Newsletter: March 2003

Humour is Always Good Medicine

I am dedicating this issue to "Anny", who has been suggesting to me for quite a while that I should 'lighten up' my newsletter. In looking at the world situation, I decided that there was no better time than now to do exactly that. I hope you enjoy this lighter side.

The first two stories are true and actually happened to me. I have related these stories in my talks in the community -- where I am apparently quite a bit 'lighter'. The other stories have been passed on to me from other sources.

I always approach each one of my patients from the point-of-view that I, as their chiropractor, am only one of the factors in what is, ideally, a team effort toward health and wellness. The patient, of course, being the first line of preventative care through their chosen life-style. Their other providers may include massage therapists, physiotherapists, fitness instructors/trainers, naturopaths, and general practitioners (MD's). This approach usually works very well.

IDIOTIC ADVICE

A woman came in to see me complaining of pain in her lower back. After examining her and finding nothing suggesting further chiropractic treatment was necessary, I suggested that she should see her MD to rule out any kidney involvement. She did. Upon telling her MD that she had seen her chiropractor, her MD asked her. "What kind of idiotic advice did he give you?" At which point she said, "He told me to see you!"

The next one goes back to when I was first starting out in my brand new practice (16 years ago). One of the axioms of good marketing has always been that one should give the impression of being busy, even if one is not. Well, as I was just starting out, I was NOT very busy. I did not even have a receptionist. So when a man walked into my office, I immediately picked up the phone and proceeded to advise the 'caller' that I was very busy, but yes, I could arrange an appointment for them for late next week. I continued to play out this little scene for the benefit of my new "patient" who was standing there waiting for me to finish my call. When I finished, I asked him, "Can I help you?" He replied (to my great embarrassment), "Yes, I am from the telephone company and I am here to hook up your phone."

True, embarrassing, but true.

The following one humourously illustrates one of the themes I use in my community talks. That is, the fact that the large majority of all back conditions can be diagnosed and treated WITHOUT the use of expensive and unnecessary diagnostic procedures such as CAT Scans, MRIs and various LAB tests.

POLYGON

And a political joke passed on to me by one of my patients:

There were five people on the airplane: The Pope, Jean Chretien, Premier Klein, Premier Campbell and a Boy Scout. As they were flying over the Rockies, the airplane started to have engine problems and it became apparent that they were going down.

They discovered that there were, unfortunately, only four parachutes on board with them. As they pondered briefly over who should get them, Mr. Chretien exclaimed that as Prime Minister of the entire country, he most certainly was the most important one, and he grabbed a parachute and jumped. Then Mr. Klein stated that as the Premier of the richest province, certainly he must be spared, and he grabbed the second chute and jumped. Mr. Campbell declared that as the Premier of the most beautiful province, he must be spared, and grabbing for a chute, he jumped.

The Pope, being the Holy man that he is, said to the Boy Scout, you are the youngest, I have lived a long life, and my faith dictates that I must surrender the last chute to you. The Boy Scout told him that would not be necessary. "We can both go", he told the Pope. "There are two parachutes left. You see, Mr. Campbell, in his haste to save himself grabbed my back pack with my lunch in it!"

And here's some of our favourites from our kid's gallery of humour:

1) Q: What do you call a boomerang that doesn't work?
A: A stick.

2) Q: What do fish say when they hit a concrete wall?
A: Dam!

3) Q: Why do gorillas have big nostrils?
A: Because they have big fingers.

1. "Good judgement comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgement."
2. "Timing has much to do with the outcome of a rain dance."
3. "Never test the depth of the water with both feet."

"A zebra cannot change its spots." Al Gore

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Contact the office:
Dr. Larry Smith D.C., B.P.E.
Chiropractor

P.O. Box 307
255 Island Highway
Parksville, British Columbia
Canada V9P 2G5