Marin Runners with Knee Pain

How many serious runners are plagued with knee pain? Well, how many runners are serious, plus many who are not.

What do you do? Most take Advil or Tylenol, which only covers up the pain. Take enough of that stuff, long enough, and you end up damaging your liver, kidneys and stomach. And, by interfering with the natural process of inflammation, these anti-inflammatories cause increased damage to injured joints, especially as you continue to run. You think you're OK when you pop some pills that killed the pain? Think again!

You might, after a time, go see an orthopedist. After all kinds of allegedly definitive, scientific tests, you will receive some useless diagnosis, and probably be given stronger anti-inflammatory drugs, which will "work better," at least for a time, and end up doing even more damage to joints and organs. You might be directed to waste time at physical therapy. Eventually, the orthopedist will be sharpening his or her scalpel. These days, they are prone to just tear the whole knee out, and put in a fake one. Aside from the horrendous cost in pain, time and money, do you really think that this fake knee will be equivalent to a real one. (I know you got the standard "bone-on'bone" talk. It's, for the most part, BS.) Realize that these things wear out in seven or eight years; then, it's time for another replacement. This whole thing is barbaric!

If you have knee pain, the rational course of action would be to get to the cause. First, Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC) must be corrected. This will allow the knee and the whole lower extremity to function right, and to heal, as well as increase coordination and balance, and improve your gait. This is standard in straight Chiropractic. Further, in my practice, I check and adjust extremities as well as the spine. So, I would check, and adjust as necessary, the bones of your knee, and your meniscus (and your other knee), hips, and feet. Doesn't that make sense?

Don Harte, D.C.
Corte Madera Straight Chiropractor
Liberator of Innate

Getting Well with Straight Chiropractic via Dr Harte

The more popular but plainly degenerate form of Chiropractic (VERY common in Marin) mistaken for actual (straight) Chiropractic produces transitory and boring results. Sometimes, people may get temporary relief from back or neck pain, not much better than they can get from Advil. Why? There has been no intention involving THE most serious threat to health, Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC). There has been no detection, analysis and correction of VSC. Therefore, there has been no Chiropractic. 


When chiropractic adjustments are delivered properly, specifically, for the purpose of correcting VSC, it's a whole different world! Just in the last few days, I've been told that an ankle that has been swollen for the better part of 30 + years is better, years of constipation is far less, and, in the case of a fellow with a degenerative, fatal disease (at least according to the medics), he is not a bit worse in eight months. Over the years, people have been able to throw away all kinds of medication, from beta-blockers (for high blood pressure) to thyroid hormone to diabetes meds to anti-depressants to all manner of anti-inflammatories and pain killers. Besides the underlying need for these drugs vanishing, think of all the damage avoided by all the stopping of all of these drugs.

You want a little, temporary pain relief? You might do OK going to any chiropractor. If you want healing, if you want health, if you want true wellness, you go to a straight chiropractor who, through gentle, scientific chiropractic adjustments, allows your body to express itself more fully.

Don Harte, D.C.
Corte Madera Straight Chiropractor
Liberator of Innate

Serious Disease Vs. Marin Sensibilities Vs. Chiropractic Self-Esteem

I know that most people think of going to the chiropractor with back pain or neck pain. Indeed, that's why I originally went, so many years ago. And people get help in this regard, when Medicine has nothing for them, or has already made them worse.

But this misses the point of Chiropractic. Real Chiropractic. Straight Chiropractic. We remove interference, we correct subluxation, thereby allowing the body to heal, to maintain itself better, and, to some degree, to perfect itself. We do not diagnose. We do not treat, NOT EVEN BACKACHE!

Sadly, most chiropractors, especially here in Mellow Marin, have two very serious problems, which leads to a third. They fall prey to all kinds of "New Age" distractions* They are often terminally mellow, becoming so casual with something so critical as the proper practice of Chiropractic, as to lose virtually all clinical value, and all credibility. These two faults lead to a third problem, a lack of self-esteem, and a lack of esteem for Chiropractic. Why does Chiropractic have such a "bad name" here? This is why.

Being a "New Age Supermarket" is a favor to no one. Diminishing the importance and the efficacy of Chiropractic is a disgrace. In the end, it robs people of the opportunity to lead nealthier, fuller lives. It may even cost lives.

A great part of the cost in diminished lives and lost lives is the LACK of serious cases... people in really bad shape... in most chiropractic offices here in Marin. People might say, "Oh, I've been a chiropractic patient for years," yet they go for one or two visits for pain relief, like taking Advil. Light weight cases only, for these lesser offices.

In my office, there are people with Parkinson's, vertigo, ALS, some unnamed neurological disorders, diabetes, various mild to serious digestive conditions, etc. In the past, there have been people with so many serious issues, most getting better, most either able to lessen their drug intake, or, more often, totally eliminate drugs.

Chiropractic is far too important to be diminished by amateurs. Consider only real chiropractors. And tell your friends and family, including those who live far away.

Don Harte, D.C.
Corte Madera Straight Chiropractor
Liberator of Innate




*Some things that one might be considered "New Age" are nonsense, and some are valuable... Chi Gung, yoga, meditation... But none of them are Chiropractic. Therefore, they are distractions, NOT valuable additions. Lao Tsu, 2500 years ago, wrote, "When you walk, walk. When you sit, sit. Above all, do not hesitate."