Beware! Screed alert! Here followeth a lengthy rant:--

Go to google.com, type in "chiropractic," and you will come up with a whole list of website's on the subject, both pro and con. I can't really say that either of the viewpoints expressed in these websites is all that revealing or convincing. So much for accurate information in cyberspace.

I've had a little experience with chiropractic. I contracted polio when I was two years old. Back then, they called it "infantile paralysis," although it wasn't only infants who got it. It paralyzed my right leg, partially paralyzed my left leg, and left me with a scoliosis (spinal curvature). All my life, I walked with aluminum forearm crutches and a brace on my right leg.

I have had a rich, full life. During the late Fifties and Sixties I made my living singing folk songs (clubs and coffeehouses, concerts, and television) and teaching guitar. When Rock swamped the "folk music revival" and the coffeehouses began closing, I continued singing—for enjoyment, not necessarily for money (but if offered, I'll take it)—while working in various jobs including radio announcer/newscaster. Short of mountain climbing and running marathons (not very high on my list of ambitions), there wasn't very much I couldn't do. It took a fall and a broken leg (my "good" leg) almost twelve years ago to put me in a wheelchair.

Keeping the door open for the possibility of that rich, full life I owe to my parents. Particularly my father. He was a chiropractor.

Through my childhood and early teen years, my parents took me to a number of physical therapists and orthopedic physicians. In the beginning, I was too young to know what was going on. My father learned early on that he was the one who had to take charge of my rehabilitation if I were to avoid being severely handicapped. He learned very quickly that he had to protect me—from orthopedic surgeons!

Physical therapists helped me quite a bit. My basic health was good, my upper body was strong, and due to fairly constant exercises, especially swimming, my leg muscles regained what function it was possible for them to regain. Although it was still far from normal, my left leg improved enough for me to discard the left leg brace. In my later teens and early twenties, I swam at least once a week and fenced two or three evenings a week (regular fencing—I didn't have much mobility, but I was a pretty fair swordsman, nonetheless). For a guy who walked with crutches—or even for a guy who didn't walk with crutches—I was in pretty good shape.

Orthopedic physicians had little to offer except operations. They talked about severing the muscles in my ankles and fusing the joints (Why!??). They also wanted to attempt experimental muscle transplants. Through his chiropractic education (Palmer School of Chiropractic), Dad had a thorough knowledge of physiology, especially bones, muscles, and nerves. He saw little or no sense in these operations. He refused to allow them. "They call it the 'practice of medicine,'" he once said to me. "Well, I'm not going to let them 'practice' on you." I was exceptionally fortunate that Dad protected me from this. These operations were performed on many people who'd had polio. I was soon to learn that not only were they less than successful, they often left the person in worse condition than before. Some operations, especially joint fusing, resulted in no benefit whatsoever and usually left the person in chronic pain.

My father has been gone for many years and I miss him very much—for many reasons. Scoliosis notwithstanding, he kept my spine in good shape. I didn't realize how lucky I was. It took a bit of searching to find other chiropractors who could do the same (there are a number of different schools and techniques of chiropractic, so you can't judge by just one or two incidents). The scoliosis could give me trouble if left unattended, but fortunately, I found an excellent young chiropractor who takes care of it for me. I have been examined recently by orthopedic physicians. They want to operate on my back and fuse the vertebrae. I know a few people who have had this operation done. They are constantly swallowing painkillers and living in a half-doped state.

My chiropractor charges $40 per adjustment. My insurance company pays eighty percent of this. Considering that the insurance company paid an orthopedic surgeon somewhere between $25,000 and $30,000 to repair my broken leg (not counting hospital fees), I'd hate to speculate on what a spinal fusion operation might cost.

Operate on my back? No bloody thank you!! I'll stick with my chiropractor.

Don Firth