4 Weeks

As of yesterday it has been a month since my body revolted on me. I don't want to call it an injury, since I had done nothing to injure myself. But rather it was a more like a seizure. Just as a rabbit or a deer will seize in front of headlights, my body seized in response to an overload of stress.

Since then I have improved quite a bit. I started seeing a chiropractor who specializes in upper cervical adjusting. This is the approach we were initially taught at Palmer College. BJ Palmer, the founder of our school called it the "Hole in One Technique". By addressing the atlas, i.e. the first cervical vertebra, you will affect every process throughout the body. For decades this is all that was taught at the school. Adjust the atlas and let the Innate Intelligence of the body free up and do the healing. This is a very powerful concept, often forgotten by chiropractors because they feel that they have to "treat" the pain rather than free the body to do its own healing. However, the power that created the body heals the body. There is no other way, and when you consider that creating the body is nothing short of a miracle, then healing becomes a miracle too. We don't have to control it, just release the power and get out of the way!

I started running again. My leg still feels weak and the muscle aches at times, but I am able to run about two and a half miles with some walking thrown in. I'm able to adjust people longer without having to sit down. And the numb area has gotten a little smaller. Just a little. But it gives me hope that I will overcome this, and soon. It is very weird when you suddenly lose a function of your body. It changes you, and not in a good way. And you appreciate it so much more when you get it back! You just can't take health for granted because all it takes is a second to lose it!

Health - You don't know what you've got 'till it's gone!

It's funny how we can take out bodies for granted. I try not to, full appreciating all it does for me. But when something suddenly changes, you begin to realize how important a fully functioning body is.

I recently hurt myself that resulted in intense back spasming and left leg weakness. The weakness came on so fast, it was incredible. I found it difficult to stand, let alone walk, and of course, running was out of the question. I love to run. I feel like my life depends on it. I run 4 days a week all year long and in all the weather typical to Cleveland. But not for the last 10 days.

I began to feel like an invalid. I could get up and walk, but after 30 seconds, I had to sit because my thigh would burn in pain as the muscles tried to hold me up. I couldn't do anything. I mean anything! I couldn't go to the store, I could barely get through my day at the office. All I would do is go to the office, sit while I adjust people, and come home. Then I would sit on the couch or the chair in front of the TV and veg. I began to wonder if I would ever have my life back.

I have been working on myself, and with the help of a chiropractor friend of mine, Dave Budney. Slowly the strength is coming back and today I finally felt strong enough to try a run. Actually, I didn't feel strong enough, but I could not take another day of sitting. Running withdrawl is horrible. So I put on my running gear and went or it. It was difficult at first, but I was able to get in about 2 and a half miles. When I got home, I felt absolutely great!

I know now that what has gripped me is slowly leaving and I can see the end of the tunnel. But the body you've been given is the only one you will ever get. A healthy body is defined by how well it works, not how well it feels. And in the matter of a moment something can change that suddenly changes how it works. And that is a horrible, horrible feeling. Thank goodness for chiropractic, because that is the only approach that can restore health, and keep us healthy (i.e functioning!). Because once it's gone, health may be gone for good!