A Multi-Disciplined Approach to Back Care

"I like to merge functional medicine and nutrition principles to reduce inflammation and pain,” says Nancy Gomez, DC, a chiropractic physician and clinical director of the Chicago Back Center (CBC). “Integrating a variety of bodywork and healing techniques produces faster and longer-lasting results for my patients.”

Since July 2011, Gomez has headed up CBC’s office on the northwest side of Chicago. Her passion for using a variety of bodywork methods to support chiropractic practices has made CBC a multidisciplinary center that provides relief to patients of all ages.

Gomez grew up in Miami, Florida, earning a bachelor’s degree in theater. Her curriculum included body-centered courses in dance and movement, an experience that strengthened her interest in the human body and how it moves. Gomez also was influenced by the clinical side of movement; beginning at age 12, she regularly saw a chiropractor for minor scoliosis.

Realizing her passion for muscle movement and the treatment of related disorders, Gomez enrolled in massage school after graduation. “It was such a great experience,” she recalls. “We learned new techniques every week in hands-on clinics that exposed us to many healing modalities. I left that school with a broad understanding of bodywork at many levels.”

Gomez moved to Chicago and was hired by a high-volume therapeutic spa that provided intense hands-on experience. Later, she worked at Whole Health Chicago, gaining experience in clinical massage, fibromyalgia treatments and integrative approaches to healing.

Wanting to take her practice to the next level, she enrolled in chiropractic school, explaining, “I was ready to learn everything about the body and how the different systems interconnect, both physically and internally.” She expanded her knowledge of bodywork through self-study, becoming attuned in Reiki and studied methods to expand her treatment tool kit—including nutrition, functional medicine, soft tissue work, rehabilitation and myofascial release.

She graduated from National University of Health Sciences, in Lombard, and was hired by Chicago’s American Back Center (ABC) to head up their functional medicine department. Partnering with area physicians and physical therapists to provide treatments, Gomez reinforced her belief that many forms of treatment are interconnected and need to be used for complete healing to occur.

At ABC, Gomez worked with Dr. Mitchell Goldflies, a seasoned orthopedic surgeon to whom she referred patients. He was looking to bring a full-time chiropractor to his northwest side office, and Gomez was the perfect candidate. Working with ABC, they opened satellite location CBC, an integrative facility that works closely with Goldflies, as well as physical therapy provider Center of Balance, located in the same building. “We created a multidisciplinary team to provide our patients with the most specific diagnosis of their condition, and to be able to provide full rehabilitation and chiropractic care,” says Gomez.

CBC specializes in VAX-D, a spinal decompression treatment to ease severe lower back pain from herniated or degenerative discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis and certain types of arthritis. CBC and ABC are the only in-city Chicago practitioners to offer this FDA-approved therapy. Gomez explains that VAX-D helps to pull disc tissue back in line, increasing blood and nutrient flow to the affected area. This, she adds, “allows a greater potential for the body to heal itself.”

Gomez uses her interdisciplinary skills to build a custom care program, supplementing chiropractic methods with four major techniques: nutritional protocols and functional medicine to reduce inflammation; trigger point acupuncture to relax muscles; massage; and proper breathing to strengthen core muscles and retrain posture.

Spending at least 30 minutes with clients, Gomez says, allows her to time to nurture patients by working on muscle and soft tissue. “I typically see spinal misalignments coming from muscle imbalances,” Gomez says. “The body is like a pulley system, and overstressed or over-contracted muscles can affect the joint and lead to misalignment. Using massage, I try to release muscle tissue, so I can mobilize the joint and work on the misalignment.”

Gomez prides herself on the level of personal care she is able to provide. She says she does not believe in over-treating her patients, adding “I really listen to a patient’s body and monitor them through re-exams, using all the tools and techniques I’ve developed. I can see how a person’s body and posture change across the treatment, and that helps me determine when treatment is no longer needed.”

Gomez says that while she enjoys treating all of her patients, “My favorite ones, though, are people who really want to take care of themselves, people who have initiative and want to get better. I enjoy the teamwork of doctor and patient working together toward healing.”

Chicago Back Center is located at 6445 N. Central Ave., Chicago. For more information, call 888-236-9641 or visit ChicagoBackCenter.org.