Incidents of knee pain are increasing among active people, resulting to an increase in patients suffering from knee problems. Chiropractic treatment is great for treating this type of pain. Chiropractic treatment is the best option if the pain is hindering you from doing your daily tasks and other activities that you love doing. Also, if pain medication isn’t working, this type of treatment can be very helpful.

If pain is occurring from the knee, all the knee parts should be examined. This includes your pelvis, back, hips, foot and ankle because they have direct influence on your knee. When using this treatment, an intensive medical examination is needed to provide an accurate diagnosis for treating your knee pain. Evaluation of other parts of your musculoskeletal system is important to get accurate results, because the pain may come from the hips, pelvis, or back. Furthermore, if a body part is not working properly, the knee can be greatly affected. It may lead to injury due to the excessive stress to the knee.

There are many causes of knee problems. Poor posture, recurring knee strain, accidents and injuries, and a misaligned spine or joints can all lead to damage in the knee tissue. This may cause the knee to swell, lock and stiffen. Muscles and tendons that are wearing-out, overused or twisted due to injury are more likely to result in strain. Misaligned joints result from twisted joints.

Chiropractic treatment restores the health of joints and spines. It treats and adjusts your joints and spine to improve motion and reduce pain. Other forms of treating knee pain may be suggested by your chiropractor, which may give the same benefits. These include hot and cold compresses, braces, electric stimulation, exercise, taping and ultrasound. To keep your knees in good condition, avoid doing things that may harm your knee, do not engage in any physical activities that may cause you knee injury and do the exercises that your chiropractor suggests.

Chiropractic care can help sinus problems such as sinus headaches.  Anything that irritates the sinus such as dirt, mold, virus pollen, bacteria, fumes, and excessively dry air in homes, schools and offices can trigger sinusitis. Many people who have allergies often have signs and symptoms of sinusitis because of the substances where they are disclosed to causing discomfort to their sinus passageways. Sinusitis also arises from fever or colds, asthma, pollution, lumps, bone growths, cyst, facial injuries, tumors or tooth infections.

Think about trying Chiropractic as an alternative to surgery to help with sinus problems. It is not a cure for sinus headaches, but those who are affected often find relief with this type of care. But how does it help in the relief of sinusitis?

Chiropractic care helps in relieving the stress within the nervous system and body structure. It helps your body to perform more efficiently, and allows the drainage of your sinuses. If your body is working correctly, your resistance to disease and sickness improves. Also, your reaction to irritants such as dirt, temperature changes, and pollen can lessen and possibly stop completely. Everyone needs a healthy body and a properly working nervous system to function better as a whole, to have improved resistance and to be healthier overall.

Chiropractic care can also treat allergies which are linked to sinusitis. Many people who are suffering from allergies have found relief with this type of care. This is not because it is an allergy treatment, but because it helps your body to function better. If your immune system is doing well, it will prevent and eliminate any harmful pathogens that may be in your body such as bacteria, germs and viruses. This, of course, helps you to be more resistant against infections, diseases and allergies.

Are you suffering from chronic neck pain or lower back pain? Are you a pregnant woman tormented by back pain? Does your child have dislocated joints from a sports injury? Any of these situations can call for treatment. One method of treatment for the pain you may be suffering is called chiropractic care.

Chiropractic care pertains to a non-surgical and drug-free treatment on the neuro-musculoskeletal system. This type of health care focuses on treating problems on the spine, pelvis, body muscles, bones, joints and cognitive body tissues such as tendons, cartilage and ligaments. The word chiropractic was derived from the words “cheir” which is referring to hands and “praxis” which means action. These 2 Greek words are understood as “done by hands” treatment which is considered a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Here are the 2 methods typically used by chiropractors to treat various musculoskeletal problems:

• Spinal manipulation – This is known as achiropractic adjustment. This is applied to improve the functionality of abnormal vertebra in the body and reduce nerve irritation. This method is the usual treatment plan for lower back pain. It is a passive way of maneuvering the three-joint complex of the body but not to disrupt or smash up the joints to normalize its function. The abrupt force causing perceptible joint loosening enhances the function of the affected area.
• Mobilization – This refers to low velocity manipulation which only involves movement and stretching of muscles and body joints to increase the range of motion.

This type of care does not use drugs or surgery for treatment. Instead it, uses message and physical therapy to correct body posture. Once the bones, joints and ligaments of the affected area are aligned, relief can be achieved. Though this type of treatment is generally very effective, it is not advisable for individuals suffering from osteoporosis. Before seeking chiropractic treatment, consult with your doctor to make sure your body is able to accept this type of care.

There are many hard working men and women who suffer with neck pain, lower back pain and upper back problems. Each year, there are people who experience these types of pain, but they are afraid to go see a doctor. Typically, this is because doctors often just prescribe pain pills.

They should seek the help of a licensed chiropractor. The sound of the Chiropractor’s crack is just the escaping air in between your joints, and that should give you some relief from your pain. If you have any major back pain, your chiropractor should be able to make some adjustments, but remember, it will take a few visits in order for the chiropractor to alleviate your pain.

How can I avoid having a lower back problem?

Make sure to bend your knees when you are trying to lift heavy objects. This will prevent you from hurting your lower back. At the same time, you should also regularly check in with your chiropractor. This will give them a chance to reassess your back as needed. Keeping your back strong through exercise can also help, along with regular stretching.

Can a chiropractor help my grandfather who has lower back pain? He’s 90 years old.

It doesn’t really matter how old we are. Chiropractors have a way of treating seniors. They will still be able to make adjustments, but the treatment will be more gentle. Their bones are a bit more brittle than a younger person. Some seniors don’t want their back to be cracked, so that is easy to accomodate.

How about younger children? Is it okay for them to get chiropractic treatment?

Kids are flexible, so a licensed chiropractor will be able to safely treat them. Of course, treatment of any kind should only be sought when necessary.

It is in your best interest to find the best chiropractor available. You should always check the credentials of the chiropractor you are interested in seeing before you or your family begins treatment. A good chiropractor will never be afraid to post their credentials.

Don’t be afraid to go see your local chiropractor. In most cases, your back and neck pain can be dealt with without surgery or medication.

Many thanks to the hundreds of people who stopped by our booth at the Tomato Festival!  It was great to meet many new people and see so many friends and patients that we haven’t seen in a while!

Of all of the different things that drive people into my office, one of my favorite things to work with is headaches. Most headaches that I see are directly related to the neck!  Most primary care providers do not recognize this link, and typically prescribe a variety of drugs that range from anti-inflammatories to pain killers (sometimes narcotic) to antiseizure medication and sometimes antidepressant medication.  Certainly there are instances where these products are needed.  However, in most cases, reconditioning the neck with chiropractic adjustments and therapeutic exercises does the trick!

If you or someone you know suffers from headaches, it’s worth exploring the possibility of chiropractic.  When compared to the risks associated with the above mentioned pharmaceutical products, chiropractic is exponentially safer.  Again, some cases do not respond to chiropractic. An evaluation of your particular case will be necessary.  Chances are that WE CAN HELP!

We are so proud to welcome our new chiropractic assistant, Courtney Tocket!  Courtney has spent several years in the dental field as a dental assistant.  After some changes in her course of study, she is ready to take on the therapeutic exercise instruction part of our office.  Everybody loves Courtney!  It’s exciting to think of how many people she will be able to help in our office.

Marah, our recently married office manager, joined us in February, 2011.  She has taken her music business background and has tweaked it extensively to become an insurance coding, billing, documentation, HIPPAA compliance, scheduling GENIUS!

New X-ray equipment.  Within the next week or so, we’ll be using our very own x-ray equipment!  No more sending our patients to a packed imaging center way across town!  Our new equipment is microprocessor- controlled to use the minimal amount of radiation to make a high-quality diagnostic image.  This X-ray machine uses about 30% less radiation than machines made just 10 years ago!

Just a word of gratitude to my patients.  Thank you for allowing me to serve you this past year.  I consider it an honor to be trusted with that most valuable asset, your health.  Have a wonderful and restful holiday season.  I look forward to working with you next year!

I’m referencing a study that goes back to 1994 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The group conducting this study concluded that taking 1,000 acetaminophen tablets/capsules/caplets in a lifetime can Double your chances of end-stage renal (kidney) failure!

1) I don’t know if this study has been reproduced in any way in the past 10 years . . .

2) The methods of these statistical studies can always be debated . . .

BUT . . .

1) It makes me a little concerned about my own renal health (I lived with chronic back pain for about 7 years before going to a chiropractor)

2) If this is true, a LOT of people are in trouble.

3) It was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which is considered a pretty reputable source.

It takes less than two years of regular use to reach 1,000 pills.  If you suffer from chronic back pain, neck pain, or headaches you should seriously consider chiropractic.  It has been proven to be much more effective than pain-killers over and over again in very reputable literature. You owe it to yourself (and your kidneys).

A 2009 study published in the journal Neurology concludes that people who consume the highest amounts of __________________ increase their risk of dementia (including Alzheimer’s) by 66 %.

A.  NSAIDS (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as Tylenol, Advil, and Naprosyn

B.  Paint Chips

C.  Vitamin C

D.  “Water pills”

The answer is A, NSAIDS.  Eating lead paint chips is associated with dementia as well, but that’s old news.  A 66% increase in dementia risk associated with pain medication use is HUGE!  It should have been a top story on the major news networks and in all of the big newspapers and syndicated news sources!!

Chiropractic physicians offer drug-free options for restoring function and reducing back, neck, and joint pain plus many types of headaches.  It is a great way to reduce pain medication consumption, and thus, not leave you as vulnerable to developing dementia!