Sometimes people call Chiropractors quacks. “They aren’t real doctors.” Well, I have found a really awesome quack and he’s the only one that has helped me.
I had severe head pain for 30 days. My jaw hurt, my ears hurt, I had migraines too. I visited a clinic on short notice. You know, one of those nights where you say, “I can’t take it anymore.” I was told I had a sinus infection. Antibiotics for a week and no change. I visited the dentist because it almost felt like an abscess. X-rays and a good check up – nope, not it. I saw my GP. I have TMJ, get a mouth guard for night sleeping, and got a referral to a specialist.
After seeing the specialist. He hooked me up to electrodes and took pictures of me walking and doing dog & pony show tricks. “Even if I treat you, I advise you to see a Chiropractor.” He quoted me $5,000 for an orthotic and treatment, showed me all his positive & happy patient reviews, and pictures of how my body was crooked.
I have never been to a Chiropractor in my life. I used to go with my mom when I was little, but that is all I have ever experienced. I Googled ones in my town. I did my due diligence and read reviews. I picked one and made an appointment same day. Amazingly after he saw me, felt around my jaw and ears, he made a few adjustments and sweet relief I hadn’t felt for 30 days came flooding back. “Ahhh! This is what it’s like to be pain free,” I remember thinking that day.
I continued to see him regularly for adjustments and we worked on rehab for my neck. I work on a computer a lot and this greatly improved my pain. Some of which I had lived with for so long, I didn’t even know I had.
I hadn’t seen him since I was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia in late June until recently. I don’t know why. I kind of reclused. I wrapped myself in a tear soaked cocoon of self pity. I also took for granted all the Google-ing I had done. Nothing can be done to fix my numb, tingling, burning half face. Through my panic stricken moments of feeling hopeless and “everyday for the rest of my life I am just going to live in agony,” I told myself, “Self, pull up your big girl panties, this is life now get used to it. Let’s learn how to cope and navigate.”
After my 6 month MRI, or shall I say, $1,500 test for nothing new, I decided it was time to see the quack again. I needed an adjustment anyway. This Chiropractor has been the only professional I have seen that seems to give a rip, or at least questions what highly trained medical doctors are telling me.
To him (and myself) having a atrophy of the Trigeminal Nerve for “no reason” just doesn’t make sense. There’s nothing pressing it. There’s no mass. Why does it seem to be inflamed? He listens and ponders. He thinks my body is having an inflammatory response to something. Google tells me there’s not much to be said. TN is under researched and there are so many different cases and reactions. Facebook groups with people like me are getting the same answers.
He suggested an absolute full blood panel to look at any bio markers that may be present, including food or medication allergies. People are known to develop allergies over time. Is it possible I have an inflammatory response to something? My guess is as good as his. Sounds legit. Let’s spend another $500 for a full panel. After all, it’s just money.
No, my neurologist didn’t run a full panel. He originally ran tests for MS markers, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc. Things my symptoms seemed to match. Don’t ask why I didn’t ask for a full blood panel. I was new to this. I didn’t know what to ask. I was in the worst pain of my life. I let a professional guide me into the best course of action.
The quack is consulting another quack. After case study reading and research, My Chiropractor knows of a Neurologist/Chiropractor out in AZ known for being sought out for patient with Neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s and Dementia. He is reaching out to see if the other quack can give any insight as to which blood panel he would think would be specific to my case.
Whether the theory is correct, or not, it’s a logical theory. Many people with TN would probably say it’s dumb, but even if it doesn’t fix my TN, I am curious. Every time I have a blood draw, my WBC is really high. I believe I have hormonal issues, but blood tests seem to always come back on the higher side of “with-in range.” I was told I have Hypothyroidism in one test. 6 months later was told I don’t. I just feel somewhere inside, something is wrong.
I’m shooting for hope. I’m shooting for something to give me more answers. I can second guess all day long. I can be a pessimist most of the time, (I like to refer to myself as a realist) but for today I will rest in hope and God’s divine plan. I’m not gonna over analyze the possibilities. I’m going to learn patience and perseverance. Even if my TN doesn’t get fixed, I can say I tried. I tried hard.
God cares more about my character than my comfort. Patience and perseverance are great qualities to master. The only way I can make sense of this life is to say that through the sinful nature of our human essence, we experience the tragedy evil of this world brings upon a us. In Gods plan, He allows those tragedies to happen to certain people with specific inherent character traits, so they might connect with others to 1. Get through this life (minister to one another) and 2. Glorify him.
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
11 For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant. – Psalm 143:10-12
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