Talk about health

Sometimes I have so many thing I want to talk about that I can't decide which one to tell you. Today my choice was made much easier when I was watching some breakfast TV. A doctor and two young ladies were discussing treatment for a condition called scoliosis, a twisitng of the spine more common in women, that is painful and starts when puberty happens.

Conventional therapy is a risky and major operation involving inserting metal rods in the spine to staighten it or a less risky brace that attempts to do the job without surgery.

The reason it was on the programme at all is that one of the other women had discovered a non-invasive technique in Germany that involved seven weeks of intesive exercises designed to strengthen the muscles and sraighten the spine naturally. The third woman had used this therapy and had grown 2 cm while finding her severe neck pain had been resolved -no pain any longer!

The 'alternative' therapy of muscle strengthening and exercises is now available in the UK (through the first young lady) and apparently involves an initial outlay of some £2,400.

Now, I don't have any particular opinion on the therapy except to say that if it works, why not adopt it and offer it as a possible treatment?

My point is that the doctor was almost dismissive of the treatment since it cost so much money. However, she didn't care to tell us how much the conventional therapy cost or the risks involved in what is a major surgical procedure. I would bet it costs much more than £2,400. And I would also suggest that follow-up care and a lifetime of painkillers and possibly physiotherapy would add to the cost many times. Not to mention the psychological and physical cost to the patients.

Compare that to a relatively risk-free therapy that might not be suitable for all sufferers, but would be a great 'first step' down the road. If it worked all that would be needed is some exercise equipment and a continuing exercise regime. No more pain killers, no more pain. A straight and physically normal person who can get on with the rest of their life.

If it didn't work, then the sufferer would have the options of brace or surgery depending on their situations.

Now, the GP reckoned that a series of clinical trials was the way forward to evaluate the therapy 'properly', and I suppose her natural caution suggests that is a non-judgemental route. However, who is going to set up and pay for them? And there would be a substantial cost involved.

Certainly, more work needs to be done. But if I were a sufferer, and I'm thankful that I am not, I think I would like to give the non-invasive therapy a go first. It might work or it might not, but it's a small price to pay to find out if I was looking forward to a pain-free future. Some special exercises seems to be to be a better bet that risky, major surgery especially if they work.

This episode demonstrates just how difficult it is to move the conventional doctor away from his or her ingrained views of the alternatives available. In the end, it's up to you, the potential patient, to decide.

Vote with your feet and if necessary, your money too. Discover the options for treating any illness you might suffer from. Then use the information you find to colour the way you go about treatment. Slash and burn might be the conventional answer but gentle and persistent could be a better one.

First you have to know more about the options, and that is what I try to give you through my seeries of booklets and reports. Visit http://www.healthexplore.co.uk to discover what's available at modest cost. Join my newsletter list and get regular free updates on current therapies plus a booklet on foods and supplements (also FREE)