Until recently I, like most people, was under the misconception that chiropractic care was for people who have been involved in an accident or suffer from chronic neck or back pain. And, like most people, I never considered going to a chiropractor until I had a reason to.

I first went to see Dr. Dean Jacks at Chiropractic Associates in Niceville, Florida, in July when I began having pain in my neck and upper back. Having never been to a chiropractor before, I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I thought I’d have a few adjustments and the pain would go away and that’d be that. Little did I know I would end up committing to three adjustments a week, therapeutic exercises twice a day, and lifestyle changes to improve my overall health, far beyond the pain that prompted that first visit.

I also had no idea that within two months not only would the pain be gone but I would no longer be suffering from three or more headaches a week, or that I would see noticeable improvements in my chronic digestive problems. It really made sense once I stopped to think about it. Our brain communicates to the rest of the body through the nervous system sending messages through the spinal column to vital organs. So naturally spine health should be closely related to a person’s overall health.

But I didn’t want to invest in a long-term chiropractic care plan without committing to the lifestyle changes necessary to realize the full benefit, and to reach my true health potential.

The biggest change I’ve made since starting chiropractic care has been a drastic increase in physical activity. I went from getting hardly any exercise at all to practicing Taekwondo three to four times a week. That alone has made an incredible impact on my health.

I’m also making dietary changes that Jacks has recommended and becoming more particular about what goes into my body. I’m watching my sugar intake, eating more protein and fiber, and avoiding partially hydrogenated oils and fried foods. I still have a lot to learn in the way making smarter food and supplement choices, but I feel like I’m on the right track.

I know there is a lot of controversy surrounding chiropractic care and I too was skeptical of the philosophy behind chiropractic methods. But if it hasn't done anything else for me, going to Jacks has at least given me the incentive I needed to make positive lifestyle changes and I've received a type of personal care and attention from him that is very rare in the current healthcare environment.

That pain in my neck a couple months back might have been the best thing that ever happened to my health.