Keeping Things “In Line”
One thing that has always bothered me about my field is seeing the same patients return with the same issues—month after month, sometimes even year after year. From a business standpoint, that’s great job security. But from a care standpoint, it never sat quite right with me.
“Doc, my lower back pain is back. All I did was bend forward to pick up my laundry basket and—boom—sharp pain on the left side.”
Was the laundry basket too full?
Did they lift with poor form?
Were they twisting while bending?
Maybe.
But more often than not, I know the real answer: this didn’t start with the laundry basket.
That moment wasn’t the cause.
It was simply the final straw.
The Straw That Breaks the Camel’s Back
Most injuries don’t come out of nowhere. They build quietly over time. Small stresses, repeated patterns, old injuries, prolonged sitting, emotional stress, poor recovery, and lack of movement—none of these cause pain immediately. The body compensates. It adapts. It finds workarounds.
Until it can’t.
So when someone bends down to pick up a laundry basket and suddenly feels sharp back pain, disc irritation, or even symptoms traveling down the leg, the basket isn’t the cause—it’s the trigger. The underlying issue was already there, quietly brewing beneath the surface.
That’s why it’s frustrating to see someone who was “doing great” for weeks or months suddenly find themselves right back where they started. Pain returns—often stronger, sharper, and more alarming than before. And understandably, they’re confused and discouraged.
So what happened?
Why the Pain Went Away… Temporarily
In many cases, chiropractic care does exactly what it should early on—it reduces irritation, restores motion, calms the nervous system, and helps the body feel safe enough to begin healing. Symptoms improve. Pain fades. Movement feels easier.
But here’s the key distinction that often gets missed:
Feeling better is not the same as being fully stabilized.
Pain is a late signal. By the time something hurts, the nervous system has often been compensating for quite a while. When care stops as soon as symptoms improve, deeper patterns—mechanical, neurological, and lifestyle-related—may still be present.
So the body returns to its old defaults. And eventually, another “laundry basket moment” shows up.
This Isn’t a Patient Problem—or a Doctor Problem
This is where it’s important to pause and be clear:
This isn’t about blaming patients for not “doing enough.”
And it’s not about blaming doctors for not “fixing it.”
This is about expectations, communication, and understanding how healing actually works.
Patients are busy. Life happens. Stress, work, kids, travel, poor sleep—it’s unrealistic to expect perfection. And doctors are often working within time constraints, insurance models, and systems that prioritize short-term symptom relief over long-term spinal stability and nervous system health.
The gap lies in how we define “enough care.”
What “Optimal” Chiropractic Care Really Means
There is no universal number of chiropractic visits that works for everyone. Optimal care depends on the individual—their history, stress load, injuries, recovery capacity, and nervous system adaptability.
For some, care may be more frequent early on, followed by gradual spacing. For others, ongoing maintenance care plays a key role in staying well. The goal isn’t endless treatment—it’s long-term stability, adaptability, and resilience.
Think of it like this:
If your spine and nervous system are under constant stress, occasional care may feel good—but consistent care helps the body hold onto those improvements.
The Role of Thoughts, Traumas, and Toxins
Physical stress is only one piece of the puzzle.
Mental and emotional stress (thoughts), past injuries or accidents (traumas), and environmental or lifestyle stressors (toxins) all influence how the nervous system functions. Even when pain appears “structural,” these factors still affect healing capacity and recovery.
If these contributors aren’t acknowledged—or if care only addresses symptoms—progress can stall.
That doesn’t mean every visit needs to address everything. It simply means care should be contextual, not reactive.
Maintenance Is Not Failure—It’s Strategy
There’s a misconception that needing maintenance chiropractic care means something didn’t “work.” In reality, maintenance is often what prevents relapse and supports long-term spinal health.
Just like exercise, nutrition, or sleep, consistency matters. Not perfection—consistency. Healthy habits outside the clinic support the work done inside it. And yes, there’s room for flexibility. Life happens.
The goal isn’t rigid discipline.
It’s awareness.
Keeping Things “In Line”
When chiropractic care is framed as part of a broader health strategy—rather than a quick fix—it becomes less about chasing pain and more about supporting the body over time.
Keeping things “in line” isn’t about being perfect. It’s about recognizing patterns, staying consistent enough to support healing, and understanding that pain is often the last signal—not the first.
When patients and providers meet in that middle space—with clarity, communication, and realistic expectations—fewer people end up surprised by the laundry basket.
And more people stay well longer.