PRINTOn The Job: Chiropractic Physician (Acupuncturist)
Q&A with Thomas Curnutte (Online Extended Version)
Chris Dunn
Chiropractor Dr. Thomas Curnette, right, removes acupuncture needles from staff member Mersadie Root's hands on Thursday, Nov. 12 at Dr. Curnette's clinic. Curnette, who has performed acupuncture since 1977, said his interest in the practice began after he received treatment for his knees.
December 3, 2009 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Thin needles are inserted into a patient’s hands. She doesn’t even flinch. Seem counterintuitive? Thomas Curnutte, a chiropractic physician, assures that the procedure doesn’t hurt at all.
Curnutte practices acupuncture, an ancient Chinese form of therapy that fixes the Chi, the force of energy that controls harmony in the body. In March, he came out of retirement to return to doing what he loves most — helping people.
Was it difficult the first time you had to stick a patient with a needle?
Those of us who were first-degree health care providers were trained for many hours and were required to practice acupuncture on doll-like material. But there is always a little skepticism, or should I say uneasiness, the first time you perform an acupuncture treatment because the procedure and technique is now being performed on a human being. Even though you have been trained and tested, hopefully the knowledge you have gained in preparation for the first treatment is the only guidance you will need. You never forget the first time you perform needle acupuncture.
FAST STATS
NAME: Thomas James Curnutte III, DC, NMD
AGE: 68
AT JOB SINCE: 1977
COMO RESIDENT SINCE: 2009
JOB LOCALE: 1621 Towne Drive
JOB PHONE: 474-8800
Why doesn’t it hurt when you stick in the needles?
These needles are small, sharp, smooth and clean. Each needle comes with a guide tube, which is sealed and sterile, thus making it stable in its presentation and easy to use for the doctor.
What exactly are you trying to hit with the needles? And what do they do?
Life force, Chi, resides, moves and functions through definite channels or zones in the body called meridians, which connect to vital organs and each other.
Any time you apply a stimulus to one meridian, you affect, to some degree, all of the other meridians. Your goal is to achieve equilibrium (balance) of Chi (life force). Chi is what it is, and to give it any other name would be to try to change history.
How do you learn to place the needles?
With education and experience. There are some standardized protocols that have been put together by acupuncturists with many years of experience, and these protocols are always considered along with the individual diagnosis and needs of that patient to achieve equilibrium of Chi within and between meridians.
Do you use acupuncture on yourself?
Yes, but more importantly I have trust and faith in the outcome, and I use acupuncture on those I love and care for.
How do you calm people if they’re scared?
Knowledge through education is the only true way to calm fears. I do my best to educate my patients on the procedures and what to expect. I explain that acupuncture is also a very acceptable adjunct and complementary therapy in almost every part of the world. I show them that the needles I will be using are sterile, disposable needles and that the procedure is performed in a clean and safe environment. Proper education is, again, the only answer.
Describe a memorable customer encounter.
They’re all memorable. Back in 1977, I adjusted a blue baby that was brought to me after being born. When you’re young, those things stick with you forever.
There was a little boy in Boonville with a dislocated shoulder when he was 18 months old; they didn’t know how to set his shoulder. I put his shoulder back in.
I treated him until he was 7 or 8 years old. When he was about 5, there was a female in the other room that started to cry when her neck popped, and he came to her room and took her hand and said to her, “It’s okay, he won’t hurt you.”
How did you get into this profession?
My uncle was a chiropractor. A knee injury got me into acupuncture. I tried everything. After four times with acupuncture, the pain was gone. I haven’t had any knee pain in 30-some years. I love to treat shoulders and knees. I’ve had great success with them. I’m just someone who has found their niche and been successful with it.
How much do you like your job?
I didn’t retire fully because I wanted to; I retired because my daughter was dying. She had cancer. I wouldn’t have come out of retirement if I didn’t love it. If you really love what you do, it’s fun. Every day is fun. It’s never the same. There’s nothing that makes a person feel better than a patient telling you that you helped them.
Describe your average workday.
Busy. Just seeing the patients, doing a little computer work, working on my book.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Fishing. I’m getting too old to play golf.
What kind of personality traits does someone need for this job?
Low-key. You cannot have an ego in any profession. You have to be able to work with a difficult patient. I’m hired to make them feel better.
What training was required?
There wasn’t much training years ago. You have to be a first-degree professional then go to school for 100 hours then take a certification exam.
What surprised you most about the job?
It is accepted more today than it was 20 years ago. A lot of the younger generations are smarter and can understand more than my generation. They have access to technology we never had. They know what works.
What is your least favorite part?
Probably getting old. You reach a point in your life when you know you’re getting old and you won’t be able to do this anymore. You’ll still have the knowledge but you’re just not as sharp.
Have interesting things happened to you at work?
There are things that you do that others view as miracles, but they’re really not. I’m just an instrument taking care of a body to allow the body to take care of itself. Everything that you do is an interesting thing. Every day there is something new that happens with every single patient. Being a good physician is listening to your patients. You have to be a good detective to find out what the real problem is. If you’re not a good detective, you won’t be a good doctor.
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