Shelia Holden Age 62

Retired

"I am continuing to follow a programme of adjustments and exercise and am hoping for a further improvement in my spine and overall health."

About 8 years ago, I was suffering from back pain in my left shoulder and upper back area which resulted in difficulty sleeping and the inability to sit comfortably for any length of time . After a very painful, long air flight my G.P. referred me for a few sessions of physiotherapy. This took place before any actual diagnosis as to the cause of the pain and the hospital physiotherapist was not able to give me any lasting relief.

I was finally diagnosed as having a 'postural scoliosis', but I was not offered any treatment or advice at that time. On returning to my G.P., I was eventually offered another few sessions of physiotherapy and then prescribed Vioxx as pain relief . The Vioxx, of course, masked the pain but eventually I realized that my mouth was not producing saliva. Both the G.P. and the hospital specialist assured me that the Vioxx was not the cause of the dry mouth, however when I decided to have a course of acupuncture I stopped taking the Vioxx in order to see if there was any pain relief. Within 3 days the saliva began to return. I immediately stopped taking the Vioxx. All medication has side effects and to no surprise, so did this and that was the one I noticed.

In 2004 I developed Tennis Elbow . I had some physiotherapy and finally was recommended a cortisone injection, which temporarily eased the pain. But when the pain returned and I was offered another injection for my elbow and one for my back, I decided against it. In August 2005 I saw an advertisement in the local paper about the Ideal Spine Centre. I had an assessment and x-rays and for the first time I received some logical answers to my health concerns. I began a course of spinal adjustments and was very grateful when the pain in my elbow started to ease. I have been getting adjusted for just four months, my elbow only aches now and again and Dr. Christian hasn't even touched my elbow. That is when I became more aware of the effects of subluxation as my elbow problem manifested itself from subluxation in my neck .

After getting adjusted, my neck is more supple and I can turn my head when reversing the car! I am continuing to follow a programme of adjustments and exercise and am hoping for a further improvement in my spinal health.