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.