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Neurological healing is no easy task. Nor is it normally a linear, straightforward path. In fact, it’s most commonly quite the opposite, going through multiple stages and phases on its way to optimal healing and outcomes.
The first challenge parents and patients face when trying to determine whether or not things are moving in the right direction with neurological healing is that the process is the stark contrast opposite of traditional medical treatment. Every single component of the medical system is designed not with healing in mind, but with suppressing, stopping, and shutting things down as the ultimate goal.
Have an infection? Kill it off with an antibiotic (which literally means anti-life).
Have a fever? Shut it off with a fever suppressor.
Have inflammation? Shut it down with steroid-based medications.
Have hyperactivity and impulsivity? Suppress it with stimulant medications.
Have anxiety? Cover it up and suppress it with drugs.
The medical way is one that is supposed to “work” fast and, therefore, be readily apparent. Unfortunately, parents today especially know that what we discussed is very true – the vast majority of the time, drugs and medications are doing nothing to address the actual root cause, create any actual healing, and they also come with a whole host of unwanted side effects.
So, what other options do we have? Well, if you’re reading this, then it’s likely that you’ve already begun to take the root cause of yours or your child’s challenges head on with neurologically-focused chiropractic care, or you’re strongly considering it and wondering exactly how that process works.
To make this super simple to understand, we’ll be breaking things down into three parts. First, the healing phases we’ll discuss are:
The first phase of neurological healing + restoration is often the bumpiest. The longer you have been subluxated and stuck in sympathetic dominance (dysautonomia), the deeper those stress patterns and dysfunctions set in. The body is doing all it can to adapt, but in the toughest of cases (Perfect Storm + Neuro Intensive ones especially), we generally find that the nervous system is just flat out worn out and exhausted.
Therefore, when you release those deep subluxation patterns in the first two (2) weeks to two (2) months of care, oftentimes, patients will experience some form of “neuro detox” where certain signs and symptoms may get a bit worse.
This is really no different than what happens when you get a fever, diarrhea, or traditional immune response – the body is actually getting “sick” to get well again.
So, in the vast majority of these neurological detoxes that occur way early in care, it’s actually a “good” sign that healing is happening. We’re getting the nervous system unstuck from the long-standing stuck, stressed, and exhausted subluxation patterns it’s been in.
This is an exciting phase of care, and it’s really rooted in the science of something called neuroplasticity. Which honestly is what all of neurologically-focused chiropractic care is based upon.
Neuroplasticity, also known as neural plasticity or brain plasticity, is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization. It is when the brain is rewired to function in some way that differs from how it previously functioned.
Subluxation, dysautonomia, and the “Perfect Storm” are all what stop neuroplasticity, growth, and optimal development dead in its tracks and throw things off course. Therefore, when we hit this stage of care, and we start to see growth and reorganization happening again and a child getting back on track with their milestones and development – oh man, is it exciting!
What does rebuilding + reorganization look like practically? Check out the following list to spot the signs of this stage in progress:
By no means does a child or patient need to experience everything on that list to be in this phase of neurological healing, as healing is unique to each individual. However, even observing and having just a couple of them means things are progressing and on the right track to optimal healing and neurological restoration!
This phase of care is the ultimate goal of our initial care plans, but honestly, it’s just the beginning of the best part – the child or patient is now experiencing a high quality of LIFE once again!
We feel strongly that we are designed to be strong, healthy, resilient, and happy, and therefore live a high quality of life as a result! This stage of care is when kids and patients really have had transformative changes with their health and day-to-day experience a quality of life far greater than what they had prior to starting chiropractic care.
This stage then sets the stage for wellness, but the work is not all the way done. In this stage, we want to stay on the job of neurological healing and continue to deploy neuroplastic healing principles in order to put “slack” and “stability” in the system.
This third state of neurological healing is essential for one reason – life goes on. Meaning kids are still going to have growth spurts, falls and injuries, colds and sickness to get through, social and emotional challenges, school, sports, seasonal changes, and so much more they still need to stay ahead of and adapt to. Adults are right there with them with work stressors, seasonal allergies, social engagements, and other physical stressors.
By completing this final stage of the neurological restoration care plan, we can then transition into lifetime wellness care with a strong, resilient, and more stable nervous system. A more stable nervous system can better withstand various regular life stressors and stay healthy and strong through them!
That is the ultimate goal we have for our patients – to not just get healthy for a season, but stay there for good! To do that, this third phase and achieving restoration is essential.
While every single one of us, from the parent team to the provider team, wants to see massive changes and achievement of the big goals happen right away… science and clinical experience let us know that, typically, that is not the case.
So often, and so rightfully so, some of the most common examples parents have for BIG goals for their children’s care include things like starting to walk or talk, eliminating seizures or autism spectrum related challenges, improving focus and behavior, lessening anxiety and depression, and so forth. For the purpose of this article, we’ll refer to these functions as “brain-based” or “higher level” functions.
In contrast, more primary and basic neurophysiological functions that are essential to health are things like eating, sleeping, digestion (pooping), motor planning, respiratory + immune health, and so forth. These core health functions could also be called more primal or foundational components of health, and what many parents and providers don’t know is it’s these things that get offline and off track first, which then leads to the bigger “brain based” problems down the road as neurological function and development is compromised.
Therefore, on the road to optimal neurological healing, we often need to see changes with these “soft signs” (and scans), and the more basic physiological functions first.
So often for parents, not seeing the big changes happen instantly with chiropractic care can be frustrating and, if we’re being honest, even disheartening. But when we can point out these incredibly important changes on their INSiGHT Scans and with their neurological “soft signs,” we can rebuild that hope and let you know we’re heading in the right direction!
If you have any questions at all about what phase of care your child is in (or yourself), do not hesitate to ask and really dig in with your doctor at the next visit. We love talking through this stuff with our patients, and always do our best to stay ahead of it, making sure you know what to look for and what to track as care progresses through each and every phase of care!
Motherhood is an excessive amount of responsibilities, from caring for our children to managing household chores, work commitments, and more. It often feels like there needs to be more hours in the day to accomplish everything on our to-do lists. With carpool lines, meal prepping, loads of laundry, and trying to keep all of the kids accounted for, it’s easy for moms to neglect their own well-being leading to exhaustion and burnout. Although motherhood is literally the best job in the world, it can also sometimes feel like the hardest, too. This season is full of joy, and it is very rewarding but can get lonely at times. This is why we created this little “survival guide” to help ease those tough days. To remind you to give yourself grace. That you are the best mother for your child. AND to give you some practical tips to help your overall health and wellbeing.
As mothers, our bodies undergo significant changes, both physically and mentally. Due to frequent hormonal changes, sympathetic overdrive, and exhaustion, we need to do all we can to support our bodies through motherhood. One key contributor to exhaustion is adrenal fatigue, a condition where the adrenal glands become overworked due to chronic stress. This constant state of heightened stress can lead to feelings of anxiety and overwhelm as our nervous system gets stuck in fight-or-flight mode.
Moreover, the lack of quality sleep exacerbates the problem, leaving us reliant on caffeine to get through the day. Unfortunately, coffee, energy drinks, and other caffeine only act as band-aids. Forcing us as moms to never get out of this cycle and help the root cause, which is helping our nervous system become more adaptable to all of this stress!
So, how can we navigate motherhood with resilience and adaptability? It starts with prioritizing self-care and making small but impactful changes to our daily routines. Here are some tips to help you thrive:
This should be the first step! The above suggestions are very important, but most of them won’t make a major impact unless our nervous systems are rested and regulated FIRST. So what does this mean? First, let’s go over the two parts of our nervous system. The Parasympathetic Nervous System (the brake pedal) and the Sympathetic Nervous System (the gas pedal). Each part is equally important! The goal is to have fluidity between the two. If you need to be in go mode, chasing after your child, you want the gas pedal on! But once they start to calm down, your nervous system should be able to recognize this and enter a rested and relaxed state as well. Most of us as moms are stuck in sympathetic dominance. This means that even when our children are safe, our body is stuck in stress mode. When we are chronically stuck in this state, exhaustion really settles in, and motherhood challenges become physical fast.
If you’re struggling to find balance in motherhood, consider exploring neurologically-focused chiropractic care. By being on a care plan that is customized to your “mom exhaustion,” your nervous system will be able to find the balance between the gas vs brake. It will strive for resiliency and adaptability to all that comes with being an amazing mom!
So, how do you start?! Our cutting-edge technology, called the CLA INSiGHT Scan, assesses your nervous system’s function. It shows us exactly what is going on within your brain and body and can pinpoint that mom exhaustion! Take the first step towards a healthier, happier you by scheduling a nervous system scan today.
Let us tell you about our awesome friend, Alyssa, and we’ll look at one of her Neurological INSiGHT Scans.
About three months after giving birth, Alyssa threw out her back. She thought it would just resolve over time, but instead, the pain she was experiencing was not decreasing and, in fact, was increasing rapidly. Alyssa was at the point where she was barely able to move off the couch, let alone care for her newborn baby.
When she saw her scans, Alyssa was really shocked and immediately a little disappointed. She was expecting everything to be lit up like a red Christmas tree! But there wasn’t a lot lit up at all. She immediately felt hopeless and like she was “unhelpable.” BUT then we explained to her that her body was so exhausted from the pain and the neurological state of the “gas pedal” that it was in shutdown mode! The scan wasn’t lit up because it was exhausted!!
Surprisingly, pain relief wasn’t the first sign that Alyssa’s care plan was working. Instead, she noticed that she was finally able to sleep! She had always struggled with sleep and had never been able to fall asleep or stay asleep. She also noticed that her anxiety was no longer affecting her everyday life. AND finally her back pain began to diminish!
Here is Alyssa’s first EMG scan! The yellow in Alyssa’s neurological scans indicated exhaustion in her body after being stuck on sympathetic ‘stress mode’ for too long.
Alyssa’s life has looked different in many ways since starting. She is completely off all anxiety meds, has less and less pain every day, and has been able to achieve her initial goal – PLAY ON THE FLOOR WITH HER BABY. Alyssa said that she loves having a provider team that believes in her and feels more empowered to advocate for herself and her family.
Motherhood is the most extraordinary club to be a part of, but it is also just straight-up HARD sometimes. We hope that we can help you find the hope, answers, and drug-free help that you have been searching for. For not only your sweet kiddos and family but FOR YOU too!
As an expecting parent, you’re likely surrounded by advice about baby registries, prenatal yoga classes, folate supplements, and which stroller to buy. While all these preparations are important and exciting, there’s something even more fundamental that deserves your attention first: your nervous system. In America, we’re often encouraged to focus on the material aspects of pregnancy preparation, but the health of your nervous system should be your #1 priority.
Why? Because your nervous system controls every cell, tissue, and organ in your body, it directly impacts your baby’s development, too.
Did you know that your baby’s nervous system begins developing just 3-4 weeks after conception? That’s often before many women even realize they’re pregnant! This early nervous system development sets the foundation for everything else—from organ development to immune system function.
But here’s what’s truly fascinating: the umbilical cord isn’t just delivering nutrients and oxygen to your baby. It’s essentially the power cord connecting your nervous systems. This means:
Today’s pregnant mothers face more sustained, chronic stress than ever before. Between work demands, family responsibilities, financial pressures, and even the constant monitoring and testing of traditional prenatal care, it’s easy to become overwhelmed.
This sustained stress can shift both you and your baby into what we call “sympathetic dominance”—essentially a state of constant fight-or-flight. When your body stays in this stressed state, it can affect:
Let us share a story that might resonate with you. Gabriella came to our office around 30 weeks pregnant, initially because she had experienced some falls. Her scans showed what we often see—her nervous system was stuck in “fight or flight” mode, leaving her exhausted and overwhelmed.
“I instantly regretted not starting sooner,” Gabriella told us about beginning care. After getting her nervous system checked and starting a personalized care plan, she experienced dramatic improvements. Not only did her physical pain decrease, but her mood swings, anxiety, and energy levels changed significantly.
In her own words: “My anxiety, depression, brain fog, and back pain have improved so much… I wake up energized and ready to start my hectic days, when before I dragged my feet. Overall it has been such a blessing.”
The good news is that we now have technology that can measure nervous system function. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) scans show us exactly how your nervous system is handling stress and where you might be stuck in fight-or-flight mode.
These non-invasive scans allow us to create personalized care plans specific to your needs and your baby’s development stage. Think of it as a window into how your body is handling the stress of pregnancy—and a roadmap for bringing things back into balance.
Specific adjustments can help activate your vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system—your body’s “rest and digest” mode. This helps shift your body out of stress mode and into a state of healing and optimal development.
Regular care helps maintain this balance throughout your pregnancy journey, providing benefits such as:
Just like Gabriella discovered, pregnancy doesn’t have to be nine months of stress and anxiety. You have the power to transform your pregnancy experience and optimize your baby’s development through understanding and caring for your nervous system.
The first step is getting your nervous system checked with advanced HRV technology. This simple, non-invasive scan can tell us exactly what’s happening with your nervous system and help create a personalized care plan for you and your baby.
Don’t wait until you’re exhausted and overwhelmed like so many parents do. Imagine waking up with energy, feeling connected to your baby, and actually enjoying your pregnancy instead of just surviving it.
Remember what Gabriella said: “Never would have thought chiropractic care would make such a huge impact on me and my family’s lives.” Your transformation story can start today.
If you’re pregnant or planning to be in the future, don’t wait to reach out to RCW to schedule a consultation and Neurological INSiGHT Scan.
Your baby experiences everything you experience. By focusing on your nervous system health, you’re giving your baby the best possible start in life—beginning before they even take their first breath.