In this series of blogs I am tracking on one person who came to see me recently. I want to point out the lessons that he has brought to me.
To sum up the last blog – The basic reason for us to do what we do must be crystal clear. Your philosophical ‘why’ drives your intent, which drives your evidence and your actions.
Now, let me link back to our mate Bill.
The recommendations for care that I gave Bill, our pot bellied rubbish truck driver were based on a logical process of reasoning that came from my philosophy. Any interference to brain/spine communication is an anti-life factor and is the target for a chiropractors investigation.
But what is the science behind these assertions. Are they just pseudoscientific waffle or do they have merit on investigation.
It was only a few visits into his care when Bill report that his back pain had gone and it was easier for him to drive his truck.
Herein lay another lesson that Bill was presenting me. The presenting symptoms have gone and therefore so must he in some people’s book. What kept me checking and adjusting him? Was it the money he was paying? Was it that I needed the numbers? Was it some philosophical notion about the spiritual stuff that kept me going with him?
But I kept adjusting beyond the disappearance of the presenting symptoms. Another week or so and he reported feeling taller and breathing better, sleeping better. His digestion has also improved.
Now that his presenting symptoms had cleared and some other (obviously non related signs and symptoms had cleared) shouldn’t I now dismiss him even though he hadn’t gone through the prescribed care – isn’t checking and adjusting Bill from now on over servicing?
Well, midway through a sequence of care in our practice we do a subjective feedback opportunity with our people. It was time for that.
Bill had trouble on this care assessment. I don’t know whether it was his dyslexia or his lack of ability to express himself in the written form but he struggled to write down too much.
As he put the form down his whole physiology made a shift. He began to describe that since he has been under care he has cleaned to whole house inside and out – the first time in years. He has made untold trips to the tip with stuff he no longer needs. “The place looks a treat” he said with a wry smirk on his face.
Then this tough Oka truckle started to tear up. “I went to the dog pound today”, he said. “When my Rotty died 2 years ago I swore that I would never get another dog. I think somehow now my heart is opening up to bring another 4 legged mate into my life”, he said.
The only thing that had changed over the past 6 weeks was that Bill got checked and adjusted when and where necessary.
What happens with people when people get adjusted? Many, unfortunately don’t give chiropractic a chance to prove itself as they stop care as soon as the symptoms abate. Some say there is no research into subluxation.
August bodies like the General Chiropractic Council state that. “The chiropractic vertebral subluxation complex is an historical concept but it remains a theoretical model. It is not supported by any clinical research evidence that would allow claims to be made that it is the cause of disease.” (Not that subluxation has ever been claimed to be “the cause of disease”)
Chiropractic Australia is in agreement with the General Chiropractic Council policy statement and support their position on the term VSC.”
Well, I say BS and I will let you know unequivocally that there is a wealth of evidence for chiropractic but it does require the ability to read the right publications.
There is a wealth of evidence for chiropractic’s safety and efficacy and it’s the height of cretinism to suggest that there’s not.
Bill’s second lesson to me was to not be distracted by the person’s symptoms. There is plenty of evidence to support care beyond symptoms.
