Welcome!
Thanks for checking out my journey to becoming a Chiropractor post. The first in a series of informative short posts, along with neighborhood resources and
some really great health related information is to come. I'd like to tell you all a bit more about me and how I became a chiropractor, as I feel this is important when it comes to finding the right doctor.
In 1988, I had secured my first “real job” and was living in Southern California, one mile from the beach. I was out enjoying a day off from my new job, taking an amazing bike ride on the beach sidewalk when fate would take me on a sharp left turn. The sharp left turn that turned into a wipeout and new direction to my life. I fell off my bike and slammed my face and shoulder onto the cement. I was bruised and banged up. I was fortunate that I didn’t break any bones, but the impact left me with extensive soft tissue injuries to my neck and left shoulder. I was brought up with philosophy of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. At the time, I had no idea how “broke” I really was. And I was unaware of the benefits of chiropractic and medical massage and how both could have helped me.
For the next five years, I sucked it up and dealt with headaches, neck, upper back and shoulder pain and stiffness, inability to fully move my neck as well as numbness and tingling into my hands and fingers. By that time, I had finished massage therapy school. My instructor from a Neuromuscular therapy course I was attending, felt my neck and strongly recommended that I start seeing a chiropractor. Shortly after that class I experienced my first spinal adjustment.
Wow!! Literally, in one adjustment, after so many years, I was out of pain and I could turn my neck and head in any direction I wanted to. It may sound corny, but that one adjustment changed my entire life. I thought to myself, “wouldn’t it be great to help others feel as amazing as I do right now?”. It was later that day I decided I wanted to become a chiropractor.
The Doctor of Chiropractic program is a rigorous 4 years and over 4200 hours. This is in addition to a 4 year undergraduate degree. The chiropractic program includes the same basic sciences as required for Medical School. Followed by a more refined focus on orthopedics, neurology, physical assessments and spinal adjustment techniques, as opposed to pharmacology and surgery for medical students. After graduating in September of 2000 from Life University, in Marietta, GA., I have had the opportunity to work in different clinical settings ranging from: independent chiropractic offices, fitness centers and a fully integrated medical office with a MD, PT and massage therapist in one clinic.
In 2003, I established my practice, Integrated Chiropractic and Medical Massage, (parent company, Chiropractic Physicians of Phoenix). As an Arizona native, it was my dream to return to the Valley to serve the community that helped shape me into the person I am today. My goal with every patient I work with is to help them reach their health goals as quickly as possible with lasting results. If you find you may need a chiropractor and/or medical massage therapist I’m here to help!
Yours in Health,
Dr. Stacey M. Davis, D.C.