Retired Great-Grandmother Finds Pain Relief Through Chiropractic Care

Katharine, a grandmother and great-grandmother, had always been an active and caring matriarch to her family. After retiring as an office manager for an insurance agency, she found new ways to fill her time through supporting her family at their many extracurriculars and through hobbies such as crocheting and glasswork.

However, when she began experiencing stubborn, chronic neck pain that started to affect her daily routine, she knew something needed to change. X-rays showed cervical spondylosis, a condition that occurs when the discs and joints in the neck gradually wear down over time.

The pain began as stiffness in her neck, but over time she noticed it got worse and worse. “I really noticed how bad the pain was when I would drive. I couldn’t turn my neck and I could tell the muscles were tense,” said Katharine.

First steps

Katharine first began with physical therapy at Henry Ford and dry needling done at a holistic doctor elsewhere. While she did feel as though she got relief, results did not last long-term. So, she decided to seek out chiropractic care at the Henry Ford Center for Integrative Medicine.

“I have been a HAP member for years and all my doctors are through Henry Ford Health. So, when I wanted to find a chiropractor, it was a no brainer to find one at Henry Ford,” said Katharine.

After her first appointment in November of 2024 with Henry Ford chiropractor, Dr. Mallory Wales, Katharine could already tell that there was a difference. She said, “From my first appointment with Dr. Wales, we hit it off beautifully. She was absolutely great and very friendly. She was so thorough and really listened to what I had to say.”

Chiropractic care adjusts imbalances in the nervous and musculoskeletal systems can lead to chronic pain and other conditions. “When working with Katharine, I used light and gentle techniques. I really wanted to restore her range of motion, so we worked on spinal adjustments and the joints in her neck and upper back,” said Dr. Wales.

Relief right away

Katharine noticed that she began feeling relief from her neck pain right away. The pain relief would even last for a few days. Dr. Wales gave her exercises to do at home to make her results last longer between appointments.

“At one point, I pinched a nerve in my hip and was experiencing pain there, too, so Dr. Wales just rolled that right into my care. In no time, my hip felt better!” said Katharine, “we worked on things and we talked and overall I had a good time at my chiropractor appointments. She made them fun!” Katharine saw Dr. Wales regularly for three months.

Never missing a moment

Now, Katharine enjoys a pain-free life thanks to chiropractic care and has been equipped with the tools to help relieve pain if it comes back. Katharine can now comfortably keep up with her family and her many hobbies without pain holding her back. Thanks to the care she received at Henry Ford, she doesn’t have to miss a moment.