Week 3: Between Pain and Progress

Carlos O B -

Hey guys! Welcome back to my blog. It’s week three, and I’m starting to settle in.

This week, a younger woman came in who works from home and sits at a desk all day. She mentioned she’s been getting migraines almost every afternoon. Turns out, her neck and upper back were ridiculously tight, you could literally see the tension. After some adjustments and soft tissue work, she looked relieved, not just physically but mentally too. You could tell the pain was affecting more than just her work, it was messing with her whole mood.

On the flip side, we had an older man come in mid-week who was frustrated. He’s been showing up consistently for a few weeks now but felt like he wasn’t seeing fast enough results. I could tell it weighed on him. The therapist calmly explained how recovery isn’t linear, how some weeks feel slower than others. By the end, the guy walked out less irritated and more reassured.

I helped prep a few clients before treatment—things like setting up heating pads or guiding them to do light stretches—and I’m starting to pick up on body language more. One client, a gym regular, came in thinking he just had a tight quad. But the therapist noticed he was overcompensating with his lower back and hip during movement. Watching them walk through how one muscle issue can trigger a chain reaction made me realize how much our bodies adapt.

This week made it even clearer—healing isn’t dramatic. The people making the most progress are the ones who show up, do their exercises, listen to advice, and stay patient. There’s no instant magic. You start seeing it in the way people walk out: a little lighter, a little less tense, maybe even smiling.

My favorite part of this project is hearing people yell in pain when they get their bones adjusted, then watching them smile once they stand up and feel that wave of relief throughout their body.

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Comments:

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    Anonymous
    Hey Carlos! I really enjoyed this week's update and how you are able to not only observe the physical relief of patients receiving Chiropractic care, but also the emotional relief. As you continue to observe these varied client experiences, are you starting to see commonalities in how people perceive pain and healing. In other words, are there patterns in patient's mindset vs their recovery?
    Firyal Q P
    Hey Carlos! How much do you think mindset and physicality correlate? Is there a perfect balance of activity, ability, work, and leisure?

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