I have a smashing headache, but it's only to be expected. I went to a chiropracter today. I had been meaning to go for quite some time, even back when I had health insurance. When I had health insurance I was too afraid to use the phone at work to make a 5 min phone call, so I never did it.

I've had chiropractic treatment before. In fact, I think I'd be mighty crippled up by now if I hadn't had it, off and on, since I was 20. I know that when I am getting adjustments everything about my overall health improves. So it's like an investment in wellness.

Oh, who am I kidding....

the guy had an ad in the paper offering an exam for $17, and last night was one of those nights.... I don't mean to complain, but the truth is, sometimes my back and my legs spasm so badly when I'm trying to sleep that I almost scream. Sometimes I do cry, but, so far, my better self has prevented me from just crying out "I can't stand this anymore!" and upsetting The Hub, the dog, Vio-kitty, the neighbors and the fish. But last night was one of those nights. So when I saw that ad in the paper today I was all over that like stink on a monkey.

Anyway, he could see that I was in awefully bad shape. He asked me to walk in a straight line, toe to heel the way I have seen police officers ask motorists who are suspected of drunk driving to do. I was, of course, stone sober.

"I can't do that. My balance is shot" I told the man.

"Try it anyway. I want to see what happens."

So I tried it. I walked two steps, listed to the right, and fell over. "Wow. That's some pretty bad ataxia" he said, which I presume is chiropractor-speak for lousey balance. "But, we can fix that."

Sigh. I didn't roll my eyes. I just gave him a patiant smile. Two things doctors / chiropracters think they are going to "fix" are my insomnia and my balance. They aren't fixed yet, though, I beleive they can be improved. And what the hell. Dr. BackCracker here is onto the balance problem as something that needs to be fixed which is a lot different from the "oh, well, as long as it's not a brain tumor" attitude of most medical doctors.

He gave me an adjustment as well as the exam ( the conclusion of which, I think, was "wow, your back is a heck of a mess for somebody your age") He adjusted everything, including my wrists and my ankles. I know that after awhile I am going to feel better....but today, and tomorrow I am going to feel worse. All that stuff that was in the wrong place just got yanked into the right place and you can't help but have some negative experience from all of that going on. And besides, when I left I could feel my toes in my left foot. "Hey! My toes!" I said, happily, to the recptionist, who is used to people saying such inane things. It's been a long time since I could feel them....so long I forgot I don't, exactly, feel them most of the time. Of course, now they hurt, but it's a good kind of pain, because at least I know they're there. If you've never had chronic pain, this sounds like the most insane thing in the world to you - but, if you ever have, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

While I was in the office, I talked with a woman who had just, earlier this week, been diagnosed with MS. She had symptoms for years, and finally turned to the chiropractor for some help, which she did get. In fact, Dr. BackCracker helped improve her balance, which he said, "was almost as bad as yours"! She's been going to him for a few months, and finally had some improvement. But the thing is, she was thrilled to hear that she had MS. She had been going for so long with no diagnosis, a sort of "there there, it's all in your head, dear" kind of attitude from her doctors. Dr. BackCracker encouraged her not to give up, to keep hounding the medical doctors for help, because, no doubt, he knew on some level what was wrong, and she finally went to see some guru specialist at University of MD. But, honest to goodness, can you imagine going around for years with MS and nobody being able to figure that out?!

Uuugh! I hate doctors! I really do!