I hurt everywhere.

Simple activities that most people take for granted — like walking up and down stairs or turning my head from left to right — were movements that required extra thought and planning.  

At work, the restroom is located in the basement of the building. I work in retail and I usually work alone, so I need to get downstairs and back up quickly to wait on customers. The first task in navigating the stairs is to make sure I have a good grasp of the railing. I take one purposeful step at a time slowly. Unable to alternate my feet, I moved very slowly holding on to the railing with great trepidation, until I got to the bottom. It was a relief to sit for a moment before the return up the stairs and back to work.

Turning my head challenged my everyday activities. This affected everything from driving to turning to someone talking to me from behind or to the right or left of me. Often I turned my head with my shoulders.

In addition to the neck difficulties, I had learned to live with constant back pain. Some days it was not only back pain. I also had to contend with the nuisance of pain in my hips, knees and feet. Taking a walk was next to impossible.

While some feel aches and pains are part of the aging process, I believed there was an answer. I tried traditional healthcare, physical therapy and Advil.

Finally, a friend recommended chiropractic. My first thought was not positive as I was raised to “pooh-pooh” chiropractic. My family believed that chiropractic was not an actual healthcare option. My friend not only gave me the gift of recommending chiropractic to me, she actually scheduled the appointment for me!  At the age of 72, I had my first chiropractic appointment.

I hurt no more.

Stairs are not as daunting as they were before I began chiropractic. I no longer need to turn my body to turn my head. The constant back pain is gone. My hips feel great. Instead of incorporating a cane into my daily activities, I am going for a walk.

I have been impressed with my care at Northfield Chiropractic. Dr. Pete is a great doctor and the staff is warm and welcoming. I will continue with my chiropractic care and enjoy my pain-free days.