ABOUT DR. RICHARD SHACKSNOVIS
I was born in Natal into a medical family. My father was a general surgeon, my brother an anaesthetist, and mother, a nurse who headed the ambulance service training, ICU and surgical wards. Healing has always been a part of my life.
But I wasn’t always sold on chiropractic. In fact, I knew nothing of it until I really needed it. And I do mean really needed it! At 18 I fell on the back of my neck experiencing total loss of neck movement and crushing pain. I tried several therapies and finally, in desperation, went to a chiro.
My parents were not too sure that chiropractic would work for me, and like most first time patients, I was a bit sceptical as well. When I walked out of his rooms, in no pain, that scepticism had turned to amazement! The manipulation was a tad scary, to say the least, but the cure was instantaneous and from then on I was sold on chiropractic. I remember thinking then and there that “there is something to this” and realised, “this is for me!”
I attended the Durban University of Technology and graduated in 2005.
From there the decision to set up in Cape Town was an easy one. Cape summer holidays had been wonderful and I had fallen in love with the area, who wouldn’t with beautiful wine estates to the North and the “Mountain” to the South and amazing people sandwiched between.
My philosophy is to treat patients much like I would treat my family. So when you visit, think of me as a combination of a little bit Dad, a little bit Mom or sibling and a good measure of Doctor. Like any of them, I will always treat you with kindness, fun, and every now and then, when I think it’s necessary, a little bit of “I told you so!” Most of all, I want to relieve your pain as soon as possible.
I am excited about my life and my work, and would love the opportunity to talk to you about how chiropractic and natural health care can help you reach your full health potential.