Editorial - Spring 1998
by Perry A. Chapdelaine, Sr.
Executive Director of The Arthritis Trust
Chiropractic practices are considered to be complementary/alternative therapies by allopathic physicians -- those practitioners who represent traditional medical procedures and who treat symptoms usually by drugs, surgery or radiation, rather than according to causes of the symptoms.
I've learned over the years that there's probably as much variation in chiropractic practitioners as there is among either allopathic health care professionals or other complementary/alternative/holistic practitioners.
My trip to a local chiropractor usually results in a quick thrust to one or more of my spines out of alignment, temporary relief, and then resumption of pain after several hours, or sooner. Although my chiropractor may use an electric muscle stimulator, ultra-sonic, or other non-invasive devices, he's rather indifferent to the fact that tendons and ligaments that have not returned to normalcy within six weeks need a different kind of treatment, called "sclerotherapy" by doctors of osteopathy, "prolo" or "proliferative therapy" by medical doctors, or, by some. "reconstructive therapy." (See our "Treatment of First Choice for Osteoarthritis and Other Arthritic-like Pain," and Pain, Pain Go Away by Morton Walker, D.P.M. and William J. Faber, D.O.)
I've met other chiropractors who sell vitamins and minerals, usually without any genuine knowledge of whether or not specific ingredients are required; and yet others may utilize computerized acupuncture/meridian measurements to determine not only the proper vitamins and minerals, but also the suitable brands.
Regardless of how the chiropractor approaches his patient, most of them are sincere, honest practitioners who, like allopathic physicians, work well within the framework of their limited background and knowledge.
One who stands out from all those I've met or read is Paul Goldberg, D.C.,M.P.H.!
Perhaps the reason Paul is outstanding is because - as reported in his article "Arthritis/Rheumatism - The Forgotten Patients, Part I" in this issue - he, himself, was a sufferer of arthritis, and was able to solve his serious problems.
I've noted over the years, as perhaps you have also, that whenever a person, be he practitioner or layman, has struggled to learn his own causes, and succeeded in achieving wellness they are dedicated health professionals, always willing to give a hand.
Paul Goldberg's understanding of arthritis is absolutely outstanding, shadowing over not just his fellow chiropractors, but also over many allopathic and alternative/complementary/holistic physicians I've known.
Within the field of chiropractic practices, Dr. Goldberg might be considered a maverick, just as many of our alterntive/complementary/holistic practitioners are considered mavericks by allopathic physicians. After all, the money in chiropractic therapy is not in getting folks well, but in setting folks up for repeat visits. A year of thrust upon thrust of a wobbly spinal joint is just that much more money in the bank for the chiropractor; whereas, a serious evaluation of why arthritis has ensued in all or any of the joints just might create wellness, and decrease the bank account.
Of course the majority of chiropractors don't reason in that manner, but the effect is the same as if they did, just as allopathic physicians set their patients up for repeated return visits that continue to bankroll their business accounts because they tackle only their patient's symptoms, and not causes.
There's a duplicity of vested interests, hidden or not, in any kind of health practice that treats just symptoms, except on the basis of an important expediency.
Although allopathic physicians consider all chiropractors to be alternative practitioners, none who simply (and usually only) treat symptoms should be called alternative medical practitioners, whether they use "natural" products, or drugs, whether their prestige stems from a prestigious medical school or from a free clinic off the coast of Africa, or whether they have a D.C., N.D., M.D., L.Ac., O.M.D, or D.O.
Getting well means addressing causes, and it means only that!
Perry A. Chapdelaine, Sr.,
Executive Director of the Rheumatoid Disease Foundation/The Arthritis Trust of America
- The Arthritis Trust of America Newsletter, Spring 1998, Editorial
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Dr. Goldberg has long been devoted to helping others reverse chronic illnesses through Natural Hygienic / Biological Measures.
