Dr. Brad Fackrell, Rio Rancho, NM
Patient:
Charles
My Journey into Chiropractic Procedures:
I am an 81 year old
male who, for the last 6 weeks, had been suffering from sleep
problems. I would sleep soundly for 2 or 3 hours and after that would
have fretful interrupted sleep where by my hands would grow numb and
ache. This would happen several times between the initial sleep cycle
and 6:00am.
An observation concluded that sleeping on my back or stomach
solved the problem. I let my oncologist know this, as I am
being treated for prostate cancer, and he was noncommittal and let the
matter drop.
The cancer had also produced another trauma. A tumor that
was attached to the spine had been infected by the cancer
and started to grow pinching the nerve supply to my left leg, leaving
it practically useless. Therapy had since brought it back somewhat, but
it still limited in use and affects my balance.
Orthodox Medicine has
done a wonderful job with the cancer. My PSA is down under
4 and the tumor has been shrunk. But a question needs answering--if the
tumor has shrunk and the original pressure has been relieved, then why
hasn't the leg come back to normal? With the two problems literally abandoned
by orthodox medicine, chiropractic care seemed to be a logical road to
explore.
Since starting chiropractic care, the fretful sleeping has
disappeared. Instead of waking 4 or 5 times a night, now I sleep through
the night until 5 or 5:30am. The numbness and pain are greatly
reduced and occur only at the end of the sleep cycle.
X-rays show spine
compression in the area of the nerve supplying the leg. Hopefully manipulation
will relieve the nerve and bring the leg back to normal.