February 2006

Chiropractic still works miracles

by Dr. Charles Paolantonio

Recently, I spent a week in Choleuteca, Honduras with a SMART team (surgical medical relief team). I was the chiropractor and acupuncturist on this particular team. In the two days we were there, I treated more than 200 patients and gave over 100 acupuncture treatments. I have been caring for patients since 1972, and this trip reaffirmed what a great profession chiropractic is. Even though there was a limit in the number of adjustments each patient received, most experienced some relief, and others received miraculous results.

The most common condition I treated was a C5‑C6 subluxation with a radiculitis. The reason for this common problem was that most of the women started at an early age carrying things on their heads. We asked one woman who was in particularly bad shape what she carried. She said at the age of 10, she would carry a five‑ gallon pale of water on her head and walk several miles. Each of these patients also suffered carpal tunnel problems as well as shoulder pain, because of the repetitive motion of washing clothes by hand in the near by rivers or streams. It was a great experience to see how well chiropractic works with a single adjustment

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I want to thank Impac, maker of the arthrostim instrument I used, and especially the company's Ed Miller who allowed me to use it free of charge (actually, I worked it to death for myofascial release, trigger point work, adjusting the extremities, and adjustments of the spine). I'm also grateful to Tony's Tables for a little workhorse of a portable, sturdy, strong, easy‑to‑set‑up and take‑down table. It makes a big difference to have companies willing to support mission work.

If you're feeling stuck or maybe a little stale, go on a mission. It will reaffirm to you just how great you and our profession really are!