About

Dr. Walker's Story...

I am often asked by patients how I became interested in chiropractic, so I thought I would share with you a little about me and my personal experience with chiropractic.

My first job out of college brought me to Delray Beach, Florida, to work as an Exercise Physiologist within a chiropractic and medical clinic. I grew up in a medically-centered household, so chiropractic was very foreign to me when I accepted this position. After my first month, I decided to ask for an evaluation. I was 22 years old and was fortunate enough to have no history of neck or back pain. The associate doctor, Dr. Steven Alexander, took a detailed history, performed an examination, took xrays and then kindly educated me about my findings. In the history, I had indicated that as a teenager I had been in a "few" auto accidents-nothing severe, just enough to cause a little damage to my parent's vehicles (we won't talk about that though...). I had never complained of pain after the accidents, so I never sought care. When he showed me my xrays, I was shocked to see that at 22 years old I was already showing some signs of degeneration in my neck! What Dr. Alexander said about chiropractic just made sense: how could someone claim to be healthy if they were using drugs and surgery to help with problems that could be corrected with something non-invasive like chiropractic? How could someone be healthy if their nervous system was not able to function optimally? As a result of my experience working in this clinic and seeing the results that I saw each and every day, I knew I wanted to help others through chiropractic!

Although I had never suffered from neck or back pain, I had suffered from chronic ear infections since childhood. I would get these ear infections approximately four times a year, coincidentally around stressful times (such as exams). Let me clarify that these ear infections were usually so severe that they would involve a trip to the ER, antibiotics and pain medication. Several times the ear infection would be so severe that it would even rupture my ear drum! My first year in chiropractic school, I developed yet another ear infection. I did not have health insurance and I just couldn't afford that trip to the ER. Thinking back to Dr. Alexander and the several lectures that I had been fortunate enough to hear, I decided that I needed to see the chiropractor. After an examination, it was clear that the vertebrae in my neck were not moving properly and compromising the nerves that went to the ear. After my first adjustment, I could feel the pressure begin to release. After three treatments, my ear infection was gone. I continued under active care, then into corrective care and finally strengthened the muscles supporting my spine. I have never had an ear infection since that day! My mother's response when I told her about my experience was that she wished someone had told her about chiropractic when I was a child. It was plain and simple: chiropractic corrected what years of medication could not.

This personal experience is what gave me the concrete understanding of the impact that chiropractic can have on a person. I think of my mom's comment when I told her that my ear infection was gone and each season that it doesn't return! I recognize that chiropractic didn't cure my ear infections, rather, it removed the problem that was preventing my body from being able to heal itself. I continue to be adjusted each month in order to optimize my health and prevent any potential problems. Through my maintenance program, I have been able to remain healthy and prevent potential problems from manifesting. I am thankful every day for my experience with Dr. Alexander that directly impacted my future! I am even more thankful that I am able to help many others find a workable solution for their health.