UPFRONT | Letters FEEDBACK Take 5 A letter from a patient My name is Henry Lamont Briggs. I’m a patient at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College Clinic at 6100 Leslie Street, Toronto – “CMCC” for short! During one blisteringly hot, sunny afternoon, mid-August 2012, I decided to sit out in the sun! I sat on a local park bench. I rested my head on the back of the bench and tried to forget all my troubles. I sat on the very edge of the bench, almost horizontal, but with no lumbar support! I felt an immediate discomfort in my lower back. My first thought was “Here comes trouble!” After 45 minutes, I got up. Pain shot across my lower back and down my left leg. I could barely walk. Somehow, I “limped” home. Within a few days, my left leg wouldn’t support me. This was because I had agonizing pain from the left hip, down into the left instep. Also, my pelvic area stiffened up like concrete – very painful. Cutting a long story short, by early September 2012, the pain was so intense I decide to return to CMCC. I say ‘return’ because many years ago, the CMCC clinic gave me exceptional treatment in their clinic at Bayview/ Eglinton, but I knew they’d moved. I located their new premises on Leslie Street, arranged an appointment and attended their new clinic. After rigorous and intense testing, they gave me their diagnosis. I understood them to say I could be healed within a couple of months. As I recall, by the end of October 2012, I was completely free of pain. I was healed. Meanwhile, due to left-sided sleep positioning, I was also suffering irritation in my left shoulder. I reported this to them. They tested me, diagnosed the irritation and began treating my upper back and left shoul-der. By Christmas/New Years, I felt much better. Then, early one morning, mid-January 2013, the worst happened! The previous day, I had achieved some awesome things – after I’d lain flat in bed that morning, congratulating myself, I brought my heels up to my buttocks and, using my feet and my arms, I raised myself up on the bed. With a deep breath, I once again celebrated my successes. But, all at once, the pain shot up my spine, across my pelvis, down my left leg and my left arm. I collapsed on the bed in agony. My only thought was, “I’ve done it again!” Fortunately, I had an appointment with the CMCC the following day. During the appointment, I reported the new incident to them. They tested me and said I’d had a “relapse.” They continued treating my lower, upper back and my left shoulder. By the end of the winter, I was healed, but I was also educated! I now clearly understand that these sorts of health and fitness issues are very fragile. One wrong move can cause a relapse. Also, the older the patient, the more vulnerable! If I could, I’d be suggesting the following to other patients: “For maxi-mum benefit and fastest healing, do exactly as your health care practi-tioner advises!” For example, I’m not the most dedicated with the “at home maintenance,” the exercises, etc., but I understand that I need to do them and I’m trying to get better at staying on top of them. I’d like to close this letter with one observation: I only wish CMCC was still at Bayview, north of Eglinton – it was much closer for me then. But despite that, I can only say awesome things about the CMCC clinic at 6100 Leslie Street in Toronto. Everyone there, from the reception staff who welcome the patient at the front door to the top professionals who oversee everything – they all inspire the patient to relax and feel good. —Henry L. Briggs, a very grateful, happy patient NUMBER CRUNChiNg Fast health facts Just how healthy are Canadians? Statistics Canada’s Canadian Community Health Survey reveals a lot about the health and lifestyle of Canadians from coast to coast. percentage of Canadian women who were at least moderately active last year 52 percentage of Canadians who experienced pain or discomfort that prevented participation in activities 13 the number of Canadians who perceived their health as very good or excellent 60 vs 44 the percentage of men versus women who are overweight or obese www.canadianchiropractor.ca 8 Canadian Chiropractor July/August 2013 Illustration: Brian Fray 3 in 5
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