Patient of the Month - August 2011 - Patti Jacobs

Like so many people, my neck and back have been subjected to multiple traumas over the years.  I spent a week in the hospital after a head-on car accident and suffered severe whiplash a few years later when my car was rear ended.  I fell down an entire flight of wooden stairs.  My back let me know its displeasure when I improperly lifted a heavy piece of furniture out of the trunk of my car.  I fell backwards across the top of a walk-behind lawn mower with another person falling on top of me (I never did tell Dr. Zabinski about that … guess he knows now). 

I managed my life around the discomfort and nagging pain which would come and go.  I tried 3 different chiropractors, only one of which was able to provide any relief and that was for the acute pain I was experiencing after lifting that piece of furniture.  It seemed like fate intervened a year ago when I attended a Spinal Wellness Class presented by Dr. Zabinski.  As I listened to Dr. Zabinski’s comprehensive lecture at the Navy Depot in Mechanicsburg, I had the distinct impression of a knowledgeable man who was truly sincere in his desire to help people. 

I made myself think about the pains and physical limitations I’d been accepting as a part of life, and realized I was a mess.  Three decades of neck and back abuse had resulted in a neck that was so stiff that I was turning my body to compensate.  I would have sudden severe pain between my shoulder blades.  My arms would often tingle and go numb.  I was unable to stand for more than 5-10 minutes without pain developing in my lower back which would intensify the longer I remained standing.  The only relief I had was by sitting, yet the pain would always triple for the first 10 minutes after I sat down until finally dissipating, especially in the mornings.

My initial consultation with Dr. Z was unlike any visit I’d ever had with a health care professional.  He’d taken the time, prior to meeting with me, to read and commit to memory the information I’d provided on the health questionnaire.  He listened attentively as I replied to his inquiries.  He repeated everything I’d both written and told him to be sure he had a complete and accurate picture of my health problems.  He gave me a thorough spinal exam and suggested x-rays.  I met with Dr. Z a few days later and he reviewed his findings and showed me the x-rays, explaining what he saw.  He treated me with the respect every person deserves from a health care professional, by taking the time to explain what was causing my problems and why.  He felt certain that he could help me and recommended a treatment plan, to which I agreed.  My progress was slow but there was consistent improvement.  At least until I injured my lower back again, while shopping of all things!  I was in so much pain that I could hardly move.  Dr. Z made a point of treating me several times over the next few days to reduce the pain I was experiencing.  (I mentioned that I’d hurt my back to my family doctor when I saw him the following week on another matter.  He naturally examined my back but he had trouble trying to understand why my back wasn’t in worse shape considering what I’d told him had happened.  I then explained that I was receiving chiropractic care from Dr. Zabinski, and my family doctor recommended that I continue with the chiropractic treatments because they were definitely working.)  Even with this latest injury, Dr. Z was able to get me back on track and I feel better now than I have in many years.  The flexibility in my neck has returned completely, I no longer have bouts of pain between my shoulder blades, my arms rarely go numb and I can stand for 45 minutes before experiencing any discomfort in my lower back and even that is mild.

The staff at Zabinski Chiropractic, Josh, Megan and Darby, create a wonderfully warm and friendly atmosphere combined with professional concern.  Dr. Zabinski has my every confidence in his skills and compassion.   Am I going to continue receiving chiropractic care from Dr. Zabinski?  You bet!  Life is too precious to endure needless limitations.

Patti Jacobs