2,872 Days as a Chiropractor, and This is Something That I Think You Should Know…

Chiropractic first. Drugs second. Surgery last.

Stepwise, it’s the only “health care” process that makes sense to me.

Eight years ago when I opened my chiropractic office in St Louis, it seemed hard to believe that anyone would resort to invasive surgery without first exploring safer, more natural alternatives.

2,872 days later, I’m no longer surprised. Back pain? Disc fusion. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Wrist surgery. Knee pain? Arthroscopic surgery. Facial pain? Nerve obliteration.

I’ve met a patient who opted for radically experimental brain surgery to stop seizures… another patient who was experiencing numbness/tingling in the fingers and elected to receive complete cervical fusion because his orthopedic surgeon told him that it “might” help. And how can I forget the patient who paid over $50,000 out-of-pocket for an elective surgical procedure in Europe for back pain? None of these patients ever consulted a chiropractor until after their procedures failed.

Hidden within these experiences is a valuable lesson we can all learn from… Investigate every possible alternative before undergoing elective surgery!

This is not anti-surgery propaganda. I believe that surgery is important. In many ways, it’s a blessing. There’s no doubt that it saves lives. But there’s a time and a place for surgery – and you should not make the decision lightly, or assume that all of your problems will magically disappear with the help of a scalpel.

When you’re faced with a health problem, learn everything you can about the condition. Get a second or third opinion if you have to… But don’t just leap into action without fully understanding the different options available to you.

While chiropractic won’t be “the” solution for everyone, it’s a great place to start. It’s safe, non-invasive, and has helped millions of people.