For Neck Pain, Chiropractic and Exercise Are Better Than Drugs

The headline above is from a January 7, 2012 article in the health section of the New York Times. This article, as well as a similar one from Medical Press on January 4, 2012, is based on research published on January 3, 2012 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The research studied 272 adults who were suffering with neck pain for 2- to 12-weeks duration. The subjects were divided into three groups, and received either chiropractic adjustments (called SMT or spinal manipulative therapy in the study), home exercise with advice (HEA), or prescription medication. The adjustments were delivered by one of five chiropractors while the medications were prescribed by medical physicians. The medications consisted mainly of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen, or both.

The care in each of the three groups lasted only 12 weeks in this study. The people in the study were asked to rate their pain initially and at various points thereafter up to 12 months later. The level of pain was recorded for each of the participants at the intervals of at 2, 4, 8, 12, 26, and 52 weeks. The results reported that chiropractic adjustments did better in helping neck pain patients and showed "a statistically significant advantage over medication after 8, 12, 26, and 52 weeks."

Even though the care rendered for each of these groups was only for 12 weeks, the long term follow-up showed that 53 percent of the people who had received chiropractic continued to report at least a 75 percent reduction in pain. The exercise group also had similar numbers. However, the group taking medication showed only a 38 percent reduction in pain overall.

Dr. Gert Bronfort, an author of the study and research professor at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Minnesota, noted his reasons for the study included a lack of information on choices for people with neck pain. "There was a void in the scientific literature in terms of what the most helpful treatments are," Bronfort said. He noted that the results showed chiropractic superior to medications. "Even a year later, there were differences between the spinal manipulation and medication groups," Bronfort said.

Not only did the group taking medications not fair as well in pain reduction, there was also a problem with usage as people kept taking them in an attempt to get help. "The people in the medication group kept on using a higher amount of medication more frequently throughout the follow-up period, up to a year later," said Dr. Bronfort. "If you’re taking medication over a long time, then we’re running into more systemic side effects like gastrointestinal problems."

If you are having any of these problems and have questions, call TODAY at 309-793-7000, or visit completebalancechiro.com

Ebb and Flow

 

Getting Sinusoidal

Contract. Relax. This is the basic mechanism of muscular action. Problems develop when there's too much of one or the other. In most cases, too much contraction is the culprit. Persistent muscular contraction in the lower back or neck, for example, leads to a cascade of troublesome effects. Toxic metabolic end-products - including lactic acid - accumulate. These small molecules irritate local nerve endings and cause ongoing pain. Muscle spasm results which narrows local blood vessels. Too little blood reaching the area deprives tissues of oxygen and other important nutrients. Cellular damage results with further build-up of noxious metabolites. Chiropractic treatment encourages a return to normal sinusoidal balance by restoring normal spinal alignment. Spasmodic muscles are enabled to relax. Blood vessels can now supply appropriate amounts of oxygen and nutrients. Metabolic waste is removed. Vitality is restored and pain resolves. Spinal muscles and spinal joints return to operating in a natural ebb-and-flow rhythm.

Ancient peoples closely observed and interacted with the rhythms of their immediate environment. The sun rose in the East and set in the West. Day followed night, and approximately 12 hours later night followed day. The seasons progressed through a more leisurely, although no less regular, rhythm. A season of rebirth and new growth followed a season of restriction and retrenchment. A season of increasing sunshine, longer days, and bounteous expansion was succeeded by a season of harvest, transformation, and preparation for the next round of seasonal change. The moon waxed and waned. Tides rose and tides fell. The life cycles of all creatures - humans, animals, fish, birds, insects, and plants - were precisely attuned to the natural rhythms of the complex world in which they survived and thrived.

Life flows and life ebbs. The rhythm of life is sinusoidal. Rise to a peak. Rest momentarily. Return to baseline, then descend to a trough. Rest momentarily. Return to baseline, then ascend again to a peak. Breath in, breath out. Heart beats, heart relaxes. Muscles contract, muscles relax. Plough a field. Sow a crop. Reap the harvest. Allow the land to recover. A year or two later, plough the field again. Cyclical, rhythmical, sinusoidal activities.

When a person is healthy, all aspects of her physical functioning are aligned with these ancient rhythms.^1,2 Disease always reflects an aberration - a defect - in the cyclical, sinusoidal patterns of normal physiology.³ Persistent low back muscle contractions without corresponding relaxation cause pain. Persistent muscle contractions in small arterial blood vessels cause high blood pressure. Persistent abnormal cellular growth without corresponding cellular death results in cancer. Persistently elevated or depressed hormonal levels cause specific forms of disease. The list of these ebb-and-flow abnormalities - the named diseases - is extensive.

The nervous system is also affected by defects in normal rhythm. Epilepsy reflects an extreme of rhythmical aberration - jagged, compressed peaks of electrical discharge suddenly traversing large areas of a person's brain. On a subtler scale, small groups of nerve cells may fire inappropriately due to distortions in normal ebb-and-flow patterns. If such an altered pattern persists, these groups of nerve cells may transmit incorrect information to other important systems. Pain, symptoms, and even disease may result from such faulty connections.

Honoring the deep nature of how our bodies work goes far toward alleviating many disease states. Getting back into the natural rhythms of being human certainly helps many conditions involving back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Chiropractic care is an important part of helping reestablish the normal ebb and flow. Contact our office today and set an appointment to further discuss how chiropractic care may help reestablish your ebb and flow.

¹Bowen RS, et al: Sex hormone effects on physical activity levels: Why doesn't Jane run as much as Dick? Sports Med 41(1):73-86, 2011

²Mazzoccoli G: The timing clockwork oflife. R Biol Regul Homeost Agents 25(1):137-143, 2011

³Hansen TW,, et al: Predictive role of the nighttime blood pressure. Hypertension 57(1):3-10, 2011

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain

 

Chiropractic Care Provides Multiple Benefits

Chiropractic care, by its very nature, is a holistic method of healing. By using noninvasive methods which balance function within both the nerve system and the musculoskeletal system, chiropractic care gives your body the best chance to recover from many complicated problems. Chiropractic care is a key component of the multidisciplinary approach to management of multisystemic disorders such as fibromyalgia. By restoring more normal function to the person's nerve system, chiropractic care unleashes powerful and natural healing forces. The result is a body whose parts are now working together instead of against each other. As the body heals, pain and symptoms will likely naturally begin to reduce and resolve

The condition of fibromyalgia creates many challenges for a person with this disorder. These challenges often go far beyond the characteristic chronic pain which alone can be potentially debilitating. Those with fibromyalgia have pain in many locations and the presence of multiple pain sites is often confusing to their doctor or doctors. Family physicians, internists, endocrinologists, and even pain management specialists and rheumatologists often have great difficulty in comprehending the full extent of fibromyalgia and the serious health and well-being issues that are caused by the disorder.
Persons with fibromyalgia have so many symptoms that an uninformed physician may find it easier to refer such patients to a psychologist or psychiatrist. But the physical symptoms of fibromyalgia are real. The sufferers have widespread pain on a chronic basis. Additional symptoms include fatigue, sleep disturbances, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, joint stiffness, and cognitive dysfunction (brain fog). Depression commonly affects those with fibromyalgia.
Owing to the presence of so many chronic symptoms, fibromyalgia is notoriously difficult to treat. Such patients are typically taking multiple medications, prescribed by multiple specialists attempting to combat the problems that fall within their particular branch of medicine - pain management, rheumatology, and psychology/psychiatry.
Despite taking several medications on a long-term basis, most fibromyalgia patients tend not to improve. Depression and chronic pain take a profound toll, and daily living becomes quite burdensome. Many fibromyalgia patients despair of ever finding even a partial solution.
Attempts to address the problems of fibromyalgia by just treating the symptoms often fail. As the physiologic causes of the disorder are unknown, holistic approaches have a much greater likelihood of success. Multidisciplinary treatment is needed to impact this systems-wide disorder, including chiropractic care, nutritional recommendations, psychological counseling, and a gradual return to increased levels of physical activity and exercise.^{(1, 2, 3)}

¹Schneiderr M, et al: Chiropractic management of fibromyalgia syndrome: a systematic review of the literature. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 32(1):25-40, 2009

²Hauser W, et al: Guidelines on the management of fibromyalgia syndrome. A systematic review. Eur J Pain 14(1):5-10, 2010

³Busch AJ, et al: Exercise for fibromyalgia: a systematic review. J Rheumatol 35(6):1130-1144, 2008

Pregnancy and Chiropractic

Chiropractic Advice for Moms-to-Be

The weight gain, the bloating, the nausea... Most new mothers will tell you that the aches and pains of pregnancy are a small price to pay for the beautiful bundle of joy they're rewarded with nine months later.

But as many new mothers can attest, the muscle strains of pregnancy are very real and can be more than just a nuisance. The average weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds, combined with the increased stress placed on the body by the baby, can sometimes result in severe discomfort. In fact, studies have found that about half of all expectant mothers will develop low back pain at some point during their pregnancy. This is especially true during late pregnancy, when the baby's head presses down on a woman's back, legs and buttocks, putting pressure on her sciatic nerve. And for those who already suffer from low back pain, the problem can become even worse.

During pregnancy, a woman's center of gravity almost immediately begins to shift forward to the front of her pelvis, according to Dr. Jerome McAndrews, spokesperson for the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). Although a woman's sacrum— or posterior section of her pelvis— has more depth than a man's to enable her to carry a baby, the displaced weight still increases the stress on her joints. "As the baby grows in size," Dr. McAndrews explains, "the woman's weight is projected even farther forward, and the curvature of her lower back is increased, placing extra stress on her spinal disks in that area. As a result, the spine in the upper back area must compensate— and the normal curvature of her upper spine increases as well."

While these changes sound dramatic, Mother Nature does step in to help accommodate them. During pregnancy, hormones are released that help loosen the ligaments attached to the pelvic bones. But even these natural changes designed to accommodate the growing baby can result in postural imbalances, causing pregnant women to be more prone to awkward trips and falls.

What Can You Do?

The following tips are recommend for pregnant women looking for relief from the discomforts of pregnancy:

• Safe exercise during pregnancy can help strengthen your muscles and prevent discomfort. Try exercising at least three times a week— preceded and followed up by a gentle stretching routine. If you weren't active before your pregnancy, however, now is not the time to start a new fitness routine. Check with your doctor before starting or continuing any exercise regimen during pregnancy.
  Walking, swimming and stationary cycling are relatively safe cardiovascular exercises for pregnant women, because they do not require jerking or bouncing movements. Even jogging, however, can be safe for women who were avid runners before becoming pregnant— if done carefully and under the supervision of a doctor.
  Whatever exercise routine you choose, be sure to do it in an area with secure footing to minimize the likelihood of falls. Also, be certain that your heart rate does not exceed 140 beats per minute during exercise, and that strenuous activity lasts no more than 15 minutes at a time.
  Stop your exercise routine immediately if you notice any unusual symptoms, such as vaginal bleeding, dizziness, nausea, weakness, blurred vision, increased swelling or heart palpitations.
• Wear flat, sensible shoes. Not only can high or chunky heels be uncomfortable, they can also exacerbate postural imbalances and cause you to be less steady on your feet than you already are. This is especially true as you get farther along in your pregnancy.
• When picking up older children— or any other object for that matter— bend from the knees, not the waist. And never turn your head when you lift. Just to be on the safe side, avoid picking up heavy objects altogether, if possible.
• When sleeping, lie on your side with a pillow between your knees to take pressure off your lower back. Many women find that full-length "body pillows" or "pregnancy wedges" are especially helpful during pregnancy. Lying on your left side is ideal. This position allows unobstructed blood flow, and helps your kidneys flush waste from your body.
• If you have a job that requires you to sit at a computer for long hours, be sure your workstation is ergonomically correct. Position the computer monitor so the top of the screen is at or below your eye level, and place your feet on a small footrest to take pressure off your legs and feet. Also, take periodic breaks every 30 minutes by taking a quick walk around the office.
• Eat small meals or snacks every four to five hours— rather than the usual three large meals— to help keep nausea or extreme hunger at bay. Good snacks include crackers or yogurt— bland foods that are high in carbohydrates and protein. Keep saltines in your desk drawer or purse to help stave off waves of "morning sickness" that can, unfortunately, occur at any time throughout the day.
• Folic acid supplements— at least 400 micrograms (mcg) a day— before and during pregnancy have been shown to decrease the risk of neural tube birth defects, such as spina bifida. Some doctors recommend even more for women who are already pregnant, or who previously gave birth to a child with a neural tube defect. However, check with your doctor before taking this or any other vitamin or herbal supplement. Some herbs and supplements that are considered perfectly safe for non-pregnant women can be dangerous or harmful to the baby or expectant mother.
• Get plenty of rest. Don't let the demands of work and family life put you and your baby at risk. Pamper yourself, and ask for help if you need it. Take a nap if you're tired, or lie down and elevate your feet for a few moments when you need a break.

Visit the Chiropractor

Visit your doctor of chiropractic. Before you become pregnant, your doctor of chiropractic can detect any pre-existing imbalances in the pelvis or elsewhere in your body that could make pregnancy discomfort even worse— or leave you with additional neuromusculoskeletal problems after childbirth.
Many pregnant women have found that chiropractic adjustments provide relief from the increased low back pain brought on by pregnancy. Also, scientific studies have found that spinal manipulation carries no increased risk to the pregnant woman or her baby. Chiropractic's non-drug, non-surgical approach to back pain can be especially attractive to pregnant women who are trying to avoid over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Doctors of chiropractic can also offer nutrition, ergonomic and exercise advice that will help you avoid the discomforts of pregnancy.

Chiropractic care can also be helpful after childbirth. In the eight weeks following labor and delivery, the ligaments that loosened during pregnancy begin to tighten up again. Ideally, joint problems brought on during pregnancy from improper lifting or reaching should be treated before the ligaments return to their pre-pregnancy state. In addition, as the upper and lower spine return to normal, muscle tension, headaches, rib discomfort and shoulder problems can result. Your doctor of chiropractic can help.

Staying Well In Winter

Staying Well In Winter

Winter. In most of the United States, cold winds blow. Snow, sleet, and icy rain pound the rooftops and pavement. Streets are slushy. Shoes are wet. Even in the Southwest, winter is a radically different season. It’s definitely not warm.

Chiropractic Care and the Immune System

Chiropractic health care is about much more than lower back pain, neck pain, headaches, and muscle strains. Chiropractic treatment is highly effective for all these conditions, and yet there are additional, more subtle benefits. Chiropractic treatment looks like it's addressing the bones, joints, and muscles. This is accurate, at the first level of effectiveness. At deeper physiologic levels, chiropractic treatment helps normalize activities of the nervous system such as the free flow of information back and forth between your body and your brain. Balancing nerve system activities and functions helps all body systems work better, including the immune system. Immune system cells need to be able to immediately recognize foreign invaders - germs and other microbes - and mount an instantaneous response. A sluggish nerve system slows down the immune response and as a result you're more susceptible to illness. So particularly in winter, when there's more to deal with in terms of germs and disease, a strong immune system is very important. Chiropractic treatment helps ensure the optimal functioning of your immune system and its disease-fighting cells.

 In most of the United States, cold winds blow. Snow, sleet, and icy rain pound the rooftops and pavement. Streets are slushy. Shoes are wet. Clothes are cold and damp. Even in the Southwest, winter is a radically different season. Temperatures in the high 50s and low 60s in Southern California feel like the 30s to local residents. It’s definitely not warm.

In winter, the sun is low in the sky. Sunlight is angled downward and brings much less warmth. The sun goes down around 4:30 p.m., hours earlier than in spring and summer. You may wonder how to stay healthy and well in these challenging weather conditions. ^1,2

You know that winter is approaching when “FLU SEASON” ads start blanketing the airwaves, even in Los Angeles and San Diego. It seems that every other commercial is for a cold medicine or flu remedy. Well, as an old chiropractor used to say, “When it’s going around, let it go around you”. Really. You don’t have to be sick, too, just because everyone else is. The key to having a fighting chance of staying well in the winter is to strengthen your immune system. There are a few simple ways to do this, but it’s important to be consistent.
1. Drink sufficient water each day. For most of us, this is a radical proposal, but it’s the most important nutritional advice that can be given. However much water you’re drinking each day, it’s probably not enough. If you’re not drinking enough water, your internal environment is toxic. This will, of course, make you a prime candidate for hosting unfriendly germs and viruses. A good standard is six to eight glasses each day. If you’re not drinking much now, start with two or three glasses, building up to six or eight glasses per day over the next four weeks.

2. Each week, make sure you’re eating consistently from all the major food groups: whole grains, fruits and vegetables, meats and poultry, and dairy products. If you’re not a dairy fan, make sure your daily calcium intake is sufficient (1000 mg per day). If you’re not a meat and poultry fan, make sure your diet contains “complete protein”, containing all the necessary amino acids.

3. Get enough rest. This is self-evident. Not getting enough sleep (seven hours is a good median) will tend to weaken your immune response.

4. Exercise for at least 30 minutes, four or five times per week.³ Even the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends this amount of daily exercise. Exercise causes your body to produce endorphins, which promote a sensation of well-being. Additionally, many peer-reviewed scientific studies have demonstrated that exercise strengthens the immune response. Empiric observations suggest that those people who exercise consistently get sick a lot less than those who don’t.

5. Finally, a note of personal hygiene. Wash your hands several times a day. In New York City, for example, mass transit is a plentiful source of germs. Handrails, doors, and seats have all been recently touched by many other commuters. Likewise at the gym, the free weights and machines all contain microscopic residue of recent human contact. So, do your best to avoid touching your face, eyes, and lips with your hands during your gym time and travel time, and wash your hands frequently.

6. Visit your chiropractor. Chiropractic health care is one of the best treatment methods available for maintaining optimal levels of health and well-being. Visit your chiropractor regularly and make sure you’re performing at your peak!

¹McGeehin MA, Mirabelli M: The potential impacts of climate variability and change on temperature-related morbidity and mortality in the United States. Environ Health Perspect
109(Suppl 2):185-189, 2001
²Molneddin R, et al: Seasonality of primary care utilization for respiratory diseases in Ontario: a time-series analysis. BMC Health Serv Res 28(8):160, 2008
³Tucker P, et al: Preventing paediatric obesity; recommendations from a community-based qualitative investigation. Obes Rev 7(3):251-260, 2006

Hello and Welcome

Hello, my name is Dr. Stacey Willey. Welcome to our office.  Something that has shaped who I am today and why I became a Chiropractor is that I have had ADD my entire life.  Still have it, and will always have it. I don’t use it as an excuse, nor do I let it inhibit my dreams and goals. When I was diagnosed, I was given many different drugs by to “handle” my condition. It changed my behavior a little, but created a hazy feeling in my head and I was also labeled “learning disabled” and was then treated differently. After taking medications for 8 months I started reading about the medications and reactions to them…ugh! I realized one of the drugs I was taking was in the same classification as cocaine?!! I decided no matter how bad it got, I did not want to stay on any medications, there had to be something better out there for me.

I was introduced to Chiropractic. I was absolutely amazed how my nervous system was shorting out and really not helping me in my daily life. I also didn’t even realize how much pain I was living with and was just “dealing” with it.  I learned about the nervous system, food and lifestyle changes that could help with my ADD and to become focused. Things gradually became clearer and I could focus better after my adjustments.

There was a whole world out there for me to be great in and I decided Chiropractic was it! I just didn’t know if I could do it, you see, school was always a challenge and Chiropractic school seemed like a huge mountain to climb.  But, I decided that this is it, there were no other choices for me.  It was quite challenging and I had to be very disciplined, and for someone that has ADD, that can be very challenging on its own. Not everyone thought I would finish school, since learning the traditional way was never easy for me, but I was determined. I graduated! That was the hardest thing I think I have ever done. It pains me to believe that there are kids and adults out there that don’t think they can achieve greatness or their dreams because they are considered to have a learning disability or not smart enough, that would limit their possibilities in life, because it happened to me.

That is why I want to share Chiropractic with all the children and families out there. I have come to realize that people who feel good are happier, have better relationships, and are more efficient at work and life.  That is what I want.  When I say families, I mean kids too.  I want to give parents all the information and help that I can give so their children will reach their full potential. There is nothing more important to us than our children living happy, healthy and pain-free lives.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve your health needs.

God Bless,

Dr. Stacey Willey