When you have aging parents (and in-laws), you acquire a lot of experience dealing with healthcare providers. That experience can be frustrating.
In early February, my 86-year-old mother attempted to hang a dish towel on the clothes line. When she tried to lift her left arm, she experienced pain under her left shoulder blade, which she described as being similar to a “crick in the back,” and found she could not lift the arm at all. She could, however, use her hand and fingers.
She went to her primary-care physician, who, thinking it was a torn rotator cuff, sent her for an MRI. The test came back inconclusive.
He then sent her to an orthopedist. This doctor did not do a thorough exam, but immediately concluded (because she could not lift her arm) that she had had a stroke and sent her to the hospital. (She had no other symptoms, such as slurred speech.)
Two CAT scans later, the ER doctor said my mother definitely had not had a stroke nor a heart attack. The ER MD found what she thought was a schwannoma, however. Because my mother was not in immediate danger, she discharged her and recommended she see a neurologist.
The neurologist ordered another MRI, which was also inconclusive. He could not give a diagnosis, but sent her to (don’t get your hopes up!) a physical therapist, not a chiropractor. She has had therapy several times, with no improvement in movement.
I have repeatedly asked her to see a chiropractor. She says she will, if the therapy doesn’t work. Her reasoning: The neurologist ordered this treatment. In her mind, the medical doctor knows best and she has to finish his course of treatment. Medicine trumps chiropractic in her mind.
My mother has never experienced the benefits of chiropractic. I do believe she will go to a DC eventually. Of course, I don’t know if chiropractic treatment will help her, but I have a strong suspicion it will.
My frustration? In my job, every day I read about and write about the disconnect and the antipathy between allopathic and chiropractic medicine. But when that disconnect hits home, well, it becomes frustrating and disappointing.
The neurologist my mother saw is regarded as the best in her locality. I am disappointed he did not consider a chiropractic opinion before sending her to a PT. If only he had an ongoing dialogue with a good chiropractor!
About a week ago, I had an enlightening discussion with David H. Durrant, DC, of the American Academy of Spine Physicians (AASP, www.spinephysicians.org). AASP was founded in 1995. It is open to healthcare providers who treat the spine. Dr. Durrant told me the organization’s membership is growing rapidly — and that about half of it is comprised of medical doctors. The growing MD-DC membership of this organization tells me is that a dialogue is taking place between neurologists and chiropractors. That dialogue should help develop a symbiotic relationship between the two communities.
The neurologist my mother saw must not be a member of AASP. Too bad –for her and his other patients. Maybe my mother’s treatment plan would be different if he had been a member, and maybe she would now be able to use her arm.
Until next time,