The R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method is Dr. Micah Carter’s treatment system for chronic pain that combines quick pain relief with long-term correction. Instead of only managing symptoms, it releases tight muscles, strengthens weak ones, and retrains your neuromuscular patterns so problems are less likely to keep coming back. At Family Tree Chiropractic in Oklahoma City, the goal is lasting results by addressing the root cause, not just the pain.
What Makes the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method Different
In my 23 years treating patients, I’ve seen the same pattern over and over. Someone comes in with chronic pain. They’ve tried pain medication, maybe some physical therapy, perhaps even cortisone shots. They feel better for a while, then the pain returns.
That’s often because treatment focused only on symptoms. Take away the pain temporarily and hope it doesn’t come back. But if you don’t address why the problem started, it usually comes back.
The R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method takes a different approach. We identify the root cause through comprehensive testing, then address every factor contributing to your pain. Tight muscles get released. Weak muscles get strengthened. Your brain learns new movement patterns to help prevent re-injury.
The Five Phases of R.E.S.T.O.R.E.
Phase 1: Rapid Pain Relief
Nobody wants to suffer while waiting for long-term correction to work. That’s why the first phase focuses on reducing your pain as quickly as possible.
We use chiropractic adjustments to restore spinal motion and alignment and to ease pressure on irritated nerves. Many patients feel some relief early in care.
Cold laser therapy helps calm inflammation and support healing without medication. Many patients notice improvement within the first few treatments that combine adjustments and laser therapy.
Phase 2: Release Tight Muscles
Chronic pain often involves muscle problems. Tight, shortened muscles pull your spine and joints out of balance. They can also restrict blood flow to injured areas, slowing healing.
We use the Pedabon system for full spinal correction through targeted stretching. Our licensed massage therapists release deep muscle tension that adjustments alone can’t address.
For stubborn muscle tightness and trigger points, we use shockwave therapy. Our Sanuwave device targets scar tissue and chronic tension that may have been building for months or years.
Phase 3: Strengthen Weak Muscles
Here’s something most patients don’t realize. Chronic pain usually involves both tight muscles and weak muscles. The tight ones get all the attention because they hurt, but the weak ones are often the real problem.
When certain muscles are weak, other muscles compensate and get overworked. Those overworked muscles become the tight, painful ones. If you only release the tight muscles without strengthening the weak ones, the problem often returns within weeks.
We use deep core strengthening and balance training to rebuild the muscles that should be supporting your spine and joints. These exercises help our corrections hold.
Phase 4: Retrain Your Neuromuscular System
This is what makes the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method work long-term. Neuromuscular re-education is a fancy term for muscle memory.
Your brain controls your muscles through learned patterns. If you’ve had pain for months or years, your brain has learned compensating movement patterns. Even after the structural problems improve, those faulty patterns can remain.
We retrain your brain-muscle connection through specific exercises and adjustments. Your nervous system learns new, healthier movement patterns, which helps keep you from falling back into the old patterns that caused your pain.
Phase 5: Ongoing Prevention
The goal is not to have you coming to see me forever. We address the problem, teach your body to maintain the correction, and send you on your way.
Most patients transition to occasional maintenance care after completing their treatment plan, perhaps once a month or every few months, just to keep everything working well.
We also give you home exercises and lifestyle recommendations to help prevent problems from developing again. You become empowered to maintain your own health.
Why Root Cause Matters
At Family Tree Chiropractic, we have a saying: “We do not guess. We test.” Before starting any treatment, we do a comprehensive evaluation to find your root cause.
Let’s say you have lower back pain. That’s a symptom, not a diagnosis. The root cause might be a herniated disc, weak core muscles, a misaligned pelvis from an old injury, or tight hip flexors from too much sitting.
Different root causes need different treatments. That’s why generic treatment plans often fail. They’re treating symptoms, not the actual problem.
Our Diagnostic Process
Every new patient gets a complete physical examination. We do orthopedic tests to evaluate joint function, neurological testing to check nerve function, and muscle testing to identify weakness and imbalances.
We have digital X-ray equipment on-site, so we can see spinal alignment, disc spacing, and structural problems on your first visit when imaging is needed.
For some conditions, we do specialized functional testing. How you move tells us as much as static X-rays. We watch how your body compensates and identify movement patterns that contribute to your pain.
When Pain Needs Medical Care First
Our testing also screens for problems that need a medical doctor. Seek medical care right away for loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin, rapidly worsening weakness, pain with fever or unexplained weight loss, or a sudden, severe headache unlike any before. We will refer you when your findings call for it.
Conditions We Treat with the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method
Chronic Back Pain
Lower back pain that keeps coming back usually has multiple contributing factors. Weak core muscles, tight hip flexors, poor posture, spinal misalignment, and disc degeneration often coexist.
The R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method addresses all of these. We use spinal decompression for disc problems, adjustments for alignment, exercises for strength, and neuromuscular training for lasting correction.
Sciatica
True sciatica comes from nerve compression, but the cause varies. Herniated discs, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, or spinal misalignment can all irritate the sciatic nerve.
We identify which structure is compressing the nerve, then address that specific problem. If it’s a disc issue, we decompress. If it’s muscle-related, we may use shockwave therapy. If it’s alignment, we adjust. Then we strengthen and retrain to help prevent recurrence.
Headaches and Migraines
I actually became a chiropractor because of my own migraines. The medication I was offered left me feeling worse, and chiropractic care is what finally gave me relief.
Many chronic headaches are linked to neck problems. Upper cervical misalignment, muscle tension, and poor posture can all contribute, and the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method targets these underlying issues.
Whiplash and Auto Accident Injuries
Car accidents cause complex injuries. Whiplash damages soft tissues, disrupts spinal alignment, and creates muscle imbalances. Without proper treatment, these injuries can become chronic pain problems.
With my Advanced Competency in Whiplash and Brain Traumatology from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego, I understand the specific biomechanics of auto injuries. We treat all components of whiplash to support a complete recovery.
What Makes Our Approach Comprehensive
We have our core treatment options under one roof. You’re not getting bounced between different offices for different therapies. Everything happens here, coordinated by me.
Chiropractic adjustments restore alignment. Spinal decompression relieves disc pressure. Cold laser supports healing. Massage releases muscle tension. Shockwave therapy targets scar tissue and chronic tension. Exercise rehabilitation builds strength.
Every patient gets an individualized treatment plan. Some people need mostly adjustments with minimal therapy. Others need extensive rehabilitation. We customize based on your specific root cause and goals.
How Long Does Treatment Take?
This depends on several factors. How long have you had the problem? How severe is it? Do you have multiple contributing issues?
Acute injuries often respond quickly. Someone with a new injury might feel significantly better in 2 to 4 weeks. Chronic conditions that have been building for years take longer to correct.
Most patients follow an intensive phase of 2 to 3 visits per week for 4 to 8 weeks. Then we taper to once weekly, then every other week as you improve. The goal is always to get you independent as quickly as possible.
Why Some Cases Take Longer
I actually enjoy treating the most difficult cases. When someone has been suffering for years, tried everything, and nothing worked, that’s when the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method really shines.
These complex cases take more time because multiple systems need correction. But the improvement these patients experience can be life-changing. Getting someone’s life back after years of chronic pain is the most rewarding part of my job.
Real Patient Success Stories
I had a patient who came in with sciatica so severe he said he’d considered amputation. His pain was 10 out of 10. He couldn’t sleep, couldn’t work, couldn’t function.
Using the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method, we identified a herniated disc combined with severe piriformis syndrome. We used spinal decompression for the disc, shockwave therapy for the piriformis, and specific exercises for stabilization.
After one week, his pain dropped to a 7 or 8. After six weeks, he was at a 2. After three months, he was pain-free and back at work. That was two years ago, and he’s still doing great.
Another patient had chronic headaches for over a decade. She’d tried neurologists, pain specialists, and countless medications, and nothing worked long-term.
We found significant upper cervical misalignment and chronic muscle tension. Through adjustments, muscle work, and postural correction, her headaches resolved within eight weeks. Every case is different, and results vary.
The Movement You’re Joining
When you come to Family Tree Chiropractic, you’re not just making an appointment at a doctor’s office. You’re joining a community of people who want to avoid unnecessary medications and surgeries.
We’re people who want to understand the root cause of our problems. We want natural solutions that address issues instead of masking them. We want to be empowered to maintain our own health.
This community matters. You’re surrounded by other patients who share your values and goals, and everyone here believes in the body’s natural ability to heal when given the right support.
Why I Developed This Method
I grew up on a farm in rural Oklahoma. Hard work and persistence were just part of life. Later, I became a teacher before finding my calling in chiropractic.
That teaching background shows in how I approach patient care. I don’t just adjust you and send you out the door. I explain what’s wrong, why it happened, and how we’ll address it.
The R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method came from 23 years of clinical experience and continuing education. I graduated magna cum laude from Parker College, earned advanced certifications in spinal trauma and whiplash, and have treated thousands of patients in Oklahoma City.
What I’ve learned is that lasting results require comprehensive care. You can’t just adjust someone and expect chronic problems to disappear. You need to address all the factors contributing to their pain.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method different from physical therapy?
It combines chiropractic adjustments, decompression, laser, shockwave, massage, and corrective exercise in one coordinated plan. Exercise and rehab are part of it, alongside hands-on spinal care.
Will I need to keep coming back forever?
No. The plan is designed to get you independent, and many patients move to occasional maintenance visits once they’re doing well.
Can the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method help if other treatments failed?
Often, yes, because we look for contributing factors that may have been missed. We’ll tell you honestly after your exam whether we think we can help.
Getting Started with the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method
Your first visit includes everything we need to identify your root cause: a comprehensive consultation about your history and goals, a complete physical examination with orthopedic and neurological testing, and digital X-rays if needed.
On your second visit, I sit down with you for a detailed report of findings. I show you what we found, explain the root cause of your pain, and outline our treatment plan. You’ll understand the “why” behind everything we do.
Our $49 new patient special includes your initial consultation, examination, first adjustment, X-rays if needed, cold laser therapy, report of findings, and a massage voucher. That’s everything you need to get started.
Ready to experience the difference comprehensive care makes? Call Family Tree Chiropractic at (405) 340-4400 to schedule your evaluation with Dr. Carter. We’ll find your root cause and create a customized treatment plan using the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method. Visit our contact page to book online or learn more about our process.
Family Tree Chiropractic in Oklahoma City is committed to advancing patient health through innovative and compassionate chiropractic care. Led by Dr. Micah Carter, our team integrates modern techniques such as shockwave therapy with a holistic approach to pain relief and wellness. We believe in empowering our patients with comprehensive treatment options that address the root causes of pain and promote long-term health and vitality.
