| Chiropractic Care: A Personal Review | | | | on your good health and what we can do to make |
| | | | your nervous system function optimally." He also |
| After years of constant pain and traditional medicine, I | | | | elaborated on how all of these subluxations could |
| went for my first Chiropractic visit at Palmetto | | | | possibly be causing interferences in some of my |
| Chiropractic Center in SC. (Due to lesion at C1/2, | | | | systems. Some disturbances could impair gall bladder |
| bulging disc at C3, scapula winging and scoliosis) When | | | | & kidney function, while other disturbances could even |
| I walked into the door, I was a bit astounded by the | | | | cause vision and concentration impairment. All of the |
| pleasant and spacious environment. Additionally, the | | | | pain and parasthesia in my back, shoulders and neck |
| younger lady at the front counter doubled both as the | | | | were likely an effect by the multiple subluxations in my |
| receptionist and the technician. She smiled, greeted me | | | | spinal column. |
| and introduced herself as "Dana." I relayed the multiple | | | | After he thoroughly explained all of my results, he told |
| health issues I was having; e.g., spinal lesions, bulging | | | | me that health education is important and that he was |
| disk, winging scapula, scoliosis, parasthesia, ear ringing, | | | | there to not only help me as a chiropractor but to also |
| vision loss, and tremendous pain. Dana listened | | | | assist me in my knowledge base on how to better |
| attentively, and explained that these problems could | | | | take care of myself and my health. He then |
| definitely be addressed. After filling out a few standard | | | | expressed that if I had any questions, I should write |
| forms, and my health history, Dana told me, "...Prepare | | | | them down for him. Furthermore, he told me that |
| to be amazed." | | | | honesty is the best policy and he was there to |
| I was then escorted back to a small room where I | | | | promote healthier thinking, healthier living and truth in |
| was told that I would have diagnostic tests by | | | | overall health. |
| technologically-advanced SEMG (Surface | | | | Following our detailed meeting, he took me outside of |
| Electromyography) Scan and X-rays. In the past, I had | | | | the exam room and had me to lie down (on my |
| already had CT Myelograms, MRIs, Cat Scans, | | | | stomach) upon what looked like a massage table. It |
| Ultrasound, Sonogram and traditional X-rays, so I | | | | was covered with thick, vinyl cushion and had |
| assumed this was nothing new or out of the ordinary. | | | | segmented areas in parts. At the head of the |
| The Chiropractor knocked on the door and introduced | | | | table-bed, was a U-shaped opening. With my nose |
| himself to me as Dr. Jud Heldreth. Cordially, he | | | | centered directly in between the "U," he explained |
| explained that his practice actively engaged in | | | | what he was going to be doing. He told me that these |
| "teaching" patients and encouraged me to ask as | | | | beds were equipped with segmented, movable parts |
| many questions as possible so that I would fully | | | | that help stabilize my body while he worked on my |
| understand, and inevitably learn the process of | | | | spine. One of the key points of the segment areas |
| Chiropractics. As he left the room, I was asked to | | | | was to alleviate pressure as he pushed down on |
| remove my top articles of clothing and was draped | | | | certain parts of my back. For example, when he |
| with a clinical over shirt that opened in the backside. In | | | | placed his hands on my lower back, he slightly lifted the |
| front of me, was a computerized screen with an | | | | lower segment so that my body would go with the |
| image of a human musculoskeletal system, including | | | | flow of his work. By utilizing these movable parts, my |
| the spinal column. Alongside each vertebra, were | | | | body was better able to respond to the force of his |
| several graph bars. Each bar representative of | | | | pressure. |
| functional degrees of the motor nerves, muscle | | | | Working his way up, he got midway to my back. He |
| balance, and autonomic nerves. | | | | asked me to take in a really deep breath and let it all |
| What I discovered was that the SEMG Scan could | | | | completely out. I did as he said. No sooner did he press |
| detect the slightest subluxations (or misalignments) that | | | | down and I heard this loud, audible popping noise. At |
| disturb nerve functioning. (Subluxations cause abnormal | | | | first I didn't know what to think, but it didn't hurt at all. |
| amounts of electrical current to flow into one's | | | | The next depression was on my shoulder area. It too, |
| muscles.) SEMG Scan, as a valuable diagnostic tool, is | | | | made an audible pop. This time, it did pinch for about a |
| capable of discovering and pinpointing these nervous | | | | second, but suddenly I could move my left arm above |
| system disturbances. The slightest amount of pressure | | | | my head - something I was unable to do before I had |
| - even pressure exerted from the weight of a dime - | | | | come to him. After my back, my chiropractor |
| can cause disturbances in the Nervous System's | | | | extended his hand and helped me up. "Strange," I |
| communications - this is why SEMG Scan is so | | | | thought, I could stand up without pain in my hips. He |
| important. From what I was understand, White bars | | | | then asked me to lie down on my back. Lying there, he |
| depict Normal Function. Abnormalities resulted in Green, | | | | explained how he was now going to adjust my neck. |
| Blue or Red Bars. Green bars were indicative of mild | | | | Initially I thought, "Oh God - here goes nothing." Placing |
| abnormal function; blue bars indicated moderate | | | | one hand aside one-half my neck, and the other hand |
| abnormal function; and red bars meant that the | | | | on the opposite side whilst supporting my jawbone, he |
| abnormal function was severe. | | | | made a really quick push-turn. If you've ever twisted |
| After about five minutes, Dana came inside the room | | | | your neck too fast, you've obviously felt a sudden |
| and took what appeared to be a blow-dryer gun to | | | | burning or tingling pain in your neck. I experienced it for |
| my backside. Slowly and gently, she ran the SEMG | | | | about 1/2 a second, but surprisingly, I could also feel |
| gun along my spinal column. Stopping at certain points, I | | | | pressure relief from my sinuses, my ears, and even |
| could hear the computer audibly announcing specific | | | | my eyes. This was repeated one more time one click |
| areas of my spine - "...C1....C2....C3....C4...C5...." etc. Painless | | | | above the last, and my session was over. |
| and virtually noninvasive, I was more astounded that | | | | I thanked Dr. Heldreth and was set up for 4 weeks of |
| the computer spoke than anything. Judging by my own | | | | daily chiropractic care appointments. Leaving home, I |
| SEMG Scan and my natural worry tendencies, my | | | | noticed something very bizarre. As I drove, I could |
| spine was in big trouble. I had never seen so many red | | | | suddenly see road signs that before were blurred |
| bars in my life - and they were all pretty long as well. | | | | without corrective lenses. Thinking that I was just |
| Next, came the X-rays. Unlike traditional methods of | | | | imagining my newfound site, I walked into my home, |
| X-ray, I was asked to stand in different positions than | | | | poured myself a cup of coffee and sat at my dining |
| what I was accustomed. A matter of fact, the whole | | | | room table. Not thinking twice about it, I peered up at |
| process lasted less than 40 minutes. After the scan | | | | the kitchen wall clock. 12:15pm. I did a double take. |
| and X-rays were complete, I was scheduled for a | | | | "12:15pm?!" I realized that I could clearly decipher the |
| follow-up appointment to discuss the results of my | | | | numbers on my wall clock. Something I could not see |
| tests. | | | | at all before my visit. Nothing short from a miracle, I |
| The following Monday, I went to the Chiropractic clinic | | | | could not believe these almost instantaneous results! |
| to learn about my test results - and for my initial | | | | By late afternoon, I was feeling a bit sore from the visit, |
| "adjustment." When I arrived, I was escorted back to | | | | but I was told this may or may not happen due to the |
| the original room where I had my "thermal Scan," | | | | extent of my subluxations. Dipping into the swimming |
| (SEMG Scan). Dr. Heldreth walked into the room with | | | | pool, the cool water relieved some of the soreness, |
| me and first began to explain what all the red, green | | | | but the amazing thing was that although I was sore, I |
| and blue bars meant on my SEMG scan. He relayed | | | | was not having the pain or numbness I had had prior to |
| how this (SEMG Scan) was a diagnostic tool that | | | | my chiropractic visit. The next day, I went back for a |
| informed him, along with X-rays, on the condition of my | | | | second alignment where I discovered I was a bit more |
| spinal column. By merely looking at the elongated bars | | | | pain free afterwards. Next came a seminar on |
| on the computerized screen, I was astonished. He | | | | chiropractic care and what it all entailed. My |
| pointed out several areas along my spine, beginning at | | | | chiropractor's partner, Dr. Jason Yoder gave an |
| the nape of my skull to the base of my nervous | | | | elaborate course on how important choices are in |
| system, which had "subluxations," or nervous system | | | | health and what we can do to empower ourselves |
| disturbances. He further explained how these | | | | through education about Human body potential, |
| subluxations could have a dramatic impact on my | | | | detection & correction of vertebral subluxations |
| overall health and well-being. He gave a detailed | | | | through chiropractic adjustments and how true health |
| explanation as to how each of these subluxations | | | | comes from within. Not only was it very interactive |
| could have a negative effect on various muscle, organ | | | | and educational, it was positive and lively. At the |
| and glandular systems in my body. However, Dr. | | | | commencement of his seminar, Dr. Yoder invited Dana |
| Heldreth accentuated his positive attitude and further | | | | to hand out special savings' coupons for friends and |
| went on to say that I, myself, had to have a positive | | | | family - an added bonus to a great seminar! |
| attitude about my health so that we could tackle some | | | | I still face many more chiropractic visits, but for now, I |
| of these issues. | | | | am excited that I have finally found resolve in my |
| Next, he placed my X-rays on a lit screen and with a | | | | condition through true, compassionate assistance in my |
| black, felt-tip marker, and highlighted areas on the film | | | | quest to good health. Would I recommend visiting a |
| itself. He showed me the two top vertebras and | | | | chiropractor? I already have - to my family, friends and |
| marked two dots from one groove to the next. He | | | | everyone I meet. After suffering for numerous years |
| clarified how these were not only displaced about an | | | | with several health problems, I've decided that to |
| inch from one another, but how they were diagonally | | | | improve my overall well being - not just my health, my |
| displaced as well. Following the first bit of information, | | | | whole outlook on my life is enhanced through |
| he went on to exhibit points below that were not in | | | | chiropractic care. |
| straight alignment at all. Furthermore, the base of my | | | | To find a Chiropractor in your area, you may do so by |
| spine (tail bone) was not only completely out of | | | | searching our Holistic Junction business directory. |
| alignment but even curved to the right and then back | | | | To learn more about Doctors Jud Heldreth and Jason |
| inward. Judging by appearance alone, the X-rays were | | | | Yoder, you may visit their website at or contact them |
| quite scary. | | | | at © C. Bailey Lloyd |
| At that point, I went into a rant about how I had been | | | | © LadyCamelot |
| diagnosed with scoliosis as a young girl, along with | | | | © 2004 All Rights Reserved |
| several injuries along the span of my life. Looking back | | | | C. Bailey Lloyd/Lady Camelot is currently the Public |
| at me, the chiropractor smiled, simply acknowledged | | | | Relations' Director for |
| my opinion about all of this and then said, "... Let's focus | | | | To contact Ms. |