In the few years prior to being treated by Dr. Cummins, I experienced the onset, and worsening, of pain in my hip, lower back and neck. In my usual manner, I avoided treatment until the pain was unbearable. By the time I sought treatment in February 2011, I was experiencing the following difficulties every day: ? The pain in my neck severely limited my mobility. I was unable to lift my head off the pillow in the morning, and I was unable to turn my head enough to look over my right shoulder. ? My left hip and knee were in constant pain, with very limited mobility. ? I was losing approximately 4 hours of sleep every night due to hip, leg and knee pain. It would take hours to get to sleep. If I could sleep, then I would wake from pain four times or more every night. To get some rest, I was forced to find means to lessen the pain; for instance, positioning pillows under the mattress to allow my knees and hip to flex slightly helped. ? I walked with a pronounced limp, and I had a very difficult time putting on socks or tying my left shoe. Driving had become extremely uncomfortable and quite painful after about an hour of sitting. Dr. Cummins' treatment has brought about dramatic improvement in everything listed above. We began with chiropractic and massage therapy. Initially, most noticeable were the rapid improvements in my neck and lower back. My pain levels quickly and steadily decreased. Dr. Cummins then prescribed orthotics for me, greatly improving my lower back (tailbone) issues. The pain levels and mobility in my neck and lower back continued improving for over 6 months, by which time they were no longer significantly affecting my daily life. My hip, however, continued to be a constant source of pain. In fact, the pain had continued to increase over time. Dr. Cummins referred me to a hip specialist for x-rays. We found that there was a loss of cartilage in the hip joint, causing compacted bone in the joint. [Because this is outside Dr. Cummins' area of expertise, he referred me to another hip specialist for consultation. Due to their schedule, I have an appointment with them on a future date.] Dr. Cummins wisely sought a drug-free approach to pain management. His recommendation was to try laser therapy. I was very skeptical at first, but as he explained the treatment option, his firm grasp on the physiological processes involved convinced me it was worth a try. We began using the super-pulsed laser on my hip just a few weeks ago. The affect was immediate and dramatic. From the day of first session, I've been able to sleep through every night without waking from pain. The constant suffering is no longer debilitating: I can put on socks and tie my shoe without wincing and struggling; driving is no longer uncomfortable, even after an hour behind the wheel. The pain has diminished so much, in fact, that I've been able to take up rock climbing in a limited way, with the goal of building muscle in my legs, hips and back. Dr. Cummins's chiropractic therapy, holistic approach to wellness, and innovative use of technology has put me on a path to recovery. My quality of life has vastly improved over the past year, and Dr. Cummins has my deepest gratitude for making this possible.
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