I could barely make it down the few steps to his office, my cane wobbling out in front of me searching for the next stair. My knees felt like they had needles sticking in them, my ankles burned, my lower back was on fire, and I was ashamed of every inch of myself.

The doctor was younger than I expected, my age to be exact. He was kind, professional and completely non-judgmental. I remember having trouble sitting on his examining table, getting up from a reclining position, standing in general, and like a gentleman, he offered his hand to help me. He gave me no dirty looks of impatience. He mentioned my obesity in such a clinical, conservative, yet kind way, that I didn't feel judged or offended by it. He didn't BLAME me.

When I returned the next day for my x-ray, I was unable to stand in front of the x-ray machine. I was hunched over, leaning on my cane. Standing was beyond difficult, it was impossible. He suggested I sit in the little x-ray chair attached to the machine. Ok, but the chair swiveled. I couldn't get a grip on it to hoist myself up into it.

He held the chair steady for me with one arm and helped me up into the chair with the other. With infinite patience he guided me into the seat. He told me to grasp the chair arm for support. I reached for it, got a grip on it and zhing! Out it came from its socket. He had already expertly guided my enormous bulk into the chair, so I plopped down into the seat holding the metal chair arm aloft and laughed, hard. The absurdity of me sitting there holding a piece of a chair struck me funny. No, it struck me silly. I laughed so hard and with such abandon, the doc couldn't help but join me. We laughed with relief. The tenseness of the situation was completely shattered. Some of my pain eased with the gleeful outburst. I was ready to heal.

The next time I saw him was a few days later after the initial spinal adjustment. I had 80% less pain and no longer needed the cane. A miracle???

Our bodies are miracles. Our miraculous power to heal is called "innate intelligence" by my doc's school of chiropractic. Our bodies WANT to be well. Their natural inclination is toward wellness. Obstacles get in the way of our body's innate intelligence, our vitalistic, natural tendency toward optimum health.

For the chiropractor specializing in spinal adjustments, spinal misalignments or subluxations are removable obstacles. A well adjusted spine is free from
subluxations and allows the central nervous system and all those goopy nerves associated with the spinal cord to function properly.

He helped my spine to get healthy. He helped me get out of my own way. I haven't walked with a cane since. The pain decreased, then nearly disappeared.

I see him once a month for a check up. If no spinal adjustment is needed, he doesn't charge me. That's his policy with ALL his patients. He is the most ethical, professional and skilled chiropractor in the known universe.

Thank G-d for Dr. Alan Brewster.
(and deep, sincere thanks to his lovely wife, Maryann for her professionalism, kindness and overall beauty and to Doreen Vitkuske for all her encouragement and support)

Note from Dr. Brewster: Lisa is a remarkable woman who writes a daily blog about her experience following gastric bypass surgery. She is an inspiration, and has shared her story to inspire others. The complete entry about her experience with chiropractic begins here:  http://theskinnyonline.blogspot.com/2007/05/that-spine-o-mine.html