Chiropractic care for patients from St. John and Water Island

Neither St. John nor Water Island has a chiropractor of its own, so getting adjusted usually means a ferry ride first. That is normal for a lot of our patients. Some come over from Cruz Bay or Coral Bay every few weeks for a standing appointment. Some are Water Island residents who cross from Crown Bay for a single visit and are back home before lunch. This page is about making that trip worth it: one visit that actually gets something done.

Tradewinds Chiropractic & Wellness is in the VI Medical Foundation Building, Suite 202, 9150 Estate Thomas, just east of Charlotte Amalie. Dr. Keys is the Chair of the Virgin Islands Board of Chiropractic Examiners, a member of the Virgin Islands Chiropractic Society, and the International Chiropractors Association representative for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Getting here from St. John or Water Island

From St. John, the passenger ferry from Cruz Bay lands at Red Hook on the east end of St. Thomas, and a smaller direct ferry runs between Cruz Bay and the Charlotte Amalie waterfront. Either way, our office is a drive across the island from the dock, through town. Taxis and rental cars are available at both landings.

From Water Island, the ferry from Crown Bay Marina is a short crossing, and Crown Bay is on the opposite side of Charlotte Amalie from us, so it is a short drive through town from there as well.

Call before you leave the dock and tell us your ferry schedule. We will plan the exam, the treatment, and any x-rays for one visit where we can, so you are not making the crossing twice for one problem.

What we treat

The conditions are the same ones we see in any St. Thomas patient: low back and neck pain, sciatica, shoulder and knee pain, headaches, and pinched nerves. St. John adds its own wear and tear, steep trails in the national park, uneven ground on Reef Bay or Ram Head, gardening and groundskeeping on hillside properties, and villa and resort work that has people on their feet or lifting all day. See our lower back pain page, our neck pain page, and our hospitality and service workers page for that last group. Boat owners and charter guests based out of Cruz Bay or Coral Bay for the season should also see our boat and charter crew page.

How we treat it at Tradewinds

The first visit is a full history and a hands-on and neurological exam, with digital x-rays on site when the exam calls for them, so we are not sending you back to St. John with an open question. Dr. Keys adjusts using Gonstead, Diversified, and extremity techniques, with flexion-distraction or the drop table when a low back does not want direct force, and instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization for tight muscles from hiking or standing work. For tendon pain that has hung on for months, we offer extracorporeal shockwave therapy. Our free spinal MRI review is still offered: bring the disc in and Dr. Keys goes over it with you. Medicare patients are not eligible for it.

If you need more than one visit, we build a plan around the fact that you are not coming from down the street. That might mean two closer-spaced visits while you are on this side of the water, or a plan to check in every few weeks if that is your normal rhythm already.

When you should see someone else

Some things need faster care than a ferry ride allows. Go to the nearest hospital emergency room on St. Thomas, or call 911, for any of these:

• Loss of bowel or bladder control, or numbness in the saddle area
• Weakness in an arm or leg that is getting worse
• A fall or injury with a joint you cannot put weight on
• Fever with back pain, or a hot, swollen joint
• Chest pain, trouble breathing, or the worst headache of your life

If you are on St. John when something urgent comes up, St. John's own health center in Susannaberg can see you faster than a crossing to St. Thomas will. Use it, or call 911, rather than waiting for a ferry.

Getting seen

Call (340) 690-4994 or email info@tradewindschiropractic.com before you head to the dock, so we can plan around your ferry. We are in the VI Medical Foundation Building, Suite 202, 9150 Estate Thomas, St. Thomas, USVI 00802. Hours are Mon, Wed, Thu: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm; Tue, Fri: 7:00 am to 2:00 pm; closed Sat and Sun. We take walk-ins and same-day appointments. Our full list of services is on the services page.

Questions patients ask

Is there a chiropractor on St. John?

Not currently. Tradewinds Chiropractic & Wellness in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, sees patients from St. John regularly. Most come by the Cruz Bay to Red Hook ferry or the direct Cruz Bay to Charlotte Amalie ferry, then a short drive to our office. Call ahead and we will plan the visit around your schedule.

Do you see patients from Water Island?

Yes. Water Island residents cross by ferry to Crown Bay Marina, which is a short drive from our office through Charlotte Amalie. Call (340) 690-4994 and we will work around your crossing.

Can I get everything done in one visit if I'm coming from St. John?

Usually, yes, for a first visit. We do the exam, take x-rays if the exam calls for them, and treat you the same day when appropriate, so you are not making a second crossing for the same problem. Tell us that when you call so we can plan for it.

What if I need ongoing care but live on St. John or Water Island?

We build a plan around your travel, not a standard weekly schedule. Some patients come every few weeks and do more at each visit. Tell us your usual routine and we will fit care into it rather than asking you to cross more than you need to.