People often ask me if it is ‘worth’ going to see their doctor or ‘worth’ going to see a podiatrist or ‘worth’ going and seeing a naturopath about a specific condition or problem. They are often surprised when my answer invariably comes back as a yes. People tend to think that because I’m a wellness expert and columnist, I have all the answers and that I wouldn’t want to them to go and get a second opinion that may differ from mine.
In reality nothing could be further from the truth. Wellness is all about finding out as much information as possible about a problem and about its possible solutions, so that you can take charge of your health care decisions and make an informed choice. Gone are the days when people just went into their trusted doctor and blindly took whatever pill or potion they were given, and rightly so.
We have seen that many of those blindly followed recommendations have led to less than ideal, sometimes even disastrous consequences, and so we now expect more. So not only do we need to seek as many opinions as possible on what to do and how to do it, we also need to be prepared to take that information, compare it, digest it and make our own decision about the best course of action for us.
When I am confronted with a health question or am doing some research I will always try and look at the problem from as many different angles as possible. I will research what the medical solution to it is, I will look at what the alternatives are and then I will look at what tools the body already has to deal with such issues, and I will come up with the best course of action for me or my family – which is then the course of action I recommend to my clients and readers. Usually I will come up with the same answer I had to start with, and usually for me it will revolve around eating well, thinking well, moving well and getting regular chiropractic care. But it is reassuring to know that I haven’t made the decision on blind faith; I have researched the problem from all angles and come up with the best solution for me and my health.
So whether it is advice from your doctor, your personal trainer, your naturopath or even your chiropractor, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion or to research the other side of the story. It may just hold the exact solution you are looking for to get your health back on track.
Have you had a second opinion that has made all the diference?
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