Liz’s Story

Liz came to see me at the end of March this year. She was struggling with household chores, often experiencing pain and needing frequent rest. Liz and her husband, Phil, are foster parents, caring for children whose parents are unable or unwilling to do so. Liz couldn’t stand in queues because her back would ache too much. She could barely load the washing machine and had to rest often, making the task of doing multiple loads for the children overwhelming. She confided in me that she just wanted to feel normal again. Her optimism for her health over the next ten years was at a low 1 out of 5. She had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in the back, fibromyalgia, anxiety, and depression. Walking the ten minutes to the park to watch the children play was impossible for her. I assured her that we could help, but it would take some effort. She responded, “Whatever it takes.” Over the next month, Liz’s transformation was evident with each visit.

She stood straighter and walked more easily. Her husband, Phil, often accompanied her to monitor her progress, and sometimes they brought their foster child, Lily, along. Liz adhered to her treatment schedule and began to see the benefits. At her 24-visit re-exam, she could do two loads of washing, clean around the house, and stand at the counter cooking without needing to stop and rest. Navigating the supermarket became easier, and we celebrated together when she shared that she could now walk to the park. She felt normal again, with her Quality of Life score improving from 20 out of 50 to 36 out of 50. These were just a few of her victories. She had also reduced some of the medications she relied on and looked forward to coming off them entirely in the future. This progress was timely, as Phil and Liz welcomed their next foster child, 8-month-old Thomas, who has high needs due to cerebral palsy. Liz couldn’t have managed without chiropractic care.

These are real wins with a real impact on the community. It’s something we should all celebrate as we work towards a healthier world where people can live their best lives instead of just getting by with the help of painkillers and mind-altering medications. We are constantly working towards that world, and every patient we help to live their best life brings us all closer to achieving it.