September 2024 Newsletter.pdf

From the desk of Dr. Brown…...

Hello September!

September….the birthday month for the official beginnings of the NUMBER ONE alternative health delivery system called chiropractic! Woo Hoo!

And what a miracle that was AND at the right time in history.

In the midst of the medical community moving from natural methods of health care into the pharmaceutical mode we know today during the late 1800s- early 1900s, DD Palmer of Davenport, Iowa makes the first (official) chiropractic adjustment on September 18, 1895 to a man named Harvey Lillard who had lost his hearing. That adjustment was made to vertebra T4 using a specific “lever” and direction of the adjustment. Lo’ and behold Harvey’s hearing returned! That right there is what separates the chiropractic adjustment from other forms of “bone cracking”. We have a purpose, an intention, a direction, a specific contact on a specific bone that will be moved in a specific direction for a specific outcome…..all these thoughts are in the head of the chiropractor as we make that adjustment! Our heads are as busy as our bodies while we work!

There are a few videos of BJ Palmer (DD’s son) on YouTube if you care to search them out. I love watching BJ’s intention, his exact hand placement exactly where he wants it on the patient’s spine and his speed of making the adjustment. It’s amazing to watch.

Speaking of specific hand placement and direction, let’s talk about Dr. Clarence Gonstead of Mt Horeb, WI. What a chiropractor he was! One of our own from Wisconsin who is a legend within our profession. I bet some of you reading this now know someone who traveled MANY miles to go see him, or maybe you did yourself! He created a protocol on how to analyze the spine starting at the pelvis on up and the standing full spine x-ray to assess globally how the entire spine interrelates. This office still uses the protocol of a standing spinal x-ray, usually full spine. We want to see what’s going on “globally”, versus just your low back alone. (I have found sciatic pain due to subluxations in the cervical spine and at times, from the TMJ! Thus, why the chiro thinks global, not local.)

An associate of Dr. Gonstead for 3 years was Dr. Gaylord Culp who came to Lake Geneva in 1953 practicing until 2000, i.e.) for MANY years! He usually had a good story for me of what it was like working with Dr. Gonstead. How I miss Dr Culp. How much he taught me when I was a young chiro! In the early 1990’s, I would go see him to get adjusted and “hang out”. Out would come the old slide projector and carousel of slides of Dr. Gonstead’s hands on a spine…. close up! (hahahaha). Dr. Culp (I think proudly) would go through these slides, showing them on a bare wall in his office, pointing out the hand placement, which way the fingers were pointing and line of drive for direction of force during the adjustment! Specific. Precise. That is still the chiropractic adjustment today.

This office, hopefully along with you, our patient, is grateful for Chiropractic’s beginnings on September 18, 1895. Had DD Palmer not made that adjustment, and his son, DD not spread the word around the world, and had not others had followed, taking it the next step, like Dr. Gonstead and Dr Culp, we would all be subject to the current medical paradigm which is not always the answer to what ails us. Isn’t it nice to have a choice?

Til next time,
Dr. Brown

Happy Birthday Chiropractic

New Medicare Advantage Requirements

Attention All United Healthcare Medicare Advantage Patients:

Starting September 1st, all Chiropractic visits will require pre-authorization!

Please be patient with us as we navigate this new process.

If you have any questions, please contact Laura at: 262-248-6700, or email her at: laura@excelfamilychiro.com
 

Office News

Best of Geneva Lakes

The voting time period has ended and while we wait for results, no matter the outcome, we want to
 

Thank you

our patients, for taking time out of your busy schedules to vote for this office! We appreciate all our of patients for choosing us for their healthcare needs.
 

Our Patients Speak

"Today I am pain free, resuming all of my activities, and could not be more pleased." ~Michael Ploch

On May 24th I injured myself working in my yard and developed an excruciating hip and leg pain. After 2 months of seeing 3 doctors, MRI, CT scan and 2 X-Rays of my spine and being told nothing was wrong and told not to see a Chiropractor I called Dr Brown. Not only did she correctly diagnose my injury, I was given a thorough explanation and a treatment plan.

Today I am pain free, resuming all of my activities, and could not be more pleased. The entire staff at Excel Family Chiropractic & Wellness are exceptional, knowledgeable, friendly, and create a family environment that is very welcoming. I highly recommend any one who has health issues to call and make an appointment today.

You will not be disappointed
 

Thoughts from Dr. Hervat

"The one thing that kept me going was the patients. When times got tough I would tell myself “your future patients need you"."

All chiropractic schools are amazing in their own right, but going to Palmer in Davenport IA was extra special because it is the fountainhead of chiropractic.

The first chiropractic adjustment took place just a few blocks from the school. As the birthday of chiropractic draws near, I am reflecting on my own journey to becoming a chiropractor. A journey not for the faint of heart; hours of classes, countless more hours studying, and forgoing fun events to study more.

The one thing that kept me going was the patients. When times got tough I would tell myself “your future patients need you”.

I am so proud to be serving you, Walworth County, and the future of chiropractic. 129 years and counting.

Dr. Hervat