Success Stories

We value our patients' experience at Spoelstra Family Chiropractic. If you are currently a patient, please feel free to complete the following Client Experience Questionnaire. The Questionnaire is in Adobe Acrobat format, and requires the free Acrobat Reader to view.

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Dr. Amy Spoelstra

Gretchen Kruse- age 42 years old

I am a very active person with a physically demanding career and I also
regularly participate in triathlons (including 2 completed Ironman races
and one more on the docket for September of this year).  Because of past
injuries and physical stresses I have been receiving chiropractic care for
over 20 years from several different sources, each one slightly different.
I originally became a patient of Dr. Amy in 2008 because I was searching
for a chiropractor in the local vicinity and happened to come across her
office.  When I first started going to Dr. Amy my pain was fairly severe
and I was beginning to wonder if signing up for another Ironman was the
stupidest thing I ever did or if I would ever be able to maintain a
regular training schedule for triathlons again, not to mention conduct the
physically demanding work that I do.  I was suffering from back, neck,
foot and hip pain and my feet were beginning to pronate (turn in) while I
ran, walked, and even moved.  I also suffered from severe tear-forming
back pain while riding my bike, despite having it professionally fit.
Dr. Amy has gone a step beyond my previous chiropractors in that she has
taken a holistic approach to my health.  Beyond regular spinal and
structural manipulations, she encourages interaction with a regular
general physician, a massage therapist (Amber Rogers), and a physical
therapist (Cathy Gephart, Two Hands Physical Therapy) that fit me with
orthotics to reverse problems associated with structural imbalances and
foot pronation.

The pleasant and attentive demeanor of Dr. Amy and her receptionist are
also a plus when it comes to those doctor office visits.  At this point I
feel that although I still have a long way to go and that I will likely
need to continue on this road of treatment for the rest of my life, I am
certainly on a positive path to healing and dealing with my aches and
pains.  Thank you Dr. Amy you’re the greatest!!

Elias Erb
Born April 25th, 2009
C2 Adjustment – May 11th

Elias had severe congestion due to allergies, since his birth.  For 2
miserable weeks, we used alliumcepa, a homeopathic allergy medicine.
He wasn’t able to sleep well because he couldn’t get a full tummy since he
couldn’t breathe during feeding.  He was always tired from the labor of
trying to breathe and the lack of sleep from waking every hour and a half.

I, Mom Erb, had been going to see Dr. Spoelstra for sciatic pain while I
was pregnant and then continued care after I had the baby.  She offered to
check him while I was at one of my appointments.

Just after Dr. Spoelstra had adjusted his C2, I took him out to the lobby
to buckle him in his seat.  As soon as I put him in the seat, he sneezed
out a ton of boogers and has been clear ever since!  I haven’t had to give
him any allergy medication and he now sleeps for 6 to 7 hour stretches at
night.

He can breathe!!

Ruby Johnson age - 41 years old

I had been having migraine headaches twenty-four hours a day, for the past
four and a half years. I received whiplash from a previous accident in
January, 2005.  For me, eating and sleeping had become quite a chore.

One day, while reading the newspaper, I came upon an article by Dr. Amy
Spoelstra.  I wondered if she might be able to help me improve my
condition and overall health. I had already been to nine medical doctors
without any relief.  After just a few visits, my headaches got better,
going from a 10 to a 3 in pain intensity.  I also stopped having them on a
daily basis.

Since beginning a corrective care plan with Dr. Spoelstra, I have been
able to sleep without headaches and eat with my family again. My visits to
the office are short and sweet and the staff is warm and welcoming.  The
best part is that now my whole family is seeing Dr. Amy.  The healing
process has become a family affair!  I like that!

I plan on staying active and healthy, living without pain.   Thank you,
Dr. Amy, for educating me about chiropractic care!

Jeri Midgley - age 50 years old

My husband found Dr Amy. He had gone into her office for his business and
she noticed he was in intense pain from the way he walked. She immediately
took him in and started to make a difference in his life. What a
difference she made too. I followed his lead and started to see Dr. Amy in
2008 for the back pain I had been suffering from since 1993.  I had tried
surgery, chiropractors and physical therapy and was feeling better until
another accident in 1998.  At that time, the chiropractic and physical
therapy gave little relief, which left me with the option of pain
medication. . My back pain varied from a 10 to a 5 (1 being the lowest and
10 being the highest pain ever felt).  Five is a livable pain, but not an
enjoyable life.

By the time I saw Dr. Amy for the first time, my quality of life had been
affected in several different ways since 1993.  In the beginning, I
stopped doing everything; then there were days when the pain was only a 6
or a 5.  When I started seeing Dr Amy, I also suffered from migraines, at
least monthly. These would leave me incapacitated for hours at a time.

My husband’s and my favorite avocation is to garden. We do this in a big
way, with a garden that is over 4,000 sq feet. This is a labor of love for
the most part. When we are in pain however, this becomes a chore we both
dread.  After I had been seeing Dr Amy for a few months, gardening became
an enjoyable endeavor again and the garden is beautiful and fruitful.

A couple of surprising benefits that I have experienced during
chiropractic care, is the relief from hay fever and heartburn.  This year
is the first in many that my sense of smell has returned and I didn’t have
to sneeze my way through the growing season. I have also not had to take
the prescription medication for my heartburn for months. My life has
greatly improved in all areas!  My headaches and back pain are much better
and I can sleep again.

Thank you, Dr Amy. You are wonderful!

Laina Walkington -age 23 years old

I had ongoing headaches and nothing would relieve the pain.  I lived with
the pain for 3-4 years.  In the beginning I would take ibuprofen, but it
stopped working.  So…  I thought I would just live with the pain.
Depending on the day, but my pain would average at 7 (1 being the lowest
and 10 being the highest). The headaches affected my life in many ways.  I
wouldn’t want to do anything but go to sleep in a very dark room.

Unexpectedly, Spoelstra Family Chiropractic brought a massage therapist to
our bank for Banker’s Appreciation Month.  They gave all the employees a
15 minute chair massage.  I was really impressed by the massage therapist
and she referred me to Dr. Amy.

Now I feel like a whole new person!  It is amazing to live without
headaches.  I feel that I am a better person to be around and can enjoy
the little things in life.  My job performance has improved.  I am also
getting married in May and one of my goals was to improve my posture.  I
have always looked and felt so tense.  Now I feel and look confident.

I want to thank Dr. Amy and Tiana for being such positive role models in
my life and feel so happy to have met them.  I look forward to my visits
and can’t wait for my future appointments.

Mary Morris - age 62 years old

I have had weakness in my legs and pain in my hips and lower back
continuously.  After coming to Coeur d’ Alene in April of 2008, it seemed
the weakness in my legs was getting worse.  I cracked a bone in my ankle
on October 23rd, 2007.  Then, a week later while sitting in my car, I was
hit from behind.  After rehabilitation through Workman Compensation for
my ankle, back and hips for about 4 months, they considered me restored
to health.

When I first started seeing Dr. Amy Spoelstra, the pain was about an 8 and
I pushed myself to do the things I needed to do each day.

I work with 2 children each day from 9 am to 7 pm.  These children are 10
and 14 years old.  They need someone who is at least semi-active, and I
was having a hard time doing anything with them.  I improvised as much as
I could, but truth is, children know and call you on things.  They worked
with me, but they didn’t like that I couldn’t do some of the things they
wanted to do.

I didn’t feel like doing many things, and thank goodness my daughter and
her family encouraged me to get up and keep going.  They are a very active
family and I did more with them then I would have done if I had been by
myself.

My daughter had met Dr. Amy at the County Fair, who was able to help her
step-daughter’s scoliosis.  She had such a positive experience from Dr.
Amy that I thought I would give her a chance and see what she could do for
me.  After all, I didn’t believe I could feel any worse.

I had a positive experience in the past with chiropractic.  It was many
years ago and since then I had not found a chiropractor who I thought
helped me, so I was not altogether trusting that this would work.  I felt
I couldn’t lose anything by trying and Dr. Amy had done well by someone I
knew.

My quality of life is so much better in a short amount of time.  I can get
up and down better and walk up and down stairs.  The best part is that I
believe I will continue to get better.

Dr. Amy has helped me believe I can live a healthy life again.  I have
other health problems as well, so if I can’t walk and put some activity in
my life, I won’t have any life at all.  I now believe I will be able to
improve my muscles and have the endurance to strengthen myself to be
healthy again.

I also need to include Amber in this testimonial.  Her massages have
helped to make my muscles stronger and to heal my inner person along with
the straightening of my spine. I continue to benefit from my body working
properly.

Because my mental well-being has improved, my positive attitude will help
me be able to work on other aspects of my physical health, like walking
daily.

Scarlet Fruechtl - age 27 years old

For as long as I can remember I have had stomach and lower back pain.  I
was constantly taking aspirin and using the heating pad.  On a scale of
1-10, 10 being the worst pain possible, I was often at a “9.”  It seemed
like I was always complaining and missed out on so many activities that I
wanted to do.

Since being under Dr. Amy’s care, I can honestly say that now I finally
am free of that pain.  My life is so different now!  I sleep better and
feel younger!  I no longer miss out on any of the fun activities I used
to have to say no to.  I’m no longer miserable and tired!

I really like Dr. Amy’s friendly, informative, gentle and holistic
approach to chiropractic care.

I’m now a much healthier, happier and more energetic person.  Pain no
longer rules my life!

Renee Blythe - age 53 years old

As I awoke one morning, there was not a place on my body that didn’t hurt
or ache: my hair, eyelids, everything.  I had limited energy and had been
having increasing problems with my fingers, wrists, and hip.  I know
chiropractic care could help my hip, so I thought I’d see if it could help
my hands and wrists too.  I’d been putting it off, but was feeling lousy,
so I made the call to Dr. Spoelstra.

My son, Dante, was already seeing Dr. Amy for chiropractic care, so I made
an appointment and went in.  Under regular care, my energy returned.  The
problems in my fingers, wrists, and hands improved to the point that most
days, I am pain-free and have full range of motion and flexibility.  In
addition, the numbness and tingling in my hip and hands is gone.
I shudder to think of the state my health might have been in, even in one
year, because I was feeling so badly.  I probably wouldn’t be walking.
Once my treatment plan is completed, I intend to be vigilant in keeping
the recommended follow-up visits.

I like knowing what status my body/bones are in.  Having both chiropractic
care and massages available in the same location is convenient and
practical.  I appreciate how Dr. Amy and Amber (massage therapist) work
together to manage my care.

Kelly Sheffield - age 41 years old

I first came to Spoelstra Family Chiropractic for back pain.  I’ve also
had neck pain for many years and have been under chiropractic care in the
past.  My back pain began affecting my life last fall with an average pain
of “7”  (1 being lowest and 10 being  worst pain).  My back pain became
constant!  Every time I took a step or when I sat for too long the pain
became intolerable.  Essentially, I lay down a lot!

I met Dr. Spoelstra through Women In Business.  It had been several years
since I’d been adjusted and my back was really bothering me.  Let’s just
say I was in the right place at the right time.

Now I feel FANTASTIC!!  My back is no longer on my mind and my neck and
sinuses are much better.  I am able to be more physically active which is
great because I am a “woman on the go!”

I am so pleased to be able to get my life back!  I have had chronic sinus
issues and did not realize how much my neck misalignments affected my
sinuses.  To make life even better, I’ve been able to dodge the flu that
I’ve been exposed to all winter.  I learned that this was due to the boost
in the immune system after each adjustment.

Thank you for helping me feel so great.  Your staff is so nice and
friendly, it’s always a pleasure to come to each appointment.  I also
appreciate how affordable and fast each appointment is.  I especially love
the fact that my neck doesn’t have to be “cranked” to be adjusted.  Dr.
Amy you are the best!  Thank you for giving back to the community and may
your business be blessed.

Dan Ross - age 50 years old

I first heard about Dr. Spoelstra from seeing the ad in the newspaper,
offering an exam and consultation for a donation to a charity.  I had been
having headaches, almost daily, and my neck and lower back felt bound up.

Since seeing Dr. Spoelstra on a regular basis, I have no more headaches.
I had fluid in my ears, which is gone, too.  I just feel better, overall.
I would hate to think of where my health would be in a few years, if I
hadn’t started coming to Dr. Amy.  Because of my lower back issues, I
would possibly be in a wheelchair and still be having constant headaches.

I think my overall health will be better as I continue to see Dr. Amy, and
I know it is the only answer for my lower back problem.  Chiropractic is
an easy and natural way to deal with health issues.  The three ladies on
staff are awesome, very professional, and a pleasure to be around.