Isaiah Sadowski started going to a chiropractor when he was 10.
He had been experiencing chronic, severe headaches.
Desperate for answers, his mom, Phyllis, consulted with her primary doctor, her family chiropractor and several other professionals before she finally discovered that they were caused by food sensitivities.
“Our family chiropractor was instrumental in helping us to diagnose the problem,” Phyllis explained. “Now, Isaiah’s symptoms are under control.”
More and more Kansas City parents are turing to family chiropractors to treat their kids.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 3% of children in the U.S. were treated by chiropractors in 2012. That’s almost 2 million children, and that number is growing.
Phyllis and her family see the doctors at Fulk Chiropractic, a Kansas City family chiropractor who specialize in pediatric care.
“We treat children with growing pains, sports injuries, ear infections and even infants who have colic, trouble sleeping or nursing,” explained Dr. Spoonemore. “The only way a baby can tell a parent that they don’t feel well is by crying, so we check the spine to see if there are any joints that may be causing pain, digestive issues or difficulty turning their head to nurse.”
Phyllis also brings Isaiah in to see Dr. Spoonemore after accidents and falls. “Shortly after we moved here, he took a hard fall off his bike. He’s had a history of concussions, so we just wanted to have his head and neck checked out,” she recalled.
Family Chiropractic Care for Growing Pains and Sports Injuries
As children grow, they often experience growing pains. Growing pains are muscle cramps and aches that often occur in the late afternoon, evening and even in the middle of the night. They’re most-often felt in the legs during the preschool and preteen years.
“Isaiah has experienced several growing pains during the past two years, especially in his legs,” explained Phyllis. “He sometimes complains of back pain, shoulder or knee pain and asks if he can go to the chiropractor. I love that it’s not something I make him do. He actually asks for it because he feels the difference.”
“And the best part is the relief I see on his face. I know it makes such a difference for him, and that he feels so much better after his adjustment. The chiropractors at Fulk have helped him to feel more comfortable through the growth spurts, especially during baseball and cross country.”
Consulting Both a Pediatrician and Family Chiropractor
Phyllis still takes Isaiah to their pediatrician for respiratory symptoms or symptoms such as a sore throat and cough, but she tends to take bumps and sprains that involve musculoskeletal pain to her family chiropractor. She tends to go back and forth between her pediatrician and chiropractor for more serious problems.
As more Kansas City parents become frustrated with the over-prescribing of antibiotics, they are seeking counsel from both pediatricians and chiropractors.
But, this balancing act isn’t always easy.
Many parents take the time to research the symptoms the child is experiencing and then try to determine which professional to see, first.
“Parents often become frustrated,” explained Dr. Spoonemore. “If they think their child has an ear infection, they may go to their pediatrician a couple times, and he or she puts their child on two or three different antibiotics. Then, they end up here because there’s often a structural reason for the child’s persistent ear infections.”
The family chiropractors at Fulk Chiropractic have developed a local network of medical doctors, pediatricians and OBGYN’s in the Kansas City metro area. They work together to keep the patient’s health as the top priority.
Learn more about the common symptoms our Kansas City family chiropractors treat every day: