 |
Spinal Solution: Healing the Body through the Spine |
A FRIENDLY game of American football in junior high school turned tragic for then 16-year-old Wade Brackenbury. Knocked hard by a larger opponent, the Idaho natives lower back snapped into two, rendering him semi-paralyzed. “I remember the sound of the impact, then enormous pain and my legs going numb, says Brackenbury, now 34.
After the incident, he could walk, but not without considerable effort as he was constantly in pain. For the next three years, his parents took him to numerous doctors and surgeons in the hope of curing his back, but their efforts were in vain. Then they heard of a chiropractor in California and decided to give his unconventional treatment a try. After all, what did they have to lose?
Within three months, the pain in Brackenbury’s lower back subsided and he could walk normally again.
In the United States, chiropractic is the third largest primary health profession, after medicine and dentistry. Chiropractors like Brackenbery and Gary Green have chosen to practice abroad where there is great demand for their services.
Says Green, who set up a chiropractic centre in Kuala Lumpur last August, “Here, very few people know about chiropractors, so that is a challenge on its own. It’s a joy to explain to people about my profession because it is so unknown here. “I love to watch their eyes light up when they finally get the big idea that healing comes from the inside.”
For those who don't already know, chiropractic is a method of healing based on spinal manipulation (i.e. by mobilizing stuck spinal segments). Chiropractic is said to he the host drug-free treatment for pain and other problems associated with muscles, joints and nerves, especially backaches.
What the chiropractor does is locate and remove a severe hindrance to healthy body function - known as vertebral subluxation (spinal nerve stress) - which puts pressure on the nerves and related structures, causing pain and fatigue.
“You have to think of your body as an automobile ,” explains Green.
“When a car is damaged, it naturally goes to the mechanic to be repaired properly; if not, the wear and tear will be noticeable in the long run. “It’s the same with the human body; when you have aches and pains, they are indications that you need help. Otherwise, the pains are only going to get worse.”
In Malaysia, despite its relatively low profile, chiropractic is steadily gaining popularity by word-of-mouth. Of late there is a growing awareness among locals about the availability of chiropractic treatment. Those who have suffered years of chronic backaches and failed to find relief from conventional medical treatments are only too happy to go for an alternative.
Chiropractic is recognized, legislated and licensed in the United States, but not so in Malaysia where chiropractic centres are not referred to as clinics. A chiropractor is basically a doctor of the spine. We have to complete university courses and the difference between conventional doctors and chiropractors is that we treat with our hands and fingers, without medication and surgery.”
In the mid-80’s, Mrs. Woo’s mother suffered a slipped disc and could barely walk. Reluctant to undergo surgery, she sought treatment from a chiropractor in Australia and was healed after three weeks. Her son consulted the chiropractor a few years later when he suffered pain in his legs and thighs after sports activities.
“We are doing well here,” echoes Green, 39. “We have managed to pay all the bills since we opened the Centre.” With the help of his wife Lim Jia-Jen (a chiropractic technician), he runs the Green Chiropractic Centre in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.
After graduating from Palmer College Of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, in the United States in 1993, Green and his wife worked in chiropractic centres in Western Australia for two years. Green had wanted to work in Malaysia but the law then did not permit jobs for foreign husbands of Malaysian women.
“The first time I came to Malaysia, 1 knew this was where I wanted to live,” he says. “So being able to work here has been the most wonderful experience for me.”
While in Australia, checking The Star website every morning was part of Green’s routine.
When the headline one morning stated that the law had changed, Green recalls: “We immediately wrote our letters of resignation and made plans to come home.”
“Home” so far has proven to be a fruitful venture for Green. The number of patients is growing, Green has made lots of Malaysian friends and the food is “something I like ‘very much,”
With the growing popularity of chiropractors, there are inevitably “fakes” eager to cash in.
In the absence of proper legislation and guidelines to govern the profession, the practice of chiropractic in Malaysia is open to abuse.
“Here, anyone who can perform manipulation treatment can pass himself off as a chiropractor; even the tukang urut setting up his practice down the street can get away with calling himself one.”
Qualified Chiropractors are those who have received six to eight years of professional training and obtained a doctorate in chiropractic. Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, and the University Of Bridgeport in Connecticut, United States, are among those which offer chiropractic courses.
Chiropractors are viewed as “holistic doctors” for their total approach towards treatment and healing.“A lot of healing has to do with the mind a patient has to know that the doctor cares.,” says Brackenbury.
A Visit to the Chiropractor’s
MOST people who visit the chiropractor do so as a last resort, having exhausted numerous medical avenues and more conventional methods of treatment. Their afflictions are largely disc problems, sciatica, lower-back pain, postural defects, headaches, whiplash, scoliosis, sports injuries and muscle aches and pains.
The lower back is the area most commonly treated by chiropractors. Chiropractic treatment is also said to work for functional disorders such as menstrual pain, asthma and bed-wetting. However, there is no guarantee of 100% recovery, “It all depends on whether the problem stems from the spine. I won’t say I can cure asthma entirely as it depends on the patient and whether it is spine-related,” . “Some asthmatic patients have reported relief -some long-term, some short-term.” Frequency and length of treatment depend on the nature of the problem and its severity.
Treatment methods differ among chiropractors. While most of them treat patients using only their hands, there are those who use electro-therapy equipment to assist in the healing process. And while chiropractors generally require their patients to partially disrobe, to ease movement of body and limbs, there are those who treat patients who insist on remaining fully-clothed.
The chiropractor takes a holistic approach in helping his patient restore proper body functions. Hence while administering treatment, he also educates the patient on how to prevent the problem from recurring. Advice is given with regards to good posture and diet as well.
A typical approach to chiropractic treatment is as follows:
Preliminary examination of patient: the chiropractor finds out about the patient’s state of health and medical background. Physical and X-ray examinations follow, if necessary.
Diagnosis and recommendations for treatment.
Chiropractic adjustments to relieve pain.
Electro-therapeutic measures to speed up healing.
Advice from the chiropractor on exercises and posture. Emphasis is placed on the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
- By William Kee
The pain has gone
Raja Arif was constantly in discomfort whenever she walked. She suspected something was ‘wrong with her legs and went to see a specialist who, however, assured her that she was fine.
Subsequently, her cousin suggested that she see a chiropractor and Saedah took her advice about Two months ago. Following an X-ray examination, the chiropractor informed Saedah that a bone near her pelvis was slightly out of joint After three sessions with the chiropractor, Saedali, a former insurance broker m her early 40s, now waxes lyrical about how the pain in her legs has gone, thanks to chiropractic treatment. Even though the injury was an old one, the Chiropractor managed to cure it, by correcting my bone to its original position,” she says.
Bank officer George Nathan (not his real name), 36, suffered years of pain from a sporting injury.
During a hockey game three years ago, he crashed into another player and fell hard to the ground, injuring his back. He experienced back pain there-after, especially in the evenings; a condition which got worse whenever it rained. Nathan was initially skeptical when a friend recommended a chiropractor early this year. He jokingly says he changed his. mind when his wife threatened divorce after hearing too many complaints from him about his aching back. Though it cost him a bit, Nathan says the pain in his back has lessened considerably after a few treatments. “Best of all, I can go back to my hockey game.”
Administration manager Melissa Foo visited a chiropractor after other forms of treatment gave her only temporary relief from a spinal discomfort. After giving birth to two children, Foo says she used to experience a sinking sensation in her back whenever she lay down. “I had to use a bolster to support my back,” she recalls.
Foo, who’s in her 30’s, has had eight chiropractic treatments so far and is happy with the progress.
“I recommend it to a lot of people, in the hope that chiropractic treatment will he able to help them,” she adds.
A Testimonial from Green Chiropractic
I hurt my back a couple of months back and the result, a slip disc. I tried numerous medications, injections and even went for all sorts of traditional treatments but it does not get any better. In fact it was so bad that I can neither walk nor sit without crying out in pain. I came to know about Green Chiropractic and it’s treatment from “The Star” and at this point I am willing to try anything. I am very glad that I came for Chiropractic treatment. After my 4th session with Dr. Green I can sit and walk without crying in pain. Besides my bad back I was also treated for various ailments on my leg and wrist, and the result is marvelous, at least my back is being spared from surgery. I would strongly recommend that you try Chiropractic first before you decide on surgery. Who knows it might help you as it has helped me. I take this opportunity to thank Dr. Green and his wife for all they have done for me.
K. Chan
Why a Chiropractor?
For your safety. There are many reasons for a backache and other pains. Cancer, Tuberculosis and organ diseases can feel just like a sprained back or a “slipped-disc”. A Chiropractor is the one trained in both treatment and diagnosis. What does that mean for you? Safety and peace of mind. You are putting your health in the hands of someone with at least six years of proper training in scientific healthcare. Someone who is trained to recognize an underlaying, possibly life threatening disease process. A Chiropractor is trained to recognize the signs of pathology and to act as a portal of entry into the healthcare system. Locally Chiropractors are working hand in hand with medical doctors of all disciplines to insure the people of Malaysia are getting the best healthcare possible. Be safe, be sure. Go with Chiropractic.
Another Happy Patient
In perhaps using the wrong technique for golf I developed a “tennis elbow”, which persisted for more than 2 months. The injury was serious I was not able to lift even a teapot. A firm hand shake caused sharp searing pain up my right arm. Not wanting to be injected with steroids or take pain-killers or muscle relaxants on a continuous basis, I sought the help of Green Chiropractic Centre, on being introduced by a close friend.
I obtained immediate relief on the very first visit On subsequent visits, other seemingly non-related old sports injuries were attended to with excellent and long lasting beneficial results. The husband-and-wife team, Gary & Jia-Jen Green that make up Green Chiropractic Centre is professional and knowledgeable, yet possesses a friendly and warm disposition Their main interest was for the well-being of their patients, taking great care to explain the causes of the patients problems, and ensuring that they minimize the recurrence of the same with good advice on preventive measures
I have introduced friends, business associates and relatives to the Greens. Without exception, all achieved immediate relief whatever their physical complaints were I do not hesitate to recommend others to them
From...
Cheong K. T.
