Welcome to the 6th episode of Health Science Coach, a guide to your healthcare career. Today we take a look into the life of a Chiropractor Like - Subscribe - Comment Dr. Chris Harris' Chiropractic Story: The year was 2011, and Chris’s business required a tremendous amount of travel, which added a lot of stress to his personal life. He spent much of his time on planes and driving to see customers. The pain started between his shoulder blades, and soon began to travel down to his left elbow, and finally felt numbness in his left pinky and ring finger. He was losing strength in that arm. His friend and family physician tried steroids called trigger injections; however, the symptoms persisted. It became difficult to sleep and he woke up several times every night in pain. The physician explained that the next step was referred to a surgeon. The thought of surgery was terrifying because Chris’s mother went through seven neck and back surgeries. The surgeons helped her, but after each surgery, degeneration would set in above and below the area of surgery. Eventually, she became dependent upon opioids just to establish a tolerable quality of life. The long-term use of pain meds took a great toll on her health as organs began to fail. First were kidneys and then her bowels. The doctors did everything they could, but she passed away. Afraid that history was about to repeat itself Chris’s wife encouraged him to try Chiropractic. His physician advised you have nothing to lose. Dr. Alan Dabbs took x-rays of his neck and identified bone spurs in the lower cervical (neck) area. He concluded that the spurs may be putting pressure on a nerve that radiates from the spine down to his left hand. Dr. Dabbs adjusted his neck and Chris felt a lightning bolt-type sensation into his numb fingers. At first, he was stunned and then realized that was the first feeling in his fingers within the last few weeks. Dr. Dabbs explained that it might take several adjustments to get complete relief. And after three adjustments Chris regained normal sensations in his left arm and started to regain strength. He no longer needed pain meds and avoided surgery. The first thought that crossed his mind was “What if” my mother would have known about chiropractic? In high school, Chris dreamt of becoming a doctor, but life took him in a different direction. However, this event had such a profound impact that he decided to move to Overland Park, KS to pursue a Doctor of Chiropractic. He was in search of the most objective ways to diagnose and treat patients so that he could provide the same results that he experienced, and although he couldn’t help his mother there would be literally thousands of people that would benefit from Chiropractic care. During school, Dr. Chris became a certified specialist in the Upper Cervical Technique because of its ability to objectively diagnose and treat chronic cases. It was the only technique that helped his wife with her migraines and fibromyalgia. Additionally, Chris became certified McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy for the spine, Acupuncture, and Activator as an alternative for patients that preferred not to be adjusted manually. The result of this training has qualified him to use x-rays, orthopedic tests, functional assessments, and multiple other tools to diagnose and resolve patients’ problems. When you visit Dr. Chris he wants you to know that you enter the office as a patient, but when you walk out you become part of the Apex family. You will be treated with respect and the goal will always be to help YOU achieve the best health possible!
