David Bullert had lost part of his life.  Bullert, 77, of Mesa, has had peripheral neuropathy, a progressive nerve disorder, for 10 years.  He felt pain in his feet for years before they both went numb.    Finally, Bullert was forced to give up driving - he could no longer control his feet of feel the pedals.  "I couldn't drive for about two years.  It was getting so bad I could barely walk," he said.   Bullert went to specialists but had little relief.

            Bullert is walking again.  He is also driving, and recently bought a convertible to celebrate the milestone.  He credits his remarkable improvement to James Palmer- a chiropractor.  Palmer, an engineer-turned-chiropractor claims to have an innovative physical treatment for neuropathy.  Using chiropractic methods and "an engineer's understanding of the body," he said he stumbled upon a simple method that is effective in 80 percent to 90 percent of his patients. 

            After studying neuropathy treatment for seven years and opening a successful northern Idaho clinic in March 2002, Palmer moved to Mesa in October 2004 and opened another institute at 1225 W. Main St.

            Palmer was diagnosed with neuropathy and was told there was nothing, save pain management, that could be done.  He decided that was unacceptable, and looked for a way to reverse neuropathy and defy current medical literature.  He thinks peripheral neuropathy is a misunderstood and often ignored condition, but one that can be devastating to it's victims.  "I actually had someone come to me and say they were so depressed that they drove out to jump off the bridge, but their feet hurt too much to get out of the care once they got there," he said.  "And these people are being told there's no hope of getting better.  I say that's just not true."

            Neuropathy is one of the most common complications of diabetes.  In addition to pain and numbness, neuropathy can cause problems in balance.  Ulcers often develop on patients' feet, sometimes leading to amputations.  According to the American Diabetes Association, about 40,000 patients receive non-traumatic amputations each year, resulting in millions of dollars in medical expenses. 

            Palmer's method involves putting pressure on certain points in the body, as well as well as certain chiropractic adjustments.  He envisions revitalizing the way neuropathy is treated, but says doctors are often unwilling to listen to him because he is a chiropractor rather than a medical doctor. 

            His move to Arizona was motivated in part by a study planned at the University of Arizona to test his methods.  Funding and researchers are being established for the study, which would examine a sample of Palmer's patients with ulcers before, during and after treatment. 

            "Conventional wisdom seems to be that there are no truly effective treatments, but that's not my experience."

            Bullert knows his doctor may not receive widespread recognition from the medical community.  But he hopes anecdotal evidence will attract more patients.

            "If he helps anybody as much as he's helped me, he's doing a good job," he said. 

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