Dr. Eliesha Evans, of Evans Chiropractic & Pain Relief Laser Clinic, has a steadfast determination to help her patients get well. Her never-give-up attitude goes back to her childhood; while growing up in Green Bay, she was severely injured in a car accident. Undeterred by the long recovery process, she sought chiropractic care as part of her treatment, which greatly helped her recover from her injuries.

While working as an athletic trainer and in orthopedic rehabilitation, Evans considered a career in conventional medicine. Instead, she found herself drawn to chiropractic due to its hands-on approach, and because the chiropractic care model allows doctors to spend more time with patients. In 1992 she graduated from the National University of Health Sciences, in Lombard, Illinois, and opened her practice in New Berlin in 1995. At Evans Chiropractic & Pain Relief Laser Clinic, she incorporates wellness modalities such as laser therapy, nutrition counseling, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and more into her chiropractic care.

Most importantly, Evans says, is figuring out the “whys” behind illness. “For successful treatment, you have to know what to do, and when,” she emphasizes. Being in the chiropractic profession for over 20 years, she has seen a lot of changes, so she continues her education in order to keep current with new state-of-the-art technology.

The practice is one of the few chiropractic clinics in southeast Wisconsin to offer MLS class 4 robotic laser therapy, which uses specific wavelengths of light to help tendons, ligaments and muscles repair themselves. A secondary wave helps control pain sometimes associated with recovery. Evans uses the MLS laser to treat knee, hip, shoulder and wrist pain; tendonitis; arthritis; cartilage damage; and other pain and mobility issues. “Using the laser, we get amazing outcomes for a person’s condition. This technology blew the doors off everything we previously knew about treating these issues,” she says.

Since nutritional deficiencies can lead to inflammation-related pain issues, Evans became board certified in functional medicine through the Cleveland Clinic. She’s also a clinic fellow at the Chiropractic Hand & Foot Clinics of America, where she studied advanced techniques on how to adjust feet, knees, shoulders and hands. When appropriate, she also incorporates Rapid Release Technology therapy, a chiropractic approach that uses high-frequency vibrations to break up scar tissue and muscle tension.

“Once I see a patient, we come up with a game plan, and we work together. That’s why I like practicing chiropractic, because I work with patients to educate them about their bodies: what the body needs, and why they are in the pickle that they’re in,” Evans says. “We also use the dried urine test known as the DUTCH Test for comprehensive hormones. It’s the gold standard for hormone testing. It’s precise, and it’s the only test that gives us a clear indication of the imbalances that a patient might have.”

Evans partners with Elizabeth Brink to offer massage therapy, acupuncture and cupping, and the two practitioners work together to devise a treatment plan that is unique for each patient. Evans is also certified in the Kinesio Taping method, which can improve lymphatic drainage, reduce pain and support muscle function, and her rehabilitation therapy includes core stabilization and balance retraining so that patients learn how to keep their bodies functioning properly once they leave the clinic.

Education is the main key to wellness, she reiterates, and her patients leave with a folder full of educational information about exam findings, health goals and how to achieve those goals. She also interacts with her patients’ families. “I always engage the patient’s spouse or significant other,” she says. “Pain is something you can’t see, and illness affects the whole family, so it’s important for patients to get support during the recovery process.”

Evans reveals that her ultimate goal is to give patients their lives back. “People want to get better. They want to hike and enjoy their grandchildren. I don’t know many people who are happy just sitting around,” she laughs.

Evans Chiropractic & Pain Relief Laser Clinic is located at 15720 W. National Ave., New Berlin. For more information, call 262-785-5515 or visit NewBerlinChiro.com.

Sheila Julson is a Milwaukee-based freelance writer and regular contributor to Natural Awakenings.