I have sort-of "graduated". Last December I ran into difficulty with shoulder/arm and neck issues - painful and frightening! It was bad enough that when I saw my own x-ray, I was just plain shocked at how crooked my neck was. And it was especially frightening when I went to the ortho Dr., and ended up on the money train towards neurosurgery! Yikes! HELP! MORE bad things can happen with surgery!!!I grew up in a family where we didn't usually visit a Dr, unless there was a broken bone. Fortunately, nobody was ever really needing much medical assistance, so as I got older and had occasional painful back issues, and shoulder aches, I just waited until it went away. Well, it DOES 'go away' but not exactly the way a person wants relief - your spine adjusts as much as possible until, OOPS, all is messed up and needs major attention -- that was me, needing major attention, but please, no surgery!!!
My husband FORCED me (thank you, dear DH!) to seek chiropractic as an alternative to surgery, last December, and after months of 3x a week adjustment, then 2x week adjustment, then 1x /week adjustment, I have happily GRADUATED and reached "Maintenance." needing only occasional adjustments -- Happy Day!!! My chiro Dr. said I was in bad shape and he doubted if my neck/spine could be salvaged. I was doubtful as weeks turned into months, but here I am, so much better, back to dressing myself, no more electric shock sensations, sleeping most of the night without pain meds, and almost entire range of motion returned. My latest scan is no longer full of nasty colored areas that indicate damage. It showed only a few areas that are likely going to be permanent damage but quite acceptable. I am never going to be 35 again, but soooo much better than I was!
The reason I am writing is that if you have some vague, or not vague back ache, back injury, shoulder issues, or neck aches, consider checking with chiropractor, before too much damage is done. Most insurance covers chiropractic, I believe. Your spine is your lifeforce and if it starts pressing on nerves due to vertebrae deterioration or damage, than OTHER functions go wrong. Your body will adjust to things going wrong for a while, until it cannot any longer and then you end up in trouble.
IMHO, 'regular' physicians deal with the pain, and are taught surgery! Chiropractic solves the source of disease.
OK, that's my spiel today-- back to quilting.