Regardless of the problem, i.e., whether a person's ill health or a car that won't start, there are several things you need to define the problem:

DATA: One needs information. At The Healing Experience your first visit lasts an hour so that a great deal of information about you can be gathered.

         In-depth case history of all your past health issues

         Verbal inquiry as your doctor investigates the various aspects of your present problem

         Physical exam: includes neurological, orthopedic and kinesiological examinations combined           with standard chiropractic exam.

         From the initial exam subsequent investigations can be planned, i.e., the need for X-Rays,           body fluid analyses, etc.

CONSTRUCTING AN HYPOTHESIS:

The data gathering will provide a wealth of personal data indicating issues at the biochemical and physical levels.

Once the data is gathered, it is appropriate to construct a hypothesis concerning the health issue. A hypothesis is an initial evaluation of the issue that includes all available information and indicates an obvious treatment plan.

For example, a 42-year-old woman has right hip pain. It gets better some days and worse others. The MD's tell her it's a muscle strain (after $600 worth of tests) and send her home with muscle relaxants and ibuprofen. She has relief as long as she takes the meds and stays in bed. Any activity brings the pain right back.

The chiropractor identifies a displacement of the right ilium (hip bone) and begins adjusting it back into its proper position. She gets relief but it doesn't last until the next morning.

Dr. Gunter notices that she has been having unusual menses over the past six to nine months. She states that the hip pain began six or seven months ago. Examination reveals a chronic lack of strength in the gluteus medius muscles. Since gluteus medius shares nerve supply with the uterus, a hypothesis is developed to explain the pain and the out-of-position ilium:

The ilium is not being supported by gluteus medius so it cannot maintain its proper position.

The key to the hypothesis is to restore the functional integrity of the weak muscle. The resultant treatment plan involves:

         chiropractic to restore the ilium,

         neuromuscular reeducation to restore the function of the muscle, and

         nutritional supplementation to strengthen the uterus and female reproductive system in           general.

The nutritional support prevents the reproductive system from being nutritionally stressed and, therefore, permits gluteus medius to function normally.

If gynecological symptoms persist, then referral to a gynecologist is indicated. However, she will be pain-free by the time she sees the specialist.

Another example of the protocol:

A 45-year-old male comes in with left shoulder pain. It has been getting worse over the past two years. He has seen orthopedists and received no successful treatment. He has no history of trauma, but examination reveals that seven of the twelve muscles in his shoulder are weak.

There are misaligned vertebrae in the neck and upper back. When these are restored to normal two muscles regain strength but five are still weak. Performing a double blind experiment with a variety of nutrition, we find one substance that strengthens the remaining five muscles. The treatment plan evolves into:

         Chiropractically restoring the aberrant vertebrae to their appropriate positions.

         Using muscle-specific techniques to treat and normalize the shoulder musculature

         Having the patient add the appropriate nutritional supplement to their diet so that the           shoulder muscles will strengthen internally as well as functionally.

The Treatment Plans available at the Healing Experience are directly tailored for you from the data gathered and hypothesis produced. We draw from several therapeutic modalities in preparing our strategy.

These modalities are explored in greater detail in the ensuing sections.