My Story 4

I kept with the treatment and heel lift for about a year, until a turn of fate, in the form of excruciating acute muscular pain in my left shoulder and arm as I woke up one Saturday morning, left me reeling in agony. I needed a chiropractor and I needed one fast! The only place I could get an appointment was at a different clinic from my regular one, but because of the pain I was in, the most important thing to me that morning was to get treated.

As this chiropractor took my history and completed a physical examination, he informed me that my left leg was functionally shorter than my right. I was bemused and shocked by this statement, and I explained to him that I had been wearing a heel lift in my right shoe for about a year because it was considered that my right leg was the short one. He checked again, and showed me how he arrived at his assessment, which was unfortunately very plain to see. He also commented that my feet were very flat, and that I should really see a podiatrist, as unstable feet can cause problems elsewhere throughout the body.

Although I had always known my feet were flat and looked different to anyone elses, I had never before considered that they may be in any way associated with the pain I was suffering. In fact, neither of the previous chiropractors had considered my feet. I did visit the podiatrist who, after careful examination of my feet stated that although I was slightly hyperpronated, it was nothing to worry about.

These turn of events left me feeling sceptical, frustrated and angry; how could 3 fully trained chiropractors come up with such variable assessments of my case – from no indication of why I was suffering, to the right leg being shorter, and then the left leg being shorter? In addition a podiatrist had confirmed that my feet were not the problem that the third chiropractor suggested they might be.

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