Beautiful adjustment

There are many different types of adjustments. There are attitude adjustments. There are financial adjustments. You can adjust the time. You can have a major adjustment, or a minor adjustment. In my case, today, had my first chiropractic adjustment.

I've always been very skeptical of chiropractors. I've often thought, "are they really doctors?" To me, they kind of fell in line with holistic medicine and, more specifically, podiatrists (just kidding, Frank). Before we met, Cyndi had been going to a chiropractor for several years. She raved about him saying, his efforts help keep her back pain to a minimum. We called him, "Dr. Motorcycle," because, one time, when Cyndi was still attending Northern, he rode up on his Harley to meet her. She insisted he was a nice guy; he meant nothing by the gesture. Nothing in that way, she meant. He simply enjoyed her company, and wanted to take her for a ride in the country.

Dr. Motorcycle died several years ago. He was too young to die; the aggressive form of cancer he had took him very quickly after the diagnosis. As a result, Cyndi stopped getting adjustments. Her back problems came back, and they continued. More specifically, they became chronic. It got to the point that Cyndi could barely move.

"Go see a chiropractor, already," I would say. Even though I didn't believe in them for myself, a little prodding didn't hurt. Even with all of her faith in this type of medicine, the selection process to replace Dr. Motorcycle was hard. She didn't want to choose just anyone. She wanted to go to someone with a reputation. Someone her friends or family recommended. Someone who she knew had treated or was currently treating a person in her inner circle.

Recently (finally?), Cyndi went to visit a new doctor, at the recommendation of her older sister, Jeanette. For the past few weeks, several times a week, Cyndi has been getting adjusted. Her pain is subsiding, but I have a suspicion that this will be a long-term relationship.

Out of curiosity, I scheduled an appointment. I don't have body pain that would be labeled chronic or anything that severe. I was really just more curious than anything, carrying my full load of skepticism with me. During my evaluation, the doctor had me watch a 10 minute video on what to expect. The video informed me that chiropractic medicine revolves around the premise that the central nervous system controls everything (my translation). The video explained how, after undergraduate work, chiropractic physicians spend thousands of hours learning about the body, and have to continue their coursework yearly.

As the doctor and I spoke about my possible issues, she explained how she could assist in the treatment of my IBS. My ears perked up. As she looked at my posture, as she asked me to stand straight, turn right, bend to the left, raise my arms, walk on my toes, she told me that she: 1) knew I was right handed; 2) could tell I sat at a computer a lot; and felt that the lower back area which controls the bowels needed to be adjusted. I began feeling like I was visiting a fortune teller more than a doctor. But a good fortune teller. One who actually knew things.

As the doctor began making her adjustments on me, cracking my neck, areas in my back, working on the bowel (not gross like it may seem), she kept saying, "Ohhh...you are adjusting beautifully." She said this repeatedly, making me feel like I was doing my part in the relationship. Every crack that emitted a nice sound from my body pleased her.

She kept asking if what she was doing was painful in any way. It wasn't. In fact, it felt pretty good. I didn't want to admit it, but I felt...adjusted.

She didn't perform too much on me today. Maybe it ensures another visit, or maybe it's just the right thing to do. Either way, I guess I'm on my way to getting hooked. I must be getting older...and wiser?