Now, let’s start the official interview!
It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story? How did you get to where you are today?
(Dr. Natalie speaking)
We met in chiropractic school where we were both specializing in sports medicine and soft tissue injuries. After graduating, we went on to work for one of the largest soft tissue specialists in the world, the ultimate goal we had been working so hard to achieve throughout our academic careers. But somewhere along the way, Dr. Robert began to develop excruciating hand and body pain that no longer allowed him to do the soft tissue therapies that we specialized in. We looked high and low for answers within the traditional medical model, but he was turned away by numerous physicians and rheumatologists because he didn’t fit their mold for a patient who should be in chronic pain. After all, he was a seemingly healthy, athletic, 30 something-year-old male who eats well, exercises and takes care of himself. The pain continued to get worse and he was forced to take time away from his dream job. He was now in chronic pain and also clinically depressed. In an attempt to find some answers, I reached out to a patient regarding her unique journey with chronic pain. She recommended a provider who specialized in a more natural approach to healing so I made an appointment right away. After all, what did we have to lose? We were desperate for answers and willing to try anything if there was a chance that it would help. Within a week of treatment, Dr. Robert could make a fist and touch his toes for the first time in over a year, and we knew immediately that this type of treatment was indeed working. As clinicians, we dove into the research and fell in love with what we found. Our dream of working with athletes slowly shifted into a dream of healing those that were suffering from the type of pain Dr. Robert had once experienced. The type of pain that not only disrupts your quality of life but also disrupts your relationships, your laughter and your feelings for hope and happiness. We wanted to give these patients their lives back just as this doctor had given Dr. Robert his life back. We didn’t choose where we are today. It chose us.
I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way? *
(Dr. Robert speaking)
When I started experiencing the debilitating hand and body pain, I had to come to the realization that I was no longer able to perform the work that I so desperately wanted to do. I felt as if I was letting people down- my patients, my family and myself. I wasn’t able to give the care that my patients deserved so I made the difficult decision to step away and trusted that God would provide. And that He did. Looking back on that time, the pain was actually a blessing in disguise. It opened my eyes to a world of natural medicine where nutrition and lifestyle changes can heal people of chronic pain and do so without devastating side effects. Since then, I have dedicated my career to learning as much as I can to help others the way that I was once helped. I have earned additional certifications in functional diagnostic nutrition, vitamins and supplementation, and I currently work full-time as a functional medicine consultant for medical doctors, chiropractors, dieticians and other healthcare providers in the Central Texas area.
My wife continued to work on soft tissue injuries in an Urgent Care environment during my career transition but used her free time to study nutrigenomics and nutritional standards for bloodwork analysis. At the height of the Covid19 pandemic, she felt called to transition away from sports medicine so that she could focus more on educating her patient base on the importance of preventative health and wellness. As a result, our vision of Fredrickson Health Solutions was born, and she left her relatively stress-free, great-paying job to be the primary treating provider in our own chiropractic and functional medicine clinic. Starting a new business during a global pandemic hasn’t exactly been easy, but it sure has been rewarding. We thank God every day for the opportunity to do so.
Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition? *
(Dr. Natalie speaking)
When Dr. Robert and I opened Fredrickson Health Solutions, we wanted to provide our patient base with natural solutions for chronic and acute pain. While we have a good amount of patients who come in for manual therapy and shockwave therapy to address soft tissue injuries, a large portion of our patient base comes to us in chronic, systemic pain. We utilize nutrigenomics testing and bloodwork analysis to uncover sites of metabolic weakness and then offer nutritional and supplementation recommendations based on our findings. We also offer other types of testing to identify micronutrient deficiencies, gut inflammation and food sensitivities that could also play a role in certain patients’ chronic pain symptoms. By looking at the patient from a functional medicine perspective, we are able to get to the root cause of the pain and make an impact systemically instead of just treating the symptoms.
What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life? *
(Dr. Robert speaking)
My wife and I often have “gut feelings” that guide our decision-making. We have learned not to ignore those feelings. Your gut makes the same chemicals that your brain makes when it thinks. So when we get a strong “gut feeling” about something, we believe that it’s actually our body remembering, thinking and deciding on the matter at hand. And then we pray and ask for clarity on our decision-making. We have found that even when our rational brain is telling us otherwise, our gut usually guides us in the right direction. If you’re considering a career change or feeling like the traditional medical model is failing you, don’t ignore those feelings. It may be your gut directing you along your own alternative path.
Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you? *
(Dr. Natalie speaking)
Success is something that you must define for yourself. For me specifically, I define my success by being able to give back to others while providing a happy life for my two boys. As a working mom in a profession that is primarily made up of men, I successfully fight gender stereotypes while proving my value in the healthcare industry. I manage to work full-time treating patients and come home to care for my kids and family. Owning our practice has given me more flexibility in my schedule so that I can attend my kids’ school events and extracurricular activities. Yet I still receive five-star reviews from patients telling me that their lives are forever changed because of me. Being able to have both of those things at the same time, defines my success.
What’s next for you? *
(Dr. Robert speaking)
My wife and I have a vision of growing Fredrickson Health Solutions into a large integrative medicine clinic where physicians and chiropractors can work together to provide our patients with a holistic medical approach to promote healing and optimal health. The traditional medical approach is failing so many people, and we would like to change that. By working alongside physicians and coming together to provide the best care for each patient, we believe we can make the most impact.
Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more? *
(Dr. Natalie speaking)
You can find us on most social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Dr. Robert also hosts a podcast called the Fredrickson Health Show that can be viewed through YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts where he interviews other healthcare practitioners from all realms of health, fitness, injury prevention, functional medicine and integrative medicine on the subject of upgrading and optimizing your health. Finally, our website (www.FredricksonHealthSolutions.com) highlights our clinic information as well as bi-weekly blog posts and research articles regarding our interests and specialties.
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