Medical Choices...

I have spoken in previous posts about medicine in general, and about what massage can and can't do for you. I have a personal story to tell in this regard. Some of you may be familiar with this story but I think it has some bearing on the discussion of health care in general, and what possibilities exist.

As the rest of you, I have been both blessed and cursed with my parent's genes. I am fortunate enough to have inherited a reasonably functional body, with the possibility of a pretty good life span as there is longevity on both sides of my family tree. There is the possibility of some negative genetic consequences as well. There is Parkinsons in my family history as well as Rheumatoid Arthritis, although so far, so good. However, one of the genetic propensities on my father's side has recently shown up, that being weak and drooping eyelids. Now this doesn't really sound too serious and indeed it's not a life threatening situation. However, it has certainly affected my quality of life. This all came on pretty quickly and when I was tested about a year or so ago, I had lost about 50% of my field of vision in my left eye, and nearly 40% in my right.

My point here is a simple one. Sometimes, alternative healthcare by itself, is not the answer. No amount of acupuncture, massage or manual therapy, chiropractic care, or nutraceuticals was going to change the fact that I was rapidly losing my field of vision and my ability to see. It was time to look elsewhere for treatment options. After much research and deliberation I settled on an Oculoplastic Surgeon who specializes in such conditions. I couldn't be happier with my choice or the results.

In February I had a short one hour procedure done under local anesthetic and the results have been dramatic in a positive way.

As an addition to this story, while in recovery I did successfully utilize some of my training to reduce the swelling that comes with the procedure. So, even though manual therapy couldn't help directly with my drooping eyelids, it did help with the recovery from the procedure to correct the problem.

We can all make informed and objective choices from the medical treatment options available to us, and we should remain open to all options on the table. Every medical model has something positive to offer. We just have to make the right choice given the status of our own health. It's up to each of us to arm ourselves with the knowledge necessary to make the best decision we can.

Thanks as always for reading my blog. I welcome your comments and questions so feel free to chime in. Happy Spring!