Do you remember how old you were when you realized you weren’t invincible??? Most people don’t come to this realization until later in life. Unfortunately I learned this fact at a much younger age than most.
Freshman year in high school is an exciting time for most students and I was no different. In Cleburne, football is king and I couldn’t wait to be part of the Yellow Jackets. I trained hard the summer before my freshman year and earned a spot on the team, playing on both the offense and defense. Unfortunately, during a practice game I made a tackle and severely injured my low back. I soon started a regimen of painkillers and muscle relaxants which offered very little relief. I had trouble sleeping at night due to the pain and my grades soon began to slide. I went from A’s and B’s to C’s in a matter of weeks. Naturally, my mother was concerned, so she decided to take me to a chiropractor she was seeing for headaches. He shot x-rays of my low back and told me that I had a “spondylolytic spondylolisthesis”. I remember being terrified because I knew a word that long certainly could not be good! The chiropractor went on to explain that the very bottom bone in my spine slid forward, causing muscle spasms and a lot of pain!!! The doctor then thoroughly explained how he could help.
I was very skeptical about the whole “chiropractic” thing. I think the only reason I agreed to return was that I didn’t have any other options. Over the next couple of weeks I was adjusted several times by that chiropractor. I couldn’t believe how much better I felt after just one week without painkillers. After the second week I was 95% better and sleeping through the night. Thankfully, I was back on the football field and feeling great in about a month. Not to mention I was able to finish the year with A’s and B’s. I knew right then that I wanted to be able to help others the way my chiropractor helped me. It was an easy decision to go to college and eventually to chiropractic school.
Choosing a college didn’t prove to be as difficult as I thought it would be. After applying to and touring several out-of-state campuses, I realized the campus I enjoyed most was also the closest to home. After touring T.C.U. I had no doubt that it was where I was supposed to spend the next four years. I enjoyed every minute of my T.C.U. experience, both academic and social. I had the pleasure of studying under several brilliant professors in both the Communication and Science departments. Though I enjoyed all of my science classes, it was the Communication department that taught me the skills I needed to become a great doctor. I learned that sometimes the right answers aren’t half as important as the right questions (thanks Dr. Lucchetti)! I also learned that listening is an invaluable SKILL that must be practiced constantly (thanks Dr. Young). In my 4 years at T.C.U., I leaned that professors have changed considerably from the days of monotone lectures given to half-asleep students. After T.C.U., I attended Parker Chiropractic College. It was here that I learned that doctors have also changed. It was at Parker that I learned there is more to being a great doctor than just diagnosing and giving a pill. I learned that a great doctor is compassionate, caring, encouraging and patient.
The goal for the MOVE is simple. It is to have the most educated, healthy, active patients — bar none. With its positive and encouraging atmosphere, every new patient that walks, hobbles or crawls into the Fort Worth Chiropractic Center automatically feels like family.
Every new patient will receive a consult with Dr. Jeff Johnson where you will set your health goals. Following the consult, a thorough physical examination will be performed. After the exam, each patient’s case will be carefully explained to him/her. This is where most patients notice a difference in our office. Dr. Johnson is very down-to-earth, and he explains things with common sense logic that helps his patients understand their conditions. Within the walls of MOVE there are no bad questions. If you are unsure of something you have read or heard, Dr. Johnson will go out of his way to provide research to educate you and your family.
We have found that the patients that are truly concerned about their health and the health of there families seem to feel most comfortable here. Since Dr. Johnson believes that an active lifestyle is the cornerstone to true health, he has a special interest in athletes of all sports. The most frustrating thing to any athlete is injury! Knowing this first-hand, Dr. Johnson pays special attention to injury prevention. Early intervention or wellness visits prevent individuals from injuring themselves, thereby promoting a more active lifestyle. There are several steps to prevention. For more information, ask Dr. Johnson during your personal consult.
I met my beautiful wife Lauren during our first year at T.C.U. We began dating our sophomore year and never looked back. After dating 7 years we were finally married in August of 2006 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Lauren works as an attorney for Fulbright & Jaworski in Dallas. When I’m not in the office, I enjoy just about everything you can do outside. Golf, sand volleyball and fishing occupy most of my leisure time. I’m fairly certain that I could play golf everyday for the rest of my life without getting tired of it (or good at it).
I never claim to be a perfect example of health but I do make the effort. I learned a long time ago that the simple desire to be healthy is not enough. I found that setting and defining specific goals and time frames proved more effective. I currently set and refine my health goals about every three months. I keep a standing adjustment appointment every two weeks. Though I don’t get an adjustment every time I go in I like to get checked out just in case. I usually exercise 3- 4 days a week and try to fit in at least one round of golf a week. I think one of the keys to health is finding an active routine that fits you and is enjoyable.
Maintaining a consistent active schedule seems difficult for most people in the beginning. Headaches and fatigue are quite common when we try to change to a more active lifestyle. These symptoms often deter people from continuing toward their goals, which is why I feel so passionately about the education process. Most of us are programmed to believe that a headache is due to an Advil shortage in our bodies. So as soon as we feel a headache coming we quickly gulp down twice the recommended dosage “just to be sure”. I think most of us just see headaches as a nuisance because we don’t completely understand what is happening in our bodies. It is our goal here at MOVE to help you understand these processes and help get you on the road to wellness.
Thanks for visiting our site. I look forward to meeting you in person and learning how we may be of service to you. Give MOVE a call, or email me using the link below and let’s arrange a time to explore your options.
