The Necks Time You’re In Pain…, by Tara Goedjen

Knowing my grandparents meant that I also got to hear many tales concerning their various ailments, injuries, and illnesses. But body-talk isn’t limited to senior citizens. It’s quite common, upon meeting someone you haven’t spoken with for some time at the grocery store, or finally ringing them for the holidays to ask first about the weather, and then about life. And life (especially the older your get) encompasses broken bones, bloody hangnails, swollen tonsils, strange infections, root canals, swine flu, bronchitis, migraines, and assorted and sundry other bodily calamities.

We’ve all had our share of those persistent little pains-in-the-neck (or appendix, or teeth, or feet) that just won’t go away. My pain-in-the-neck was a chronic pain-in-the-back, which cropped up during a Division I tennis career. All of those championship matches (not really, we always finished 11th in the Big XII) with the Iowa State Cyclones took a toll on my right shoulder. I went to doctors, specialists, osteopaths, physical therapists, massage therapists — anyone, really, who I thought might help remedy my back pain.

But all those roads were of the dead end variety, particularly since I wasn’t interested in taking massive amounts of anti-inflammatories that probably would have resulted in one more Vioxx lawsuit. So, at a friend’s suggestion, I decided to try a something that was still seen as an “alternative” treatment seven years ago. I went to see a chiropractor.

It just so happened that the chiropractor with whom I booked an appointment also dabbled in acupuncture. Thus commenced a passionate relationship — with acupuncture, not the chiropractor. For the first time, my pain was gone. I was sold. Three acupuncturists later, my back & shoulder pain has all but disappeared. It may be that all my body needed was a little rest, but the entire experience was enough to skyrocket my interests in Eastern medicine.

For this interview I’ve asked an M.D. who practices both Eastern and Western medicine his ideas on how the two compliment each other, and what sort of elbow room they’ll both need within a changing healthcare system.

TG: You’ve studied Western and Eastern medicine. How does your personal philosophy on medicine compare to that of your peers?

AL: I was just thinking about this yesterday. I became interested at a young age in health. I learned as much as I could about natural foods and exercise way before I even thought about going into
medicine, so I approach things in a way that comes natural to me and makes sense in my mind. Many doctors look at things solely from an evidence-based point of view, and that way of looking at medicine can be very beneficial. But it asks that you should be able to prove everything scientifically before you do it…yet some things aren’t able to be proven. For example, I know from experience that osteopathic manipulation makes a lot of people feel better. It must, because
patients keep coming back for it. But there are limited studies that prove its effectiveness. Should I not use it because there are no studies to prove it?

TG: So your experiences imply that there are benefits from looking at medicine from different points of view, and finding a balance that falls somewhere in the middle instead of at an extreme?

AL: I’ve learned that it is important to look at things both creatively and rationally. If you don’t, you run the risk of getting lost in the world of conjecture where nothing really makes sense at
all. Practicing medicine without a rational foundation can be downright dangerous. So a science-based foundation is good because it requires you to look at things objectively, but you also have to
have an open mind to consider the unknown.

TG: You mentioned looking at your medical work creatively. Could you go into detail?

AL: I try to look at all things creatively. I’m a musician and interested in art. The human body is so complex and there is so much we don’t know about it. A physician is required to think creatively
because we deal with so many unknowns. I approach things from an osteopathic perspective, which involves bodywork and sensitivity in the hands. You can’t learn to use your hands by reading and studying a textbook. The more you do it the better you’re going to be. If I’m still healthy and still have my hands in 20 years I should be able to do much more with them. I consider lots of hard work to be an art. It takes lots of practice. The western perspective is an art as well. I’ve met doctors that are so good with evidence-based medicine that they make it work. For me, the osteopathic perspective really opens the door for lots of creativity and the unknowns.

TG: Can you give an example of this idea of the unknown that you’ve seen in your practice?

AL: We have our bodies. We all are beings and we have our bodies. But what’s actually keeping that body alive? There’s something other than just electricity that’s keeping the body alive. Because when you’re dead you just have a body, it’s like that person’s not even there. It’s just a dead body. So what is it that keeps the body “alive”? What is it about that being or that self that keeps it alive? There’s so many factors of health, and the mental aspect [might be] the most important. Your outlook on life is what really keeps you healthy…in how you approach things, how you let what happens in the body influence your emotions. If you look at our bodies from the perspective of a universal timeframe, we are only on earth for a miniscule amount of time. Then what? What is it that is keeping our bodies alive? Does that energy die with us when we die? I like to ask myself “who am I?” Am I really this physical body or am I something else that is more eternal…?

TG: So as a doctor who explores existential questions and yet primarily practices a scientific-based Western medicine, how do you see yourself functioning to help people take care of their bodies on a larger scale?

AL: I try to show folks that they have the inherent capacity within to heal themselves. I try to help them find the energy that they already have.

TG: So you’re constantly trying to pay attention to the different energies at work in a patient?

AL: Energy is the only word I can think of. It’s the aspect of healing that we don’t know that much about. There are some healers that can tune into that [energy] and they are the ones that are the most
effective. It doesn’t matter what they’re doing…they could be doing any sort of treatment, but there’s something about that interaction they have with that patient is healing.

TG: What’s behind this interaction? What sort of techniques could you use?

AL: Take the guitar, you can take two notes and play them, and certain notes just sound good together and sometimes you have a whole collection of notes that sound good with just one other note, so a healer who’s able to connect the right two notes together makes a nice sound…that sound is a healing energy. A successful healer will be able to harmonize with that other person’s energy and make that connection.

TG: I’ve been reading about shamanism lately, and what you’ve said reminds me of the repetitive drumming techniques and singing that shamans supposedly use for healing.

AL: Yes. Repetitive drumming, like chanting mantras helps one relax and center and focus. When you are in a centered state, your body is going to work better. I hope to help folks relax and find their centers when I do osteopathic treatments or acupuncture. If we can get some kind of
relaxation — and it doesn’t have to be in the particular area, of pain, for instance the neck, or the back — then the blood flows and it helps the patient heal because everything’s going to start working the way it’s supposed to.

TG: What steps do you take to make sure that your body’s working perfectly? You mentioned having a meditation practice…

AL: I practice Yoga, try to eat healthy and keep things in perspective. I access creativity through meditation. The relaxation and the centering of the mind that’s produced by meditation causes the unused nerve fibres to become used…So you’re using more of your brain.

TG: What role does intuition play in your medical practice? What’s going on in the body and the mind when you have these intuitive moments?

AL: Intuition’s very important in medicine. You’re sending the higher vibrations to the nerve fibres that are emanating from the brain, that’s how your intuition works. It makes you more receptive to
things.

TG: My brother’s in his second year of medical school, and when I’ve shared with him my experiences receiving alternative forms of healing such as acupuncture and energy healing, he’s very skeptical…what are your thoughts on this mentality?

AL: Doctors are trained to be skeptical. I find that many physicians skepticism decreases as their time in practice increases. I think regular folks are becoming more and more interested in alternative forms of healing. That will eventually prompt more doctors to look at things with an open mind.

TG: And how did you become interested in both allopathic (“treating the symptom”) and holistic (“treating the person”) medicine?

AL: Before I went to college I was interested in the alternative medicine and the unknown. Studying the sciences helped me find solid ground. I think it’s good to balance both and not think about things from solely an “Eastern” or “Western” approach. Our bodies are made to work perfectly. The osteopathic philosophy is that the body has the inherent capacity to heal itself. If we restore the balance, the body can heal.

TG: You stated earlier that alternative medicine techniques are becoming more widespread and accepted in the US. Why do you think this movement is occurring?

AL: People are realizing that many of the therapies that Western Medicine utilizes only mask the problem, while at the same time creating a different imbalance within the body which in turn can create another problem. I think a time will come where so-called “alternative modalities” may not be considered alternative. They will be integrated into mainstream medicine.

TG: During an appointment with a patient, do you draw a distinction between alternative therapies and Western, evidence-based medicine, or do you draw from both styles?

AL: I utilize both styles because both have their strengths and weaknesses.

TG: Is this seamless, or when might you suggest an alternative treatment for a patient?

AL: It’s becoming easier for me to suggest an integrated treatment. This comes from the growing acceptance of alternative treatments from my patients and from my confidence in what I am doing and what I have to offer them.

TG: Would you say you’re able to recognize a patient who might respond better to alternative healing styles or request Eastern techniques?

AL: Yes. My ability to recognize also gets better as my sensitivity increases.

TG: How many requests do you usually have for acupuncture? Is it word-of-mouth?

AL: It’s hard to quantify. I’ve been at a new clinic for two weeks now and those appointments are already beginning to appear on my schedule. My biggest hurdle at this point is the staff at the clinic who are still skeptical. In Alaska they were all very accepting after a while.

TG: What attracts you to acupuncture and osteopathic manipulation?

AL: I like that I have additional modalities that I can offer. And they work well most of the time.

TG: Do you perform acupuncture on yourself?

AL: Occasionally, but it’s difficult.

TG: Most research (except acupuncture for back pain) has been inconclusive regarding a proven benefit of alternative therapies. Is this consistent with the data you’ve seen, and how does this compare with your own personal experiences with such techniques?

AL: It’s inherently difficult to gather data on the effectiveness of these treatments. First, the outcomes are very subjective (no lab results or numbers). Second, many of the doctors that are drawn to using these techniques are not drawn to research. Finally, the monetary benefits for funding for these treatments are not the same as they are for pharmaceuticals. The data available for the effectiveness of pharmaceuticals and many of the western modalities is not that convincing either.

TG: Since, overall, the US has a reputation of being trigger happy with the prescription pad, some patients have come to expect meds with every visit. Is this consistent with your experiences and are these patients usually receptive to alternative therapies?

AL: I’m finding this trend less and less with my patients. I think the mainstream media is doing a good job educating folks on what is and what is not good for them. The ones that read and pay attention appreciate not being given a drug every time. I try to be honest with the patient and confident in why I am or am not prescribing them a medication.

TG: From a personal perspective, how do you view the recent healthcare changes?

AL: I think the idea is good. The implementation will be tricky. I haven’t studied the current proposed bill, which makes it difficult for me to objectively comment.

TG: If you were given the liberty to change the system, what would you suggest?

AL: I haven’t given much thought to what I would do to change it. There has to be a balance between healthcare for everyone and personal responsibility for staying healthy. The answer to this question could be quite lengthy and theological.

TG: To finish with an anecdote, when I was training for tennis in Florida, another tennis player (also a doctor) told me if I needed any pain medication he’d be happy to help. He then told me that he never took medication and hadn’t been to a doctor in years. Do you follow your own advice?

AL: I’m like the doc you saw for your problem. I’ll treat the patients the way I was trained, even though I may not treat myself that way, because they have the right to be treated. I give them the risks and benefits, and I also tell them if I wouldn’t treat myself that way.