January 6, 2011

Ode To A Sydney Chiropractor

Late last year my life underwent a revolution thanks to some great chiropractic care.

To be honest I wasn’t expecting it nor did I think I would ever see another chiropractor again. However after spending time interviewing Paul Calladine I wanted to see him – I felt he was real and would act in the informed, best interests of my health

What I found I got was an almost instant energy boost and an immediate improvement in both my quantity and quality of sleep.

It’s Not That Anything Was Wrong

Why this was a revolution was because I wasn’t sick. I wasn’t even in pain. Sure I had niggles but nothing serious. OK I had headaches and migraines but nothing like the debilitating or frequent ones I had in the past.

I wasn’t sick – I just wasn’t right! I had chinese herbs, acupuncture, western herbs, chiropractic, naturopathic consults and more in an attempt to get myself right.

Life had been incredibly stressful for an extended period of time and I’d just soldiered on. Believe me it wasn’t till I recount it all to a practitioner and have them picking their jaw off the floor that I realised I wasn’t making it up. There were some significant events, some little events but the biggest issue was the pressure was constant and without let up.

My energy was drained!

Where To Turn?

Nothing had worked and I didn’t hold a lot of hope out. My eyes were sunken, the dark circles under my eyes were exaggerated by the bags!

However on the first night after just one adjustment I wanted to cook myself something healthy. This alone felt revolutionary. It was not like I hadn’t wanted to look after myself previously – it was just that I didn’t have the energy. Suddenly I had the energy.

He taught me how to sleep (I know that just sounds strange – I needed to be taught to sleep?). It made a huge difference.

My adjustments made me feel sleepier (like I was trying to catch up on the 10 or more years of consistently poor sleep I’d had). My sleep was much more restful and I woke up feeling good.

In a few short weeks my eyes looked brighter, weren’t sunken and I was standing tall.

Get Extreme

I found I had the energy to get extreme. P 90X extreme a workout I couldn’t get past day 7 of previously. For the first time ever I jumped out of bed for it, felt energised and awesome!

Suddenly my body was in a position of energy and health to not only cope but to revel in health.

Support

However over Christmas i’ve missed having adjustments and guess what I’ve fallen off. I tried to go back and after just 5 days I can feel the difference doing this with and without chiropractic.

I can’t be where I want without the support of my chiropractor (after all he’s is working to overcome many years, so long lasting miracles after a few adjustments is a little unrealistic).

The big thing for me is because I have experienced both I don’t need to beat myself up because I don’t have the energy, or am craving carbs and stimulants. I just need to accept the need for support and to go and get it!

The Other Side

My partner had been complaining of sore knees and hops in the entire time I’d known him. He had trouble keeping up when walking the dog. He managed to get through to black belts and first dans in taekwondo and hapkido despite pain. Funnily he couldn’t stand comfortable with his feet together.

One appointment made a huge difference to all of the above because Paul found he had a short leg, gave him an appropriate heel support – and I’ve not heard a word of knee or hip pain since. he can walk and stand comfortably!

These were things – like me – he bit himself up about previously. There must be something wrong with him. Well for both of us there was something wrong with us! Something chiropractic helped.

I’m not saying this is the answer for everyone. Sometimes it needs multi disciplinary suport also.

I’m just saying sometimes we need to stop beating ourselves up and saying there’s something wrong with me (like it’s a bad thing and something we alone can control). We need to start saying There’s something wrong with me! Go, seek the help that gets you results. Don’t be afraid to ask why and talk to your practitioner.

I can’t tell you the difference my chiropractor has made to my life and for me that is due to the fundamental change in my sleep.

It’s OK to need help. It’s OK to seek help. It’s vital to support yourself in body and mind.