Chiropractic 15600 35th Ave. N #101, Plymouth, MN 55447 Call (763) 450-1755 or Schedule Online Frequently Asked Questions How fast does back pain relief happen with a Plymouth chiropractor? Everyone is different, and in this case the turning point came around the fourth or fifth appointment. What I never want a patient thinking is that the next visit is the one that tips them over the edge — consistency is what does it. We are re-educating the spine so it can function the way it needs to, and seeing each other once or twice over a month does not give the body enough to work with. Is a chiropractic adjustment safe if I have a cancer history? It can be, but it changes how I work. With this patient I was far more thorough on the history, asked detailed questions about past treatments and medications, and looked closely at bone density before deciding anything. We also focused heavily on muscle therapy and soft tissue release first, because surgery can leave fascial restrictions that need to be stretched out before the joints will move well. What happens when my insurance visits run out? Insurance is helpful for acute, crisis care, and it generally does not cover maintenance or wellness visits. When patients max out their benefits, we talk honestly about cash and wellness plan options so care does not stop cold. Stopping entirely is the part that concerns me, because the structural findings on the X-ray are still there even after the pain is gone.