This type of health care really hit home with me when I suffered a fall from a horse
about 2 years ago; I fell hard on my right shoulder and could not move my right arm
when I tried to get up. I thought the arm was broken or the shoulder was dislocated.
The folks at the barn asked me if I wanted an ambulance. I told them, "Please take
me to my chiropractor." I called my doctor of chiropractic and told him what had
happened and said I was on my way and would need x-rays of my shoulder. He
immediately got me in and took films of the shoulder, and he showed me what he
found. The shoulder wasn’t dislocated and no bones were broken. However, there
was extensive soft tissue damage (swelling, torn muscles, etc.). My doctor gave me
a sling for the shoulder, outlined the care plan (ice and rest), then examined my
spine in the neck and upper back areas. He found that several vertebrae had
become misaligned in my fall from the horse, and he adjusted these with my
permission (he thought maybe I was in too much pain to be adjusted, but I told
him to go ahead). I could not believe how quickly the shoulder healed with the
chiropractic care. Eventually, the shoulder was pain-free enough for the doctor
to adjust it, too. Now, it is healthy, fully movable and pain-free. The cost of the
x-rays was minimal, and I was charged for a normal office visit for the chiropractic
care.
Now… I could have opted for medical health care for the shoulder. It would have
gone something like this: Get an ambulance to take me to the emergency room
($$). Sit in the ER for several hours, in excruciating pain, for someone to take
x-rays of the injured shoulder. Finally get films taken ($$). Have them read by
a radiologist ($$). Wait several more hours for an ER doctor to see me. Endure
more pain while the ER doctor forcefully moves and feels the shoulder. Become
stressed out if the ER doctor advises an injection of pain medication (I hate
needles!!). Get a prescription for a painkiller from the ER doctor. Check out of
the ER (MAJOR $$). Go to the pharmacy and purchase the prescription and a
sling ($$). Take painkillers and suffer for a longer time because the misaligned
segments in the neck and upper spine are still misaligned and my nervous system
isn’t working at optimum the way it should be for healing to take place. Endure
bad side effects from the painkillers (upset stomach, damage to the liver and other
organs). The shoulder heals badly because it has not been adjusted back into
place. I would have ended up with a damaged shoulder, a damaged nervous
system, damaged organs from the medications, and a very damaged bank account with all the co-pays I would have had to pay for medical care.
Which health care route would YOU rather take?? Think about it.
EDUCATION:
Life University College of Chiropractic
Marietta, Georgia
Doctor of Chiropractic 2007
Magna Cum Laude, Pi Tau Delta International Chiropractic Honor Society
Georgia Chiropractic Association
Atlanta, Georgia
Certified Chiropractic Assistant 2004
Valedictorian, Bill Vaughn Award
University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Bachelor of Science, Biology 1979
Cum Laude
Master of Arts, Philosophy/Medical Ethics (in process)
Easley High School
Easley, South Carolina
College Prep 1975
Summa Cum Laude, National Honor Society
Lettered in Band and Varsity Volleyball
CHIROPRACTIC COLLEGE GRADUATE TRAINING:
P.E.A.K. Externship 2007
Care More Chiropractic, Roswell, Georgia
Spinal Dynamics Seminar 2006
Dr. Jerry Hochman, Marietta, Georgia
Gonstead Technique Seminars:
Gonstead Pelvic Bench Seminar 2006
Gonstead Extremity Adjusting Seminar 2007
Gonstead Knee/Chest Seminar 2006
Gonstead Chiropractic Clinic, Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin
Activator Methods Seminar, Basic Certification 2007
Atlanta, Georgia
Gonstead Club, Life University
Full Spine Club with certification, Life University
The Masters Circle Practice Management Seminars, Life University
BASIC PHILOSOPHY:
I got into chiropractic for two main reasons.
The first reason came as a result of having
whiplash in a car wreck, which is how almost
everyone who is a chiropractic patient first
ends up in a chiropractor's office. I was amazed
at how quickly my whiplash was diagnosed,
treated and healed, and with no bad side
effects. The second reason is because I believe
in health care that works, is non-invasive and
extremely cost-effective.
