(problems with constant pain)
November, 2010
For my entire life I was sick, from the day I was born I was harming my body without knowing it. After 18 years of pain, trial medications, procedures and tests, I was finally diagnosed with HFI (Hereditary Fructose Intolerance). This is a rare genetic disease that causes the absence of Adalose-B, the enzyme within the body that is able to break down fructose, sucrose and sorbitol into glucose. If fructose is ingested it causes severe pain in the abdomen and ultimately causes damage to the liver and kidneys, causing failure to the organs and/or death. Little did I know the HFI caused many other issues with my body; such as a gall stones, non-functioning gall-bladder, chronic tonsillitis, acid reflux, hiadial hernia, estrogen dominance, ovarian cysts, etc, on top of the severe stress my body was under daily. After being diagnosed I thought I would feel better, lose weight, gain energy, be “normal” for the first time in my life, and perhaps even be pain free. This was not the case, until I met Dr. Shannon.
When I met Dr. Shannon it was the first time I felt that a doctor actually listened to everything that was wrong with me in the past and what symptoms were occurring. . He happily sat with me the first time we met, patiently and carefully noted everything that I mentioned. He gladly took all of the test results, diagnoses, research and everything else my mother and I had collected over the years from the numerous doctors and hospitals I visited. He had already done the research for my disease and understood the stress and pain my body was in before, and currently. He was so informed about dietary health and chemical balance, that it was a positive change to hear his wealth of knowledge, rather than teaching the doctor what my mother and I had uncovered from the internet. He even contacted other doctors to discuss the disease with them and to see if they had ever had a patient with HFI to gain even more insight.
It was so comforting to be understood by Dr. Shannon, rather than being told to stop researching possible solutions, or that “your daughter needs a mental evaluation because there is nothing wrong with her.” He listened to the symptoms rather than solely basing anything off blood tests, he realized that people can defy all text books, which most doctors I went to would not admit. Dr. Shannon did a saliva test, hair analysis and urine analysis to test different toxicities within my body. The tests supported his theories of what was going on within my body, I was iodine deficient, had toxic loading and was vitamin deficient. He put me on supplements to aid my body back to a normal balance, which helped immediately. Dr. Shannon used trigger points on my stomach to tell which organs needed help to recover from the damage of HFI and provided supplements to encourage healing of my liver, stomach, adrenals and thyroid. He provided guidance of how to get the nutrition I needed with the very limited diet I can eat and even came up with some new foods I could eat or slightly tweak the recipe so I could try something new. Despite the occasional setbacks in my recovery, Dr. Shannon stuck through all the illnesses that decreased my immune system even more than before and understood that there would be plenty of bad days to go along with the good. He encouraged me to have faith in my health and that I would one day be able to say that “I’m healthy” rather than continue to feel ill every day of my life.
Now, only 5 short months later I have never felt better in my entire life. I have more pain free days than painful days. I can even go weeks without having pain, which has never happened before. There is still a long road ahead of me, but for the first time I can actually see progress and tell that this is the right thing to do. Dr. Shannon is by far the best doctor I have ever been to and I truly mean that from the bottom of my heart. I honestly believe Dr. Shannon saved my life, and cannot thank him enough for everything he has done for me. I don’t think that I would have ever experience a pain fee day or actually digested food without his help. There are no words for how thankful I truly am for his caring and understanding attitude during this rollercoaster of a ride that is my life. I’m ecstatic to have my life back and to continue my recovery with Dr. Shannon.
(injuries, knee problems)
November, 2010
Injuries have always been a part of my life, starting when I was just 4 years old. I have broken many bones, dislocated others and torn more ligaments than I can count. Now, at 19 years old I have joint pain, arthritis and cannot exercise easily.
Once I met Dr. Brian he helped me change my body. We met briefly while I was being treated by Dr. Shannon, but once he heard of my knee problems he also took me in as one of his patients. He understood and listened to the symptoms rather than just going with what a textbook said. He understood that I defy all text books and am pretty much the opposite of everything he would do to a normal person. After asking me to stretch my thumb and see if it could touch my wrist, Dr. Brian diagnosed me with my lax ligaments/hypermobility. This accounted for my numerous injuries throughout the years. He explained that because my ligaments are not as tight as most people I get injured much easier. This explained so much of my childhood because I could step on a pebble wrong and break my ankle. He explained that even though I have been having chiropractic care most of my life, my body could not hold onto the adjustment because of my loose ligaments.
Then Dr. Brian focused on my feet, he scanned my feet for how I distributed my weight. He noticed that my ankles roll inward causing my distribution of weight to be completely off, he prescribed custom made orthotics which made a huge difference with walking. I now cannot walk very far without my orthotics or my feet ache because my ankles roll back inward. The orthotics helped my posture as well as my foot pain, also allowing me to exercise more without pain.
After taking care of my foot problem, Dr. Brian carefully monitored my knee, I broke my knee cap and tore ligaments in my left knee almost 2 years prior to meeting him. I never had surgery and was told my knee would heal fine on its own, however 2 years later I was still experiencing pain as well as dislocation of my knee frequently and not being able to walk down steps without fearing I would fall or break my knee cap again. Dr. Brian used Graston Techniques as well as Kinesio Tape to heal the deep tissue and scar tissue around my knee while taping it to act as a custom brace. This changed walking for me even more than the orthotics. I was able to walk down steps and exercise without my knee dislocating and having throbbing pain afterwards.
Furthermore, Dr. Brian helped me while I had De Quervain's tenosynovitis, which is an inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of your wrist which cause severe pain with most hand movements. He treated me with a brace, stretches, laser treatment, ultra sound, stem and especially Graston Technique. All of these decreased the pain and increased my ability to move my thumb, even during the most critical time in a student’s life, finals.
I would like to thank Dr. Brian for being so patient with me, trying new treatments, and thinking outside of the box while treating me. I know that it is hard to treat a patient that defies the ordinary, but I truly appreciate it more than I could ever voice. He is such a caring and thoughtful doctor who will help in every way he can. He has allowed me to exercise again and have a normal 19 year olds life. It’s amazing what he can do in just a few months and allows me to have my life back and increase my health every day.
(numbness and tingling)
October, 2010
This letter is a testimonial and letter of praise and gratitude for all at Smith Chiropractic. I sought treatment after 2-3 years of waking all night long due to numbness and tingling of my arms and hands (thinking it was carpal tunnel and I would have to have surgery).
Let me begin by praising the front desk- Amber, Carrie and Linda who are always cheerful, friendly and accommodating (this means so much to a patient). They are always smiling, kind and helpful!
I began seeing Dr. Shannon who was treating my numbness with manipulation, stim and traction thinking it may be linked with my neck. He tried several different treatments for several weeks and when I wasn’t progressing as he would like liked he had the wisdom to consult Dr. Brian. I so respect a doctor who doesn’t propose to be good and “know it all” but instead seeks another opinion for the sake of his patients well being. Thumbs up to you Dr. Shannon~ you are my hero! I was then placed in the very caring, thorough hands of Dr. Brian who is successfully treating my problems- “thoracic outlet syndrome” with Graston technique. I’ll have to admit it seemed a bit strange at first- you feel as though you are being “buttered” like toast with stainless steel instruments – but I gave it a chance and I am sleeping through the night and rarely have the numbness and tingling. I am so grateful to these wonderful doctors for all their hard work!
(back pain AND allergies)
May, 2010
I am writing this letter to thank you for all you have done for me. I was having difficulties walking back in May of 2007 so I made an appointment with Dr. Brian. I had seen other chiropractors but none seemed to want to get me well. The treatment approach I had found at Smith Chiropractic was very distinct as it was tailored to the patient and their physical issues. Because of this approach I was feeling better within three months. I began a maintenance program soon after and continued with it for three years until a recent episode. This time, Dr. Brian began a new treatment on me called the Graston Technique. My recovery time was significantly reduced and I found myself feeling complete relief in less than three weeks. I feel like a new man, thanks to Dr. Brian.
While working with Dr. Brian, Dr. Shannon noticed that I had some redness and soreness in and around my eyes accompanied by a very red rash. I had always assumed that this was due to my allergies, however Dr. Shannon felt that it was more than that. He suggested that I take a saliva test in order to determine what exactly was going on in my body. Once we discovered the issue the doctor recommended I do a month long cleansing with organic vitamins. By the end of that month, I had felt better than I had in a long time. The allergies I had suffered with most of my adult life we not bothering me any longer. I am now on a maintenance program with the vitamins and have been able to eat foods that I hadn’t been able to in quite some time. This vitamin regime was given me my life back and I couldn’t be more thankful to Dr. Shannon.
I’d also like to mention that the girls at the front desk have always been so helpful, courteous and friendly. Thank you, Smith Chiropractic.
Sincerely,
John E.
(Weight Loss)
“Why can’t I lose weight?” Dr. Shannon Smith has finally found the answer! For many years I never even had to ask that question. But as my age reached 40 and then 50, I gained pounds; in fact in 15 years I gained 57 pounds! Who was that person staring back at me in the mirror? I didn’t even want to look.
Still being very active I continued spinning classes, aerobics, walking, and never sitting while working. A suggestion was made to change my routine, so resistance training came a part of my life as did counting everything that went into my mouth; still the weight kept creeping on. Another thought was I was too active and didn’t give myself enough rest; so off to yoga I went. No change in weight and/or that bloated stomach, irregular bowel tendencies, and distressed sleep patterns. For two years I trained for a sprint triathlon with a pulmonologist telling me that if I would lose weight I could run faster. I was heavier in my second triathlon than I was in my first. We ate healthy, adding wheat and multi-grain products whenever we could, and didn’t eat big portions.
Dr. Shannon started with adjustments and some supplements. The adjustments were helping with many aspects of my training, but for my weight loss problem, the supplements didn’t seem to be the answer. Dr. Shannon never gave up; he continued to see me, asked numerous questions, and discussed my case with other colleagues trying to get to the root of my weight lose issue.
After several tests it was discovered that I had a high sensitivity to gluten and wheat. Dr. Shannon suggested taking wheat out of my diet for awhile. Ten months later I have lost 31 pounds and cut 16 minutes off of my triathlon time!! I am so grateful for Dr. Shannon’s perseverance, patience, skill, knowledge, and his genuine care of my situation. Because of him I feel alive again, can live life as I want to, and can look at my self in the mirror once more!
(Multiple Health Problems)
I have battled many different health problems my whole life… and I am only 28 years old.
The majority of my problems started during puberty. I was 13 when I had my first period. I was in severe pain, irritable, nausea, vomiting, tired and achy. The pain was so bad I ended up in the hospital quite often with an IV full of morphine. After two years of trying these multiple birth control pills and ending up in the hospital almost every month, doctors decided to put me on the Depo Provera injection. After my first month of the injection I never received a period again. I stayed on this injection for 13 years.
I continued to have other health problems during those years. By 25, I had been tested, diagnosed and treated for GERD, Acid reflux, Spastic-stomach, 4 kidney stones, TMJ, cluster migraines, endometriosis, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, digestion problems, vision problems and carpal tunnel. I even had surgery and my gallbladder was removed. Without a doubt, every year I would get strep-throat, bronchitis, ear infections, and tonsillitis. The treatment for all these illnesses was some type of antibiotic or prescription drug. Each of these prescription drugs had multiple side effects. I would then need to take medication to assist with each side effect.
Most recently, I started having extreme aches and pains throughout my body. Sometimes, I would be so achy I couldn’t get out of bed. My family has a history of Lupus so I went to get tested. Sure enough, they said not only was I in the developmental stages of Lupus but I had Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. The treatment: a steroid and two different anti-flammitory medications. Then they discussed only a small amount of the side effects which included, vomiting, weight gain, muscle damage, and even blindness. I had had it! That was the icing on the cake! I kept thinking to myself “okay, I may start to feel better but at what cost? I am going to be a 28 year old young women over-weight, who can’t move, vomiting and possibly blind.” I have been to several medical doctors, Gynecologists, Neurologists, Urologists, Gastroenterologist and Rheumatologists. No one has helped me. They all tell me about a test I have to have done or a new medicine I need to take. There has to be a reason I am so sick? There has to be something better out there?
Which lead me to Smith Chiropractic. Dr. Shannon read over my history shaking his head in disbelief. He kept saying I should have never gone through these types of problems, especially so young. He discussed my symptoms one by one which all tied to something I had never heard before~ Estrogen Dominance. I got ready with my typical list of questions “what tests are you going to send me for now? What medicine are you going to put me on? What are the side effects? How sick am I going to be while testing these medicines?”
Dr. Shannon actually chuckled. He began to explain where the problem was, what the problem was and how to treat the root of the problem, not just the symptoms. For the first time in my life I understood WHY I was sick. I was IMPRESSED. It all made so much sense. How was I so foolish this whole time? I never questioned a medical doctor on WHY things were the way they were. I just always went for my test, waited for my prescription and dealt with the side effects.
Dr. Shannon put me on several vitamins and requested I come from adjustments several days a week. With-in a week I was no longer sick to my stomach, was sleeping better and could move my body without severe pain. After a month, I was completely off all my prescription drugs and solely taking vitamins. I had lost 10 pounds, could move like a 28 year old should move and had more energy than I ever had in my life! After 3 months, I had lost 19 pounds, was NEVER sick on my stomach, was full of energy, sleeping well and could even see better. No side effects, just natural vitamins and a weekly adjustment.
It has now been 8 months and I am a whole new person! I am eating better, exercising, never sick, and barely ever achy, no stomach issues and full of life. I truly feel Chiropractic care saved my life! I am now living life and feeling the way a young women should. I only wish I had found Smith Chiropractic earlier.
(Weight
Loss)
When
I read testimonials about all those “other weight loss”
schemes, I wonder about them and their particular situations. I have
come to realize that like models, they are young energetic individuals
who, like me when I was young, don’t have to worry about their
weight. My life is very different now and you need to know that to
understand how well Dr Smith’s approach to weight loss and good
health works for you and me.
I
am a 56 year old woman who has two children and gone through menopause.
Not only has my physical appearance changed, but also my mental well
being because of my physical appearance. I took a lot of pride in
my appearance. I am not one to worry about how I look for other people,
I do it for myself! After menopause I have found that I have more
control. So I thought!
I,
like you, have said over and over again; “I have tried everything,
but nothing works!” I have read so many books about diets and
how they are supposed to work. In fact, my initial interview with
Dr. Smith was great because I actually understood most of the things
he was telling me. So I was ready for Dr. Smith’s approach because
he has filled in the missing pieces for my weight loss.
After
Dr Smith identified what my body showed him to be the problem, he
was able to put me on supplements that would get all the areas under
control that have been affected by years of abuse through my environment
and past eating habits. It only took me a very short time before I
was feeling good enough to start exercising again and still have the
energy to make it through the day.
I
must tell you, that I feel so strongly about the path I am taking
with Dr. Smith, that I have been told that I have high cholesterol
and my PCP wants to put me on Lipitor, but I don’t see it that
way. I immediately called Dr. Smith, told him the circumstance, asked
his advice and wanted to address it with him. All I had to hear was
yes, of course, and I knew what I wanted to do. I have six months
before my next PCP visit and I know I will amaze him by the outcomes
of my actions. I never want to rush time because it goes fast enough
as it is, but I can hardly wait to find out how this will all turn
out.
By
the way, I’m not a scale person, it is just a number, but what
I do know is that I have gone from a size 18 to a 14 in just three
months. No kidding! Thank-you Doctor Smith!
Denise C., Judicial Secretary
More
on weight loss
(Insomnia)
For
the last several years I have suffered with insomnia and the inability
to sleep for more than a few hours at a time. I am also suffering
from hypothyroidism and reactive hypoglycemia. I began seeing Dr.
Shannon Smith for some middle back pain and in the course of my treatment,
Dr. Shannon suggested that I try some food supplements that might
increase my ability to sleep and perhaps help with some other health
issues. Although I was skeptical at first, (aren’t we all?),
I was also willing to do just about anything to sleep all night. I
thought that a month trial would be worth anything if I could sleep
again. I saw some immediate results with my ability to fall asleep.
And now, in just over a month, I am sleeping all night and actually
awaking refreshed and energized! I am looking forward to each day
and not planning how long I need to stay awake before I am able to
take a nap! I will continue to take these food supplements as I am
now seeing some changes in my other health issues and have great hope
to be a whole healthy person again.
Holly
U.
(Digestive
Problems)
2/20/2008
Dr. Shannon Smith correctly identified and treated my health problem
when many others could not! Prior
to following Dr. Smith’s advice, I suffered from a long list
of digestive symptoms, frequent headaches and frequent numbness in
my arms and legs. Like many people, I was unsure whether a chiropractor
could actually solve health problems. A thorough, yet brief survey
in conjunction with a single office evaluation was all Dr. Smith needed
to correctly diagnose my condition; “mal-absorption disorder”.
I
had seen many medical doctors, including neurologists and gastro-intestinal
specialists. No treatments were helpful. When Dr. Smith told me that
strategically administered doses of vitamins would solve my problems,
I was dubious. However, almost immediately, my symptoms ceased.
Dr.
Smith correctly identified my malady when numerous medical experts
could not! I
wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Smith to any person who is looking to
increase their health and overall quality of life.
Sincerely,
James M.
(Weight
Loss)
In
April of this year I was experiencing a very stressful time in my
life. Personal issues and work issues were taking a great toll on
my mental, as well as, my physical health. On top of that my eating
habits were terrible and exercising was never a part of my routine.
I weighed 267 at 6’2’’ and had a gut that would
have made any sumo wrester proud. I started experiencing sharp stomach
pains with a constant burning sensation. My stool was black and then
I became constipated for about 3 days. I was referred to a Gastro
Intestinal doctor. He wanted me to go for an endoscope the next day.
I could not go and was very cautious that if they did not find anything
they would keep testing until they did. Common symptoms were that
of irritable bowel syndrome and possibly an ulcer.
I
called Dr. Shannon and explained the situation. He saw me the next
day discussed my issues and did reflex testing and to find what was
causing the problem. He diagnosed me with a high level of Candida
and that I needed to start with a group of vitamins and we discussed
how my eating habits HAD to change. I
started a diet of fruit, dairy, vegetables, water and small servings
of juice. This was a switch from an insatiable sweet tooth for soda,
candy, and cookies. My vegetables consisted of chips and French onion
dip. I felt like I was withdrawing from heroin. My
level of energy went from the level of a watch battery to the power
of a top fuel dragster. I started working out, not every day, but
hey 3 times a week is a start.
Not
only did I have more energy, but I had a clear sense of focus. As
a professional it has given me a new light and I have a great deal
of confidence in myself and that has helped tremendously to move my
business in the right direction. The
biggest difference was that I lost almost 20 pounds over a 2 week
period. My diet helped, but as I continued with the diet it was easier
to make decisions and not crave the sugar and carbohydrates that I
was a slave to.
The
experience with Dr. Shannon has been a life altering event for me
and made me realize at 35 I need to start taking care of myself. I
owe a great deal to him and will continue to discuss the positive
changes in my life to due to the information that he provided and
the lifestyle change he started for me. I have numerous people that
I discussed my situation with and will be having conversations with
Dr. Shannon in the near future. My
profession is in the life insurance business. I hear horror stories
of 40 and 50 year old guys who drop over dead from a heart attack
and there families are left in very bad situations. I make sure that
people are preparing for the worst. Dr. Shannon is in the business
of making people whole and giving their lives back to them, so they
can live long happy lives.
