Kathy Simon
Practice
member of the Strauss Chiropractic Center since September 1973
This month in our continuing series of extraordinary practice members,
we are pleased to introduce Kathy Simon, a quiet, unassuming, matter-of-fact
lady who first came to the Strauss Chiropractic Center on Sept. 1973.
Kathy recalls nearly 33 years ago, “somebody my husband Mike
worked with told him about Dr. Joe and we figured we’d try it
because it wouldn’t hurt. We were young, in our early 20’s
and our first son. Keith, was just 1 yr. old. We really didn’t
know anything about “chiropractic. After just a few adjustments
though she noticed things working better and feeling better—things
she actually hadn’t previously noticed weren’t working
properly. “I use to have headaches all the time which I rarely
do now and my neck just moves better. I also use to get Strep throat
twice a year, which I haven’t had at all since I started.”
And as the young family continued to come, they learned about the
many things that could cause vertebral subluxation. “I was amazed,
once I was informed, how much little ones do that can throw their
spines out.” So in 1975, their second son, Phillip, joined the
practice a week after he was born and in 1976, their daughter, Heather,
followed 9 days after she was born. And they continued to come regularly,
every week or so, as a family for years. “The kids still fondly
recall those trips to see Dr. Joe. It took us about 20 minutes or
so to get here, we’d all get adjusted and on the way back home
we’d stop at Gibby’s for ice cream. Of course the fee
system really helped because where else could we get this kind of
care for a family of five!?!” Kathy is also grateful that Dr.
Joe has managed to keep the office open all these years. Speaking
of Dr. Joe she says, “He’s just an amazing man.”
Because she saw great benefits in chiropractic she starting telling
everybody about it, her family, her co-workers and her friends. “Not
everybody gets it. Some have been told that chiropractic is bad so
they won’t even try it. My sister-in-law wouldn’t come
for the longest time but she finally tried it and she has really done
well. I don’t believe she would be walking or moving without
chiropractic.” Kathy adds passionately, “It makes you
feel good. You can move. It loosens everything up. I like to tease
Dr. Joe and say, ‘Ah, I just had my neck oiled.’ I don’t
think people realize how good they can feel. They’ve been brainwashed
to think that this is what comes with getting older, but it doesn’t
have to be that way.”
At the same time Kathy realizes that chiropractic isn’t designed
to be a cure all. “Chiropractic doesn’t take the place
of medicine. When I had my knee surgery I followed the doctor’s
recommendations but I got back to see Dr. Joe ASAP.” Kathy understands
that the two things are not mutually exclusive. Chiropractic is great
for you but you need other things too: a healthy diet, regular exercise,
plenty of rest and yes possibly the attention of a medical doctor.
The important point though is that none of those others things will
take the place of chiropractic. It’s not an either/or situation.
You have to do them all if you want to function at your best.
Kathy listed many things that might cause subluxation in her spine.
“Certainly, physical things can mess you up. Anything from rolling
over in bed, sitting at a computer, getting in and out of the car,
or the way you walk or pick something up.” However, she also
listed several emotional stresses that could cause vertebral subluxation
including bosses that drive her insane (and who we hope are not reading
this), getting pulled over by a state trooper and the many terrible
things that are happening in the world today. “There are so
many things that our bodies have to deal with every day, it’s
amazing we make it as long and as well as we do.”
In closing she offered, “I don’t know anyone that wouldn’t
benefit from chiropractic; young, old, big, little, pregnant or whatever.
I think people don’t understand it. They should try it. When
they do they inevitably say something like ‘Wow, I can move
better and I didn’t even know I couldn’t.’ They
should try before they make a decision. I think they would be very
pleasantly surprised.”
Thank you Kathy for sharing your story with us, for your faithfulness
to chiropractic over these many years, and for the many people who
have benefited from chiropractic because you took the time to tell
them about it.
© Strauss Chiropractic Center
2003
