Editor's note: The genesis of this article is Dr. Alley of York, Nebraska. He sent us a number of humorous chiropractic anecdotes from DCs across the country who have replied to his request for such material in various state association news letters.
With all the serious issues addressed in "DC," let's take a break and look at the sometimes amusing side of chiropractic. The captions are supplied by "DC."
An 11-year old boy had been experiencing great improvement with his headaches through chiropractic care. One day he complained to his mother that his sister had hit him on the head with a sock and the headaches had returned. His mother thought he had turned into a hypochondriac, since socks aren't particularly heavy objects.
As I examined the young boy, I asked him about the sock incident again. Chagrined, he answered, "But Dr. Sara, her foot was still in the sock!"
-- Submitted by Sara Atchley Wierman, D.C., Lovington, New Mexico
I examined an elderly gent for a mild whiplash injury. After his report of findings, he was treated with cold packs, microcurrent, supplements, soft collar, etc. with his first adjustment. At the end of the visit I said good-bye and he started out the door. I saw glasses on the cabinet and said, "Don't forget your glasses, Harry." He said thanks, picked them up and left.
Harry progressed well with his treatment program and three weeks later had his re-exam. I was finishing his exam and showing him how his findings had improved. After I explained his need for maintenance care, I asked if he had any questions. Harry said, "Just one, Doc. How long do I have to wear these glasses?"
-- Submitted by Dean E. Johnson, D.C., Littleton, Colorado
After the birth of my first child, my wife's birthing class instructor offered to fill in for my wife at the front desk at my office. She wanted the experience in a doctor's office so she could state it on future resumes. She was from Holland and had no knowledge about chiropractic. On my first day in the office with her, I hadn't taken the time yet to educate her.
I was in the back office when a patient came in and said to her, "All I want is for the doctor to crack my neck."
Never having heard someone say something like this before, she looked at him quizzically and asked, "Are you sure you just want him to crack it? Why not have him break it all the way? There's no sense getting anything half done!"
When she came back and told me what had just transpired, I couldn't believe that she had actually said that to the man. Fortunately, the man had a sense of humor, and was still laughing his head off when I came up front to try to straighten things out.
-- Submitted by Frank Brindisi, D.C., Crossville, Tennessee
I examined a 70ish gentleman whose history was basically devoid of any illness or accidents. When I looked at his x-rays, they were horrible. "Your bones look like you were run over by a truck," I said.
"Oh yeah," he said, "I was. I forgot."
-- Submitted Sara Atchley Wierman, D.C., Lovignton, New Mexico
Many relevant diagnostic signs are not performed deliberately by the examiner or by the patient at the examiner’s direction. They are observed as the patient reacts to their condition. Fortin’s finger sign, Minor’s sign, and Vanzetti’s sign are three examples of this principle.
On Feb. 1, 2024, two more legislators – John R. Carter (R-Texas) and Robert “Bob” Good (R-Va.) – co-sponsored the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2023, bringing the co-sponsor total to 155, two more than the total achieved over the entire two-year congressional cycle in which identical legislation last appeared (2021-22).
While working at the Lovelace Medical Center in Albuquerque, N.M., one of the primary care physicians stated that imaging every patient prior to receiving chiropractic was not medically necessary. It was at that point I reconsidered the need for the imaging of every patient to avoid malpractice.
