I'm 29. Last Wednesday, I was sitting down when my lower back completely locked up. It was all I could do to limp to bed. Every time I moved, my back rewarded me with screaming, swearing pain. I used words I haven't used in a while.
Back in Pennsylvania where I'm from, I had a great experience with another chiropractor, but here in the Springs, all the chiropractors seem to just be plotting to get your money in slow increments by taking X-rays and telling you to come back a zillion times. I called my PA chiropractor, and he gave me a few tips: Watch out for chiropractors that give you a free first consultation or free first adjustment.
After scrolling through pages of reviews and chiropractors (most of which were duplicate iterations of Heuser and Alliance Health Partners, I finally found a page for Dr. Sabin's office. The words "No gimmicks, no hype, no long-term sales contracts, and no high-pressure sales" reassured me. I called and got an appointment for less than two hours later.
I filled out a few pages of paperwork, and Dr. Sabin asked me a few questions, made a few movements and pushes and declared, "Your lower back is locked up." I mentioned another problem I had with some discomfort in my arm.
Dr. Sabin twisted and contorted me. He made things pop. He kept apologizing, and I said "I expect this to hurt because I expect to feel better when I leave."
He gave me some exercises to do and some advice about not sitting on plush couches, and told my wife not to let me go bowling real soon. He told me I shouldn't expect to tap-dance out of his office, and he didn't like to tell people to come back, but to come back if it still felt bad by Friday. When I walked out with an ice pack, I felt much better, but every now and then I would have a sharp pain that still wasn't as bad as when I came in. By Thursday, I was feeling much better. It was still stiff, but there was no screaming pain. By Friday morning, I was at 80%, and by Sunday I was at 95%. Today there's still the tiniest bit of stiffness left, but most of the day I hardly feel a thing. By tomorrow or the day after, I expect to be fully recovered, and even today I'm pretty sure that I could tap dance with zero pain, if I knew how.
My shoulder is also at 99%. If I contort it right, it feels a little stiff, but it's nothing like how it felt before I visited.
Thank you so much, Dr. Sabin. I finally found a chiropractor in Colorado Springs that I can trust. Highly recommended. If I hurt myself again, I'll be back... but if I don't, I may never see him again, and that's exactly how it should be.