In retrospect, I’m sorry I overreacted to Nikki.  It was not a good period in my life when I wrote that, but that’s not much of an excuse.  I’m leaving it up to show how much of an ass I can be at times (there are others).

Chiropractic therapy is not a cure all. It sometimes can be a quick fix but other times it can take numerous visits. That’s why many insurance plans will give you 20-30 visits depending on your diagnosis. Physical therapy is similar. Depending on the severity of the condition, how long it’s been there, and diagnostic imaging is usually what a treatment plan is based on. If you have a structural or disc problem that’s been there for years, you can’t seriously expect one treatment to reverse years of damage.

I hope you find the relief you’re looking for.

First, let me say that although I’ve seen chiropractors since I was a teen (scoliosis), Jean Duffy is the first chiropractor that I stayed with, and there are very good reasons for that.  (BTW, I saw her regularly for about 10 years until the time I moved out-of-state, and now I see her when I am in town visiting — having a long-term practice with long-time patients, she is obviously doing something right!).  For one thing, although you insinuate that she is a “crook” and basically accuse her of having a bad attitude in general, I found her to be more one-on-one rather than lofty like some doctors can be (was it maybe the Yonkers accent that got you?).  As far as working with my insurance company, she was the best — it was very seamless, and I paid my co-pays when the bills came.  Otherwise, I didn’t even have to be involved.  Her staff has always been friendly (and she has the best massage therapist I’ve ever gone to — Mary — whom I miss terribly!) 

I could go on and on about my great experience(s) with Jean Duffy as my chiropractor, but I’d rather address a few things you threw out there.  The main thing that got my attention is that you said your neck popped on it’s own, something that Jean could not do.  Was that later that day?  You said earlier that you couldn’t do it yourself either, so did you think that the relief by just ‘turning your head’ was a miracle?  I’m surprised you didn’t connect her words with the results: “…about chiropractic not being a “pill” that ‘fixes something immediately’.”

You also said that you had great success through physical therapy after an accident a year prior.  Well, why didn’t you go there first, especially since you were already so skeptical of chiropractors?  I also wondered if the neck pain was possibly a result of that injury (I am still suffering the afteraffects of a pinched disk 30 years ago).

You really just sound like you are ranting about an experience that didn’t go the way you expected it.  I know the internet is completely unmonitored and uncensored, and anyone can post anything, but it’s really unfair the way you slander Dr. Duffy’s name (and your intent is obvious by the fact that you state the reason you are posting her name without her middle initial as well is to make it easier for people to find this using a search engine).

I poked around your website a little to see what you were all about.  The very first thing I see is “I’m not fine, f*%# pretending” is displayed as part of your website banner.  Hmmmm, very telling.  On your “about this site” page, you begin by stating that you are “on medical leave from developing software for a living”.  Well, I developed software for 10 years, then switched to graphic design which I continue to do from my computer, and although my right wrist, elbow and shoulder bother me frequenly, I am not on medical leave.  It sounds like you are predisposed to medical issues — with your experience(s) maybe alternative medicine is just not for you.

When I spoke with Dr. Duffy earlier today, she was totally unaware of this incident.  I’m sure she’ll be looking through her 2003 medical records to see who you are and what really happened (there are always at least two sides to every story).  I hope that anyone who comes across this blog will consider the source, and if they are interested in being treated by Dr. Duffy, they should talk to her about this and any other concerns first and make up their own mind.  I also vehemently hope that after 5 years you have reconsidered the situation and understand the repurcussions your blog can have one someones reputation — you should rescind!

Traditional medicine, drug manufacturers, and politics are so deeply intertwined, I’m surprised people fall in line so easily. As for the quadriplegic comment – that doesn’t even make sense without proper context. Was the doctor assuming the chiropractor would come in jerking things around? (Good) Chiropractors take great care with xrays and all proper scans to ensure there will be no collateral damage – that’s why we are doctors as well.