Damron Chiropractic & Wellness

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The Cervical Spine

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There are four distinct parts of the human spine – cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and the sacrum/coccyx. Each of these parts contains the nerves responsible for specific functions of the body. For the sake of this blog post, the focus will be on the cervical spine, or neck region, of the body, and the possible symptoms indicating a potential problem.

There are seven vertebrae in the cervical spine. Each of these vertebrae are labeled with the letter C and a number between one and seven. For example, C1 is called the Axis and contains the nerves that provide the blood supply to the head, controls the pituitary gland, scalp, the bones of the face, brain, inner and middle ear, and sympathetic nervous system. When there is a misalignment of the vertebrae and disc in the C1, irritation can occur. This irritation can cause a multitude of symptoms such as:

  • headaches
  • nervousness
  • insomnia
  • head colds
  • high blood pressure
  • migraine headaches
  • nervous breakdowns
  • amnesia
  • chronic fatigue
  • dizziness

Remember, there are 7 vertebrae in the cervical spine and the symptoms listed above are only for the first vertebrae. You can see how the spine is like the main thoroughfare, where everything in the body is connected. Can you see how if you simply treat the symptom, like taking aspirin for a headache, how it is only a temporary fix if the vertebrae are not in alignment? Yes, the aspirin makes the pain go away, but the problem still exists. Yes, the sleep aids help you to control your chronic tiredness, but the true problem has not been addressed. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. If you knew that you could prevent your headaches from happening in the first place, or lower your blood pressure without the aid of prescription medications, or sleep better at night naturally, would you pursue that means?

Chiropractic adjustments realign the spine so the vertebrae are not putting pressure on the nerves that control the various parts of our body. Chiropractic adjustments correct the spine from the wear and tear we put our body through each day. It allows our body to function as it was intended to. It allows us to improve our quality of life and live pain-free. It gives our body the maintenance it deserves.

The Truth About Chiropractic Care

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There exists an old misconception about those in the chiropractic field that seems to date back to the earlier days of this profession. This misconception is very similar to other professions such as used car salesmen and lawyers. When we think of a used car salesman a particular image may come to mind, and one that is not very flattering. The same can be said of lawyers, too. Does an ambulance chaser come to mind? However, one could argue that not all used car salesmen nor all lawyers are like that. In fact, one could also argue that they know of many individuals who are reputable and professional in each field. They know lawyers who have brought justice to those who deserve it the most. They know men and women who work hard to provide a previously owned vehicle to a family at the best possible price. Does one bad apple taint the field for the rest?

In the field of chiropractic, one of the biggest misconceptions is that once you start to see a chiropractor you need to see one for the rest of your life. That treatment never ends. This must be how urban legends begin, because under layers of falsehoods there exists a kernel of truth but it has been so misconstrued that even the truth is difficult to believe. So what is the truth as it relates to achieving wellness through chiropractic care?

Typically, people visit a chiropractor when they have an injury or are in pain. At that time a particular treatment plan is prescribed. At DCW that treatment plan includes not only the specialized care of the chiropractor but also the collaborative care of both the massage therapist and rehabilitation specialist. The reason behind this approach is so the body can hold the alignment the chiropractor has performed. By massaging the muscle that is restricting the mobility of the spine and then strengthening those muscles with rehabilitation, the success of chiropractic is amplified. Once the 6 to 8 week treatment has been completed, patients are instructed to come back either once a month or only as needed. DCW patients learn how to recognize how their body feels when it is out of alignment. They are then in control of their care. They come in only when they feel it is needed, not for life.

The goal of Damron Chiropractic & Wellness is to provide the highest quality patient care so people can get back to living life on their terms, not the pain’s.

Car Accident Protocol

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The National Safety Council estimates that in 2015, 4.4 million people were injured on U.S. roads. This is a significant increase from prior years. In fact, “serious injuries,” which according to the NSC is defined as requiring medical attention, rose 30% from the same time period in 2014, and there was a 24% increase in the costs associated with these crashes. Costs can be anything from property damage, lost wages, and medical expenses. Many times the medical expenses can be significantly reduced if the right path is taken following a car accident, no matter how minor it is. To make things easier, we’ve created a “chiropractic car accident protocol” if you or someone you love experiences a car accident.

CAR ACCIDENT PROTOCOL

1. Seek the care of a licensed chiropractor 24-48 hours after your car accident.

2. If you do not have one, ask for a referral from a friend or Google “chiropractor” and look for one that has great reviews plus offers a special for new patients.

3. You may not experience symptoms up to two weeks after the accident, even if there was no damage done to your car. Your body absorbed the energy from the impact of that collision.

4. Remember, all passengers should be seen by a chiropractor. Even infants in car seats.

If you have a car accident and do not seek treatment you run the risk of developing degenerative disc disease, arthritis, or disc herniation later in life. The other thing you risk is your sanity. It can take sometimes two weeks for symptoms to manifest themselves. By that time something else may have happened in your life that you think is the cause of your symptoms, opening the door for a misdiagnosis, needless visits to specialists, increasing medical costs, pain, and frustration. We hear it all too often. Patients will say “Had I only known I would have seen a chiropractor first.”

Remember that your body will absorb the energy from the impact of any car accident. Much like a lightening rod, your spine will bear the brunt of the collision. And that spine has vertebrae that are connected to every part of your body. While you might feel pain in your shoulder, hip, or even bladder, the source needs to be found. Seeing a chiropractor first after a car accident saves you money, worry, potential pain and suffering, not to mention needless frustration. It will be worth it!

Seeing Is Believing

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Why is it that we seem to believe something more if we see it with our own two eyes? We are skeptical of anything that is different from what we know whether it’s food from another culture, religious beliefs, political stances, or even miracle cures. What is it that makes us feel like seeing is believing? That one must witness the event firsthand in order to fully believe?

Chiropractic care tends to be one of those things in life that for most of us is vastly different from what we know. Almost 80% of us know what a chiropractor is however, for whatever reason, still choose to not seek the care of one. So, what is that 80% doing instead? Many times it’s simply nothing at all. Choosing to live in pain, however mild, rather than believing in something that is different from what we’ve always known. Or, depending on the product and the amount of money a company invests in advertising, we believe what we continually see on a screen. Should it really be that “he who has the most money wins?” Or should it be more of a grassroots thing, more of word of mouth advertising?

A great place to begin with a grassroots approach to chiropractors is through our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/damronchiropracticandwellness/. We have countless testimonials from people who went from skeptics to true believers in chiropractic care. One message we hear time and again is that our patients wish that they had sought the care of a chiropractor first instead of last. Many times they did not see any correlation between the pain they were having and the nerves that are running down their spine, so why would they even consider seeing a chiropractor? The reality is that there is always a root cause to the pain. The other reality is that all too often that cause resides within the spine, as each vertebrae contains nerves that are connected to certain functions of the body.

If we truly understand how intricately connected the body is, we could resolve our pain much sooner. We would also be able to maintain better health and wellness with the care of a chiropractor, and less time invested in the management of disease care.

Passing the Buck With Pain

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Sometimes it takes a health crisis to realize that the healthcare industry has a tendency to pass the buck more often than not. A patient came to us recently who had seen various doctors regarding unexplained pain she was experiencing. Each doctor essentially did nothing to help her except tell her to see another doctor. It was obvious she was lost and frustrated, not to mention still in pain without any answers.

One of the first questions Damron Chiropractic & Wellness (DCW) asked her during her consult was, “What happened around the time you began experiencing this pain?” She replied, somewhat hesitantly, “A very minor car accident.” It was right then and there that the doctor realized what was causing the pain and the X-rays confirmed it.

The “very minor car accident” was causing pain in her lower abdomen, specifically her bladder. The various doctors she had seen kept testing for a urinary tract infection that continued to come back negative. One doctor suggested it could be interstitial cystitis, an incurable inflammation of the bladder lining. The X-rays revealed a compression in her lower spine involving the vertebrae that contained the nerves affecting the bladder and lower abdomen. After one decompression treatment and a spinal adjustment her pain had noticeable improved. She was also prescribed supplements that aid in disc and connective tissue health. Fast forward one week and this patient is feeling like her old self once again!

You see, two things happened that left someone in pain:

  1. The right questions were never asked.
  2. Something as insignificant as a “very minor car accident” can have a big impact on a person’s body.

There is always a root cause to pain. And usually where the pain is felt is not the actual source. Plus, any jarring of the body, no matter how small can create havoc in the body because the body absorbs that energy. Slight shifts in the body’s alignment can be enough to create pain. Seeking the car of a chiropractor can not only heal a person, but also keep them healthy and well.

The Root of Pain

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A valuable lesson was learned recently about how even the most minor of car accidents can have a big impact on a person’s body. And the impact wasn’t even realized until almost 2 months later. Ironically, the M.D.s who were treating this particular person missed the root of the problem. Instead, they were more focused on treating the symptoms which merely put a band-aid on the problem. The root of the problem still existed and continued to cause pain. As an observer, watching someone suffer and not know the cause can make you feel helpless. So is trying to find a solution, yet only finding roadblocks. However, within 5 minutes of entering Damron Chiropractic & Wellness (DCW) a question was asked that changed everything and shed the light on the root cause of the pain.

This particular question was not asked by any of the other medical professionals seen since the inception of the pain. This question should have been asked by all, but wasn’t. The question?

“What happened 6-8 weeks ago around the time that this pain began?”

The answer given? “A minor car accident.” But when it was said, it was almost with disbelief that that incident could be in any way related to the pain the person was experiencing. The x-rays taken of the affected area revealed vertebrae compression. This area directly correlated with the pain. The solution was to begin spinal decompression to relieve the pressure at the base of the spine, adjustments, electrical stimulation, and dietary supplements for disc and connective tissue health. After one visit, the patient felt better than she had in weeks.

This minor car accident turned out to not be so minor after all. While there was almost no damage done to her vehicle as a result of the collision, her body still absorbed the force of the impact. It was this force that changed the structure of her body. While the change was also very minor, it was enough to affect the nerves in her spine and create the pain she was sporadically experiencing. Sometimes pain that lasted hours at a time, without any rhyme nor reason to its appearance. On the surface it appeared that the pain was caused by something entirely different.

The care received by a Chiropractor is truly unique in the healthcare field. It is within this specialty that cures are found without the use of medications or surgery. It is a holistic approach that utilizes the structure of the body to self-heal.

Imagine the difference in people’s lives if they chose the care of a Chiropractor first when experiencing pain and discomfort? There’s nothing worse than living in the dark, without answers as to what is causing you pain. A person’s quality of life simply starts to diminish.

Together, let’s continue to shine the light on the countless benefits of chiropractic care.

 

Circle of Care

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Things at Damron Chiropractic & Wellness (DCW) are a little different than they are at other chiropractic offices. Most practices provide only one element of care to patients, that being chiropractic. While there is nothing wrong with this singular approach to wellness, we believe that there are ways to enhance it so that the benefits of chiropractic are maximized and retained. At DCW we provide a circle of care that incorporates three other therapies to every person we treat:

  1. Massage Therapy
  2. Rehabilitation
  3. Nutritional Support

So, what is the significance to this methodology? Well, structurally, a body that is out of alignment will eventually go back to its original state after an adjustment if nothing else is done to support it. The muscles will work against the realignment, as they are use to holding the body in a certain way. Massage therapy works to loosen the muscles that are holding the body in a particular position. This in turn will improve the results of each alignment. Likewise, incorporating rehabilitation will strengthen those muscles to hold the body’s structure as it should.

Our body is designed to function a certain way; however, life sometimes gets in the way. Years of improper posture, accidents, childbirth, or aging can have a negative affect on how our body is aligned. Off-setting that with the care of a Chiropractor is providing your body with preventative maintenance, and coordinating that with massage therapy, rehabilitation, and nutritional support completes the circle of care.

Knowing that you have several wellness professionals working together to provide you with the best possible care should give you peace of mind. It should also tell you that DCW is interested in getting you well once again because our individualized care plans have an end in mind. This end is possible because we have strategically incorporated three other modalities that can truly support the benefits of chiropractic care.

Fear of the Unknown

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Remember being a kid and your parents wanting you to try a new food? You would look at your plate with fear at that strange food staring back at you. Your parents would proclaim how delicious it really is, but you just aren’t buying it. Eventually, after some cajoling you do try it. Remember being pleasantly surprised? Being fearful of the unknown is normal. We have all experienced it at some point in our life. The question we need to ask ourselves is if the fear itself is preventing us from enjoying life more and living life better? Perhaps misconceptions are creating the fear and if we were provided with the most accurate information it would change our lives.

Chiropractors and those that work within the wellness field have been known to fall in this same category – fear of the unknown. While we may have heard the word “chiropractor” we may not fully understand what it really means. This misunderstanding could be the result of misinformation, assumptions, or ignorance, but that does not change the fact that we choose to avoid what we don’t know or understand. It is not uncommon for people to visit Damron Chiropractic & Wellness for the first time and seeing a chiropractor is their last resort. Upon finishing their treatment plan they realize that seeing a chiropractor for their pain should have been their first choice of care. They realize the time they wasted on other solutions that simply did not work. They realize that they let misconceptions get in the way of choosing the best option of care for themselves. Seeing a chiropractor has its benefits.

Advocating for yourself means taking the time to learn. Seek to know how to best ensure you live in wellness. Challenge the status quo and never make assumptions, especially the older you get and good health is priceless. If the fear of the unknown is something you struggle with, invest time to educate yourself. You never know, it could end up being that the fear was holding you back from living your best life yet!

Proactive Self-Care

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Being proactive means anticipating that something may happen. It keeps us aware. This is very obvious especially at the professional level of any sport like basketball or football. Each player on the team is always proactive. They anticipate where the ball is going to go and take the necessary steps to possess it. Every team invests the time it takes to determine how to win the game based on who they are playing. Their strengths and weaknesses. They are proactive at winning. When it comes to our health, the ideal is the same mentality. Choosing proactive care helps to ensure we stay healthy and well. The alternative puts us constantly on the defense. Reacting to problems as they arise.

One of the benefits to chiropractic care is the overall awareness one has of their body. People will say they know when they need an adjustment because they can tell when their body is out of alignment. They can feel it and because they can feel it they can anticipate it. Being aware of how one’s body feels is part of being proactive with one’s health. Just like that basketball player watching the ball, and knowing exactly when it’s coming his way. He can feel it.

Opting for proactive care, such as that which is offered with a chiropractor, helps to keep you ahead of the game.This holistic approach to your health teaches you how to be more aware of what your body is telling you. It helps you to anticipate the signs of change, an imbalance, a shift. If we can anticipate the onset of something like pain, we can minimize it’s impact on our life. We can address it and prevent it from getting to the point where it’s life altering. Imagine our world without pain? Or minimized substantially.

Educate yourself on you. All the intricate details that make you you. Doing so could save you days, months, even years of living in pain or discomfort. That’s proactive self-care.

Finding the Root Cause

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In the field of law there are attorneys. Just as in the field of medicine there are doctors. However, within each field there are countless specialties. In law, there are attorneys that specialize in real estate transactions, divorce, legal defense, prosecution, corporate, and tax. With medicine, there are doctors that specialize in pediatrics, cancer, surgery, heart, female reproduction, and trauma. It is good to have specialities because when there is a specific problem, we want a specific answer, not generalities. When it comes to our health, we know preventative is best. But there are inevitably times when that doesn’t happen and we get sick or injured. Sometimes when that happens there is a ripple effect. Symptoms may be alleviated, but the underlying problem may persist. The good news is that with our overall wellness, there are doctors that focus on finding the root cause of the problem and preventing future problems. One of those doctors is a Doctor of Chiropractic.

What many people don’t realize is that a Doctor of Chiropractic chooses this field of practice because he or she believes in a holistic approach to a person’s health. Each part of a person is intimately connected – mentally, physically, emotionally. What happens to one part of us affects all the others. We cannot separate things into compartments. Chiropractors also believe that prescription medications tend to mask the underlying problem and have the potential to create other problems for the person down the road, too. Chiropractors work tirelessly to resolve the root cause of the problem, whether it’s pain, discomfort, lack of mobility or flexibility, migraines, fatigue, or inflammation. If you have never been treated by a chiropractor this may sound counterintuitive to what we have been exposed to in the media and press with respect to what one might call “modern day medicine.” You needn’t look too far to find countless advertisements for prescription medications offering a solution to various health ailments. But do they always solve the true cause of your problem?

Chiropractic care is a comprehensive approach to the overall wellness of the entire individual. It seeks to understand, then provide a solution to the real problem. It finds the cause.

OUR TEAM

Dr. Andrew Damron, Chiropractor

Why ChiropracticProfessional Experience Personal Information
Dr. Damron established DCW because he was fed up with the current health model. Statistics continue to show an increase in pharmaceutical prescriptions to patients every day. Although he does believe some medications are necessary, he believes the majority of what is prescribed is actually harmful to the patient’s long-term health, creating another set of healthcare issues as a result. Dr. Damron believes DCW’s unique approach to achieving overall wellness will revolutionize the healthcare industry through collaborative care utilizing chiropractic, massage therapy, rehabilitation, and nutrition. The DCW focus addresses the whole person versus a only symptom and uncovers the root cause. He also believes that education is vital to sustaining a healthier more vibrant lifestyle as well. His goal is to create a healthier society and a better place for our children to live.
Dr. Damron began his medical career with a Biology Degree from Wright State University in 2002. He went on to receive his Doctorate of Chiropractic from the prestigious Palmer College of Chiropractic in Port Orange, Florida in 2007. While attending Palmer, he had the opportunity to travel abroad to Madagascar and provide chiropractic care to the native Malagasy people. Dr. Damron has continued his post-graduate studies with a focus on nutrition, rehabilitation, and functional medicine.
Dr. Damron and his wife, Kristy, reside in West Chester with their two young children, Graden and Isabelle. An avid Buckeye fan, Dr. Damron enjoys playing the guitar in a band with his college friends, watching/playing any sport, cooking, reading, and attending concerts, especially the Dave Matthews Band and Foo Fighters.

Dr. Greg Washam, Chiropractor

Why ChiropracticProfessional Experience Personal Information
Dr. Washam was introduced to Chiropractic by his mother at the age of 16. She was working for a Chiropractor at the time, experiencing all the benefits that Chiropractic care had to offer, and thus began taking Dr. Washam and his siblings in for regular adjustments. Dr. Washam had been experiencing painful bouts of Strep Throat from the age of 8, which always included a 10 day course of antibiotics. While under Chiropractic care his doctor convinced him to avoid the antibiotics and receive Chiropractic adjustments instead. To his amazement, Dr. Washam’s strep throat symptoms had vanished within three days and he never had an issue from that point forward. He was so astounded by his experience that he fell in love with Chiropractic and decided that was the path for him. He wanted to commit his life to helping people through the power of Chiropractic, just as it had helped him.
Dr. Greg Washam began his college education at the University of Cincinnati, studying biology. After he made the decision to become a Chiropractor, he attended Logan College of Chiropractic in St. Louis, MO. While at Logan, he received his Bachelor of Science in Biology and Life Sciences in 2009. He received his Doctorate of Chiropractic in 2011. Dr. Washam was presented with various awards upon graduation. These included Dean’s List honors, the Senior Intern Assistant Award, and the Award of Excellence from the Division of Research. He has completed many hours of post graduate education focusing on nutrition, supplementation and injury recovery.
Dr. Washam and his wife Kassie reside in Mason, Oh with their two daughters, Lillian and Wren. In his free time, Dr. Washam enjoys cooking, exploring new restaurants, touring local craft breweries and reading. He also spends a great deal of time outdoors with his family and his Beagle, Willow. Dr. Washam is a music enthusiast and listens to all genres of music. He especially loves classic rock from the 60’s and 70’s. His favorite band of all time is Led Zeppelin.

Brooke Snyder, Operations Manager

Why DCWProfessional Experience Personal Information
Brooke had never been to a medical office where she really felt like they cared more about her than her money until she came to DCW as a patient. DCW made it so easy to arrange financial payment with, they were compassionate, dedicated and most importantly 100% honest. The team addressed all aspects of her health and well-being, above and beyond chiropractic care. Her initial impression of chiropractic offices were that they would only adjust then send her on her way. She realized that she was wrong. Because of her experience as a patient at DCW she realized she wanted to pursue a career within it. She saw everything she wanted in healthcare at DCW. Finally, a place where patient care really comes first! She comes to DCW with a degree in Nursing and a background in finance. When someone asks her “Why DCW?” she cannot think of one reason why not.
Brooke has a background in business finance and computer technology prior to the start of her medical career. She attended Southern State and obtained an Associate’s Degree in Science, R.N. Sh began working from DCW in December of 2014.
Brooke has five beautiful girls from 15 to 6 years old. She is married to Jamey Snyder who has two boys of his own. She lives on a two acre farm in the country with horses, dogs, cats, and a pot belly pig. Brooke enjoys spending time with her very active family and watching their kids play sports.

Nicole Foreman, Licensed Massage Therapist

Why MassageProfessional Experience Personal Information
Nicole always wanted a career that was focused on helping people. It wasn’t until she drove past the Dayton School of Medical Massage on a daily basis that it became clear what she was meant to do. She enrolled as soon as she could and it has been the best decision she has ever made. She loves the feeling of knowing she has alleviated someone’s pain and possibly made their day better in some way. She had been working alongside chiropractors for over 7 years before joining the DCW team. Before DCW she never really felt her opinions and insights were valued or even asked for, which she felt hindered patient care and the effectiveness of each treatment. At DCW she feels valued and part of a practice that is focused on changing the approach of wellness with cohesive and effective patient care.
Nicole is a graduate of the Dayton School of Medical Massage and obtained her license in 2008. She utilizes Deep Tissue, Swedish and Thai massage techniques to relieve pain, tension, and stress while increasing range of motion and flexibility.
Nicole is married to her husband of 5 years and they one daughter, Rylee, and one child on the way due in September 2016. As a family they enjoy camping, hiking and spending time at the lake during the summer.

Erika Pantona, Insurance Specialist

Why DCWProfessional Experience Personal Information
Erika started coming to DCW in 2010 after spending two years in substantial pain after an injury. She had spent those two years at various specialists and taking medications to simply get up in the morning due to the pain. She was 18 when she found herself facing a major, life altering surgery (SI Fusion) and realized there must be another way. When she began her treatment plan at DCW she started to have days with little or no pain. She stopped taking her medications and realized they had been affecting her overall mood. In 2015 Erika joined the DCW team because they allowed her to live her life once again. She wants to prevent others from living in pain like she did unnecessarily, and to receive the benefits of chiropractic care.
Erika is well versed in the insurance industry with her previous employment at Express Scripts and Anthem.
Erika has two siblings and resides in Liberty Township. In her spare time she enjoys traveling and hiking with her family.

Amy Faris, Patient Care Coordinator

Why DCWProfessional Experience Personal Information
After moving to Ohio in 2010, I was in need of some relief from minor pain associated with working in customer service fields for 15 years. I was interested in seeking alternative forms of therapy and found a chiropractor in our small town. After going for a few visits, the therapy seemed somewhat outdated compared to what I had researched. In talking with my husband, he remembered that he knew someone who was a chiropractor. After just a few visits with Dr. Damron, I definitely noticed a difference in his techniques and style. It was nice to see results and feel like I was being listened to as a patient, not just heard…something you don’t always feel with doctors. After being a patient for several years, the opportunity came about to join the DCW team. It would be something different from what I had done in my past, however I knew my passion for working with people would translate well into helping patients receive the best care possible. I believed in the mission of DCW as a patient, and I am excited to be part of living that mission every day. 
 I am originally from St. Louis, MO. I graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia with a degree in Secondary Education – Language Arts. I worked in restaurant/catering management for several years before starting a career in retail management and training.
In that position, I met my husband, Matt, who is from Wilmington, OH. After we got married in 2010, I moved to Wilmington. Realizing retail wasn’t where my heart was any longer, I began working as a substitute teacher in the Clinton County area. Matt and I live in Wilmington with our 6 year old German Shepard, Dale. I enjoy camping, boating, riding 4-wheelers, and spending time with family and friends. I love St. Louis Cardinals baseball and am a recently converted Cincinnati Bengals fan.

Hours

Monday 9-1 & 2-6

Tuesday 9-1 & 2-6

Wednesday 9-1 & 2-6

Thursday 9-1 & 2-6

Friday 8-11

Saturday and Sunday CLOSED

Contact information

 3187 Western Row Road Suite 114
    Maineville, OH 45039

Office:
     (513) 770-3434

Email:
    info@damronchiropractic.com