Chiropractors offer pain relief
Selbyville resident Debbie Caldwell suffered a back injury when she was in an auto accident more than four years ago and walking became a chore that she accomplished with the help of a cane.
Running out of options, Caldwell turned to area chiropractors to help her recover.
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“I saw a chiropractor in Fenwick Island and she did very well for me,” Caldwell said.
After a year, she hit a plateau in her recovery and moved onto a different chiropractor who was able to adjust her spine so she no longer needed the cane to walk.
“I totally believe in chiropractors — I had wonderful results,” she said. “I still go for ‘tune-ups.’”
Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health, according to the American Chiropractic Association.
Patients come seeking relief from back, neck and/or joint pains, but chiropractors can also help patients with headaches, jaw pain and more.
Chiropractor Dr. Michael D. Schierl, of Apple Chiropractics in the Trading Post Plaza in Oak Orchard, said his first encounter with chiropractics was through a friend who was in the profession. When Schierl saw how happy she was with her work and how her patients were responding to the treatments, he decided it was the right field for him.
“I knew I wanted to help people in the same way,” he said.
And that’s just what he did.
Schierl became a chiropractor after graduating from Sherman College of Chiropractic in South Carolina more than 14 years ago.
“When a person comes to me with discomfort, it is usually because a spinal bone has been locked out of its normal position,” Schierl said. “The joint is locked, so there is a loss of range of motion.”
The muscles then have to work harder to compensate for the loss and they begin to ache.
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Through manipulation or alignment, patients find relief, he said.
“The brain communicates with the body through the nerves. The spinal cord runs from the brain through the spine. The spine nerves branch off of the spinal cord and exit the spine through holes that the spinal bones create as they are stacked on top of each other,” he said. “These nerves now go to every muscle, gland and organ.”
When the spinal bones shift out of place, pressure is placed on the nerves causing pain, numbness and discomfort, Schierl said.
“Using a series of gentle maneuvers, the chiropractor unlocks the spinal bones, restoring range of motion, allowing muscles to relax, taking pressure off of the spinal nerves and restoring communication across the nerves,” he said.
Schierl said herniated or bulging disk sufferers can benefit from chiropractic care. He said the spine is aligned taking pressure off the disk allowing it to heal properly.
Chiropractors are trained similar to medical doctors with some exceptions. Schierl said his training allows him to evaluate a patient and recommend a course of action — a treatment regiment with him or a recommendation to see a neurologist, orthopedist or physician.
Debbie Caldwell said she combined chiropractics with massage therapy and found they “work hand in hand.”
Schierl has found the same results. He offers massage therapy to his patients at his new Oak Orchard practice.
In fact, he even had his office designed by Bryant Hastie of Bryant Hastie Designs to ensure a relaxed and tranquil atmosphere. But patients or acquaintances, as Schierl refers to those he treats, are not left waiting long to enjoy their surroundings.
“I hate waiting in doctors’ offices,” Schierl said. “So I try not to keep anyone waiting in mine.”
His patients, ages 10 weeks old to 95 years old, are not kept waiting. They also know when they leave, Schierl will call them that evening to make sure they are doing their “homework.”
“I give them homework every time they leave here,” he said. “Then I call them in the evening to make sure they are following my directions.”
He said there are a few things people need to do after leaving the chiropractor and he stresses with a follow-up call.
“I have really good results,” Schierl said.