"My Life Is So Much Better Because Of Chiropractic . . . I Know That Yours Can Be Too!"
A Patient's Story

My first visit to Dr. Bartell's office was on Nov. 9, 1982: following several years of unsuccessful treatment by numerous other chiropractors and an osteopath who gave me injections (12 at a time down my back) of what I am sure was Novocain, that gave me 2 or 3 hours of no pain, during which time I could have done greater damage to my spine and not felt it until the injection wore off, yet I was in more pain than before the treatment.

With seemingly no hope I took aspirin non-stop and eventually found myself in the hospital for a pre-ulcer condition. When the internist heard the reason for my stomach condition he ordered tests and called in an orthopedic surgeon who ordered a myograph that revealed a herniated disc of the 5th vertebra. Surgery followed to repair the rupture and after a long and hard recovery I did have about 8 months of what I thought was normal body condition until I began experiencing the same kind of pain I had had originally, the only difference being that this seemed to be on the left side of my lower back and the other had been on the right side. The surgeon could find no reason for the pain and attributed it to normal aches and pains for a woman my age - I was 42 years old! After many nights on the heating pad and refusing many invitations because I was fearful that I would hurt myself again, a friend recommended that I see Dr. Bartell.

Against my better judgment, because of past experience, but in total fear of more surgery, I made an appointment. Dr. Bartell took x-rays and discussed them with me. He assured me that the pain I was now experiencing was not just a shift from the right to the left side of my spine and that it was treatable. He showed me a video and explained the subluxation that was giving me pain. Dr. Bartell showed more interest than any of the medical doctors that I had seen and his confidence that regular adjustments would improve my life dispelled any anxiety I had and we began.

That was 9 years ago and over those years I have come to better health than I had in my thirties. I played tennis and was able to swim again, I played with my children and was happier and more able to handle the raising of three than ever before. Regular visits were keeping me active and energetic both physically and mentally. Naturally I overdid it, like being on a bowling league twice a week, and from time to time needed rest and additional adjustments, but all in all life was great!

In November, 1991, I was involved in an automobile accident in which l was struck broad-side on the driver's door. My neck was severely strained and my hips were pinned between the driver door and the console. I was taken to Wm. Beaumont Hospital's emergency room and was told after x-rays that nothing was broken and to go home and apply heat and I would feel better in a few days and if I could get thru tomorrow (which would be my worst day) I would have it made. I did go home but I applied ice which Dr. Bartell had always recommended after an injury and rested. The next day I felt fine, everything was okay; how lucky l was to have had an adjustment earlier on the day of the accident. That was on Saturday, on Sunday things worsened and on Monday morning I was in Dr. Bartell's office. I was x-rayed and began being adjusted daily for several days and then 3 times a week. I feel so lucky to have had Dr. Bartell there when I was in need, familiar with every aspect of my spine to bring me back to total good health.

That good health is the point of this very long letter and I must confess that I was sometimes skeptical and not always the model patient, staying away because ! didn't think I really needed treatment, but something would always happen, what I call the "straw that broke the camel's back syndrome", and there I would be in pain wanting Dr. Bartell to do his magic. And he did; both physically and with a lot of moral support from time to time that got me thru many a hard spot."

If you are a regular patient of Dr. Bartell's you already know how wonderful life with Chiropractic can be. If you are a new patient, welcome to our world, and when the initial reason for seeing Dr. Bartell seems to have passed please continue treatment to find the best health possible. My life is so much better because of chiropractic I know that yours can be too.

Thank you far letting me share this long story with you and maybe I'll see you in Dr. Bartell's office someday, I'm the well adjusted one with the smile on my face.

Patty Adamczyk