If you believe all chiropractors and all treatments are the same, I understand why.
Many people come into my office after being disappointed—sometimes repeatedly. They’ve had disc injuries, nerve pain, surgeries, or even spinal fusions, and they’ve been told either that chiropractic can’t help them or that “it’s all the same anyway.”
It isn’t.
And I don’t say that lightly.
I Don’t See Diagnoses — I See People
When someone comes to me with a disc injury, post-surgical spine, or a fusion, I don’t see a “problem case.”
I see:
-
A person who’s been through pain
-
Someone who’s been told conflicting information
-
Someone who may be afraid to move again
-
Someone who doesn’t want another generic answer
That perspective didn’t come from a weekend seminar.
It came from living it.
Why My Perspective Is Different
I survived a catastrophic industrial injury. I rebuilt my body after devastating trauma, surgeries, immobility, and failed procedures. I trained as a disabled athlete. I went through chiropractic school as a handicapped student doctor while raising a family and carrying overwhelming academic loads.
I’ve lived on both sides of the treatment table.
That matters.
Because when you’ve had:
-
Disc herniations
-
Nerve symptoms
-
Scar tissue
-
Surgical hardware
-
Altered biomechanics
-
Fear layered on top of pain
You don’t need someone following a script.
You need someone who understands complexity.
Disc Injuries Are Not a One-Size Problem
A disc injury is not just a disc problem.
It’s:
-
Movement loss
-
Load intolerance
-
Neurological irritation
-
Compensation patterns
-
Guarding and fear
-
Fatigue and frustration
Treating everyone the same way—regardless of where they are in that process—is why so many people stall.
My approach asks different questions:
-
What can your spine tolerate today?
-
Where is movement missing?
-
What does your nervous system need to feel safe again?
-
How do we rebuild capacity without triggering setbacks?
That thinking comes from rebuilding a broken body myself.
Post-Surgical and Fusion Patients Are Not “Done”
One of the most damaging ideas in healthcare is that surgery marks the end of progress.
It doesn’t.
After a fusion or spinal surgery:
-
Movement still matters
-
Load still matters
-
Adaptation still matters
-
The nervous system still needs guidance
What changes is how carefully and intelligently we proceed.
I don’t try to force your spine into something it can’t do.
I work with what’s available and rebuild outward.
That approach isn’t cautious — it’s strategic.
Why Cookie-Cutter Care Fails Complex Patients
I’ve experienced it firsthand.
When providers rely on templates, they fail people who don’t fit the mold. Disc injuries, surgical histories, and chronic pain require:
-
Observation
-
Patience
-
Modification
-
Accountability
-
Creativity
You don’t get that from repeating the same treatment plan for everyone.
That’s why I don’t do it.
What Patients Notice Is Different
Patients often tell me:
-
“No one ever explained it like this.”
-
“This is the first time I didn’t feel rushed.”
-
“I finally understand what’s happening in my body.”
-
“I feel safer moving again.”
That’s not an accident.
It’s the result of lived experience, clinical reasoning, and respect for the journey my patients are on.
For the Skeptical Reader
If you think:
-
“I’ve already tried chiropractic.”
-
“My back is too far gone.”
-
“I’ve had surgery — this won’t help.”
-
“Everyone says they’re different.”
I don’t ask you to believe blindly.
I ask you to consider this:
Someone who has rebuilt their own body after devastating injury does not approach your spine casually.
I don’t guess.
I don’t rush.
I don’t minimize what you’ve been through.
I meet you where you are — and help you move forward intelligently.
Why This Matters
Disc injuries and spinal surgeries change lives.
So does the right care.
If you’ve been told there’s nothing left to try, or if you’ve been disappointed before, know this:
I understand the long road.
I respect the complexity.
And I’ll advocate for your progress — because once, I had to do the same for myself.
How long will you PAUSE? Believe me, time is ticking away from us all, change CAN happen.
Let me help!
317-770-5775
Dr. Todd McDougle
Contact Me
