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Chiropractic Online Appointment Scheduling

We've made it easy for you to check our schedule to find a day and time that is convenient for you. After clicking on the link below, simply choose the day on the calendar that is best for you. Then pick an available appointment time and provide your contact information. It's that simple. You will receive a confirmation e-mail immediately and then a reminder e-mail one day prior to your appointment. Please call for same day appointments.

Office Appointment 

Meet Dr. Christopher May - South Nashville (Berry Hill) Chiropractor

I'm all ears when it comes to your care. While manual adjusting to align and restore motion to spinal joints is my focus, I do believe there is more than one way to accomplish this goal. Some patients prefer a very gentle adjustment, some prefer a more forceful touch, and some prefer soft tissue mobilization to tendons and ligaments instead of direct joint mobilization. I do feel that all methods will work and sometimes if there is no preference, I will use all three in order to have the greatest treatment effect possible. I do encourage patient feedback so that I will know what you are most comfortable with. I feel that treatment does not have to be a "one size fits all" approach and should be tailored to each specific patient - what you are comfortable with, and what you expect from Chiropractic care. read more - About Dr. May

 

Why is Chiropractic Important? - Not just for pain relief!

Spinal arthritis

Over time, some spinal joints will lose normal motion due to seemingly insignificant injuries such as ligament sprains, muscle strains, bad posture, muscle spasm, and other normal issues that arise with daily life. The problem is that although the pain may lessen or even completely disappear, loss of proper joint mobility means less blood flow to the joint as well as decreased spinal fluid flow to the disc. The result is what you see in the disc problem graphic to the left.

A very good comparison example is regular dental care. Before people became aware of the need for proper dental hygiene and regular dental checkups, dentures, missing teeth, and toothaches were a part of life.

Regular chiropractic care ensures proper joint mobility by maintaining a healthy joint with optimum blood and spinal fluid flow providing necessary nutrients to keep each vertebral joint healthy.

In my practice, I not only address joint dysfunction but also the soft tissue scar formation (as discussed to the right) that can cause the spinal joint to be unilateraly pulled to one side of the body causing joint stress leading to spinal arthritis.

Scar Tissue Formation

After an injury such as a back sprain or strain, the injured ligaments, tendons, and muscles that connect to the spine are repaired by the body with tissue called scar tissue that is less flexible and more rigid than the normal tissue that existed previously. Without proper rehabilitation to restore flexibility, the tissue will remain contracted with less flexibility putting abnormal stress on the injured side of the spinal column. Because of this unilateral stress on the spinal column, problems such as spinal arthritis and disc degeneration will occur.

Scar tissue. Adhesion. Fibrosis. The words are different, but the concepts are the same. This dense, fibrous tissue is an underlying factor in many injuries. Scar tissue binds up tissues that need to move freely. As scar tissue builds up, muscles become shorter and weaker. Tension on tendons causes tendinosis. Nerves can become trapped. Ligaments become less flexible and constricted. All these problems can cause reduced range of motion, loss of strength, and pain as well as tingling, numbness, and weakness. When these problems occur in the soft tissue, (muscles, tendons, and ligaments), it also adversely affects the joints these soft tissues are connected to such as spinal joints, sacroiliac joints, knees, ankles, wrists, etc.

Scar tissue forms two different ways. First, if a muscle, tendon, or ligament is torn or crushed, the body creates scar tissue to 'glue' the torn pieces together. This is a necessary part of the healing process. The second, more common way for scar tissue to form is by soft tissue in the body not receiving enough oxygen (hypoxia) and nutrients. Hypoxia is more common than one may think. Poor posture, athletic pursuits, repeated use, and sustained pressure (as in sitting) all increase muscle tension and result in hypoxic conditions. When muscle tension is increased, blood supply to the area is reduced. A healthy blood flow is so important because blood carries oxygen and nutrients to muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints. Left unchecked, soft tissue scar tissue will eventually lead to spinal & other joint arthritis.


FIRST VISIT - What to expect

* You will usually be fully clothed during the exam & for most treatment
* X-rays will usually only be medically necessary if there was trauma involved with your injury or for excessive pain or discomfort
* In most cases, you will receive treatment on your first visit.
* Treatment may include: chiropractic adjustment, manual therapy, spinal traction, massage therapy, electrical stimulation, physical therapy, etc
* There are two forms to fill out when arriving at the office for your first visit: patient information sheet including current complaints and medical history and an insurance information sheet
* Dr. May is an "in-network" chiropractic physician on all major insurance plans.

Ethical Chiropractic care - Number of visits

Your individual treatment WILL NOT be dictated to you but rather will be decided upon as a joint decision between you and Dr. May. Treatment frequency is always your decision. I don't believe in pressure "selling" of chiropractic care as I believe the benefits speak for themselves although they may not be readily apparent as it may take many years of spinal joint dysfunction to result in degenerative changes such as spinal arthritis. Pain relief may be obtained in just a few visits but I do sincerely believe there is much more at stake than simple short term pain relief. Regardless of your preference in simply obtaining pain relief of symptoms or seeking regular spinal hygiene maintenance to treat early stages of spinal arthritis and to ensure proper joint function, appointments are almost always scheduled by you at your convenience through the online appointment scheduling system on this website at your convenience.


Acute Care

If you, a friend, or a family member has experienced sudden pain or discomfort resulting from a fall, a car accident, lifting improperly, or some other immediate problem, it is extremely important to seek chiropractic care as soon as possible.  Because spinal disks don't receive a direct blood supply, they are very susceptible to degeneration following an injury.  Also, scar tissue buildup - a  protective action by the body immediately after an accident to prevent further injury, unfortunately remains after healing, causing permanent decreased joint mobility if the spinal joint is not rehabilitated through chiropractic care and physical therapy.

I urge you not to delay care in the hope that the problem will just go away.  While it is quite possible that the pain may eventually go away for the moment, I assure you that the scar tissue will not, mobility will decrease, and the pain will probably catch up with you months or years later and may not be reversible after degeneration over time.

Please contact me if you have any questions about the pain or seriousness of your injury.  I will be happy to help you in any way possible and will answer your questions to the best of my ability.

 

Preventative or Wellness Care

In our society, conventional medicine has failed this country in the most important aspect of healthcare.  We have been taught to seek medical help only when we are sick or injured.  This is a catastrophic mistake that most Americans make.  Only after a heart attack or some other life threatening event do we change our lifestyle and seek help. 

Chiropractic care is no different. Most back and neck pain occurs years after the initial injury to the spine.  A fall, a twist, an athletic injury, poor posture, work conditions, etc, all take their toll on the spine with pain only being felt after the spinal joints undergo degeneration because the original problem was never addressed.  Chiropractic care frees the spinal joints from fixations and loosens scar tissue caused by all of the problems discussed above.  Even seemingly insignificant injuries can cause spinal disks to be cut off from the nutrients they need causing them to degenerate rapidly.  The number one reason for back surgery is a degenerating or herniated disk that most likely could have been prevented with regular chiropractic care.  Don't be an unnecessary victim of back and neck pain simply because of neglect.  I can help.  It's much less expensive than you think and will save you money and preserve your health for the future.

 

Chiropractic Knowledge Base


An Introduction to Chiropractic

 

Chiropractic mobilizes joints to allow motion. Chiropractors are bio-mechanics, or mechanics for your body. A chiropractor can free a locked joint with an adjustment and restore more balanced motion. Pain is relieved as irritation and stress on nerves, muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues is reduced.
Adjusting a joint restores full range of motion by breaking up adhesions, stretching tight ligaments, and relieving stress on nerves, muscles, and other soft tissues. Once adjusted, a joint can move more fully and naturally. Joint stress is more evenly distributed. Tissue compression is reduced when muscles are stretched to their full length.  When muscles and joints are moved fully, previously unused muscle fibers are exercised. Restoring normal joint motion and balancing posture can relieve today’s pain as well as prevent tomorrow’s arthritic breakdown.
Besides treating patients for back, neck and joint pain, many chiropractors believe improving the body’s motion relieves irritation of the nervous system. Since the body’s functions are controlled by the nerves, a well adjusted body functions better and is healthier.

 


Kids and Backpacks

Back to school should not mean backaches and pains, but for kids who use backpacks, it could mean a visit to the physician’s office. In fact, overloaded backpacks have received a lot of attention in schools. Everyone from parents to school administration staffs have started to voice concern about their use.
More than 13,260 injuries related to backpacks were treated at hospital emergency rooms, doctor’s offices and clinics in the year 2000, according to estimates and projections of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The extra stress placed on the spine and shoulder from the heavy loads that children carry in their backpacks is causing muscle fatigue and strain. Excessive weight in backpacks could cause some children to develop bad habits early in life like poor posture or excessive slouching.
As part of its Prevent Injuries America!® national injury prevention campaign, the Academy suggests the following guidelines:

  • Use a hip strap for heavier weights.

  • Use a back pack with padded, wide straps and a padded back.

  • Use both of the back pack's straps, firmly tightened, to hold the pack two inches above your waist.

  • Engage in exercises to condition your back muscles. Ask an orthopaedic surgeon for advice.

  • Use the correct lifting techniques. Remember, bend with both knees when picking up a heavy back pack.

  • Place the heaviest items close to your back.

  • Neatly pack your backpack, and try to keep items in place.

  • Try to make frequent trips to your locker, between classes, to replace books.

  • Consider purchasing a backpack with wheels.

  • Purchase a second set of books for home.

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