04/19/2010
The image above is a screen capture of a question that was addressed to me through MedHelp.org. Here we have a 55-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD). Think of it as arthritis of the spine. To help ease the pain, she takes two extremely powerful and potentially addictive narcotics (morphine & oxycodone).
She’s had quite the surgical history with three open heart surgeries, including three heart valve replacements, installation of a pacemaker, and 26 high voltage shock treatments designed to restart an irregular heart beat.
She’s taking two medications for diabetes, one for high blood pressure and one for a thyroid problem. An area neurosurgeon refused to perform surgery because of her dependency on coumadin, a blood-thinning medication.
And if that wasn’t enough, she also takes 15 “other” medications.
The first thing that came to mind when I read her question was: “21 different medications, 3 open heart surgeries, and NOW you’re asking about alternative medicine?”
This question is a great example of how often people turn towards alternative health care at the wrong time. It wasn’t until medication #21 that she inquired about alternative treatments. And she’s not an exception… millions of people just like her wait far longer than they ever should before investigating more holistic or preventive measures.
The results a person can achieve with alternative health care are noteworthy, but to physically and chemically abuse your body for decades and then expect a chiropractor, naturopath, or acupuncturist to “cure” you is both irresponsible and unrealistic.
Natural solutions should be the first thing people consider. That means before you beat a path to the pharmacy and before you buy your heart surgeon a new Mercedes… Not after.
