Dean Hegarty D.C.

Growing up, my parents, both realtors, worked hard slowly improving homes to rent as there investment, I worked for them when they needed help with general cleaning, cutting up and removing dirty carpet, landscaping and light repair work as a young boy. Unfortunately when lifting a roll of carpet, I severely injured my lower back, I could feel a deep strain or tearing of the disk in my lower back. I was 14.

Over the next few weeks I was not improving and my pain was increasing in severity making sitting and walking any activity very difficult. My back condition eventually worsened so that I had pain shooting down the back of my thighs down into my calf's. The pain was an odd mixture of both pain and numbness. I was told that it was sciatica and would go away. The damaged bulged disk in my lower back worsened to the point that the nerve was severely compressed leading to me having mild bladder control issues.

I can remember attempting to pee, I had to push to get it started and when finishing urinating as I walked away from the bathroom I would continue to uncontrollably dribble a little. Not good.

 

Finally I was taken to my family's medical doctor and x-rays were taken of my lower back. He then told my mom that I might need surgery on my lower back. My mom's friend suggested that I be taken to her chiropractor to see it it would help. I can remember when first being stretched and cracked, oh man it was painful. I continued to be taken to the chiro and after about 8 visits I began to feel relief and move little bit better. Eventually the chiropractic treatments gradually gave me enough relief of my nerve pain that I was able to live a near normal life. This experience and how I used chiropractic to manage my future flare-ups motivated me to become a chiropractor.

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Following undergraduate studies at Arizona State University, I earned my chiropractic degree from the Los Angeles College of
Chiropractic in 1988.

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With a desire to learn science and wellness, my focus has been on the biomechanical causes of lower back and neck pain and working on the underlying factors that cause and contribute to back and neck pain. In my practice, I emphasize addressing both muscular and bony conditions that are causing the muscular, joint and disk discomfort.
 

"Like car maintenance, I believe in addressing and if possible fixing the issues that are causing the pain, not just covering the warning light."

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Outside the office, I enjoy time with the family and friends, enjoy staying active exercising and walking around parks and the lakes here especially Lake Hollingsworth, and have a passion for health good food and outdoor activities.

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​​​  Dr. Dean's Mission Statement:       

 “My desire is to improve the health and well-being of my community so that whoever I put my hands on can enjoy a more functional life as free from physical limitations, sickness, and debilitating pain as possible. I do this by educating each patient and working on their spine to improve its function, thereby improving their quality of life.”