Teach a man to fish. . .

We’ve all heard the old saying, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.  Teach a man to fish and he can feed himself for a lifetime”.  Nothing could be more true about most things in life.

In the health care business, we tend to simply identify a problem and tell the patient what to do.  Then, we wait around until their next crisis pops up, identify the problem, fix it and wait for the next problem.  But, it just seems that something is wrong with that picture.  Granted, it might be great for the long-term income potential of a the healthcare provider, the drug companies and hospital groups.  But, is it really an effective way for the health consumer to spend his/her time or money?  Obviously not.

One of the things I enjoy about my practice is that I try to help people understand WHY they’re having some of the problems they’re having and show them HOW they can prevent the problem from coming back.  As they become responsible for understanding how their own body works and how to build health, they have less need for doctors of all types, including me.

Ironically, as my clients’ understanding of what health is, where it comes from and how it can be built and maintained, they become long-term wellness clients with fewer and fewer health crises.  Their medical bills tend to shrink over time and their life improves dramatically.

Funny thing is, that once these folks commit to coming in on a regular basis, they need less, their visits are shorter and they refer people that want better lives instead of just getting through the day.

If you or someone you know has been looking for a better approach to getting and staying healthy, subscribe to my blog or better yet find a good wellness chiropractor and get started.  If you’re in the northwest metro Atlanta area, I’d love to help you.  If you’re not, I’ll help you find someone.

Good luck!

Why would you pay your chiropractor $50,000?

Sometimes we get so caught up in just getting through life that we forget to get anything FROM it.  Let me explain, at least in healthcare terms although the concepts apply to almost every aspect of our lives.

In our modern world we seem to take for granted that we go to the doctor for our annual physical and whenever we have some problem that pops up that we don’t understand or scares us.  That means, we basically deal with our health on a fear basis always worrying about what might be wrong or what might go wrong.  Pretty scary IF you think about it.  Most people choose to just not think.

Chiropractors are guilty of this same mentality in many cases.  Much of our marketing centers around what’s WRONG with you instead of what’s RIGHT.  I was talking with my best client the other day about this concept.  You see, I go TO this client every week.  He’s 50 years old, owns 3 companies, has 20 employees, an airplane, vacation home and a great income.  One thing he DOESN’T have is a lot of time to spend sitting in a doctor’s office reading out-of-date magazines.

As we were talking he shared a powerful perspective.  I’ve always known that he enjoyed and appreciated his regular adjustments.  And, I’ve always known that his employees appreciate their chiropractic care, they miss fewer days from work because of illness or injury and are generally more productive than those employees that choose not to get adjusted.  But, I was a little surprised when he told me that even if none of his employees ever got adjusted, he’d still be willing to pay twice as much as he now does for those weekly visits.

My client’s company pays me $1000 a month to pay weekly visits to his office.  Those employees that want it, get adjusted.  They also get to ask questions about health issues and other related issues.  My client refers back to a situation he had had with a shoulder problem.  His orthopedist recommended physical therapy and mentioned the possibility of surgery.  Well, the physical therapy was torture and did no good, whatsoever.  And, we simply was not going to have surgery.  So, when he asked me, I told him honestly that I didn’t think it was a chiropractic problem and recommended he talk to a personal trainer I know.  Long and short of the story is his shoulder problem has cleared up without painkillers, PT or surgery.

I’ve been taking care of this fellow and his employees for 5 years now.  Neither he nor I have any intention of ever stopping the arrangement.  He states openly that those regular adjustments have literally changed his life and that he simply can’t imagine ever going without chiropractic care again.  He’s even threatened to take me on vacation with his family.

If you own a business and your time is simply to valuable to spend at a doctor’s office and are open to a new way to build health and performance, you should give serious thought to hiring a chiropractor as part of your health, wellness and performance team.

Miracles DO happen! Create your own miracle potential.

David Casanova had a heart attack on July 4th while working out at his health club, LA Fitness.  CPR and the defibrillator was administered on the spot.  David’s heart stopped twice on the way to the hospital.  No one knew at that time how much oxygen his brain had been deprived during the ordeal.

David remained in a coma for 4 weeks.  Once he was brought out of his coma, it was hard to arrive at a meaningful prognosis.  When it appeared that David had survived the heart attack and that there was significant neurological function, the prognosis was pretty fair.  Still, it had not been determined to what extent David would be able to function.

David Casanova is checking out of the hospital today, exactly 6 weeks from the day he suffered his heart attack.  Not only is David checking out of the hospital today, he is virtually 100% recovered from what seemed to be near death.  Only some vision loss in his right eye remains from the experience.

Many prayers have been put forth for David over these past 6 weeks.  In the beginning, the prayers were that he would simply live.  Then that he would regain consciousness.  Then that he would be able to be minimally functional.  Still some asked boldly ANTICIPATING a full recovery from the very beginning.  Obviously, the prayers worked.

Sometimes we wait for a catastrophe to happen BEFORE we pray and exercise our faith.  This wasn’t the case with David Casanova.  You see, David grew up in a chiropractic family.  His dad was a chiropractor, as is one of his brothers and several uncles and cousins.  He built his life on the premise that his body was designed to be healthy and that’s the way he lived his life.  He PURSUED life instead of running from disease and infirmity.  He tried to eat right, exercise, get adjusted, have a significant spiritual life and maintain a positive attitude about his life and others’.   I believe that by virtue of a lifetime of living a healthy life, his body was able to handle the almost catastrophic stresses that eventually catch up to us all.  In other words, because he was strong he not only survived but was able to resist, endure and overcome those stresses.  There’s a lesson there.

That’s not the end of the story, though.  There were heroes along David’s journey to death and back.  First, LA Fitness should be commended for having the defibrillator available and having staff trained on how to use it.  There were also club members there that knew how to administer CPR and reacted without hesitation.  Health clubs everywhere should offer FREE CPR training for their employees and members.

Second, the EMR personnel that transported David to the hospital obviously knew their stuff.  They were prepared for subsequent heart failure and kept him alive until he arrived and turned over the the ER staff.

Finally, the staff at Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia should be commended.  While I have my problems with some aspects of the medical profession, the practice of Medicine shines when it comes to emergency situations and crisis care.  The folks in the Emergency Room and the Coronary Care Unit should receive their just accolades.  Thanks for saving my friend.

There’s one last aspect of this story that needs to be told.  David was between jobs and had been for some time.  While his hospital bills have been taken care of, his personal expenses and incidental medical expenses related to all this has been significant.  His family has pitched in and done what they can.  But, David could obviously use some financial help.  He won’t ask for it, though.  While in the coma, an account was established at Bank of America to help David.  The account is a “contribution account” and is called the “David Casanova Medical Expense Fund”.  the family asked that if I wrote anything about this that I made sure you knew that the bulk of his hospital bills have been paid.  Contributions to this account will help David deal with other expenses that have piled up and will continue while he gets back on his feet.  If you’d rather send money directly to David, feel free to do so c/o David Casanova, 306 Parkaire Crossing, Marietta, Georgia, 30068.

Just know that health, strength, personal power and peace of mind is your body and Spirit’s DEFAULT.  Live in faith by pursuing your potential in everything you do.  Don’t run from life like a coward.  Embrace it.  Enjoy it.  Share it.  Be hero when that opportunity presents itself.  You may one day be David.

Fox News’ Dr. Izzy NOT “Fair and Balanced”

I was watching Fox News Live this past Sunday when their resident “health expert”, Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld, was asked a question about acupuncture and sciatica.  The so-called “expert” stated unequivocally that acupuncture was only effective 20-25% of the time when treating sciatica and that the ONLY effective means of treating sciatica was physiotherapy, drugs and surgery.  Obviously, there was not even a mention of chiropractic as a means of dealing with the problem.

Now, I consider myself a wellness chiropractor, choosing to help folks live fuller, healthier lives without drugs and surgery.  So, my practice is not built around sciatica and other back ailments.  But, having dealt with extreme sciatica, personally, I can honestly tell you that this guy either doesn’t know what he’s talking about or is intentionally misleading and misinforming Fox News viewers.

Fox News should think twice about making this simpleton their “expert”.  And, someone should take a look at their makeup practices.  The guy looked awful.

Good News! Some states not allowing payment of NEVER events

Lord have mercy!  Can you believe it?  Some states are not allowing hospitals to be paid for costly medical errors like cutting out the wrong body part or operating on the wrong limb.

I just have to ask “Why in the world would they EVER have allowed payment for malpractice in the first place?  Is it any wonder modern Medicine is having such problems these days.  Here’s the link to the story.  I just can’t believe it.

Remember, it’s cheaper and safer to avoid dangerous drugs and surgery if at all possible.  Your chiropractor just might be able to help!

Why Real Estate Agents Need a Chiropractor

It’s simple, really.  Real estate agents are under so much pressure on an ongoing basis that it affects their health and, eventually, their ability to work effectively.

Having been in both residential and commercial real estate, I have experienced firsthand the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat that defines the business.  I closed a 700 acre land assemblage at the end of 1996 just before we entered the last recession.  The contrast in highs and lows of that experience drove me into the residential end of the business.

Having had all the fun I could stand on the listing side, as soon as I learned about exclusive buyer agency, that’s the route I took.  I really enjoyed working with homebuyers (mostly) because you KNEW there was a good chance that THAT relationship would probably lead to a closing.  Well, as anyone reading this post knows, things don’t always work out that way.  Although the sire of the transactions were much smaller than I had experienced in the commercial real estate realm, the contrasts were still stressful on the mind, the body and the spirit.

Once I realized the effects stress can have on the body and the role chiropractic care could play in alleviating that stress, I undertook the task of becoming a chiropractor.  And, I must tell you that I haven’t been disappointed.  If you’ve read any of my other posts you know that I’ve seen seizures stopped, blood pressure lowered, hemorrhoids eliminated, acid reflux reversed, back and neck pain controlled and headaches vanquished.

Given the stress real estate professionals endure, it only makes sense that they should include a chiropractor on their health team.  And since many agents don’t have adequate (?) health (?) insurance, a chiropractor who focuses on long-term wellness care and with reasonable cash-based fee systems makes more sense than those with heavy insurance oriented fees and who practice purely from a pain management perspective.

If you know a real estate professional who seems to be bending under the pressure, forward this post on to them.  Better yet, have them contact me.  I’ll help them find the right chiropractor for them.

Back to School, Backpacks & Scoliosis

Well, my kids started back to school today.  It’s time to get back together with friends, get back in the routine of studies and back to hauling a load of books home and back.

As a chiopractor, the idea of kids hauling as much as 40 pounds of books at a time is absolutely astounding.  First, carrying that amount of books is simply ridiculous.  But given the nature of a child’s growth and development, carrying that load is simply ridiculous.  The problem is espcially bad in middle school where most kids (particularly pre-teen girls) are experiencing growth spurts AND their skeletal structure is still developing.

Imagine holding a bowling ball directly over your shoulder.  As long as it sits on top of your shoulder, you could stand there all day long without a problem.  but, take that bowling ball just one inch forward or back and you start to strain the muscles and ligaments of the arm and shoulder.  Now, Image 3-4 times that weight pulling on one side of your child’s body, especially their neck, back and shoulders.  Backpacks and the load of books kids are expected to tote predispose them to back and neck problems, headaches and a host of other long-term problems.  And, the stress on the spine is very likely a major cause of idiopathic scoliosis in kids.

In this age of computers, it is absolutely shameful that heavy textbooks aren’t replaced with computer disks.  Heck, you could almost do away with dangerous backpacks if all a kid had to carry home was a CD.  And, think about the budget aspect of simply copying a CD instead of having to buy thosands of textbooks every year.

So, what can you do about backpacks and scoliosis?  A few things, actually.  You can petition your local school board to begin replacing textbooks (when possible) with CDs and DVDs.  It’s cheaper, reproducible and carry no risk of causing scoliosis in kids.  You could (should) get your child checked for scoliosis and other factors that can lead to it.  Obviously, I think the best place to do that is in the chiropractor’s office.  i recommend chiropractors because their focus is on preventing problems and correcting them as quicky and inexpensively as possible.  Other practitioners’ focus may be on treating the problem once it has already occurred.

Remember, “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree”.  Don’t predispose your child to a lifetime of potential health problems.  Get them checked today by your chiropractor.  And if you don’t have one, let me know.  I’ll find you one.

Maybe I take this chiropractic thing too much for granted

Today I attended a family function with a friend.  There was a couple there who were foster parents to the cutest little 2 year old girl.

At some time during the function, the mother revealed to my date that the little girl had a problem walking correctly.  Apparently she had asked her pediatrician what could be wrong with the child and was told that there was nothing wrong with the little girl.  But, that just didn’t seem right to the foster mom because she could see clearly that the child was not waling correctly.

When it was revealed that I was a chiropractor, I was asked what I thought.  I told the story of how when my own daughter was born, her hips were rotated at least 45 degrees to one side and that the MDs had called a pediatric orthopedist to fit her for a brace.  As soon as my baby girl received a simple, light adjustment, her hips re-aligned themselves almost instantly.  The foster mother asked if I’d check the little girl.  Obviously, I said, “Of course”.  A simple adjustment of the sacrum (tail bone) and a light cervical adjustment and the little girl was walking normally.  The mom looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, “That is the FIRST normal step she has EVER taken”.

I guess, sometimes I take for granted how powerful it is to restore normal function to someone who either has never experienced, or barely remembers, what NORMAL really is.  Normal is NOT that “for people to have one short leg” or “to have headaches on a regular basis” or “to have a chemical imbalance”.  No, normal is when your body functions at it’s highest possible potential.  NORMAL is GOOD health, happiness, joy, peace of mind and a full enjoyment of life.  It’s NOT normal to have to take something to make you feel better or to dull the senses and/or emotions so you can make it through the day.

I promise not to take for granted that people KNOW they can be better and that I can help as a chiropractor.  And, I’d appreciate you not taking your health for granted, as well.  And, don’t take for granted that you can’t ask a chiropractor about your health.  You’d be amazed at what a truly second opinion could do for you.

One Cause. One Cure.

An old chiropractor, Dr. Fred Barge, wrote a book by the same title.  In it, Dr. Barge talked about the cause of all disease and the cure.  In fact, he used the term “One cause.  One cure.”

The whole “One cause.  One cure” concept has caused angst among many chiropractors.  But, the chiropractors who feel uncomfortable with the concept practice chiropractic in such a way that their patients (I call them clients or members) hardly benefit from seeing the chiropractor.  Most of these chiropractors don’t even know who Fred Barge was, much less have read and understand the concept he discussed.

Because they yearn for “acceptance” in the Medical community, they turn their nose up at philosophical basis for chiropractic.  In their ignorance, these DCs believe that those of us who practice traditional chiropractic are talking about the vertebral subluxation, or nerve interference, as the one cause of disease and the chiropractic adjustment as the one cure.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

The “One cause” of all disease is what we call dis-ease, or a lack of ease in the body.  In other words, there’s a problem somewhere in the body causing the body to function at less than optimum.  The “One cure” is simply the restoration of ease in how the body relates to itself and functions under all circumstances.

The health care provider’s job is simply to locate and correct (or reduce) the cause of the body’s dis-ease.  When they do their job, the body NATURALLY functions better.  THAT is what chiropractors USED to do.  Some of us STILL do.  And, it’s amazing what can happen when we simply remove the interference.  Some people call them miracles.  But, those of us that understand the concept simply accept it as a consequence of allowing the body to do what it already KNOWS to do.

If you know someone suffering with little relief or hope from traditional approaches, I encourage you to find a good chiropractor.  If you need a referral, please ask.  There are 50,000 chiropractors in America.  I bet we can find one that will embrace the challenge.

Next time, we’ll be talking about living a “Life Without Fear”.  Stay tuned.

Chiropractor as Health Advocate

Needless to say, the American healthcare (?) system is in a state of flux.  In other words, it’s anybody’s guess as to what will happen with health care here.  Will health insurance premiums continue to rise while benefits continue to shrink?

Will the same Government that gave us Social Security (?), Medicare, Katrina, the IRS, etc. (you get the idea) some how magically get its collective act together and make everything alright?  Well, I doubt it.   Or, will we finally decide to take our health seriously and become responsible for our own health and let the Government, the insurance industry and everybody else for that matter take care of their own interests?

Honestly, I’ll be glad when folks start taking their own health seriously and rely less on others with separate (and financial) interests make their health decisions for them.  But, that implies that Americans will start educating themselves about health, where it comes from and how it’s lost.

As a family and wellness chiropractor, I have folks that come to me on a weekly basis.  Many come to prevent a problem from coming back that might have brought them to me in the first place.  Still, others continue to come because they have the opportunity to ask questions about their health and other advice they may have been given from other sources.  I can’t tell you how many times folks are given advice (or worse, orders) based on what might be best for someone else’s financial interests instead of what is in their own best interests.

The time has come for health care consumers to become educated in options other than a purely Medical approach.  The Medical paradigm, has become a liability in many cases.  When doctors intentionally steer their patients away from non-medical, non-surgical approaches when the doctor may know little (if anything, at all) about alternative approaches, or even worse tell lies about alternative approaches while KNOWING the alternative approach COULD be beneficial to the patient.

First, let me say that there is absolutely NO reason why you can’t have both a chiropractor AND a medical doctor as part of your health care team at the same time.  What we do is totally separate and distinct.  Anyone that makes you choose one over the other has put THEIR interests before yours.  You should not only leave that practitioner, you should RUN from them.  Frankly, they are dangerous.  Your health care provider should have YOUR interest at heart before all others, including their own.

The value of having a chiropractor as a member of your health care team is that they probably have a different perspective on a host of matters.  Since their training many times is built around what mekes you healthy instead of what makes you sick, they bring a HEALTH perspective that many in Medicine simply may not have.  And, wouldn’t it be nice to have a reasonable discussion on things you might be able to do to help you avoid the need for drugs or surgery?

If I were an employer, I would want to look at every way possible to reduce my overhead, including making available to my employees someone who can help them be the best possible health care consumer.  Besides, the healthier my employees are the lower the cost of providing them with health benefits.  As someone once said, “The best consumer is an informed consumer”.

If you own a company or are responsible for the benefits your company provides, I encourage you to consider offering health advocacy as a benefit to your employees.  If you’d like to discuss the concept, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.  If you’re an individual wanting to get the most out your health, drop me a note.  I’ll show you how you can have your own health advocate.  Just know that NO ONE will take better care ofyou than YOU.  Start today!