Have you started to wonder whether the pain you live with is just part of getting older? Maybe you’ve tried the stretches, the medications, and the specialists, and you’ve stopped expecting an answer.
When pain sticks around long enough, you can lose hope that you’ll ever feel like yourself again. Over our first two years in Woodway, we have watched patient after patient get that hope back. Three of them agreed to share their stories on camera, in their own words.
Chris A.: Neck Pain That Showed Up Without Warning
Chris met Dr. Flick at a social gathering. They were making small talk, he learned she specialized in the neck, and he made an appointment right away.
His pain was unpredictable. A wrong movement or a workout could set off sharp pain in one spot in his neck. He called it a quality of life issue.
As his care progressed, Chris noticed some small aches while his body settled into its corrected position, which is common as your spine moves back where it belongs. The bigger change came in that one spot. It stopped hurting, no matter how hard he pushed himself physically.
He describes Atlas as the chiropractic version of the bar in Cheers. Within a week of his first visit, everyone knew his name.
Allison M.: Hip and Back Pain With a Cause Higher Up
Allison came to us with recurring pain in her right hip and back. Along the way, she learned something new: the Atlas (the top bone in your neck) can affect your entire body.
At her first adjustment, her Atlas was out of position. Once it was corrected, she felt more energy. In her words, “I can jump again.”
Why would the top of your neck matter for your hip? Your body works hard to keep your eyes level. When the Atlas shifts, the rest of your spine compensates to balance your head, and that strain can show up far from where it started, including your low back and hips.
Allison has since sent several friends to try Atlas for themselves. She says walking in the door feels like coming home to family.
Karen R.: Decades of Pain and a Decision to Stop Living With It
Karen was diagnosed with arthritis at a very young age and lived with pain for decades. She knew she wasn’t that old, and she didn’t want to live that way for the rest of her life.
Upper Cervical care doesn’t treat arthritis. What it can do is find and correct a misalignment in your neck that may be adding to your symptoms. For Karen, much of the numbness and pain running down her arms eased after her very first adjustment. Today she describes what she can do as night and day compared to a little over a year ago.
What Their Stories Have in Common
Three people, three different problems. Each had lived with pain long enough to wonder if it was permanent, and each found a cause and, more importantly, a solution!
You can watch more Waco chiropractor testimonials on our testimonials page.
Every problem has a cause, and our job is to find it. We never guess about your health. That’s why every patient who chooses to move forward receives our Blueprint Spinal Analysis, with precise imaging right here in our clinic, so care decisions are based on what we can actually see. We don’t believe in guesswork.
Relief can come early. Correction takes longer. The ligaments that hold your spine in place need 18 to 24 months to remodel and hold a new position, and anything less than full correction is unstable and more likely to relapse. Chris and Karen have each been under care for close to a year, and their stories reflect where they are today. Results vary from person to person, and your care plan is built around your own assessment.
Stories like these are why we started Atlas: to bring you the kind of expertise you’d otherwise have to travel hours to find, delivered in a small-town practice where people know your name.
To Everyone Who Has Trusted Us
Chris, Allison, and Karen are three of many. To every patient who has walked through our door over these two years: thank you. Thank you for trusting us with your health, and for trusting us with the people you love most, from your spouses and parents to your children. Thank you for every friend, coworker, and neighbor you’ve sent our way, and for every kind word you’ve shared about us. Thank you for showing up and doing the work of getting your health back, visit after visit, even on the days progress felt slow. Watching you feel like yourselves again is the reason we do this. You are the heart of Atlas, and we are honored to be the people who help.
When You’re Ready to Find Your Cause
Your first step is a complimentary consult. We’ll listen to your story and talk through what might be behind it. If you choose to continue that same day, your Comprehensive Exam is a $150 investment. Your Report of Findings happens at a separate visit and is complimentary. That’s where we review your results and share our recommendations if we believe we can help.
Call or text 254-304-7474, or book your complimentary consult online.
Reviewed by Dr. Christy Flick, DC · Last reviewed October 12, 2026
This article is for educational purposes and shares general information about upper cervical chiropractic care. It isn’t a substitute for an individual clinical assessment, and results vary from person to person. If you’re wondering whether this could be the source of what you’re dealing with, we’d welcome the chance to take a look. Schedule a complimentary consultation at atlaschiropracticwaco.com or call 254-304-7474.
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