John F. Kennedy, who would have turned 100 this year, is most certainly one of America’s best known political leaders, but his medical history tells the story of a man America barely knew.
As the youngest person ever to be elected president, JFK radiated health and vitality, but he was a master of disguise. Underneath his chiseled good looks and robust appearance were some very serious health problems.
“MMP” describes a patient who has “multiple medical problems,” and JFK was most certainly a man with MMP, including Addison’s disease, GI problems, prostrate problems, high cholesterol, insomnia, and severe chronic back pain.
During his presidency, he was on the brink of complete disability as a result of back pain, often walking on crutches and almost always wearing a corset-like back brace.
Medical historians are not sure how JFK’s back pain originated, but most experts believe that it started with football injuries in his days at Harvard. After college, his spinal troubles were so bad that he was rejected by the Navy and the Army after failing two physical exams. Ultimately, his influential father was able to help his son secure a spot in the Navy during WWII.
Starting in 1944, Kennedy endured a series of surgical procedures that almost certainly made things worse. His spinal problems stemmed from activities–football and wartime injuries. Nevertheless, back pain is a serious issue; however, there is increasing acknowledgment that “alternative” medicine can help.
Naturopathic measures can make a tremendously positive difference in the lives of those suffering from back pain.
Both back and neck pain can be seriously debilitating, but there are simple and all-natural steps you can take to improve the spine’s health. One might say with confidence that naturopathic measures have got your back.
From an article by Dr. Joshua Levitt