New Patients at Tree of Life Wellness Center
If you’ve ever gone to a social event where you didn’t know anyone, you know how uncomfortable that can make you feel. Our goal is to eliminate every shred of apprehension and make you feel at home.
Since chiropractic care involves a series of visits, with each one building on the ones before, it’s important that our relationship can go the distance. We’ve found that one of the best ways to have successful patient relationships is to explain everything in advance. No surprises!
The more you understand who we are, what we do and why we do it, the better results you’ll enjoy. It’s as simple as that.
So, check us out here. Poke around. Get to know us. Then, contact us to make an appointment so we can get to know you.
Your First Visit
Initial Exam
You nervously enter a doctor’s office and you are greeted by a friendly smile and a warm handshake, not a glass window. Since your time is important, you are immediately given a tour of the office and start filling out your life history. You look to your left and there is a woman in her mid 80’s who smiles and nods. To your right is a mother holding a peacefully sleeping baby. You start to notice that the people here are not in pain or sick. They are filled with energy and vitality. You wonder why are these people here? Doctor’s offices are for sick people.
You finish your paper work and wait for the doctor. You settle in for a long wait, but are surprised when the doctor appears within a few minutes. She introduces herself as Dr. Kelly and explains what will happen today. She is going to go through your history, perform a thorough chiropractic exam, and if needed, take x-rays.
Read more about your first visit »
Your History
Your history starts at birth and covers your whole life. Dr. Kelly explains, as a chiropractor, she is interested in your spine and nervous system. This history is designed to find any old injuries you have had to your spine. These injuries are causing interference to your brain and nervous system, leading to problems with all parts of your body.
You had a “normal” birth, which means you are 80-84% likely to have had damage to your nervous system since birth. Your realize that your kids already have spine and nervous system damage. You discover that small falls as a child lead to more layers of spinal injury. A car accident in high school and one two years ago, more spinal injury.
It is starting to make sense. It is not what you did last week that is causing the problem, but all the injuries of your life added together.
Next is your exam
Dr. Kelly explains that she will perform an exam designed to find any injuries you have had to your spine and nervous system. The exam will find all the injuries, both the ones you remember and the ones you do not. Dr. Kelly shows your spinal distortions and loss of motion, both signs of previous spinal injuries. She then examines each of your spinal nerves. You quickly realize this problem is bigger than you thought. Your spine is also filled with muscle spasm, swelling and scar tissue. This is called the vertebral subluxation complex.
The vertebral subluxation complex can lead to spinal degeneration. Destruction of your spine that can be seen on x-ray. She shows you how with time spinal injuries cause more and more spinal degeneration. It is like how your teeth would be destroyed if you did not brush them. You look at the pictures wondering what phase of subluxation degeneration you are in.
State of the art Technology
Dr. Kelly has invested in state of the art technology to allow her to perform diagnostic testing in her office. She can objectively assess the function of your nervous system without any radiation. If needed, x-rays are taken, Dr. Kelly will develop them and analyze them. You will look at them together on your next visit. You make an appointment. As you get in your car you think about your first chiropractic visit. You thought you were going to talk about back pain and have some kind of treatment. This is not what happened. You learned that your back pain is a sign that your whole body is not functioning properly, and you have problems with areas that were not in pain. In fact chiropractic has nothing to do with pain.
You are very excited to get home and tell your spouse.
Your Second Visit
On your report visit we explain what we found and how we may be able to help you.
Report of Findings
You return to Tree of Life Chiropractic Center for your second visit. You are no longer nervous. You are anxious to find out the results of your exam and x-rays. You watch a wonderful video about chiropractic care.
Dr. Kelly then explains that there are three levels of chiropractic care. The first is initial intensive care designed to correct outer layers of spinal injury. The next level is reconstructive care which helps to correct the deeper layers of scar tissue and injury. The third level is wellness. Wellness is wonderful and will be discussed when you get closer to this type of care.
Read more about your second visit »
Exam Review
Dr. Kelly reviews your exam and x-rays with you explaining that you have had damage to your spine and nervous system. This damage is causing much more than pain. It is causing you to loose valuable physical, social and mental well-being. You start to understand that your brain and nervous system control the function of your whole body. You have had damage to your spine and nervous system throughout your life and this is robbing you of your full potential. There are so many layers of injury it will take time for your body to heal. You wish someone had told you about chiropractic earlier, but you are glad you have started care now. Before it is too late. Dr. Kelly asks if you have any questions. You set up a time for you and your spouse to attend the New Patient Orientation. This will help you get the most from your care.
You go to the adjusting room very excited to start the healing process and to have some power restored to your body and mind. Dr. Kelly explains each part of the adjustment. After your adjustment you think “that was easier than I thought.” The adjustment was very specific and there was not a lot of force. She even used a gentle instrument. You get up feeling a sense that there is a change occurring in your body. You know that you have just started on of the most important journeys of your life.
With a big smile you return to the front desk, collect your appointment calendar, and make an appointment for your kids. You do not want them to lose any more potential.
After Your Exam
During a visit a few months later, you look around and realize why the people here are full of energy and vitality, and why there are people here who are not sick. Each of the people here are interested in regaining their health and making sure their families are at their highest potential.
You smile and nod at the lady who has just sat down next to you and is filling out her first day’s paperwork. You smile because you are so glad you are on this journey and nod to let her know she has made the right choice.
Wellness Visits
You are on your road to true health
You are on your road to true health. You come into the office, sign in. Your kids race you back to the adjusting auditorium. You lay down and relax — even if it is only for a minute. Your power is turned on and you do your therapies to help strengthen your body and hold your adjustments. You get back in the car and head to the next soccer practice.
Corrective Exercises in Elmhurst
At Tree of Life Wellness Center, helping you reach your health and wellness goals is our priority. Assisting in the healing process is what we call “corrective exercises,” which can be performed both at the office and in the comfort of your own home.
Read more about corrective exercises »
In addition to skeletal misalignment, muscles and connective tissues can be out of place or strained by improper alignment and use, which can lead to loss of mobility, imbalance, and further injury. As such, it is important to correct these issues to restore muscle function and strengthen your overall body. A stronger body can support a stronger spine, which in turn leads to a speedier recovery. Patients from student athletes to office workers, and everyone in between, can benefit from corrective exercises. Common injuries and symptoms that can be helped with corrective exercises include, but are not limited to:
- Sciatica
- Back and neck pain
- Loss of joint function/join injury (ankles, wrists, elbows, knees, shoulders)
- Herniated discs
- Pinched Nerve
When combined with non-surgical reconstructive adjustments, corrective exercises can move your muscles into proper alignment, work out degenerated discs, and break up scar tissue, all part of your journey toward recovery and better health!
Exercises performed at the office include wall traction, vestibular discs/chairs, lordotic pump, and more. Once you progress in the program, we will prescribe and help you understand corrective exercises you can perform at home or even at your work. These exercises are customized to your condition and wellness goals. Doing these exercises on a regular basis will help ensure that you reach your goals in an optimal amount of time.
Take Action
Are you a good candidate for chiropractic care? Find out! Contact us today to get started!