It happened again today. In the course of adjusting a patient a certain health concern arose and the question was asked, "...do you think I should go to my regular doctor?". Which of course, makes me wonder if that means they think of me as their irregular doctor. Whatever that is. When I was younger and less experienced in practice I used to get offended by this. I went to school just as long as my regular doctor colleagues. I studied out of the same regular doctor books and took enough state and national board exams to make any doctor, regular or not, question the reason why they got into the healing arts in the first place. I used to feel like Chiropractors were second-class citizens in health care. That we weren't given enough credit for what we knew and did. That we weren't respected enough. That we were somehow less....regular. Then one day one of my patients told me he had gone to his "other" doctor and the drugs and medicines weren't working. After his adjustment and subsequent relief, he asked me if he should've come to me first. I was just glad to be referred to as equal to his "other" doctor. Finally, we've arrived. Yea for Chiropractic!!
Since then I have come to an even greater understanding of mine and Chiropractic's role in the health and well-being of my patients and the community. I've realized it's actually not about me or Chiropractic, it's about my patients. It's about helping them get the most out of life. It's about inspiring them to make healthy decisions, using reason and logic instead of fear. It's about teaching parents to teach their children that true health comes from within. And it's about trusting the God-given potential within each of us and letting it do the healing and letting it take the credit. It is so very much not about me anymore.
So, now when a patient asks me that inevitable question, I just pause. The fact that they're on my table tells me that they already know the answer. That they came to me first because they know that an adjustment will restore precious nerve function and allow their body to express itself more optimally...even if their condition requires medical attention also. It tells me that they know medicine has it's place, but how much better is it when the body heals itself, without drugs or surgery. That the only thing hindering their body's ability to heal is a lack of nerve flow brought on by the stresses of life and that there's no pill or potion for that. And that the only thing that will restore balance in their body is a chiropractic adjustment, delivered precisely where it's needed, at the correct vector, with the exact amount of force needed at the right moment in time to unleash a symphony of healing from within that knows exactly what to do. Every time.
And for that I am thankful, even if that makes me irregular.
Since then I have come to an even greater understanding of mine and Chiropractic's role in the health and well-being of my patients and the community. I've realized it's actually not about me or Chiropractic, it's about my patients. It's about helping them get the most out of life. It's about inspiring them to make healthy decisions, using reason and logic instead of fear. It's about teaching parents to teach their children that true health comes from within. And it's about trusting the God-given potential within each of us and letting it do the healing and letting it take the credit. It is so very much not about me anymore.
So, now when a patient asks me that inevitable question, I just pause. The fact that they're on my table tells me that they already know the answer. That they came to me first because they know that an adjustment will restore precious nerve function and allow their body to express itself more optimally...even if their condition requires medical attention also. It tells me that they know medicine has it's place, but how much better is it when the body heals itself, without drugs or surgery. That the only thing hindering their body's ability to heal is a lack of nerve flow brought on by the stresses of life and that there's no pill or potion for that. And that the only thing that will restore balance in their body is a chiropractic adjustment, delivered precisely where it's needed, at the correct vector, with the exact amount of force needed at the right moment in time to unleash a symphony of healing from within that knows exactly what to do. Every time.
And for that I am thankful, even if that makes me irregular.
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