Testimonals

I wanted to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for all you have done to help 'heal' me from all my pain. I was the last person in the world who would have ever thought I would be going to see a chiropractor, as I was terrified of being adjusted. When I came to see you the first time in January, you were so patient, calming, and you made me feel so comfortable. At the time I was going to physical therapy 3 times a week, and I was not even feeling the same benefits from PT that I was from seeing you. I actually wish I could come to see you more than I actually do - as I feel so GREAT after you are done! I would have never imagined that I would be the one who was truly counting down the days to see my chiropractor. If you ever have a patient who is worried, I am happy to be a testimonial to the OUTSTANDING and beneficial work you do! You are truly amazing and I cannot thank you enough for all you've done!
-Karen K.

I had so much pain in my shoulder, and I would get a terrible burning sensation in my neck. The pain would go all the way down my arm. After being treated by Dr. Ayesha Qureshi, my pain is gone. I now go about every 5 weeks for an adjustment. It is so good to be pain free.
- Phyllis N.

After seeing Dr. Qureshi for a muscle injury, I continued to see her. After telling her the problems I have with vertigo, she did a simple adjustment that helped clear the vertigo. I wasn't one who thought any adjustment would do anything, but she continues to amaze me with her skill and knowledge. I tell anyone and everyone that they should see her.
- Mary V.

After experiencing severe headaches since 13 years old, I was having 2-3 headaches per week for 3-4 months straight. After watching the pain I was experiencing, my wife set up an appointment with Dr. Ayesha. Since medication, other theories, and treatments were not working, I decided to give a chiropractor a shot. My first visit to Dr. Ayesha was in August, 2010. Since that time, I have had only 2 (sinus) headaches in the last 7 months. The treatment I have received has not only tremendously reduced the headaches, but also a majority of back soreness. I never miss an appointment and look forward to each visit knowing Dr. Ayesha (AKA Commander Cool) has my best interest in mind. For people who have heard 'stories' about chiropractic, I recommend seeing Dr. Ayesha; it could help you as much as it did me.
- Tom P.

When I first came to see Dr. Qureshi, I had back pain everyday. I had been to several doctors but no one could explain the pain I had. A friend referred me to her and said she was an excellent chiropractor. Dr. Qureshi listened to my specific problems and explained everything she would do to help me. She made me feel comfortable and each time I saw her, she would teach me something new to help me get better. I am now back to working out five days a week and feel excellent. I have my life back and am very grateful.
- Melody S.

Health Update

Breaking the Cycle - March 7, 2011

We all know what pain is, but we sometimes have a hard time defining it. From a completely clinical standpoint, physical pain is an unpleasant stimulus that may or may not cause actual damage. We experience pain in a myriad of ways: deep, achy, stabbing, sharp, tingling; there are also many events that can trigger pain - disease, trauma, chronic stress, emotional stress, overuse, etc.

The perception of pain is that it is an entirely negative event. That is reasonable, considering pain doesn't feel good - it is pain, after all. Pain, however, is a somewhat protective mechanism. When we touch a hot stove, we pull our hand away so we don't get burned. If we sprain a wrist, we use our other hand for daily tasks as much as we can so the sprained wrist can heal. In short, pain keeps us from causing further damage.

The problem with chronic pain, however, is that when we live with pain all the time, the central nervous system doesn't get a break. The nociceptors (nerves that conduct pain) are firing constantly and can actually wear out. Long term pain has been shown to decrease gray matter in the frontal cortex of the brain, which can lead to other problems. The frontal cortex is responsible for higher mental functions, meaning that it plays a role in decision making and mood. This is why in people with chronic pain, we often see depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and other cognitive disturbances as well that may affect work or school related tasks.

This brings me to the story I so often hear: "I've had this pain for 15 years. I just learned to live with it," or some variation along those lines. Why should we live with pain? Not only can pain keep us from doing the things we enjoy, but it negatively impacts our central nervous system. Then a vicious cycle begins: we feel pain, we disengage from an activity we enjoy, depression sets in, our pain impacts our loved ones, and we further withdraw from our family and enjoyable activities. Breaking this cycle can be difficult, but achievable.

Once we find a path that involves living a life decreasing or eliminating pain, then we can maximize the time we have. Life is more than just about being pain free, it is about maximizing it and taking opportunities to improve life. If we're involved in a vicious pain cycle, we can't see those opportunities or take advantage of them.

The type of care I provide focuses on more than relieving pain - it is about improving the quality of life we can live today. My approach is holistic and non-invasive; I take into account that everybody is different and unique and we all have different needs and goals. Health and being pain free is so much more multi-faceted and harder than we think, but it can be achieved. At the very least, improvements can be made so we're a little healthier or have less pain than we did the day, week, or month before. For some of us, being completely pain free isn't realistic, but then we just need to set realistic goals, and that's fine too.

The challenge I'm posing: Do you want to merely be pain free or do you want to take advantage of today?