06/07/2026
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼 𝗕𝗲 𝗔 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗢𝗻𝗲
I know social media is filled with highlight reels. We post the miracles, the victories, the life-changing testimonials, and the moments that remind us why we fell in love with Chiropractic in the first place.
This article is going to be the opposite of that.
These are true stories from my office that were 𝗮 𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝘁. These are the stories you hope never happen. The stories that keep you awake at night. The stories that make you question yourself, question your decisions, and occasionally question whether you can keep going.
I'm sharing them because if you stay in practice long enough, something is going to happen that hits you so hard you'll wonder if it's worth walking back into your office the next day. You may feel like you can't get back up. You may feel like you don't want to practice another day.
But I want you to know something. 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀.
After more than thirty years in practice, I'm still here. I still love Chiropractic. I still love serving people. And I can tell you from experience that some of the darkest valleys in practice eventually become lessons that help shape who you become as a doctor and as a human being.
𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲
One of the first stories that comes to mind involves a woman named Madeline, who happened to be my accountant's secretary. She had suffered from constant back pain for years. When I took her x-rays, I saw 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗝𝗗, 𝗗𝗗𝗗, 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗹𝘂𝘅𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀.
I explained that because of her osteoporosis there was a possibility that an adjustment could fracture a rib. She was in so much pain that she accepted the risk without hesitation. After her first adjustment she reported that her pain was about fifty percent better. After the second, she was eighty percent improved. After the third, she was nearly pain free.
Then came the fourth visit.
During the adjustment we heard a sickening crack that neither of us wanted to hear. It wasn't the sound of a spinal adjustment. She immediately looked at me and asked, "Was that what you warned me about?" I told her I thought it probably was.
I sent her to the emergency room for x-rays, which confirmed a fractured rib. 𝗠𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗸. I offered to pay any out-of-pocket expenses she incurred because I genuinely felt terrible about what had happened. I explained that we would have to wait for the fracture to heal and that if she continued care, we would use only an instrument adjusting technique going forward.
To my surprise, she showed up only two weeks later begging me to continue care because the adjustments had helped her more than anything else she had tried in nearly a decade. We switched to instrument adjusting using the Activator and thankfully never had another problem.
𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿
Another case involved my next-door neighbor. He had chronic neck pain that had bothered him for years, and after enough conversations I finally convinced him to come into the office. Within just a few visits he was dramatically improved. In fact, he felt so good that he decided to continue with maintenance care twice a month.
Everything seemed to be going perfectly until one day, about three months into care, I delivered what I believed was a completely routine cervical adjustment.
The next day he returned angry and frightened. He said his neck pain had become much worse and that he was now experiencing pain radiating into his arm and hand. I immediately took new x-rays, but nothing appeared significantly different from the original films other than the degenerative changes that had already been present.
For several weeks I checked him repeatedly for subluxations and did everything I could to help him, but nothing changed. As his symptoms persisted, 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸. Eventually he became convinced that I had caused the problem.
He ultimately underwent cervical discectomy surgery.
I was heartbroken. Not only because he was suffering, but because he genuinely believed I was responsible. I worried constantly about the possibility of a lawsuit. Thankfully, that never materialized.
What did develop, however, was 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘂𝗹𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱
Another patient arrived with a lengthy list of complaints, including severe headaches and dizziness. From the moment I met her, my instincts were telling me something wasn't quite right. I can't explain it any better than saying 𝗺𝘆 "𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀" 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴.
Still, her examination findings clearly indicated the need for care, so I adjusted her.
When she returned for her next visit, she demanded to speak with me privately. Once we were alone, she angrily informed me that she had never experienced headaches or dizziness before the adjustment and that I had caused both problems. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚.
Rather than argue, I began gathering information. I contacted both her neurologist and her family physician and requested copies of their records. When the records arrived, headaches and dizziness were among her primary complaints for years and were the reason for multiple medical visits.
I called her. She answered and immediately asked, "Are you calling to apologize?" I told her I was genuinely sorry she was experiencing those symptoms. Then I asked whether the medications her neurologist and medical doctor had prescribed over the years for her headaches and dizziness had ever provided relief.
There was a long silence.
Finally she quietly answered, "No."
𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗜 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗲𝗿.
𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝘄𝗻 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀
One lesson I learned the hard way involved breaking my own rules.
At the time, my practice was completely full and I had stopped accepting new patients. One of my existing patients begged me to make an exception for a friend. Against my better judgment, I agreed.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦, 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬.
The patient proudly informed me that she had lied about watching the new patient orientation because she "didn't need to." That was probably the moment I should have ended the visit. Instead, she launched into a lengthy discussion of every symptom and pain she had experienced from head to toe and wanted my opinion on each one.
After about fifteen minutes, I gently interrupted her and explained that all I could do was locate and correct subluxations and see whether her body could improve the symptoms she was experiencing. She was visibly offended. Eventually she agreed to an adjustment. The result was immediate. She could turn her head freely and stood upright without the forward hunch she had walked in with.
Unfortunately, she focused on something entirely different.
Because she could now move her neck normally, she noticed crepitus when she turned her head. She called the office furious and demanded thirty minutes of my time to "have a chat about her injury from the adjustment." I spent the rest of the day worrying about a potential lawsuit.
When she finally arrived, she had no intention of suing me. Instead, she spent thirty minutes lecturing me about seeing too many patients, accusing me of treating people like cattle, and explaining why she had decided to "show me grace" instead.
The moral of that story is simple... 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀.
We should never have accepted that patient when we weren't taking new patients, and we certainly should not have accepted someone who refused to complete the orientation process.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁
One of the most frightening professional experiences of my career involved a referral of a high-profile actor who was experiencing dizziness.
An independent contractor working in my office performed the examination and adjustment. Unfortunately, after the adjustment the patient became significantly more dizzy and nauseous. The independent contractor called me into the room. I performed additional stroke screening procedures, all of which were negative, including George's maneuver.
Based on my findings, I adjusted C1 and C2. Almost immediately the dizziness decreased and the patient was able to stand and walk normally.
We thought the situation had resolved itself.
A few weeks later, however, we received notice from an attorney that the patient had gone to the hospital and been diagnosed with a vertebral artery dissection.
A lawsuit followed.
Both the independent contractor and I were named in the suit, along with my office.
𝗡𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.
Thankfully, the independent contractor's malpractice policy handled the claim and my personal and business insurance were never involved.
Still, the emotional toll was substantial.
𝗔 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗬𝗲𝘁
The most recent story is still unfolding.
A patient with severe TMJ dysfunction had experienced loud popping and clicking in her jaw for years. Three weeks ago she had stopped wearing her retainer for two weeks, and to her amazement the popping completely disappeared.
For nearly three weeks she enjoyed silence in a joint that had clicked loudly for years.
Then she came into the office.
During her examination I noted that her teeth were not meeting properly in the back and that her jaw deviated during opening. I used a Vibracussor on the jaw musculature bilaterally, and the deviation immediately disappeared.
Later that day she called the office in a panic.
After leaving the office and attempting to eat something, the popping returned. She was devastated. Angry. Frustrated. Nearly depressed. And honestly, 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿. She had experienced three glorious weeks without a sound that had driven her crazy for years.
The next day she came in begging me to reverse whatever had happened. I had to explain that you can't reverse vibration that has already been applied to a muscle.
As I write this article, 𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀. I only know that I am praying she once again experiences the relief she had before.
The truth is, these stories aren't even close to a complete list.
I haven't talked about finding cancer on patient x-rays and having to look someone in the eye and tell them that something is seriously wrong.
I haven't talked about sitting with mothers who were six or ten weeks pregnant and crying because they had just lost their baby.
I haven't talked about hugging patients during cancer treatment while both of us quietly understood that it would likely be the last time we would ever see each other in this life.
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂.
You will laugh with your patients, but there will also be moments when you cry with them.
Both matter.
Both are important.
Both remind people that there is a human being behind the doctor.
There will be times when patients accuse you of things that break your heart. If something truly was your fault, never underestimate the power of the words "𝗜'𝗺 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆."
There will also be times when patients accuse you of things that had absolutely nothing to do with you. Even then, show humility. Show grace.
Because someday, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲.
Most importantly, 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝗽. 𝗗𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁. 𝗗𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴.
The very next person who walks through your door may be someone desperately praying for a miracle, and Chiropractic, through you, may be the answer to that prayer.
I hope these stories help someone. I hope you'll remember them if you ever find yourself walking through a dark valley in practice. And I hope you'll remember that I'm telling these stories today from 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗽. The only reason I can stand on that mountaintop is because 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁.
I Love and Appreciate You.
In Health and Faith,
Jay
