My Chiropractic story…hmm…where to start?

My whole life I had been troubled by various illnesses and conditions. I had horrible seasonal allergies my entire life…allergies so bad that I would literally be sneezing all day, every day for weeks on end. It was debilitating. In addition to allergies I also suffered from frequent bouts of pneumonia, bronchitis, ear infections and even had Mono. Finally, and probably the worst…I suffered from depression and torchuous mood swings that only got worse as I got older. It was becoming very difficult to live with the depression which was essentially destroying my life.

In addition to these 'natural' symptoms, I was also involved in a car accident about ten years ago that left me with chronic neck pain and frequent headaches that sometimes developed into migraines.

I started chiropractic care about four years ago. I was moving around a lot and jumped from one doc to another. I received care that would alleviate my pain temporarily. My allergies did start to improve over time. My neck pain would return a day or so after adjustments. My depression did not subside.

I met Tammi about three years or so after I started receiving chiropractic care. She was still a student at Life Chiropractic College West. I was amazed at how thorough and detailed she was. She had an understanding of chiropractic that my other, professional, doctors did not have. She found that most of my problems were in my pelvis, and not in my neck where all my other doctors had been focusing.

Tammi focused my care around my pelvis and surprisingly my neck pain and headaches went away almost immediately. She also found that my coccyx was subluxated…just doing her job she adjusted it and just like that…literally within minutes my mood balanced out. She continued adjusting my coccyx during care and my moods stayed stable. It was totally amazing! Twenty-eight years of depression and mood swings ended just like that!

Today, four years after receiving chiropractic care and one year after having met Tammi, I no longer get recurring headaches. I haven't had a migraine in over a year. My mood has been stable for almost a year and I have not experienced depression in that time. My neck pain is totally gone. I have no allergies. I can walk outside in the middle of Spring and not sneeze once. I've been sick twice in the past four years…both times I recovered in under a day.

My life has totally changed over the past years, especially since I started receiving care from Tammi. I can't imagine where I would be if I had not found chiropractic and had not been guided to Tammi's care.

-Dave

Dr. Lei is fabulous! I have had back problems for almost 15 years. I've tried physical therapy and another chiropractor and nothing really worked. I appreciate Dr. Lei's focus on the CAUSES of the pain, her interest in helping you heal and be able to heal yourself, and her willingness to teach all of her patients about what's going on in our bodies. I highly recommend her.

She's very different than a typical chiropractor and I really like how much more connected I've become to my emotions and how they cause physical pain since I've been working with Dr. Lei. Best of all, I feel better and when I don't, I know what I need to do to feel better again. Dr. Lei continues to guide me in this holistic healing process and I'm so grateful for that.

-Jessica

I was introduced to Dr. Lei when I was at the end of my rope. My persistent allergies had become increasingly difficult over the last ten years of my life, but during the week that I saw Dr. Lei, I was at a breaking point. I woke one morning with an allergic attack so severe that my partner said, “That's it, I'm taking you to see Tammi.”

Allergy attacks for me mean non-stop sneezing, puffy eyes and clogged ears. These symptoms had grown to become something that weren't just seasonal, but were more chronic. There didn't seem to be a consistent reason such as weather patterns to explain why they were occurring. They just seemed to happen all the time, and they had been growing worse since graduating high school.

I was pretty much coping with having the symptoms of a cold all the time, and as a result my immune system was suffering. I was consistently sick, although it was hard to distinguish whether my allergies were acting up or whether I was truly ill. Regardless, I found myself tired all the time and getting cold sores due to the stress. I also couldn't drink a single glass of alcohol or caffeine without waking up the next morning and feeling terrible. Flying became something I would dread because I had to deal with extreme ear pain upon the flight's landing due to the change in air pressure. And then my ears would be clogged for as much as a week after.

I had also grown frustrated with over the counter medication which had a tendency to disrupt my sleep patterns and cause bad dreams as well as over dry my sinuses and make me feel worse by using them. I had tried vitamins to help boost my immune system and other forms of homeopathic medications but they didn't seem to be doing any good. I was feeling more and more powerless each day.

I was really surprised to find that within the first week of seeing Tammi, my allergies began to subside. After about a month, I felt like the allergies were nearly gone. It was actually really amazing for me to feel that way because in a lot of ways I had forgotten what it was like to live without allergies! I found that through working with Tammi we were able to target what the emotional causes of my allergies were and how to help alleviate them. After 7 months of consistently seeing Tammi I haven't had a single cold sore and I've only gotten sick once during flu season and that only lasted a couple days.

I feel like I truly have a better understanding of how to really take control of my health and to maintain it. I wouldn't have ever thought that chiropractic care could treat allergies, but it seemed to be exactly what my body needed. After such positive results, I am continuing to see Dr. Lei to align and balance my body for continued health and awareness, and to keep my allergies in check. I am truly thankful to have found Dr. Lei. Her care has been life changing.

- Caitlin

My symptoms when I cam e to Tammi were a sore neck and insomnia. During my care, Tammi took a really extensive medical history, the most extensive I've ever given to a provider! It was so great to have someone listen to all the trauma my body had taken over the years. It really made me aware of a lot of things I had forgotten or written off. Tammi helped me make a priority on healing. She is really gentle and kind. The chiropractic treatments I received really helped me get more sleep and feel better. What I didn't realize was that her chiropractic healing also propelled me into a new phase of health in my life that came from the complete relief of pain she gave me. I gained new emotional insights and felt healthier in so many ways.

Thanks Tammi!

Kate

Tammi,

I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your care, sensitivity, and healing of an injury that had plagued me for way too long on numerous levels.

Toward the end of my college career I had broken my tailbone doing a prank fall in a comedy skit. From that point on I was not able to sit for extended periods of time-anything over 5 minutes. I purchased a donut to sit on but it didn't do much good. Driving, traveling, even sitting through class was made impossible. I even began having panic attacks and feelings of hysteria. I was not able to finish college and was falsely diagnosed as Bipolar because of the chaos going through my body affecting me on such a strange mental level. This torture, feelings of inadequacy and instability went on for a year, until one day, I found you.

Now, I had tried other chiropractors and cranial sacral therapy before without much success, and here you were, so sure you could help me if I trusted you. And I did. You were sincere - something that tends to lack in the world of "healing" these days. After 1 visit, you fixed me. I remember crying for a long time afterwards - partially from relief - partially from all the bad experiences letting go - and partially because I hadn't found you sooner. You restored my life and gave it back to me. I am now a successful pilates instructor with a promising future ahead of me.

Thank you,
Shannon

From the time I was in Junior High, I have been plagued by severe pain in the joints of my two large toes. I first began to notice it while dancing in ballet point shoes. I assumed the pain was related to the stress placed on the joints while dancing. However, after I stopped dancing at age 14, the pain continued. It felt as though there was a constant pressure on the joints, marked by occasional jolts of sharp pain if I applied too much pressure to the toes while walking. As time passed, the joints lost a lot of their flexibility. I soon realized that wearing any sort of heeled shoe would leave my toes aching for days. The same was true for walking up inclines. This was particularly upsetting because I love hiking. I also avoided many of the activities I had once enjoyed, including running, soccer, and even dancing in clubs, as I have a fear of others stepping on my toes. Unconsciously, I began to adjust my natural stride to reduce the pain. I began to walk on the outer edges of my feet. I believe that this adjustment has contributed to my frequent tendency to twist my ankles while walking, the weakness in my knees, and my lower back pain.

During college, I finally went to a podiatrist. After looking at my x-rays, the podiatrist literally laughed at the state my toes were in. He said that due to genetics, the bones in my feet were structured in such a way that a tremendous amount of pressure was being applied to the large toe joints while I walked. Additionally, he said that there was a build up of fluid and chips of bone and other matter between the joints. He further diagnosed me with having early onset arthritis. Being only 19 years old, the doctor said there was very little I could do to alleviate the pain. He believed it was too early to surgically clean out the joints. He simply suggested I purchase arch supports and avoid wearing healed shoes. If the pain continued, perhaps surgery would be an option a few years down the line.

For the next five years I heeded his advice, but instead of experiencing a reduction in the pain, I simply learned to accept it. This past year I was lucky enough to be adjusted by Tammi. This was my first experience with any sort of chiropractic treatment. I was uncertain of what to expect, and as such was somewhat apprehensive, but Tammi talked me through everything she was doing, how her adjustment was affecting my anatomy, what each stage of the adjustment would feel like, and what the goals of her adjustment were. I felt fully taken care of, and trusting of Tammi despite the fact that I had just met her that day. The adjustment was short, approximately 15 minutes, and I did not immediately notice any change in my joints, apart from a general soreness in some of my musculature. The next day, however, I noticed a marked change in the flexibility of my toes, as well as virtual elimination of the pain in the toes. Over the next month my stride readjusted itself based on the lack of pain in the toes, and I experienced no problems with my ankles or my knees, and noticed a reduction in my back pain. I once again felt confident to resume many of the physical activities I once enjoyed. I came to realize how unnecessary it was for me to live with the pain. By obtaining chiropractic treatment from Tammi I am relieved to know that invasive surgery is not necessary to eliminate the pain.

-Kathy

Dear Tammi,

Since I have seen you, I have felt better! I have been riding my bike better. My back feels better now. I hope am better than last today. I wish you a great year.

From,
Terrence

P.S. Thank you!!

Dear Dr. Tamara,

Just a quick note to say a huge "THANK YOU"! Since being under your care my life has changed in so many ways. It is not so much what I am doing now that is different, it is more of what I do not have to do anymore to just function daily. I do not have to go to the hospital every other month for a Morphine drip to help my body get through my menstrual cycle. For the first time in 10 years I do not need to refill my prescriptions for Vicodin and Codeine to numb the pain of my menstrual cycle, feet, hips and back. And the most meaningful to me is that I do not need to have someone help me walk after a long day working on my feet. I cannot tell you how much embarrassment and frustration I have felt in the past being in my 20's and feeling like I was trapped in a body 3 times my age. With the help of your care and after taking your advise on some dietary changes, I have more energy and I am slowly losing weight in a healthy and natural way. My balance is more steady and I have had significantly less problems with my stomach and digestive track now that I do not consume all of the medication and coffee that I used to survive on.

So many things have changed and I am so grateful to you for all of them. I sleep now… I, "insomniac-of-the-year", SLEEP!!! It is amazing how rested and less stressed I feel after sleeping through the night. I can run and walk, and not limp around for days afterwards. I can work through my monthly cycle instead of being in bed for a week. I feel stronger and lighter. In many ways you have given me my life back.

I must admit that I was skeptical about beginning chiropractic care. As you know, I have had a negative experience in the past with this form of treatment and it turned me off to the whole idea of alternative healing. I saw chiropractors as "neck-poppers" and I was convinced that all chiropractic doctors were the same. After meeting you, I have a different idea of chiropractic care. My fear associated with it no longer exists and although it is not easy sometimes to stay focused and follow your advice, I have learned that it is extremely beneficial to stick to it.

So again Thank you, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

With gratitude,
Rita

I first started feeling pain in my left wrist when my baby reached about twelve pounds. It hurt to take him in and out of the swing and the car seat. The area below my left thumb would sometimes throb and I even had trouble opening my left hand all the way. As my baby got chubbier and chubbier (and cuter and cuter), the pain steadily increased in my left wrist and, eventually, my right wrist began to hurt too. I would sometimes experience shooting pains to the point where I was afraid I would drop my baby.

Fortunately, I was referred to Dr. Lei by a friend of mine. Dr. Lei was very gentle and understanding, and she took the time to evaluate me both physically and emotionally. After just a few visits, I was able to open my hands without pain. In a little more than a month, the shooting pains disappeared, and I sometimes forgot that my wrists had been in any discomfort at all.

I am very grateful to Dr. Lei for her caring support and gentle, effective treatment. Now, when I hold my baby, I'm no longer thinking about pain -- as I'm cuddling him, I'm enjoying our happiness and good health.

Thanks for all of your help!

-Helen

I am 29 years old and in good health. I have been a carpenter for four years now, and so rely on my body to make a living. Three years ago, I began experiencing lower back pain which would come and go. But the frequency of pulled muscles and pinched nerves kept increasing, and pain had become so constant that it was uncomfortable to sit in a chair for more than a couple of minutes at a time.

I had visited my general practitioner a couple of times. Once, he sent me to a physical therapist. The physical therapist told me to take Ibuprofen and gave me some stretches to do. That took care of my back for a while, but eventually all of the same pain returned. Upon another pulled muscle about a year later, I returned to my doctor. His only solution was to send me to a "back specialist," whom I was told by the receptionist would likely want to do surgery. Surgery!? I was dumbfounded and exasperated. Was there nothing in between stretching and surgery?

Fortunately, I knew about Dr. Lei at Reclaim Your Health. Four months ago, I visited her cynical, frustrated, and scared that I would be in pain for the rest of my life. Today, I can do anything I want, like lift 80 lb. sacks of concrete, or pull trusses onto a roof, without the fear of not being able to walk the next day. And if I experience a little soreness, I now know what to do to take care of it, and it works!

Thanks to Dr. Lei, I finally feel strong and in control of my health. Her approach to good health is very different from any other doctor I've gone to. When I am with her, I feel like she is really listening to my body, and that feeling good is actually very simple and clear. My favorite part about seeing Dr. Lei is the knowledge that she shares with me about my body, and the tools that she gives me to take care of myself. I would recommend visiting Reclaim Your Health to anyone with a musculo-skeletal problem. You will feel better.

-Erin

If you're looking for answers to your health problems, here's your answer.

I've had shoulder and neck pain for years, and knee pain for even longer. I've seen other chiropractors, MD's, physical therapists, you name it I've tried it. But nobody has been able to completely help me, or tell me why I've had the pain that I've had, until Dr. Lei.

Dr. Lei is not a regular chiropractor. She's very holistic. She's great at explaining things, and even better at fixing them! The best thing about seeing Dr. Lei is that she's taught me how to take charge of my health.

-Kyle

I was referred to Dr. Lei by two of my co-workers and it has changed my life!

Dr. Lei has taught me how my emotional pain transfers into my physical pain and how I can manage and control it by taking time to acknowledge my personal needs. Now I know what I need to do to immediately treat my aches and pains instead of just suffering silently hoping they will go away on their own. I am much more in tune with my body through her counseling and look forward to our next appointments to share with her my triumphs and setbacks.

She is a great listener, has the strongest hands to work out the worst pains I'm experiencing and most importantly, genuinely cares about my well-being. By the end of our sessions, I always feel more confident and determined to improve upon my health. I recommend her highly!

-Debbie

Dr. Lei is truly amazing.

I went to her for a debilitating knee injury, which an orthopoedist said I would need either injections or surgery to fix, and within only a few needle-and-knife-free sessions with Dr. Lei I was back to my job as a dance instructor.

I am a science-oriented person and have always been skeptical of "Alternative" healthcare, but Dr. Lei has amazed me many many times with what looks to me like magic, but which hits the nail right on the head. For example, in one of our first sessions she was feeling my left hip and out of nowhere asked me what happened when I was 23 years old. CRAZY. I injured that hip when I was 23, which is probably part of the reason I have knee problems now. How she does it, I still don't know. But it works and it feels good and she's a truly wonderful person to be around. And there are no needles or knives involved.

-Emily

I've tried acupuncture, massage had MRI's and physical therapy and am doing yoga religiously but nothing has helped as much as Tammi. I've gone from eight Tylenol a day to none and although I still have days that are worse than others I'm starting to think that maybe I won't have to live with this affliction forever.

Tammi has helped me realize that there are many simple things I can do - like listen to my body when it says get up stretch, to rest when it starts to tire and to drink lots of water.

Tammi has only done spinal adjustments twice. She's working directly with the muscles in my back that have gone tight and manipulates them back to life.

More than anything else Tammi has given me hope that one day soon I'll have my back return to health! Couldn't recommend her more.

-Alain

Dr. Lei is a honest, gentle, intelligent being. The holistic approach that she uses guide her in helping to find the core issues that cause your pain and will result in a more effective and rapid outcome.

Her philosophy may be different, but give it a chance. I STRONGLY recommend her! Thank you Tamara for all you've done for me and my boys (4 & 11)

-Anna