Wellness Care Versus Short-Term Relief

When you're in pain and can't work well or enjoy your life, nothing else matters but getting well.

During my thorough evaluation, I look for issues in the spine that could be creating dysfunction in the neuromusculoskeletal system. I enjoy offering hope and help to people with acute problems, and marvelling with you at what the body is capable of when the nervous system is clear.

You may wonder why I offer a wellness approach rather than a quick, get-out-of-pain plan. I have great respect for how intricate the brain, spine and nerves are, working around the clock to keep you living, moving and functioning. Let's talk about how chiropractic works with your body, for a lifetime and not just a crisis.

What is wellness care?

When you're in a lot of pain or have a chronic issue, chiropractic can be a great choice. But when the pain goes away, that doesn't mean the issue is completely resolved.

Your body has pain receptors called nociceptors. They signal your nervous system about heat, cold and damage. But just because something doesn't hurt doesn't mean it's working correctly. The body adapts and works around a problem to keep its balance, so quiet receptors don't always mean the problem is gone.

When we focus only on pain, a flare-up down the road is more likely. By focusing on consistent, long-term wellness care, we work with the body so the underlying problem is looked after too.

Dr. Gelber's approach is not to just deal with your current issue; rather, he takes a holistic approach and assesses your overall health history to understand the connections and root causes of what brought you to him.

Victoria, patient review

X-rays and scans

At Annex Family Chiropractic, I use a variety of tools to assess and care for you. For adults (except pregnant women), I use X-rays to look for underlying issues in the spine, such as an increased low back curve, osteoarthritis and degeneration.

I also use thermography, scanning your spine with a device that picks up heat readings. A 2021 review described infrared thermography as useful in orthopaedic conditions with specific heat signatures, and for tracking the trend of an inflammatory process and the response to treatment (Kumar et al.).

A third scan measures heart rate variability. Seeing your results on an INSiGHT HRV graph shows how your heart rate adapts to stress, giving us a window into your nervous system, and it helps me make very specific adjustments. See the Insight scans.

A 360° approach to your plan

Making sure your whole body is healthy is the goal of chiropractic, and the whole system benefits when your nervous system can communicate with the rest of your body. I've found a complete, 360° approach works best, for short-term pain and long-term care alike.

He provides knowledge videos, at-home exercises and tools that empower you as a patient. I wholeheartedly recommend Annex Family Chiropractic to anyone who is seeking a unique and personalized approach to chiropractic care.

Victoria, patient review

Interested in learning more? Read Solving the Mystery: A Runner with Low Back and Hip Pain. Ready to have your nervous system checked? Call 416-967-4466 or book online.

References

1. Insight CLA, insightcla.com
2. Kumar, P., Gaurav, A., Rajnish, R. K., Sharma, S., Kumar, V., Aggarwal, S., & Patel, S. (2021). Applications of thermal imaging with infrared thermography in Orthopaedics. Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma, 24, 101722.
3. Chafetz, N., Wexler, C. E., & Kaiser, J. A. (1988). Neuromuscular thermography of the lumbar spine with CT correlation. Spine, 13(8), 922–925.