My name is Michael Swartztrauber and I am a D.C., a chiropractic doctor. The name, for sure, is a mouthful, so feel free to just call me “Dr. S” or “Doc”.

I’ve been a Houstonian since five and went to T.H. Rogers Middle School and The High School for Performing and Visual Arts as a violinist. I later attended North Texas State for music, U. of H. for pre-med coursework and received my post-graduate professional degree from Texas Chiropractic College in 1989. For over twenty-five years, I’ve had the good fortune to be married to my wonderful wife Valerie, and together, we have four good-hearted, smart, funny children aged 17-27. When not practicing, my interests lie in art, design and music and for relaxation, I build furniture and play guitar.

Destiny Interrupts

Like many of my patients, I had only a vague idea of what chiropractic was prior to being introduced to it while working as a professional musician. After one particular out-of-town engagement, we were returning to Houston early in the morning on a chartered bus. And, like everyone else after a long night of playing and moving equipment, I fell into a dead sleep sitting up in one of the bus seats with my neck in an awkward position .

When I woke up, although my neck felt “funny”, it wasn’t painful. The next morning was a different story; my neck was locked down in steel cable spasms and just the slightest movement spiked the pain to wincing levels. I was miserable!

The pain motivated me to get over my fear of the unknown and make an appointment with my mother’s chiropractor. I walked into his office with my head almost laying on a shoulder and in intense pain and left an hour later with my head returned to upright and feeling considerably better. What this doctor was able to do with his hands-without medications, without needles, without surgery- was so impressive, I decided right then and there to go through the six more years of school it would take to do the same for others.

I’ve Seen Miracles

I’ve been a chiropractic doctor now for several years and have had a great career. I’ve been honored to be called back to teach at my alma mater, work for the State of Texas as a State Board Examination writer and have gone to two Winter Olympics as a treating doctor. I guess because chiropractic is unfamiliar to many, folks appreciate knowing this stuff.

But I’ll tell you, what's most most exciting is what happens in practice every day. I love the difficult, chronic cases where someone has “tried everything” to get rid of a problem that’s been depleting their lives of joy, time, and resources for years. Uncovering the true cause and getting that person back to playing with their children, hitting a round of golf, or simply able to go for an evening walk with their spouse is what I think this is really all about.