Expert: John R. Cross - 3/5/2010

Question
QUESTION: Good day,

I went to a chiropractor that applied pressure to the middle of the bottom of my left foot.  It hurt very badly when he did it, it even made me sweat.  It's been two years since, and that spot on my foot is still tender and it now hurts with any pressure on that spot.  What did he do to my foot, and why did he do it?  

Any info would be appreciated.  Please respond to my email.  Thank you very much.  Regards,  Marie

ANSWER: Hello Marie,

Are you sure it was a chiropractor and not a chiropodist. I cannot understand why a chiropractor would want press the middle of the foot hard or what he wanted to achieve by it. The best course of action is to get back to him to ask him what he meant to do - as it could have been anything. Please write back when you have found this out and I may then be able to help you sort it out. Sorry I cannot be any more helpful. - John

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I'm afraid I cannot ask him as he is no longer my Chiropractor (yes he is a Chiropractor).  I had to file a suit against him because he whiplashed my neck with a manual adjustment, even though for two years he knew he was only to use the activator on my neck, it is even stated in my chart "Activator Only".  I'd really like to know what he was trying to attempt by applying acupressure to the middle of my left foot?  Is this an accupressure point to accomplish what?  All I see in diagrams are the kidney in the middle of the foot.  Why would he want to push on that so hard?

On the manual neck adjustment, he laid me on my side, tightened the head rest so it would now drop.  Then he pushed on the middle of my neck with both hands.  I felt my neck "bowe" when he did it.  About 45 minutes later I was in excrutiating pain and my left arm was "Dead" I couldn't lift it, I couldn't feel it.  I already had a diagnosis of severe stenosis in my neck, and the Chiro knew that. (I had just told him)

As a side note - he (the Chiro) was displeased with me when he whiplashed my neck because I had to stop going to treatment with him for an auto accident because the IME insurance Chiro declared me "healed", and no more $$ was to be spent on treatment.

I felt assaulted after he did this.  And I was\have been in a great deal of pain in my neck since he did this.  My arms both go numb when I lift my head now.  It never happened before he whiplashed my neck.


If you have an idea of what his intent was when he pressed on the middle of my left foot, I'd appreciate knowing.

Thank you!  Marie

Answer
Hi Marie,

As I have previously stated it is impossible to know what his motives were. He may have been working on KI 1, a reflex or even the metatarsals.

As you are having constant pain in the sole of the foot and, obviously, the neck - you might like to try and gently press/massage the middle of the palms - this is a point called PC 8 and helps neck pain as well as being a reflected point of KI 1. Massage each hand for about 30 seconds a few times a day. Let me know how you get on.