by Dr. John Kuruc
Throughout my career I have learned that there are essentially two types of patients. Those who want the quick fix to get out of pain and those who want to find the root cause of their pain. They both have the same goal, to get out of pain, but the direction to their desired outcomes are completely different. Chiropractic care is often a long process and is not always a quick fix. Let me explain.
The “quick fix” patients that I have seen in my career want the instant fix. It is that simple. They want a miracle cure. They are looking for one treatment to “cure” all their ailments and that just does not happen. Can a single chiropractic treatment deliver amazing results that reduces pain and increase mobility? Absolutely. Will it have long lasting effects that create new movement patterns and change body mechanics? Absolutely not! In the chiropractic world this type of care is just treating the symptom and not the cause. As chiropractors we should know better than to treat the symptom.
The “root cause” patients are totally different. Generally speaking, they once were the “quick fix” type and have tried traditional chiropractic, physical therapy, and orthopedic care and are still not getting the desired outcomes that they want. These patients want to find the root cause of their pain/limitation. They are tired of not living their life the way they want and not achieving the goals they want. They are committed to the process of changing how their body moves and are committed to the rehab process. Progress takes time, consistency, and commitment. Read that last sentence again.
Now that you have some understanding of the two different patient types can you guess which one has better outcomes? It’s pretty easy to tell. As a rehab sports chiropractor I take pride in taking the time necessary to find the root cause of my patient’s pain and helping them through our three-stage process. Those stages are; activation, stabilization, integration. My practice is built around those who want to find and understand what is causing their pain. I am proud that my appointments are hour long and I can help patients achieve their goals in as little as 9 visits. It’s important to take the time necessary to explain to patients that what I do is not a quick fix but a long lasting fix.