Dr.'s Blog

Your First Visit, Our Approach, and Why This Will Be Different — A Welcome From Dr. Justin Lee

First off… thank you. Genuinely.

You took 60 seconds to fill out that form online, met me at the gym, or a random event. Most people scroll right past health content, or too bashful/prideful to speak up, even when they know they could use the help. They tell themselves they’ll deal with it later. You didn’t. You raised your hand and said I’m ready to actually do something about this.

So before we even meet — I want to welcome you to Minnetonka Family Chiropractic and give you a real, honest look at who we are, how we help people, and exactly what your first visit is going to look like. No surprises. No salesy fluff. Just the stuff I’d want to know if I were in your shoes!!

Let’s get into it.

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Who We Are

I’m Dr. Justin Lee. I’ve been practicing in this office since 2018, and our team here at Minnetonka Family Chiropractic has been serving the west metro for over 15 years. We’ve helped thousands of people — and we’re not just adjusting backs and sending folks on their way.

A little about me personally — I grew up in Minnesota. Played all sorts of sports growing up, and enjoyed everything lake-life. I played junior hockey in Sioux Falls and in Dallas, TX before playing collegiate hockey. And I still play for fun once or twice a week! I’ve been competing in CrossFit at a high level for over a decade, and I’m a dad. I live this stuff. The same care I deliver in this office is the same care I rely on to keep MY body performing, healing, and recovering. I’m not preaching anything I don’t practice myself.

Here’s what makes our approach different…

A lot of chiropractors tell you to come in when it ‘hurts’, crack your back and send you out the door in 5 minutes. That’s not what we do. We take a corrective care approach — meaning we’re not chasing your symptoms around in circles, we’re getting to the actual cause of what’s going on so your body can do what it’s designed to do… heal.

Because here’s the truth most people never get told:

You’re not broken. Your body has incredible healing capacity built right in. Our job is to find what’s interfering with that capacity — structurally, neurologically, nutritionally — and clear the interference so your body can finally start working WITH you instead of against you.

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How We’ll Help You Get The Best Care Possible

I’ve seen a lot of approaches in healthcare. A lot of them treat symptoms; slap a bandaid on it and call it a day. We do things a little differently. Here’s the framework we use with every single person who walks through the door:

1. We listen first. Like, really listen. I spend 35–50 minutes with you on your first visit. That’s not a typo. Most providers spend 7–12 minutes with a patient. We go deep on your history, your goals, what you’ve already tried, what’s actually limiting your life right now.

2. We take SPECIFIC digital X-rays. Looking at the structure of your spine from every angle that matters. Why? Because the spine is housing and protecting your entire nervous system — the thing that controls every organ, tissue, and cell in your body. I’m not going to guess what’s happening in there. I’m going to KNOW.

3. We build YOUR plan — not a template. After we review your films, I sit down with you for 30–50 minutes during your Report of Findings visit and walk you through exactly what we see, what it means, and what we’re going to do about it. You’ll see normal X-rays for comparison. You’ll understand WHY your body is doing what it’s doing.

4. We support you across all 5 Essentials. More on this in a minute — but adjustments alone aren’t enough. True healing happens when we’re looking at the whole picture.

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What To Expect On Your First Visit

This is the part I want you to actually read. Because if there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s people skipping their appointment because they were nervous or didn’t know what to expect.

Then, nothing changes, and you don’t receive the perspective and care you deserve.

Visit 1 (about 35–50 minutes): You’ll walk in, get checked in by our front desk team (Aubrey is the best, she’ll take great care of you). I sit down with you for a real consultation — your history, your goals, what’s been bothering you, even stuff you don’t think is related. A lot of times the dots connect in ways people don’t expect. Then we do a functional assessment, and if it’s appropriate, we take specific digital X-rays of your spine.

Good work!! You’ve already taken such an empowering step for your health. REAL health and healing.

Visit 2: Your first adjustment

Now that I have a clear view of your spine from a structural standpoint, I can put together the best approaches when it comes to adjusting your spine.

This is where the magic really happens!! Every adjustment is going to improve the overall function of the spine, both mechanically as well as neurologically. Most people feel like they have less tension in the body, better range of motion, and simply more relaxed after their adjustment. One of the most common “side-effects” that I hear about is how great people sleep!

Many issues have manifested for quite some time (even decades!) so progress can vary. But, at this point I will have a better idea of how your body will respond to adjustments so I can put together my best recommendations for you.

Visit 3: Report of Findings (about 30–50 minutes): This is one of the most important visits you’ll ever have when it comes to your health. I’ve already analyzed your X-rays. I’ve gotten you adjusted. And Now I have my recommendations to cover with you from the standpoint of what will create the optimal results.

I sit down with you (and your spouse – highly recommend this, by the way) and I walk you through exactly what’s going on — structurally, neurologically, and what it means for the symptoms you’ve been dealing with.

You’ll get your first adjustment. You’ll get a complete recommendation for in-office care AND home care. You’ll know exactly what we’re doing and why.

People tell us all the time — “nobody has EVER sat down with me and explained things like this.” That’s intentional. You DESERVE this level of empowerment. Knowledge is power. The more you understand, the better results you get.

Going forward: We meet you where you’re at. Some people need higher frequency care up front because their structure and nervous system need it. As your body responds, we scale that down. We re-X-ray at strategic intervals so you can actually SEE the change, not just hope something is happening. And eventually most people transition into wellness care — keeping their body optimized for life, not just managing problems.

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The Top Issues We Help People With

• Chronic back pain and neck pain (even those that haven’t responded to other approaches)
• Headaches and migraines (some of our most dramatic patient transformations live here)
• Sciatica and disc issues
• Shoulder, knee, elbow, hip, and foot/ankle problems
• Sports injuries and athletic performance optimization
• Digestive issues — yes, related to spinal/nervous system function more than people realize
• Sinus and allergy issues
• Sleep problems
• Anxiety and stress-related symptoms
• Postural issues and “tech neck”
• Pediatric issues — colic, reflux, constipation, ear infections, sleep
• Pregnancy-related discomfort (I’m Webster trained for prenatal care)

And honestly — a lot of people come in for one thing and realize after a few weeks that things they didn’t even think were related are improving. That’s because when your nervous system starts functioning better, your WHOLE body starts functioning better.

If you’re dealing with something not on this list — give us a call. There’s a really good chance we can help, or we’ll point you to someone who can. I have colleaques all over the place!

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Why Chiropractic Care — And Why So Specific?

Quick reality check. The premise of chiropractic is actually simple.

Your brain controls everything in your body. And it’s not wireless. It has to send signals out through your nervous system — your spinal cord and the nerves that branch off of it — to every organ, tissue, and cell. That’s how your heart beats, your lungs breathe, your digestion runs, your immune system fights, and your muscles move.

When your spine is structurally off — and we’re not talking vague “alignment” here, we’re talking actual measurable shifts in the curves and position of your vertebrae — it creates mechanical AND neurological interference. Your nervous system can’t communicate properly. And everything downstream of that interference starts to suffer.

This is why we don’t guess. We take X-rays. We measure. We build a plan around YOUR specific structure. And we track progress with updated films so you can see — actually see, on film — what’s changing.

Would you let a dentist work on your teeth without ever looking at them? Without imaging? Without a plan? Of course not. Your spine is protecting your nervous system. We give it that same level of respect.

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The 5 Essentials — Why Adjustments Alone Aren’t Enough

In our office we work with people across what we call the 5 Essentials of Health. Adjustments are powerful — but they’re one piece of a much bigger picture.

1. Chiropractic & Nervous System Health — getting your structure and nerve communication functioning at its best.

2. Nutrition — fueling your body with real, nutrient-dense food. This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being intentional. Most chronic health issues today have a nutritional component, and most people are eating in ways that are quietly inflaming their bodies every day without realizing it. We have all the resources you will need here to make empowering choices that will help you, and your fam!

3. Movement, Oxygen & Exercise — your body was designed to move. Sustainable movement, not extreme intensity. Strength training, cardio, mobility — the stuff that actually keeps you functional for decades.

4. Minimizing Toxins — what you put on your skin, what you breathe, what’s in your water, what’s in your environment. We don’t go overboard with this. We just help you make smart, doable shifts.

5. Mindset & Stress Management — sleep, stress, relationships, faith for those who lean that way. The mental and emotional pieces matter as much as the physical. You can’t out-adjust a chronically stressed-out, sleep-deprived life.

We also offer targeted nutritional support and personalized supplement protocols when people need them. Not because supplements are the answer — but because in today’s world, even people eating well often have specific gaps that get in the way of healing. Our high-quality line of supplements through MaxLiving PurePath is the BEST on the planet. We test, we don’t guess. (If you’re interested, we even offer functional lab testing like the Metabolomix+ panel to get a real look at what’s actually happening inside.)

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SoftWave Therapy — The Tool That’s Changing The Game

One of the things I’m most excited about offering in this office is SoftWave therapy.

SoftWave is electrohydraulic acoustic wave technology — basically, we’re sending focused acoustic waves into tissue that got stuck somewhere between injury and full repair. It activates your body’s endogenous repair pathways. It improves microcirculation. It supports collagen remodeling and helps calm down hypersensitized nerves that have been driving chronic pain.

In plain English? The body already knows how to heal. SoftWave gives it the signal to start.

This isn’t surgery. It’s not injections. There’s no downtime. It’s non-invasive, drug-free, and people typically feel results faster than they’d expect.

What I’ve seen in practice:

• Chronic knee pain (years of meniscus and ACL issues) — significant improvement in just a handful of sessions
• Plantar fasciitis that didn’t respond to PT, orthotics, or anything else — resolving
• Tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, shoulder issues — back to full function
• Chronic low back and SI joint pain — drastically improved quality of life
• Long-standing tendinopathies — finally healing
• Nagging shoulder shoulder issues

We offer a $79 intro SoftWave session for people who want to try it. Honestly, it’s one of the best deals in healthcare for what you actually get. I only start with one session as we need to see if you respond to the treatment. I will then get a better idea how many treatments would be recommended going forward. Typically ranges from 4-10 sessions to get the optimal benefits.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long is my first appointment? About 35–50 minutes. We’re thorough on purpose. Most providers won’t spend nearly this much time with you. But it’s worth it!!

Q: Will I get adjusted on the first visit? We don’t adjust before we have the full picture. We’ve taken thousands of Xrays in our office, and every film shows a story that we would never know without taking them. Everyone is unique, and getting specific films of your spine is step one! We want to know exactly what we’re working with and how to address things best when it comes to your spine and overall health. Your Xrays will also help us develop a specific game plan in terms of home care recommendations as well. I’d rather take an extra day and do it right than rush and miss something. If you insist on getting adjusted the same day due to travel time, etc… please contact our front desk so they can get you scheduled for a time that we can accept such a case. Thanks!

Q: Do you accept insurance? Yes, IF it makes sense for you 🙂 We are primarily a cash-based practice — because typically our patients SAVE more utilizing our cash rates. Typically, people have deductibles to be met, copays, spotty coverage, etc. Our front desk is happy to do a complimentary check for you to looking into all those angles. They do not cover the initial Xrays, which, makes this an even better deal for you!! We basically just covered the cost of a full set of spinal Xrays for you. Once I have my recommendations, then we can see how insurance may, or (probably not) work for you.

And quite honestly, it’s in your best interest that we’re not run by/driven by insurance policies. It lets us deliver the level of care we deliver without insurance dictating treatment. That said, we’ll provide you with documentation you can submit to your insurance, and we can discuss payment options that work for your situation. We have affordable plans designed to remove the financial excuse from getting well.

We take FSA or HSA too!! Great way to utilize it.

Q: Is chiropractic safe? I’ve heard things… Many times… 3rd hand stories.. lol. Chiropractic is one of the safest healthcare interventions you can receive when performed by a trained doctor. Hands down. Yes, people come in with complicated cases with decades of damage/dysfunction. So there can be issues to work around or work through. And there is no EXACT, perfect approach sometimes. Not to mention… life happens outside of our office too. But simply from the treatment you will receive in the office, there is virtually nothing to worry about. We take specific X-rays for a reason — to know exactly what’s going on with your spine before we adjust. We don’t guess. Your chance of getting injured is greater just simply walking from your car, into the office and rolling your ankle.

Long story short – you’ll be in good hands. I will walk you through everything to make sure you’re comfortable and understand everything we’re doing.

Q: I’ve been to a chiropractor before and it didn’t help. Why would this be different? Fair question. A lot of chiropractors take a symptom-relief approach — crack, crack, see ya next week. That can feel good, but it doesn’t create lasting change. We do corrective care. We measure, we plan, we track, and we work to actually change the structure and function of your spine over time. Different goal, different process, different results.

Q: Can my kids come in? Yes. 100%. I adjust kids every day in this office — including my own son. About 60–70% of the kids I see come in for wellness, not because something is wrong. Pediatric chiropractic is one of the most rewarding parts of my week! Kids can develop and function at their best when their body and nervous system are functioning optimally. Just makes sense!!

New borns, to teenagers… It’s super important to get/keep your kiddo as healthy as possible. This world has enough stressors in it. Let’s help them adapt as best as possible.

Common things we see with kids: wellness and optimization (of course!!), slips/falls, aches/pains, ADHD, bed wetting, sleep problems, colic, digestive problems, asthma, allergies, etc.

Q: I’m pregnant — is care safe? Absolutely. I’m trained in various pre-natal techniques and approaches, as well as Webster trained. Pregnancy is honestly one of the most important times to be receiving chiropractic care!! Our moms do AWESOME and thrive throughout their pregnancies. The better your body is able to adapt and function, the better off you will be during pregnancy, labor, and after!!

Q: What if I just want to know more before booking? Then call/text my direct line — (612) 470-9210. Or our front desk at (952) 229-8750. I’d rather have a 5-minute conversation with you to answer your questions than have you sit on the fence forever.

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Your Next Step

You’ve already done the hard part — you raised your hand. Now it’s just a matter of showing up.

When you come in, you’re going to be greeted by a team that genuinely cares about you. You’re going to be listened to. You’re going to walk out with a clearer understanding of what’s going on in your body than you’ve probably ever had. And you’re going to have a plan.

I’m in your corner on this. WE are in your corner. Whatever’s going on, there’s a path forward.

Honestly, I LOVE being able to provide this kind of care. It’s why I do what I do. I want you to walk out of here functioning better than you have in years. I want you to chase your kids around without your back screaming at you. I want you to get back to the gym, the trail, the hockey rink, golf course, whatever your thing is.

If something comes up before your appointment — call me. 952-229-8750.

Don’t cancel. Don’t ghost. Let’s reschedule if we need to, but let’s keep you on the path.

I can’t wait to meet you.

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📍 Minnetonka Family Chiropractic 11349 Highway 7, Minnetonka, MN 55305 📞 Front Desk: (952) 229-8750 📱 Dr. Justin’s Direct Line: (612) 470-9210 🌐 drjustinlee.com

— Dr. Justin Lee, D.C.