How does your doctor look at you? Growing evidence shows the healthcare system is unhealthy because it is not based on health, but diseases which are often collections of symptoms often with a researcher (s) name attached to it. While there are problems with the nomenclature, the problem is, disease and problem focused symptom care often does not cure and may actually make us more chronic while ignoring why you have the problem. When you do have a problem, we now have healthcare by committee which may work well in a fast paced E.R, but does not bode well for those of us with complaints in different parts of our bodies. The idea of understanding the body as integrated systems is important especially when understanding how the body actually works. Looking at systems is what functional medicine does, what chiropractors do and what primary care should be doing. A thorough history and evaluation looking at the entire body from a mechanical point of view helps to properly diagnose problems such as knee pain, foot pain, shoulder pain, back pain and even sciatic pain. What doesn’t work well is just looking at where it hurts and ignoring the rest. The other day, I was eating breakfast at the club by my moms development in Florida and overhead a conversation between older men in their later years. One was boasting about how he had one, then a second shoulder done and then both hips done. I watched him walk erratically, yet he seemed to be pleased that he had so many mechanical parts replaced. While I don’t know his history, I do work in the musculoskeletal world and have seen first hand what years of ignorance does to the joints of the body and how our disjointed management of peoples health as they age does nothing to prevent this but embraces the eventual replacement of joints as if its normal. It is worth reading my book Cheating Mother Nature; what you need to know to beat chronic pain. I discuss cases like this and how you can prevent this from being your future. The list of problems we may encounter personally includes. Diseases Syndromes Infections strains pulls Strains organ removal, with thyroid being a common one. Cancer heart problems lung problems Do we all need all those specialists and medications to treat even the mechanical problems pills do not help? Is there a better way to care for the human frame so it lasts as long as we do? Why should you choose natural care drug free providers first? Once a surgery is performed, something is forever changed. What would happen if we thought naturally and holistically about our own health? Health is a lifestyle, not something you do once somebody with a while coat scares you into taking medication for high cholesterol, or tells you your knee is not bad enough for surgery yet. There is danger in normalizing knee or other joint replacements and assuming parts just wear out. That is not normal and in other cultures, quite rare. The story of little Johnny Little Johnny’s grandfather had both knees replaced. His uncle, the grandfathers brother had a knee replaced and doesn’t walk as well as he used to yet he is in his late 60’s. The first time little Johnny played soccer, his knees were sore and 9 year old Johnny went with his parents to the pediatrician who made sure he had all of his vaccines and checked off the list of all the things he needed to be healthy and said he had growing pains. His doctor suggested Advil for the pain, which is what his dad and mom always did. Little Johnny’s dad has a bad knee, similar to his dad and has had back problems for years now. As little Johnny aged and grew his knees got worse and at the age of 14, he was told he had Osgood Schlatter’s Syndrome and the orthopedic may have to do a knee procedure after an MRI. Little Johnny as he grew developed many of the issues in a similar way to his dad through high school. Genetics, body style and body mechanics are probably similar in many of the members of his families due to genetics. Perhaps, Little Johnny should have seen a sports chiropractor first. What would have happened had Little Johnny seen a natural care chiropractor first? Little Johnny would have been evaluated by the chiropractic physician who evaluated him from the ground up. During the exam, he explained that little Johnny could be going through growth spurts at his age however, to be able to document it, a piece of tape by the kitchen door with a line drawn by the top of his head that was dated could be used next time to consider growth or other considerations. Looking down, the doctor noted Little Johnny had flat feet and was built asymmetrically. He suggested that Little Johnny would benefit from off the shelf orthotics and showed his dad that the inexpensive orthotics which he would outgrow for a while leveled his hips. He also noted how tight little johnny was and did muscle work to loosen him up. Little Johnny was treated and given a chiropractic adjustment. He immediately felt looser and the upper back tightness he assumed was normal felt better too. Little Johnny played soccer that weekend, ran faster and moved better. The chiropractic physician told his parents Little Johnny would require a few visits and then discharged him when he functioned well and was told to return for a follow-up a few months later. Little Johnny’s dad asked the chiropractic physician about his problems and he too was flat footed and he was asymmetrically built. His dad said his father and uncle also were flat footed and had knees done. What can we learn from the Little Johnny story. Chiropractic sports physicians and chiropractors in general specialize in the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. They look at you holistically and keep care simple. They realize how we function determines how we feel. They explain why mechanical problems require mechanical solutions of which chiropractic care is the most well thought of natural drug free healthcare profession. Shouldn’t you see a chiropractor first for pain. Starting early can save your joints and your body. When you feel and move better, you function better which affects all the organ systems. Chiropractors talk healthcare and are one of your best sources to avoid disease care so often practiced in medical offices. Health is a lifestyle. Healthcare designers are often supporting the big systems and their business models, not your health. This has resulted in more costly care and often is insensitive to our personal needs. The frustration is worsened by the insurance industry who is part of the cost problem Chiropractic is slowly making inroads into these systems but we do have options. For a healthier nervous and musculoskeletal system, chiropractic should be your natural first choice. The good news is that taking care of yourself with preventative chiropractic care is less costly than looking for riskier solutions years and decades later. It’s your body and your temple. Take care of the machine and it will take better care of you. Need help today? Book online or call either of our offices.