A Non-Taxing Season

April 15—a day that most people dread. Preparing my income taxes is something that I do not look forward to. Even when a refund is due, the idea of gathering my receipts, making an appointment with my accountant (who is inundated around this time), and then driving to his office during rush hour traffic in Los Angeles makes me wonder whether the refund is worth it. This year was no different, except for three instances.

While waiting for my appointment with my accountant, I talked to his sister, who was the receptionist. She complained of wrist pain despite medication and numerous visits to an orthopedist, who diagnosed her with carpal tunnel syndrome. She was contemplating surgery just to make the pain bearable. When I first suggested she see a chiropractor, she did not realize that chiropractic could be of help. I explained that chiropractors are musculoskeletal experts and recounted my own experiences and a few others of which I knew. And best of all, for convenience, there was a chiropractor’s office located right next door! The result: she made an appointment the next day.

During my appointment, my accountant and I began discussing my position, the magazine, and then ultimately, chiropractic. He had been experiencing back problems, especially during the busy tax season. Although he had visited a massage therapist who was located in a physical therapy clinic, the massages did not seem to get to the root of the problem. When I inquired whether he had seen a chiropractor, he asked, “Aren’t physical therapists and chiropractors the same?” I quickly set to disabuse him of that notion. He then recalled that there was a chiropractor next door, whom he described as a very nice, friendly neighbor. And before I could say anything else, he said, “You know, I should make an appointment to see him.”

The next day, a colleague of mine complained about her neck, which was hurting after a snowboarding incident. She had gone to see an orthopedist who prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and recommended surgery if her condition persisted. I recommended a chiropractor in the area, whom she called later that week when the pain had become unbearable. After her first visit, she came to me complaining of a headache and questioning whether she should continue chiropractic care. I told her of my first adjustment after which I had a terrible headache and reassured her that it only gets better. She is currently seeing the chiropractor and is now pain-free.

Convincing these people to give chiropractic a chance gave me insight into how satisfying and fulfilling it is for chiropractors to return patients to their normal, healthy states. When my colleague gives me updates on her neck, it makes me happy that I played a part, albeit small, in seeing her functioning again without pain.

This tax season wasn’t so bad after all.

Miwon Seo
mseo@medpubs.com