I am a 53 year old woman who has had severe back pain for two years. I went to my family doctor for help. I had an x-ray and was told that "it is a common problem with people my age. I should take aspirin and grin and bear it." I couldn't stop thinking about how old people talk about pain all the time and I wondered if I was going to morph into one of those people. One day last month as I was processing my junk mail in its usual trash bin, I came across a flyer from Dr. Jeffrey Leber, a chiropractor. I grew up hearing that chiropractor was synonymous with "chiro-quack-tor".  Misguided gullible people went to them, the poor souls! A good friend of mine (a registered nurse) has gone to a chiropractor for a number of years and swears by him. I was desperate. The pain at night would wake me up every time I turned over in bed. It was a sharp, knife-like, stabbing pain in my left hip and lower back. So I held my breath and gave it a try. Just 7 treatments later and what a difference. The stabbing pain has been reduced to a very bearable ache and I have other benefits that I didn't even expect. I can turn my neck much better and I know this sounds crazy, but I have more energy.  Dr. Leber tells me I'll get even better than I already am. He tells me that we both have to participate in the process. He uses the dreaded word "exercises" but don't worry, they are simple to do and what a difference they make in reducing pain.  I even told my family doctor about it and kind of cringed waiting for some negative comment, but she surprised me by saying that she supported me. -Mary Anne, North Wales