I went to my appointment with an open mind this morning. When I arrived, they were waiting for me, there were no other patients there, so I had a lot of one on one attention from this doctor. He stood me in front of a mirror and showed me how I was standing lopsided and crooked. Then he had me stand on two scales, one foot on each one, to see how my weight was distributed. I have been to chiropractors before, but have never had THAT particular little test done. The result of stepping on those scales showed that I was standing heavier on the left side by 8 pounds. Weird. (FabGrandpa and I joked that it was because I have an 8 pound knot in that arm.)
Then, he used a couple of electronic devices to measure "muscle tightness" and "energy flow" or something like that, in my spine. The results showed that I had a lot of tightness and a lot of electrical impulses on my C1 on the left side, which is what controls the left arm muscles and nerves. He also did some X-rays of my spine and neck, which we will see tomorrow.
After he determined that my body is pretty much screwed up on the left side, he did some "gentle touch adjustments" on my body. I felt almost nothing, but I started to feel better right away. I had a lot of muscle tightness that I didn't even realize. I kept thinking about that old joke that goes "If your head hurts that much, let me stomp on your toe." You know, my arm was hurting so much I did not even feel the pain in my neck.
We made an appointment for me to go back tomorrow, at which time he will do a "laser treatment" on my arm (I do not know what that is since I have never had one.) And if I am not considerably better in a few days, he will refer me to the DO.
After he was finished with my adjustment, he asked me about my diet, and we discussed my gluten free eating habits. He asked me if I was taking any supplements, and suggested that I take Omega 3 fatty acid supplments and a digestive enzyme. He also suggested that we do a very thorough blood, hair, urine lab workup to determine what other things, if any, are going on with me. While I am very interested in this sort of thing, I am not financially prepared to do it at this time, as it is a very expensive panel of tests, and I suggested to him that I wait for that until next winter when we come back to the Phoenix area. He thought that was a good idea.
So, there you have it. My first experience with a naturopathic chiropractor. I was impressed with the attention and time he spent with me. Time will tell if he did me any good.
Showing posts with label chiropractor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chiropractor. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
A Palpable Mass, Part II
A week or so ago, I wrote about my arm, my left arm. I told you about how it is swollen and how it hurts when I pick things up or try to open the door of the truck. I went to a doctor and they sent me to get an ultrasound done on that arm.
Yesterday, they called me to tell me that the ultrasound did not find anything. Well, the exact wording of the report, which I drove over and picked up today, is:
" We studied the area of soft tissue swelling in the left forearm and made comparison images of the right side.
I do not identify a superficial mass or fluid collection on the left side.
The deeper muscles on the left side have a little more globlular shape but no definite abnormality was identified there.
Impression: No discrete sonographic abnormality proved. Deeper forearm muscles have a slightly more globular shape on the left than on the right..."
They went on to say that I should be referred to a primary care physician so that primary care physician can refer me for an MRI. I asked them to refer me to a doctor because I do not know any doctors in the area, and they referred me to the General Practice group that is associated with their Urgent Care Facility.
They also told me that because I am a new patient, I will have to pay a higher fee, even though I have already been seen at their Urgent Care Facility. (what a ripoff, they have the record of my visit already). I made the appointment for Thursday. Then we went over to visit with our friends, Lynda and Charlie. Yeah, even though we were off today we went over there anyway.
I was telling Lynda about my medical stuff to bring her up to date, and I mentioned to her that the "doctor" I thought I saw at the Urgent Care Facility was actually a Nurse Practioner. Now, I have nothing against nurses, or nurse practioners, so if you are one or know a super one, don't go getting your panties all in a wad. It was just that "my impression" of this particular nurse practioner was that she was a ditz. That she was preoccupied with something other than "my" arm when I went in there to see her. And that she could have cared less about my arm. It was a Saturday, and it was close to quitting time when I went there. So, maybe she had other things to think about. That's just how "I" felt about it. That maybe she was not the best person for me to see.
We had met a Naturopathic Chiropractor who came to the Christmas tree lot to buy his family's Christmas tree, and chatted with him about a lot of stuff (we were not that busy). He seemed to have a lot of the same thoughts on medicine as I do, and he gave me his business card. So, while I was at Lynda's I called his office. His receptionist is also his wife, and she remembered me from the tree lot. After I told her what my problem was, we made an appointment for me to go see him tomorrow. If he can not figure out what is wrong with my arm, he will refer me to a Osteopathic doctor who is in practice with him. Right now, I feel like that is the best way for me to go. I feel sort of "led" to go in that direction. Why else would I meet this doctor and strike up a conversation with him, if he was not supposed to be in my life right at this moment. We'll see.
In the meantime, I want everyone to tell me all the horror stories about their best friend's cousin's mother-in-law who had a swollen arm, and what the problem with them was. I want all the scenarios I can get, so I can google them and maybe self diagnose my problem. Comment away, let me know what YOU think may be wrong with me.
I still think, my best guess, is that I have a fracture in the a bone in there. But no one in a medical suit listens to what I have to say.
Yesterday, they called me to tell me that the ultrasound did not find anything. Well, the exact wording of the report, which I drove over and picked up today, is:
" We studied the area of soft tissue swelling in the left forearm and made comparison images of the right side.
I do not identify a superficial mass or fluid collection on the left side.
The deeper muscles on the left side have a little more globlular shape but no definite abnormality was identified there.
Impression: No discrete sonographic abnormality proved. Deeper forearm muscles have a slightly more globular shape on the left than on the right..."
They went on to say that I should be referred to a primary care physician so that primary care physician can refer me for an MRI. I asked them to refer me to a doctor because I do not know any doctors in the area, and they referred me to the General Practice group that is associated with their Urgent Care Facility.
They also told me that because I am a new patient, I will have to pay a higher fee, even though I have already been seen at their Urgent Care Facility. (what a ripoff, they have the record of my visit already). I made the appointment for Thursday. Then we went over to visit with our friends, Lynda and Charlie. Yeah, even though we were off today we went over there anyway.
I was telling Lynda about my medical stuff to bring her up to date, and I mentioned to her that the "doctor" I thought I saw at the Urgent Care Facility was actually a Nurse Practioner. Now, I have nothing against nurses, or nurse practioners, so if you are one or know a super one, don't go getting your panties all in a wad. It was just that "my impression" of this particular nurse practioner was that she was a ditz. That she was preoccupied with something other than "my" arm when I went in there to see her. And that she could have cared less about my arm. It was a Saturday, and it was close to quitting time when I went there. So, maybe she had other things to think about. That's just how "I" felt about it. That maybe she was not the best person for me to see.
We had met a Naturopathic Chiropractor who came to the Christmas tree lot to buy his family's Christmas tree, and chatted with him about a lot of stuff (we were not that busy). He seemed to have a lot of the same thoughts on medicine as I do, and he gave me his business card. So, while I was at Lynda's I called his office. His receptionist is also his wife, and she remembered me from the tree lot. After I told her what my problem was, we made an appointment for me to go see him tomorrow. If he can not figure out what is wrong with my arm, he will refer me to a Osteopathic doctor who is in practice with him. Right now, I feel like that is the best way for me to go. I feel sort of "led" to go in that direction. Why else would I meet this doctor and strike up a conversation with him, if he was not supposed to be in my life right at this moment. We'll see.
In the meantime, I want everyone to tell me all the horror stories about their best friend's cousin's mother-in-law who had a swollen arm, and what the problem with them was. I want all the scenarios I can get, so I can google them and maybe self diagnose my problem. Comment away, let me know what YOU think may be wrong with me.
I still think, my best guess, is that I have a fracture in the a bone in there. But no one in a medical suit listens to what I have to say.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Casinos and Chiropractors
On our last days off we decided to go to Mesquite, Nevada to spend the night. The main reason we decided to spend the night is because FabGrandpa had an appointment with a chiropractor in St. George at 9:30 a.m, and that is 125 miles from our trailer. The reason we went to Mesquite is because the Oasis Casino there only charges $32 per night for a room and they give you $10 for gas and $5 for playing the games. What a deal!
It was a beautiful day:
So, off we went . We had to drive through the Virgin River Gorge between St. George, Utah and Mesquite. It is difficult to describe this area. There are huge rock mountains on both sides of the interstate, so big that they dwarf semi's on the road. But even that does not convey the enormity of it.
If you look at the picture below, you will see the curve in the road, and the semi trucks on the other side, but it still does not show the 6 and 7 percent grades, the winding curves, the sheer drops off the side of the road into the gorge below, and the Virgin River winding through the bottom of it all. It is so spectacular, that I wonder sometimes why people even bother to come to the Grand Canyon after they have driven through this gorge for free. (well, almost, I would still come here...).
We arrived at the Oasis around 4:30 p.m., checked in, took our luggage to the room, and went straight to the casino. I sat down at one penny slot machine and played it for four and a half hours on the free $5.00 they gave me. I was up to about $85 at one point, but you know me, I don't know when to say when, so when I finally walked away from there I was broke, but I still had fun.
We got up early the next morning. The sky was overcast again, outside of the casino, and it did make it look like an Oasis:
We drove over to Dr. Allen's office in St. George, well, really in Washington City, which is right next door to St. George, to the east. The office was about one block off the main drag of Telegraph Road. I dropped FabGrandpa off and went to find a place to park.
When I came into the room, Dr. Allen had FabGrandpa standing behind a screen of sorts that measured how much he was out of alignment. (I love that term, 'out of alignment', it makes me think that his tires are wobbling...) This episode all started because the light bulb blew out in the vent hood over my stove. I need plenty of light to be able to see to cook, so I nagged him long enough until he finally was bent over sideways trying to figure out where to put the new light in. Next thing I know he can barely walk, so off we go on this chiro adventure.
After FabGrandpa was measured and the problem determined, he was taken to the torture chamber, I mean other room down the hall, where Dr. Allen commenced the adjustment procedure. He didn't exactly crack the bones, but he punched and probed, and used a little instrument all over his back and hips, and pretty soon it was all over.
FabGrandpa had a couple of days of soreness and discomfort, but now he is back to his old self, good as new. Thank you, Dr. Allen, you did a great job! Oh, and if you all need a chiropractor while you are in this area, you really should give him a call, he is a very nice guy and a good sport, putting up with me taking pictures and asking tons of questions while I was there.
It was a beautiful day:
So, off we went . We had to drive through the Virgin River Gorge between St. George, Utah and Mesquite. It is difficult to describe this area. There are huge rock mountains on both sides of the interstate, so big that they dwarf semi's on the road. But even that does not convey the enormity of it.
If you look at the picture below, you will see the curve in the road, and the semi trucks on the other side, but it still does not show the 6 and 7 percent grades, the winding curves, the sheer drops off the side of the road into the gorge below, and the Virgin River winding through the bottom of it all. It is so spectacular, that I wonder sometimes why people even bother to come to the Grand Canyon after they have driven through this gorge for free. (well, almost, I would still come here...).
We arrived at the Oasis around 4:30 p.m., checked in, took our luggage to the room, and went straight to the casino. I sat down at one penny slot machine and played it for four and a half hours on the free $5.00 they gave me. I was up to about $85 at one point, but you know me, I don't know when to say when, so when I finally walked away from there I was broke, but I still had fun.
We got up early the next morning. The sky was overcast again, outside of the casino, and it did make it look like an Oasis:
We drove over to Dr. Allen's office in St. George, well, really in Washington City, which is right next door to St. George, to the east. The office was about one block off the main drag of Telegraph Road. I dropped FabGrandpa off and went to find a place to park.
When I came into the room, Dr. Allen had FabGrandpa standing behind a screen of sorts that measured how much he was out of alignment. (I love that term, 'out of alignment', it makes me think that his tires are wobbling...) This episode all started because the light bulb blew out in the vent hood over my stove. I need plenty of light to be able to see to cook, so I nagged him long enough until he finally was bent over sideways trying to figure out where to put the new light in. Next thing I know he can barely walk, so off we go on this chiro adventure.
After FabGrandpa was measured and the problem determined, he was taken to the torture chamber, I mean other room down the hall, where Dr. Allen commenced the adjustment procedure. He didn't exactly crack the bones, but he punched and probed, and used a little instrument all over his back and hips, and pretty soon it was all over.
FabGrandpa had a couple of days of soreness and discomfort, but now he is back to his old self, good as new. Thank you, Dr. Allen, you did a great job! Oh, and if you all need a chiropractor while you are in this area, you really should give him a call, he is a very nice guy and a good sport, putting up with me taking pictures and asking tons of questions while I was there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)