In her late 60s, Sara B., a resident of Chicago’s Northwest suburbs, enjoyed an active lifestyle, whether it was working out at her fitness center or keeping up with her four young grandchildren.
So when lower back pain, sciatica and hip pain led to a lumbar disc degeneration diagnosis in late 2006, she was determined to lick it.
Her orthopedist referred her to a physical therapist. After three months in which she did 45 minutes of exercises, five days a week, Sara felt no better.
“I couldn’t walk on a treadmill or do any exercise at the fitness center,” she recalled. “I was always in pain, and because I had to give up my activities, it was emotional pain, too.”
The prospect of back surgery or spinal injections loomed—avenues that Sara desperately wanted to avoid.
Then she caught a fortunate break: her orthopedic doctor had been impressed with how Dr. Hiroya Nakamura had helped a colleague’s wife after she sustained injuries in a car accident.
So Sara’s doctor referred her to Dr. Nakamura for chiropractic and acupuncture treatment. Since 2002, Nakamura and his staff have built a successful practice incorporating both chiropractic care and acupuncture to help more than 20,000 patients.
By her third or fourth appointment, Sara sensed real improvement.
“He pinpoints nerves that are hurting, and seems to know with his fingers and with the acupuncture exactly where I hurt and where everything is supposed to be,” she said. “I couldn’t be happier. Now I go monthly or more often sometimes, if I do too much or lift something heavy or feel I need an extra treatment.”
Dr. Nakamura has treated Sara for other ailments that have cropped up, such as temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ) as well as emotional stress—at one point revolving around her fear or flying.
“I really trust him when he does his maneuvers to adjust my neck—I wouldn’t trust any other doctor to do that.”
In addition to returning to more physical activity, this grandmother of four has enjoyed other quality-of-life improvements.
“Before, I wouldn’t be able to have my grandkids stay overnight, or even for six or eight hours. I would really start hurting,” said Sara. “I also wouldn’t have been able to make it through the airport without treatment. Since seeing Dr. Nakamura, I’ve been able to get on a plane and go to Florida with my granddaughters and son and daughter-in-law.”
Even that pivotal, empowering step brought Dr. Nakamura to the fore: as Sara prepared to fly, she grew nervous at the prospect of air travel. Through chiropractic and acupuncture treatments, he successfully addressed the stressful emotions that were causing her severe neck pain.
Concluded Sara: “I thank God for the day that I went there.”
Please visit Dr. Nakamura's online channel: www.YouTube.com/DocNakamura
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