How often have we been in pain and sought ways to remove it from our bodies? How many times have we taken pain pills and muscle relaxers, rubbed lotions and potions on our bodies, iced it, heated it, or ignored it? If you are the average person, then you IGNORE IT for as long as you can, hoping that it will just go away, and then resort to pills when you can't ignore it anymore.
No one wants to be in pain. However, can it ever be a good thing to have pain expressed in the body? Can it ever be a healthy sign? People who have numbness in their limbs, especially their feet, can feel no pain, and yet they could be setting themselves up for danger. How?
Pain is the body's healthy mechanism to alert you that something is WRONG. It is an alarm clock that rings loudly and insistently to wake you up, so you will correct whatever is the problem. However, if you ignore this alarm clock long enough, you can eventually "sleep" through the blaring sounds, not realizing how loud it really is, or you can "tune" it out altogether! And, for the person who has numb feet, stepping on sharp objects or cutting themselves can be a very dangerous, pain-free experience. If you don't know something is hurting you, then you don't know there is a problem to correct. Without taking that splinter or tack out of your foot, you could set yourself up for a terrible infection, which could then lead to gangrene and death.
What if you have headaches or pains somewhere in your body? How about asthma or stomach problems? What about a fever? Could these symptoms be healthy responses of your body to alert you that something needs to be addressed? Many people are afraid of having fevers. However, even at a high level (over 100 degrees), fevers are HEALTHY mechanisms of your body to KILL off the invading organisms that are hurting you! If you take pills to artificially reduce that healthy heat, then you are setting yourself up for more sickness, longer. Pain tells you that you are doing something wrong, something is out of alignment and nerves are pinched, or you have allergies to some substance. It is not given to you without good reason.
The problem with using pain as the sole alarm system of the body is this: over 90% of your nerves CAN NOT tell you pain! SO, by the time you do feel pain, it may have been weeks or years after the problem started! And, just because the pain never starts doesn't mean the problem isn't there! How many people have you heard had absolutely no symptoms before they had their first heart attack or their cancer diagnosis? The level of pain is the least accurate measure of someone's health.
Chiropractors detect and correct vertebral subluxations, misalignments of the spinal vertebrae which impinge on nerves, causing inflammation, degeneration, reduced motion, and reduced function. We find the areas of the spine where there can be painless, as well as painful, blockages to the normal nerve flow of the body. We perform chiropractic adjustments on these subluxated areas, which then release the body's innate ability to heal itself.
Pain is not comfortable. However, it is a normal, healthy sign that something is wrong and needs to be corrected. If you do NOT have pain, it does not mean you are healthy. Don't just rely on pain to determine the level of your health. Get a full chiropractic exam today to see if you are functioning at your highest potential!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
ERGONOMICS AND GOOD POSTURE, CRUCIAL TO GOOD HEALTH
"Stand up straight! Have good posture!" How many times have we heard that before? Why is good posture and good ergonomics (the science of adapting the job and/or equipment and the human to each other for optimal safety and productivity) such important topics? We all know that people who slouch throughout their lifetimes usually end up with slumping spines and mid back humps later in life. Not only does it look bad, it feels bad, too!
Muscles, bones, ligaments, and discs get moved out of their proper alignment, causing much higher incidences of degenerative arthritis, inflammation, irritation, immobility, and pain. Spines that are continually put under improper postures are suffering from repetitive stresses or micro-traumas. Those little traumas that seem so insignificant on a daily basis can add up to big problems later in life. Not only does bad posture and improper ergonomics cause spinal degeneration and improper curvatures, it also causes multiple levels of nerve interference, called vertebral subluxations.
When vertebrae are misaligned out of their proper positioning, the nerves and spinal cord can be impinged, causing pain, numbness, dysfunction, and dis-ease. Many conditions can arise from this state, such as asthma, allergies, sinuses, headaches, neck and back pain, numbness, digestive problems, colic, ear infections, arm/leg pain or weakness, fatigue, and stress.
What does great posture look like? Your head should be up, eyes level and looking straight ahead, shoulders back and relaxed, and stomach pulled in tightly. Looking from the side, a straight line should be able to be drawn from the ears, side of the shoulders, and middle of the hips. Sitting posture should look exactly the same, with the addition of hips being equal to or slightly higher than the bent knees. The lower back should have proper cushions or support so that no slumping of the mid back or lower back occurs.
Proper ergonomics create an environment of ease and efficiency, minimal pain and discomfort, and optimal performance and safety for the person. Whether it is an ideal computer and office set-up, work station or equipment lay out, good ergonomics is critical to your health. Also, symmetry is key to attaining great health and function. Whatever is done to one side must be done to the other side, or else imbalance will inevitably occur over time. If you have to bend or lean to one side, then give the other side as much time as possible. If you slouch, lean back, or cross your legs, make sure to keep moving and changing sides, always returning to good posture. Make sure you take stretch breaks if you are forced into bad positions, and whenever you can, do the mirror image of your improper work. These little tips for balancing and minimizing the impact of bad posture and ergonomics will pay big dividends in the future.
Just remember that each time you change your posture or spinal alignment can cause soreness and pain, even if it's for the better! It can take days to weeks for your body to get accustomed to any new exercise, posture, or spinal alignment. Be patient in the beginning when you feel fatigued from trying to stay in the correct position. Eventually your body will adapt to this new optimal state, and will reward you with greater energy and vitality!
Muscles, bones, ligaments, and discs get moved out of their proper alignment, causing much higher incidences of degenerative arthritis, inflammation, irritation, immobility, and pain. Spines that are continually put under improper postures are suffering from repetitive stresses or micro-traumas. Those little traumas that seem so insignificant on a daily basis can add up to big problems later in life. Not only does bad posture and improper ergonomics cause spinal degeneration and improper curvatures, it also causes multiple levels of nerve interference, called vertebral subluxations.
When vertebrae are misaligned out of their proper positioning, the nerves and spinal cord can be impinged, causing pain, numbness, dysfunction, and dis-ease. Many conditions can arise from this state, such as asthma, allergies, sinuses, headaches, neck and back pain, numbness, digestive problems, colic, ear infections, arm/leg pain or weakness, fatigue, and stress.
What does great posture look like? Your head should be up, eyes level and looking straight ahead, shoulders back and relaxed, and stomach pulled in tightly. Looking from the side, a straight line should be able to be drawn from the ears, side of the shoulders, and middle of the hips. Sitting posture should look exactly the same, with the addition of hips being equal to or slightly higher than the bent knees. The lower back should have proper cushions or support so that no slumping of the mid back or lower back occurs.
Proper ergonomics create an environment of ease and efficiency, minimal pain and discomfort, and optimal performance and safety for the person. Whether it is an ideal computer and office set-up, work station or equipment lay out, good ergonomics is critical to your health. Also, symmetry is key to attaining great health and function. Whatever is done to one side must be done to the other side, or else imbalance will inevitably occur over time. If you have to bend or lean to one side, then give the other side as much time as possible. If you slouch, lean back, or cross your legs, make sure to keep moving and changing sides, always returning to good posture. Make sure you take stretch breaks if you are forced into bad positions, and whenever you can, do the mirror image of your improper work. These little tips for balancing and minimizing the impact of bad posture and ergonomics will pay big dividends in the future.
Just remember that each time you change your posture or spinal alignment can cause soreness and pain, even if it's for the better! It can take days to weeks for your body to get accustomed to any new exercise, posture, or spinal alignment. Be patient in the beginning when you feel fatigued from trying to stay in the correct position. Eventually your body will adapt to this new optimal state, and will reward you with greater energy and vitality!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
IS CHIROPRACTIC CARE SAFE? Can Chiropractic Care Cause Strokes, Paralysis, Disc Bulging, or Addiction?
Throughout the 25 years I have been a chiropractic patient and the 15 years as a practicing chiropractor, I have often been asked the question: "Is chiropractic safe? I have heard so many scary stories about it and I'm afraid it could hurt me, or I'll just get addicted to it once I feel better so that I'll just have to keep coming back."
How many times have you heard someone or some article/program suggesting that chiropractic is dangerous for children or cause strokes or blow out discs? How many scary stories have you heard about how someone felt worse after the first adjustment and how they will never go back? Or, how chiropractors can get you so addicted to the adjustments that if you don't go back regularly, you will feel even worse? And, on top of all those scary stories, how many times have you heard someone say that chiropractors are just money-hungry quacks who just tell you to keep coming back even when you don't really need to?
Trust me, I have heard it countless times, and for the past 18 years, I have answered each question and concern calmly, rationally, and scientifically.
First, let me explain how safe and effective specific chiropractic adjustments are. There have been countless research papers done on the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic care for all types of conditions and ages, from infants to the elderly, by government reports of several countries, research journals from the scientific community, and from millions of satisfied patients around the world, since chiropractic's birth in 1895.
Every day, more research papers come in to prove the scientific efficacy of chiropractic care for ailments such as asthma, colic, bed wetting, headaches, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), neck pain, low back pain, scoliosis, and other visceral problems. These days, more and more medical doctors are advocating the use of chiropractic care for many different conditions. I have even watched the daytime television show "The Doctors" tell the audience on several different episodes that chiropractic care can help with back pain or scoliosis. They even showed patients getting chiropractic adjustments by a chiropractor! Times have surely changed from 1985 when I first started chiropractic care, or even 1995 when I first became a licensed chiropractor.
Long-time practicing chiropractors have often told me the stories of how horrendous the propaganda and slander against chiropractic used to be on a daily basis in the years before 1990. On February 7, 1990, the chiropractic profession won a substantial lawsuit against the American Medical Association for its unlawful, unsubstantiated, and unscientifically-based slander and false propaganda against the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments. In WILK (and 4 other chiropractors) VS. AMA, the United States Court of Appeals made the decision that the AMA systematically and intentionally guided its members to NEVER refer their patients to chiropractors or associate with chiropractors in ANY way, socially or professionally, because they believed that chiropractic was an "unscientific cult" and chiropractors were "unscientific quacks."
Judge Susan Getzendanner in this landmark case issued her opinion that the AMA engaged in an unlawful conspiracy in restraint of trade "to contain and eliminate the chiropractic profession." She also stated that "the AMA had entered into a long history of illegal behavior...(and had) engaged in a lengthy, systematic, successful and unlawful boycott designed to restrict cooperation between MD's and chiropractors in order to eliminate the profession of chiropractic." Due to this victory over the illegal practices of the AMA, its members were then encouraged to associate with and refer their patients to chiropractors when they felt it was needed. Prior to this judgment, medical doctors and other health professionals were constantly telling their patients on a daily basis how unsafe and unscientific chiropractic was, or giving daily warnings and cautions against chiropractic care in the news or newspapers. I even had several of my wonderful patients tell me that their medical doctors told them that IF they ever went to see a chiropractor, they could no longer be that medical doctor's patient! How incredible is that? Of course my patients immediately changed medical doctors and were convinced that there were many bigoted and unprofessional people in the medical community.
However, TIMES HAVE CHANGED. Now, more and more medical doctors, nurses, and professionals in the health industry seek regular chiropractic care. Also, many of my teachers in chiropractic school were licensed medical doctors, including neurologists, and research scientists who became chiropractors themselves due to the amazing results and safety of their chiropractic care.
How long does it take for decades of slander, propaganda, and distrust to disappear? How long does it take for erroneous gossip to disappear? It can take a very long time, after tremendous effort to re-educate people. For my part, I had such an amazing personal experience with chiropractic, that I was undeterred by others' fear-tactics and misinformation. I knew how safe and effective chiropractic care was.
When I tell people about the safety of chiropractic care, I give them some statistics. For example, it is scientifically shown that less than 1 in a million chiropractic adjustments could result in some kind of negative result or injury. 1 in a million. What are the chances of severe adverse reactions or malpractice associated with medical intervention such as drugs and surgeries? The statistics are staggering. Some say it could be as high as the #1 cause of death in the United States, above cancer, stroke, and heart attacks because it is proven that most of the medical accidents and malpractice events that occur on a daily basis are never even reported! AND, I often tell people what my chiropractic malpractice insurance costs are compared to other health professionals. I tell them that I pay between $1,000-$2,000 per year for liability insurance while some medical doctors can pay upwards of over $100,000 per year. So, which profession has the greater risk of injury and malpractice?
However safe chiropractic is statistically, can it still cause some negative reactions or results to some patients? Of course it can! Chiropractors are people, too. ALL professionals have made mistakes, intentionally or unintentionally. There are incompetent and immoral professionals in every field, including ministers! Chiropractors also have many differing levels of ability and training, as in every profession.
Can a patient get sore or irritated after their first adjustment or two? YES, they can. Sometimes, because so many patients get such relief after their first adjustment, chiropractors often forget to tell their patients that they can feel soreness or irritation at first because of the dramatic change to their nervous system and spinal alignment. Often, the soreness is mild to moderate for a few hours or days (like doing a new exercise at the gym) and then it disappears, as well as the intensity of the original complaints. However, there have been times when the patient's nervous system is so sensitive and over-reactive that there is increased pain and headaches after the first couple adjustments, before their chief complaints get better. Usually that disappears with continued care, or a different chiropractic technique must be used for that sensitive person. However, if the patient never returns to the chiropractor and gives him/her the opportunity to address these concerns, how can the patient ever have a good experience to tell others about? So, again, fear is sent out to others.
Can inappropriate chiropractic adjustments cause paralysis, strokes, and blown discs? Perhaps it's possible, but at most, it is statistically much less than 1 in a million. And, studies show that patients under regular chiropractic care are actually healthier than the average population, with less incidences of paralysis, strokes, and disc problems! It has been proven in countless studies and reports that chiropractic care actually CORRECTS numbness, loss of function, neurological deficit and improper mechanical loading of discs! Again, I have had many cases where my patients have had their symptoms from strokes been dramatically diminished, or had disc surgeries canceled because of the tremendous relief their chiropractic care had given them. Also, I have had patients cancel knee and hip replacement surgeries because their spinal alignment was so much improved, allowing their knees/hips to bear the load more properly, and allowing nerve innervation to be restored in those areas.
Is chiropractic care safe? With a highly trained chiropractor (not massage therapists, osteopaths, physical therapists, or medical doctors) giving a gentle, specific chiropractic adjustment, it is nearly impossible to cause any serious negative side effects. And, the chances are very high for getting dramatically decreased pain,
Can you get addicted to chiropractic care? My answer is always the same: you can get addicted to living a life without pain and immobility! When you have been living in pain and dysfunction for any period of time, your body/mind gets desensitized to it. You are unaware of its full impact on your health. However, when you finally get pain relief or restore function again, it is a dramatic change to your life. Without regular chiropractic care to fully correct the problem areas, the body tries to return to its previous misaligned state, with its corresponding pain or conditions. So, the awareness of that previous state of ill health is even more noticeable than before because you have not gotten desensitized to it again. Given enough time, you will once again live in greater dis-ease and dysfunction, with less awareness of it.
Are chiropractors just telling patients to return frequently, even after their pain and symptoms have disappeared, because they just want your money? I cannot speak for every chiropractor in my field. I know there are some who may be unethically recommending care that may not be warranted. HOWEVER, the vast majority are loving, caring, highly trained professionals who sincerely understand the importance of regular chiropractic care in correcting and restoring patients' spines, nervous systems, and lives.
Like regular oil changes and tire rotations, regular dental check-ups, or very regular exercise, maintenance is key to proper function and longevity. How long does it take to correct misaligned teeth? We don't think twice about wearing braces for many years and then a retainer for even more years! Why then do you think getting your spine corrected will only take a few adjustments? Symptoms are the last to show up and the first to disappear when getting your spine corrected. Over 90% of your nerves have no way to tell you something is wrong through PAIN. Instead, it can cause dysfunction in a cell, organ, tissue, or function in the body without any symptoms. That is why chiropractors often advise patients to come in regularly, not only to correct spinal misalignments (vertebral subluxations which impinge on nerves), but to MAINTAIN their spinal alignment and PREVENT health problems in the future!
Do chiropractors want your money? Well, what business person doesn't? We still have to pay our costs in running a business. But, regular chiropractic care is not advised to fleece you out of your hard-earned money. It is offered as a way to increase your health and wellness, preventing more costly medical problems in the future. The choice is always up to YOU if you want to keep the recommendations! Over the years, many of my patients have told me how much healthier they and their children have been since starting regular care, and how much less money they have spent on drugs and medical doctor visits, and how many days they have not missed from work due to illness or pain.
I love chiropractic. I have loved it for 25 years, especially the last 15 years as a practicing chiropractor. I am blessed to witness miracles every single day!
Please, regardless of your fears and the negative stories you may have heard about chiropractic, give a loving, skilled chiropractor a chance to win you over to this great profession! AND, if you are still nervous about chiropractic adjustments, there are many, very gentle techniques that do not cause sounds to be released (like knuckles popping) or procedures that do not involve manually turning your neck and back. Furthermore, if you are unhappy with the chiropractor you are currently seeing or have seen, then find another one!
How many times have you heard someone or some article/program suggesting that chiropractic is dangerous for children or cause strokes or blow out discs? How many scary stories have you heard about how someone felt worse after the first adjustment and how they will never go back? Or, how chiropractors can get you so addicted to the adjustments that if you don't go back regularly, you will feel even worse? And, on top of all those scary stories, how many times have you heard someone say that chiropractors are just money-hungry quacks who just tell you to keep coming back even when you don't really need to?
Trust me, I have heard it countless times, and for the past 18 years, I have answered each question and concern calmly, rationally, and scientifically.
First, let me explain how safe and effective specific chiropractic adjustments are. There have been countless research papers done on the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic care for all types of conditions and ages, from infants to the elderly, by government reports of several countries, research journals from the scientific community, and from millions of satisfied patients around the world, since chiropractic's birth in 1895.
Every day, more research papers come in to prove the scientific efficacy of chiropractic care for ailments such as asthma, colic, bed wetting, headaches, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), neck pain, low back pain, scoliosis, and other visceral problems. These days, more and more medical doctors are advocating the use of chiropractic care for many different conditions. I have even watched the daytime television show "The Doctors" tell the audience on several different episodes that chiropractic care can help with back pain or scoliosis. They even showed patients getting chiropractic adjustments by a chiropractor! Times have surely changed from 1985 when I first started chiropractic care, or even 1995 when I first became a licensed chiropractor.
Long-time practicing chiropractors have often told me the stories of how horrendous the propaganda and slander against chiropractic used to be on a daily basis in the years before 1990. On February 7, 1990, the chiropractic profession won a substantial lawsuit against the American Medical Association for its unlawful, unsubstantiated, and unscientifically-based slander and false propaganda against the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments. In WILK (and 4 other chiropractors) VS. AMA, the United States Court of Appeals made the decision that the AMA systematically and intentionally guided its members to NEVER refer their patients to chiropractors or associate with chiropractors in ANY way, socially or professionally, because they believed that chiropractic was an "unscientific cult" and chiropractors were "unscientific quacks."
Judge Susan Getzendanner in this landmark case issued her opinion that the AMA engaged in an unlawful conspiracy in restraint of trade "to contain and eliminate the chiropractic profession." She also stated that "the AMA had entered into a long history of illegal behavior...(and had) engaged in a lengthy, systematic, successful and unlawful boycott designed to restrict cooperation between MD's and chiropractors in order to eliminate the profession of chiropractic." Due to this victory over the illegal practices of the AMA, its members were then encouraged to associate with and refer their patients to chiropractors when they felt it was needed. Prior to this judgment, medical doctors and other health professionals were constantly telling their patients on a daily basis how unsafe and unscientific chiropractic was, or giving daily warnings and cautions against chiropractic care in the news or newspapers. I even had several of my wonderful patients tell me that their medical doctors told them that IF they ever went to see a chiropractor, they could no longer be that medical doctor's patient! How incredible is that? Of course my patients immediately changed medical doctors and were convinced that there were many bigoted and unprofessional people in the medical community.
However, TIMES HAVE CHANGED. Now, more and more medical doctors, nurses, and professionals in the health industry seek regular chiropractic care. Also, many of my teachers in chiropractic school were licensed medical doctors, including neurologists, and research scientists who became chiropractors themselves due to the amazing results and safety of their chiropractic care.
How long does it take for decades of slander, propaganda, and distrust to disappear? How long does it take for erroneous gossip to disappear? It can take a very long time, after tremendous effort to re-educate people. For my part, I had such an amazing personal experience with chiropractic, that I was undeterred by others' fear-tactics and misinformation. I knew how safe and effective chiropractic care was.
When I tell people about the safety of chiropractic care, I give them some statistics. For example, it is scientifically shown that less than 1 in a million chiropractic adjustments could result in some kind of negative result or injury. 1 in a million. What are the chances of severe adverse reactions or malpractice associated with medical intervention such as drugs and surgeries? The statistics are staggering. Some say it could be as high as the #1 cause of death in the United States, above cancer, stroke, and heart attacks because it is proven that most of the medical accidents and malpractice events that occur on a daily basis are never even reported! AND, I often tell people what my chiropractic malpractice insurance costs are compared to other health professionals. I tell them that I pay between $1,000-$2,000 per year for liability insurance while some medical doctors can pay upwards of over $100,000 per year. So, which profession has the greater risk of injury and malpractice?
However safe chiropractic is statistically, can it still cause some negative reactions or results to some patients? Of course it can! Chiropractors are people, too. ALL professionals have made mistakes, intentionally or unintentionally. There are incompetent and immoral professionals in every field, including ministers! Chiropractors also have many differing levels of ability and training, as in every profession.
Can a patient get sore or irritated after their first adjustment or two? YES, they can. Sometimes, because so many patients get such relief after their first adjustment, chiropractors often forget to tell their patients that they can feel soreness or irritation at first because of the dramatic change to their nervous system and spinal alignment. Often, the soreness is mild to moderate for a few hours or days (like doing a new exercise at the gym) and then it disappears, as well as the intensity of the original complaints. However, there have been times when the patient's nervous system is so sensitive and over-reactive that there is increased pain and headaches after the first couple adjustments, before their chief complaints get better. Usually that disappears with continued care, or a different chiropractic technique must be used for that sensitive person. However, if the patient never returns to the chiropractor and gives him/her the opportunity to address these concerns, how can the patient ever have a good experience to tell others about? So, again, fear is sent out to others.
Can inappropriate chiropractic adjustments cause paralysis, strokes, and blown discs? Perhaps it's possible, but at most, it is statistically much less than 1 in a million. And, studies show that patients under regular chiropractic care are actually healthier than the average population, with less incidences of paralysis, strokes, and disc problems! It has been proven in countless studies and reports that chiropractic care actually CORRECTS numbness, loss of function, neurological deficit and improper mechanical loading of discs! Again, I have had many cases where my patients have had their symptoms from strokes been dramatically diminished, or had disc surgeries canceled because of the tremendous relief their chiropractic care had given them. Also, I have had patients cancel knee and hip replacement surgeries because their spinal alignment was so much improved, allowing their knees/hips to bear the load more properly, and allowing nerve innervation to be restored in those areas.
Is chiropractic care safe? With a highly trained chiropractor (not massage therapists, osteopaths, physical therapists, or medical doctors) giving a gentle, specific chiropractic adjustment, it is nearly impossible to cause any serious negative side effects. And, the chances are very high for getting dramatically decreased pain,
Can you get addicted to chiropractic care? My answer is always the same: you can get addicted to living a life without pain and immobility! When you have been living in pain and dysfunction for any period of time, your body/mind gets desensitized to it. You are unaware of its full impact on your health. However, when you finally get pain relief or restore function again, it is a dramatic change to your life. Without regular chiropractic care to fully correct the problem areas, the body tries to return to its previous misaligned state, with its corresponding pain or conditions. So, the awareness of that previous state of ill health is even more noticeable than before because you have not gotten desensitized to it again. Given enough time, you will once again live in greater dis-ease and dysfunction, with less awareness of it.
Are chiropractors just telling patients to return frequently, even after their pain and symptoms have disappeared, because they just want your money? I cannot speak for every chiropractor in my field. I know there are some who may be unethically recommending care that may not be warranted. HOWEVER, the vast majority are loving, caring, highly trained professionals who sincerely understand the importance of regular chiropractic care in correcting and restoring patients' spines, nervous systems, and lives.
Like regular oil changes and tire rotations, regular dental check-ups, or very regular exercise, maintenance is key to proper function and longevity. How long does it take to correct misaligned teeth? We don't think twice about wearing braces for many years and then a retainer for even more years! Why then do you think getting your spine corrected will only take a few adjustments? Symptoms are the last to show up and the first to disappear when getting your spine corrected. Over 90% of your nerves have no way to tell you something is wrong through PAIN. Instead, it can cause dysfunction in a cell, organ, tissue, or function in the body without any symptoms. That is why chiropractors often advise patients to come in regularly, not only to correct spinal misalignments (vertebral subluxations which impinge on nerves), but to MAINTAIN their spinal alignment and PREVENT health problems in the future!
Do chiropractors want your money? Well, what business person doesn't? We still have to pay our costs in running a business. But, regular chiropractic care is not advised to fleece you out of your hard-earned money. It is offered as a way to increase your health and wellness, preventing more costly medical problems in the future. The choice is always up to YOU if you want to keep the recommendations! Over the years, many of my patients have told me how much healthier they and their children have been since starting regular care, and how much less money they have spent on drugs and medical doctor visits, and how many days they have not missed from work due to illness or pain.
I love chiropractic. I have loved it for 25 years, especially the last 15 years as a practicing chiropractor. I am blessed to witness miracles every single day!
Please, regardless of your fears and the negative stories you may have heard about chiropractic, give a loving, skilled chiropractor a chance to win you over to this great profession! AND, if you are still nervous about chiropractic adjustments, there are many, very gentle techniques that do not cause sounds to be released (like knuckles popping) or procedures that do not involve manually turning your neck and back. Furthermore, if you are unhappy with the chiropractor you are currently seeing or have seen, then find another one!
Monday, October 18, 2010
WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE FIRST CHIROPRACTIC VISIT
People often ask me what the first chiropractic visit and adjustment is like. People want to know what tests will be done on them, how much time it will take, and how much it will cost.
These are all very important questions to have answered. Each chiropractor has her own way of analyzing the spine and correcting it. However, most chiropractors have a certain protocol that they follow. For example, most chiropractors take full spine x-rays of the patient to analyze the spinal curvatures, level of degenerative changes, and vertebral misalignments of the neck, mid back, and low back/pelvic areas. X-rays are often not taken on infants, young children, or pregnant women, unless there is significant clinical rationale for it. The doctors of chiropractic also do a full spinal exam on the patient, including past and current history of the complaints, range of motion tests, and other procedures to assess the patient's spine and alignment, including a Surface EMG (a non-invasive electromyograph which detects temperature changes along the spine bilaterally and can pinpoint areas of nerve interferences). After the exam and analyses, the chiropractor then makes a specific chiropractic adjustment to the spine.
There are over 50 different chiropractic techniques that the chiropractor can choose from to help patients restore their nervous system and health. Most doctors of chiropractic use a combination of several different techniques, depending on the age of the patient, the condition of the patient's spine, and the patient's preferences or needs. I regularly use at least 5 different techniques, from gentle finger pressure or light instrumentation, to a firm manual adjustment that releases sounds like knuckles popping. They are all very safe and effective ways of correcting vertebral subluxations, misalignments of the spinal vertebrae which impinge on nerves, preventing the body's innate ability to heal itself. Some people's nervous systems are very sensitive, regardless of how big or athletic they are, and therefore, need a lighter touch. Everyone is different, and his/her needs can also be different on a daily basis, depending on their activities or injuries. What is most important is the teamwork that the doctor and the patient have. If there is an open dialogue between the two, then an environment can exist whereby the most effective care can be given for that day. I have found in the past that a particular technique needed to be added or removed from a patient's care plan.
Through 25 years of being a chiropractic patient and 15 years as a practicing chiropractor, I have found that the patient's body often "tells" the doctor what to do to correct its problems. The chiropractor just has to be open and ready to hear it. Sometimes the patient's body says the firmness of the adjustment is too much or too little, based on its symptoms or the level of relief. However, there can be an appropriate level of soreness after the first couple adjustments because the body is still getting used to the movement of the vertebrae into its correct position. When muscles are being moved and used differently for the first time, it can cause a soreness just like performing a new exercise.
The first visit to a chiropractor could take about an hour, depending the level of assessment and tests performed. The cost of the exam, x-rays, and adjustment is dependant on the doctor's fees, the patient's insurance reimbursement, and any coupons the doctor is offering. In my office, I make all attempts to ascertain a patient's insurance coverage or their no-insurance fees before, or on, their first visit.
After the first visit or two, x-rays are usually shown and discussed with the patient, and recommendations for care are discussed. In my office, I make sure to discuss all the payment options or plans before setting a treatment plan. I believe that both the doctor and patient need to agree on the level of care that will be rendered, regardless of the recommendations given. If the patient is unable to keep the recommended care plan, then the doctor can discuss other options that will still benefit the patient.
Throughout the first visit or two of a chiropractor, any questions or concerns the patient has should always be discussed. Any fears, doubts, and confusion should be addressed and resolved. Always speak up about your preferences, as well! Chiropractors need to hear if your body prefers one chiropractic technique or firmness level to another. The doctor-patient team needs to work together at all times to create greater health and vitality for the patient. Ergonomics, exercise, diet, stretching, nutritional supplements, and other recommendations need to be discussed as needed, along with the chiropractic adjustments.
I hope this explains a bit more about what to expect from the first chiropractic visit. However, if you have any questions or concerns, please call or write to the chiropractor you are intending to see before you come in! Make sure you ask all the questions that will help you determine who the right chiropractor is for you.
Good luck! And remember this: if one chiropractor does not fit all your needs, then please find another chiropractor! Don't just dismiss the whole profession because of one practitioner.
These are all very important questions to have answered. Each chiropractor has her own way of analyzing the spine and correcting it. However, most chiropractors have a certain protocol that they follow. For example, most chiropractors take full spine x-rays of the patient to analyze the spinal curvatures, level of degenerative changes, and vertebral misalignments of the neck, mid back, and low back/pelvic areas. X-rays are often not taken on infants, young children, or pregnant women, unless there is significant clinical rationale for it. The doctors of chiropractic also do a full spinal exam on the patient, including past and current history of the complaints, range of motion tests, and other procedures to assess the patient's spine and alignment, including a Surface EMG (a non-invasive electromyograph which detects temperature changes along the spine bilaterally and can pinpoint areas of nerve interferences). After the exam and analyses, the chiropractor then makes a specific chiropractic adjustment to the spine.
There are over 50 different chiropractic techniques that the chiropractor can choose from to help patients restore their nervous system and health. Most doctors of chiropractic use a combination of several different techniques, depending on the age of the patient, the condition of the patient's spine, and the patient's preferences or needs. I regularly use at least 5 different techniques, from gentle finger pressure or light instrumentation, to a firm manual adjustment that releases sounds like knuckles popping. They are all very safe and effective ways of correcting vertebral subluxations, misalignments of the spinal vertebrae which impinge on nerves, preventing the body's innate ability to heal itself. Some people's nervous systems are very sensitive, regardless of how big or athletic they are, and therefore, need a lighter touch. Everyone is different, and his/her needs can also be different on a daily basis, depending on their activities or injuries. What is most important is the teamwork that the doctor and the patient have. If there is an open dialogue between the two, then an environment can exist whereby the most effective care can be given for that day. I have found in the past that a particular technique needed to be added or removed from a patient's care plan.
Through 25 years of being a chiropractic patient and 15 years as a practicing chiropractor, I have found that the patient's body often "tells" the doctor what to do to correct its problems. The chiropractor just has to be open and ready to hear it. Sometimes the patient's body says the firmness of the adjustment is too much or too little, based on its symptoms or the level of relief. However, there can be an appropriate level of soreness after the first couple adjustments because the body is still getting used to the movement of the vertebrae into its correct position. When muscles are being moved and used differently for the first time, it can cause a soreness just like performing a new exercise.
The first visit to a chiropractor could take about an hour, depending the level of assessment and tests performed. The cost of the exam, x-rays, and adjustment is dependant on the doctor's fees, the patient's insurance reimbursement, and any coupons the doctor is offering. In my office, I make all attempts to ascertain a patient's insurance coverage or their no-insurance fees before, or on, their first visit.
After the first visit or two, x-rays are usually shown and discussed with the patient, and recommendations for care are discussed. In my office, I make sure to discuss all the payment options or plans before setting a treatment plan. I believe that both the doctor and patient need to agree on the level of care that will be rendered, regardless of the recommendations given. If the patient is unable to keep the recommended care plan, then the doctor can discuss other options that will still benefit the patient.
Throughout the first visit or two of a chiropractor, any questions or concerns the patient has should always be discussed. Any fears, doubts, and confusion should be addressed and resolved. Always speak up about your preferences, as well! Chiropractors need to hear if your body prefers one chiropractic technique or firmness level to another. The doctor-patient team needs to work together at all times to create greater health and vitality for the patient. Ergonomics, exercise, diet, stretching, nutritional supplements, and other recommendations need to be discussed as needed, along with the chiropractic adjustments.
I hope this explains a bit more about what to expect from the first chiropractic visit. However, if you have any questions or concerns, please call or write to the chiropractor you are intending to see before you come in! Make sure you ask all the questions that will help you determine who the right chiropractor is for you.
Good luck! And remember this: if one chiropractor does not fit all your needs, then please find another chiropractor! Don't just dismiss the whole profession because of one practitioner.
Friday, October 15, 2010
On The Straight Path: My Pesonal Testimonial to the Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care
I first started chiropractic care when I was 15 years old, after suffering for 8 years with daily, acute low back pain, inflammatory arthritis in all my joints, frequent headaches and neck pain, and a compromised immune system which caused me to get a cold every month, and a constant, runny nose. I also had a 17 degree scoliosis which caused my left leg to be functionally 2 inches shorter than the right. This condition caused me to be unable to walk straight, and to constantly feel off balance. However, soon after starting chiropractic care, I started feeling improvements in my pain level and frequency. After several months of regular care, I realized that most of my symptoms were dramatically improving.
Within 1 year of corrective chiropractic care, ALL the symptoms I had suffered with daily completely disappeared! Therefore, at 15 years old, I decided to dedicate my life to helping others also get healthy and pain-free, naturally and safely, without the use of drugs or surgery.
I have stayed a regular chiropractic patient for most of my life. Even now, I get my spine checked once a week, more if I need it. Throughout the many years of falls, accidents, injuries, and repetitive stresses caused from my many athletic pursuits and caring for hundreds of patients each week, chiropractic adjustments have been essential in restoring and maintaining my health and activity level. Because of chiropractic, I have been able to run marathons, bike, extreme hike, weight lift, skydive, and rock climb for many years. When I was 15 years old, I could not even walk up a slight hill without extreme pain. I could not even dare to dream of the health and strength I enjoy today.
Not only have I witnessed miracles in my own life, I have been blessed to have facilitated miracles in countless patients over the years. Whether it is an infant or child with chronic ear infections, colic, or asthma finally finding relief and correction; a breech baby turning before the planned C-section; acute disc patients canceling their surgeries because of tremendous pain relief; or sciatic and arthritic patients finding pain relief for the first time in many months or years, I have been blessed to be able to help suffering people of all ages, naturally and safely.
Chiropractic is not just my career or business. It is my passion, way of life, and mission. I believe I was born to be a chiropractor. I suffered needlessly for too many years of my young life, and I do not want others to waste their precious days on this earth living less than optimal health and vitality.
Please do yourself a big favor and find a passionate, loving, and gifted chiropractor today. Ask for referrals if you can. If not, then have faith and find one close to you who shares the belief that chiropractic care is not just about pain relief, but about releasing the innate healing power in you, by removing nerve interference.
Breathe deeply, love deeply, stay positive, and embrace the present moment always!
Within 1 year of corrective chiropractic care, ALL the symptoms I had suffered with daily completely disappeared! Therefore, at 15 years old, I decided to dedicate my life to helping others also get healthy and pain-free, naturally and safely, without the use of drugs or surgery.
I have stayed a regular chiropractic patient for most of my life. Even now, I get my spine checked once a week, more if I need it. Throughout the many years of falls, accidents, injuries, and repetitive stresses caused from my many athletic pursuits and caring for hundreds of patients each week, chiropractic adjustments have been essential in restoring and maintaining my health and activity level. Because of chiropractic, I have been able to run marathons, bike, extreme hike, weight lift, skydive, and rock climb for many years. When I was 15 years old, I could not even walk up a slight hill without extreme pain. I could not even dare to dream of the health and strength I enjoy today.
Not only have I witnessed miracles in my own life, I have been blessed to have facilitated miracles in countless patients over the years. Whether it is an infant or child with chronic ear infections, colic, or asthma finally finding relief and correction; a breech baby turning before the planned C-section; acute disc patients canceling their surgeries because of tremendous pain relief; or sciatic and arthritic patients finding pain relief for the first time in many months or years, I have been blessed to be able to help suffering people of all ages, naturally and safely.
Chiropractic is not just my career or business. It is my passion, way of life, and mission. I believe I was born to be a chiropractor. I suffered needlessly for too many years of my young life, and I do not want others to waste their precious days on this earth living less than optimal health and vitality.
Please do yourself a big favor and find a passionate, loving, and gifted chiropractor today. Ask for referrals if you can. If not, then have faith and find one close to you who shares the belief that chiropractic care is not just about pain relief, but about releasing the innate healing power in you, by removing nerve interference.
Breathe deeply, love deeply, stay positive, and embrace the present moment always!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Is your nervous system and health at its highest potential?
The nervous system controls every single function, organ, gland, and cell in the body. This delicate system is then protected by the skull, 24 moveable vertebrae, and the pelvis. How can one be completely healthy and be able to heal properly when there is an INTERFERENCE to your INNATE healing ability? How does it get interfered with? Well, the spinal cord and all the nerves exiting your spinal column can be impinged when the vertebrae protecting them gets moved out of their normal alignment. This condition is called vertebral subluxations. Vertebrae which move out of their normal positions can cause not only nerve irritation and impingement, but inflammation, muscle spasms, and degenerative disc changes. Chiropractors are trained to locate and correct these subluxations which diminish your life and health potential.
What is true health? Is it merely the absence of pain? Or is it the body's ability to function at its highest potential? Symptoms are the least accurate way to determine one's health. How many people have had their first heart attack as their first symptom of heart disease? How many people have discovered that they have cancer, without any symptoms? Most of the nerves in your body cannot tell you pain. They only coordinate function from the brain to the connecting tissues, and then back to the brain.
If you are already having symptoms like neck and back pain, numbness, headaches, sinus/allergies, weakness, asthma, or arm/leg pains, then certainly something is wrong. Your body is telling you to find the reason for this dysfunction. However, just because you don't have any of these symptoms doesn't mean you don't have a problem. ONLY a chiropractor is trained to locate and correct these vertebral subluxations which could be causing health problems, with or without your knowledge.
Don't delay and procrastinate, hoping that it will just go away. Find a loving, passionate, highly trained chiropractor today!
What is true health? Is it merely the absence of pain? Or is it the body's ability to function at its highest potential? Symptoms are the least accurate way to determine one's health. How many people have had their first heart attack as their first symptom of heart disease? How many people have discovered that they have cancer, without any symptoms? Most of the nerves in your body cannot tell you pain. They only coordinate function from the brain to the connecting tissues, and then back to the brain.
If you are already having symptoms like neck and back pain, numbness, headaches, sinus/allergies, weakness, asthma, or arm/leg pains, then certainly something is wrong. Your body is telling you to find the reason for this dysfunction. However, just because you don't have any of these symptoms doesn't mean you don't have a problem. ONLY a chiropractor is trained to locate and correct these vertebral subluxations which could be causing health problems, with or without your knowledge.
Don't delay and procrastinate, hoping that it will just go away. Find a loving, passionate, highly trained chiropractor today!
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