My name is Kathy McLaughlin. I am the owner and primary Physical
Therapist at Integrative Physical Therapy in Alliance, Nebraska, and this
is my story!
In about 2001, after having been practicing Physical Therapy
for about 11 years, I began to get very sick with all the signs and symptoms
of full blown Rheumatoid Arthritis. This went on for about three years until
it had progressed to the point of not going into a remission cycle. I had
7/10 pain all waking hours. I was unable to open the door to get into work;
unable to walk more than a quarter of a mile; unable to open a shampoo top;
unable to carry groceries; and was basically on my way to being disabled and
wanting to die.
It was at this time, after having done tons of praying just to get through another day,
that I decided to really pray from the heart. I got on my knees and prayed
to God that if he wanted me to be this way then so be it but if their was
some other purpose in me getting so sick, I would be open minded and willing
to do whatever he wanted--even give up chocolate and/or coffee to get well!
I believe that nothing happens in God’s world by mistake and things
happen to people so they can help the next person.
Thus is the position I found myself - bordering on losing hope while clinging desperately to any potential solution I could find. Thankfully, my primary care Physician, Dr. Carlson, and Jeri Mount, PA were supportive and immensely helpful along my journey. Their guidance eventually led me to Rapid City. While my original motivation for the trip proved fruitless, the trip itself was a turning point for me.
It was during this trip to Rapid City I
decided to try something alternative to see if maybe there was other help
out there. This is the point when things started to seem at least hopeful.
The Herbologist was able to find multiple things wrong with my body on a more Eastern medical model. It
was at that time that she suggested that I might be allergic to wheat and
I should go on a gluten-free diet and never eat anything that had wheat and/or
gluten in it again. She also recommended many expensive alternative type supplements
for me to take, at approximately $400-800 per month.
The summer of that same year, while I was still quite ill and
recovering, I returned to New England to visit my family. A dear friend of
mine and fellow Physical Therapist heard how sick I had been and insisted
that I see her. I told her there was nothing Physical Therapy could do to
help me; I had tried it all. She just said, “That’s OK, but I
still want you to come up to the clinic.” So I went, hesitantly, only
to find her “laying hands on people.”
I thought, “Oh my God, she’s gone over the edge, and they can’t
possibly be billing that as Physical Therapy!” When my turn came she
gently touched and assessed all of my tissues, pushed and pulled slightly,
and then did lots of just touching and holding my tissues all over my body.
Once she identified and located the primary tissue that was in distress, she
could make the pain I had been having worse as well as better. I was amazed!
In the past 2-3 years no one, including myself, had been able to recreate
the pain I had or make it go away.
I resorted back to my traditional Western Medical model of
“if you can make the pain worse, you have found the source of the dysfunction
and therefore you should be able to treat this area and promote healing and
recovery.” She set my physical recovery in motion. After the first visit
she said there were many physical things wrong with my body and that the particular
techniques she had been utilizing on me, which focused on Integrative Manual
Therapy (IMT), would be exactly what my body needed to completely heal--I
may even be able to eat wheat again.
She encouraged me to continue getting this specialized Physical
Therapy. I have event tried it on a more straight forward orthopedic problem.
I had in 2002; a rotator cuff repair. I must say that in my 15 years as a
Physical Therapist, I have not come across any other techniques that are as
effective and thorough. It is for this reason that I decided to focus on providing
PT treatments specializing in IMT techniques.
I have made a full and quick recovery and can now even run! I have no limitations
on my physical being and have not had an exacerbation since receiving IMT/PT
treatment. Now, I just want to help others who have lost hope over their Physical
dysfunction and pain. I have a strong connection with the Center for Integrative
Manual Therapy in Boulder, Colorado, and work there when I am away from my
practice in Alliance, Nebraska. I am a student at the Connecticut School for
Integrative Manual Therapy in Bloomfield, Connecticut.
I feel that even if I am not able to find your primary area of dysfunction
at the Alliance clinic, I have the capability of accessing a world wide network
of peers who can provide assistance in diagnosing and helping any one’s
Physical aliments.
My goal is to provide outstanding Physical Therapy services specializing in Integrative Manual Therapy to clients who are specifically referred for these services to enhance their quality of life and promote whole body health and recovery!
