I used to be skeptical about chiropractic medicine somewhat, anyway. My dad was a warehouse worker in a plumbing wholesale house, so had his share of wrestling with water heaters and cast iron bathtubs. He had back problems earlier than most, but he went the chiro route and they kept him going until he retired. Several years ago, I did something to my low back, and I can't pinpoint it, but my left left was practically paralyzed. Turned out a pinched nerve in my spine was the cause. After adjustments focused on the lumbar area, and using icepack therapy, the disc that was damaged and pressing on the nerves began to ease up from the swelling that was pinching the nerve. The damaged disc is still there and still causes pain, but most of the loss of motor control has been restored. There's little that can be done to restore the disc itself, so I guess I have that to look forward to....but for now at least I can get around. I had a case of what they call "drop foot" as part of it. That's where you cannot normally contract the calf muscles to lift your foot as you walk. Same muscle group you'd use to stand on your tip-toes. Was just about dragging the foot around. Once he got some movement back in those muscles I started walking every day at lunch. I didn't do so well at first, but he kept adjusting it, and I kept icing it.....it's about as close as it's going to get. According to the MRI's I've had dealing with the current back pain, it's the same vertebrae, same disc he was working on. Now that I've had the nerves burned, I don't feel the pain so much, but I have a feeling the motor nerves (which they don't ever burn) will eventually become a problem again. I still go to the chiropractor regularly, and he's been kind enough to treat me at no charge since I am not working, so I hope to delay what I fear is inevitable.
Doug, I wold sure appreciate some advice about getting into that line of work. My needs are few. I lead a simple life and have no large expenses such as a mortgage, or car payment. As far as I know there is no one in the area who does that kind of work. In fact, I have had a few phone calls inquiring about whether I did or not. So for all I know, the market is there I just need to break into it. I guess I'll be looking for some course to take, if for nothing else to establish my bona fides, plus the education I'll no doubt need. If we can come to some terms I can live with, of course I'll need some tools, most especially a lathe. I have more than plenty of conventional machinist tools, but nothing special for horology. I would need some advice on that too