Sometimes spinal exercises are borning. If you are doing the exercises correctly, they should be challenging. I've had patients state that they want to watch TV while doing the spinal exercises. If you can watch TV or read a book while doing the exercises I've given you, then you're not doing them correctly.
I understand it's not the most exciting part of the day, but 3 minutes per day is all I'm asking you to do. If you do them, you'll have less pain. Less pain is NOT boring.
Work hard during the 3 minutes. Focus on contracting the correct muscles and try not to fall off the gym ball.
BTW: I don't like doing them either. They keep my spine from hurting, so I know they're necessary.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Getting out of bed
When I ask a patient to get off the chiropractic table, I sometimes cringe. It's like I'm watching an injury happening right before my eyes.
The way NOT to get up is to start on your back and do an old fashioned sit up. Just rising up like dracula is not the way to get out of bed or a chiropractic table.
The proper way to get out of bed or off a chiropractic table is to first roll onto your side. Once there, bend both knees and let the feet fall off the bed. Use your arms and elbow to prop yourself up, maintaining a straight spine.
This will avoid further back pain.
The way NOT to get up is to start on your back and do an old fashioned sit up. Just rising up like dracula is not the way to get out of bed or a chiropractic table.
The proper way to get out of bed or off a chiropractic table is to first roll onto your side. Once there, bend both knees and let the feet fall off the bed. Use your arms and elbow to prop yourself up, maintaining a straight spine.
This will avoid further back pain.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Heart problems
Seems as though in the past couple weeks, lots of patients are having heart problems and not knowing what to do. First of all, if you are asking ME, I am the wrong person. If you have any question or even think you are having a heart attack, you need to call 911 or be taken to the emergency room NOW.
Having said that, I've realized that many people know the symptoms commonly portrayed on TV and the "not-so-obvious" symptoms are overlooked. Obviously, intense chest pressure/pain is the most common known symptom of heart attacks.
Here are the "not-so-obvious" symptoms: fatigue, sweating, can't-catch-your-breath feeling, indigestion, arm pain (most commonly the left) along the little finger side, jaw pain, middle back pain, nausea, and dizziness.
Now the hard part is this: you can't run to the hospital every time you have a symptom. If you just ate a load of food and have indigestion, it's likely indigestion. If you just lifted something and your arm hurts, it's probably that you lifted something too heavy. The main concern is IF YOU HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS, AND THERE'S NO REASON WHY.
Notice that some of the symptoms above could be chiropractic problems. It is my job to know when it's a chiropractic problem or a heart problem. So if I tell you to go across the street to the hospital, it's because I have determined that you do not have a problem that chiropractic can help. If I suspect you are having trouble with your heart, you should listen and go.
It's better to be safe than sorry.
Having said that, I've realized that many people know the symptoms commonly portrayed on TV and the "not-so-obvious" symptoms are overlooked. Obviously, intense chest pressure/pain is the most common known symptom of heart attacks.
Here are the "not-so-obvious" symptoms: fatigue, sweating, can't-catch-your-breath feeling, indigestion, arm pain (most commonly the left) along the little finger side, jaw pain, middle back pain, nausea, and dizziness.
Now the hard part is this: you can't run to the hospital every time you have a symptom. If you just ate a load of food and have indigestion, it's likely indigestion. If you just lifted something and your arm hurts, it's probably that you lifted something too heavy. The main concern is IF YOU HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS, AND THERE'S NO REASON WHY.
Notice that some of the symptoms above could be chiropractic problems. It is my job to know when it's a chiropractic problem or a heart problem. So if I tell you to go across the street to the hospital, it's because I have determined that you do not have a problem that chiropractic can help. If I suspect you are having trouble with your heart, you should listen and go.
It's better to be safe than sorry.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Anti-depression medication and back pain
A number of patients tell me that they are given anti-depression medication for their back pain. I often ask "are you depressed?" and they answer "no."
I do not understand why these medications are given to you. In health care, you want a treatment that hits the problem in the bullseye. These means that you want antibiotics for a bacterial infection, not a fungal infection. You want a muscle treatment for a muscle problem and a tendon treatment for a tendon problem.
If I gave you an antibiotic for your spinal curves, you would think I was nuts. The treatment doesn't match the problem. This should make sense.
There is a limited list of structures that could possibly cause lower back pain. Here they are: muscle, bone, disc, ligament, cartilage, nerve, and bone are the most common. The rarer forms of back pain could be caused from blood vessels (aneurysms, etc), kidneys, prostate, ovary, uterus, and liver.
One of these structures is causing you pain. Find that and you are half way to proper treatment, or at least something close to the bullseye.
This "anti-depression medication-for-back-pain" seems to be very common.
I do not understand why these medications are given to you. In health care, you want a treatment that hits the problem in the bullseye. These means that you want antibiotics for a bacterial infection, not a fungal infection. You want a muscle treatment for a muscle problem and a tendon treatment for a tendon problem.
If I gave you an antibiotic for your spinal curves, you would think I was nuts. The treatment doesn't match the problem. This should make sense.
There is a limited list of structures that could possibly cause lower back pain. Here they are: muscle, bone, disc, ligament, cartilage, nerve, and bone are the most common. The rarer forms of back pain could be caused from blood vessels (aneurysms, etc), kidneys, prostate, ovary, uterus, and liver.
One of these structures is causing you pain. Find that and you are half way to proper treatment, or at least something close to the bullseye.
This "anti-depression medication-for-back-pain" seems to be very common.
Monday, March 5, 2012
The $6000 Chiropractor
There is a trend in Chiropractic that is, in my opinion, wrong. I have had patients that have moved out of the area and asked me "how do I find a chiropractor that's good?" My usual answer is to ask around and if a doctor's name keeps popping up, and he's been in practice for over 10 years, he's likely pretty good.
I've learned that there are more questions to ask than just that.
Every month, we get new patients that were told that they needed to see the doctor 50-70 times for $6000. That's six grand paid up front. They're in our office because their gut instinct told them that something was wrong with that other doctor.
Here's the truth behind the $6000 chiropractor. They learned a "script" or a pre-written speech to say to each patient in an effort to try to sell them tons of visits for insane amounts of money. They learn this in weekend seminars...kind of a "how to get rich" type of program.
You can usually tell who these doctors are: They're very charismatic, almost as charming as a hot-shot real estate agent. They take x-rays and will explain to you the severe findings on the x-rays (usually a loss of curve- most common in the neck). Without their special one-of-a-kind therapies, your spine will likely crumble. Then the money transaction: normally $7200, but if you pay today, it'll only be $6000.
Hook. Line. Sinker.
So if you need to find a chiropractor, keep your gut instincts about you, and keep your credit card safe. If they take x-rays and emphasize curves in your neck, require excessive amount of treatment for your condition, and want you to pay insane amounts of money upfront, then find someone else. These doctors are using their authority inappropriately and I think it's wrong.
We obviously don't do this.
P.S. This is not exclusive to chiropractic. I've changed dentists in the past because within 6 months it became apparent that my dentist and his staff became experts in teeth whitening. I was given the "script" each visit how doctor XYZ was now an expert in teeth whitening and how I can schedule next time for his program.
I've learned that there are more questions to ask than just that.
Every month, we get new patients that were told that they needed to see the doctor 50-70 times for $6000. That's six grand paid up front. They're in our office because their gut instinct told them that something was wrong with that other doctor.
Here's the truth behind the $6000 chiropractor. They learned a "script" or a pre-written speech to say to each patient in an effort to try to sell them tons of visits for insane amounts of money. They learn this in weekend seminars...kind of a "how to get rich" type of program.
You can usually tell who these doctors are: They're very charismatic, almost as charming as a hot-shot real estate agent. They take x-rays and will explain to you the severe findings on the x-rays (usually a loss of curve- most common in the neck). Without their special one-of-a-kind therapies, your spine will likely crumble. Then the money transaction: normally $7200, but if you pay today, it'll only be $6000.
Hook. Line. Sinker.
So if you need to find a chiropractor, keep your gut instincts about you, and keep your credit card safe. If they take x-rays and emphasize curves in your neck, require excessive amount of treatment for your condition, and want you to pay insane amounts of money upfront, then find someone else. These doctors are using their authority inappropriately and I think it's wrong.
We obviously don't do this.
P.S. This is not exclusive to chiropractic. I've changed dentists in the past because within 6 months it became apparent that my dentist and his staff became experts in teeth whitening. I was given the "script" each visit how doctor XYZ was now an expert in teeth whitening and how I can schedule next time for his program.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Hurting Feet
We offer custom-made orthotics.
These orthotics are made by the company named sole supports. I’ve taken the training and have passed the required tests to be a provider of these orthotics. First let me say that these are awesome. I’ve had many different orthotics made for myself at twice the cost and they don’t compare to the improvement I’ve felt from these specific orthotics.
Here’s the reasoning why:
Sole supports allow the natural motion of the foot to occur rather than trying to hold up your arch. Some people have flat feet and some don’t. Yet everyone’s foot is supposed to pronate when you step and push off with 60% of your weight on the big toe. Most off-the-shelf arch supports don’t allow you to do this.
Each side must be made separately and should not be mirror images of each other. Many patients I’ve noticed have the arch dropped only on one side, or their bunion is worse on one side, etc. You wouldn’t want to give them the same support on the left and on the right. This is the true value of “custom.”
The orthotics are calibrated to your weight and activity level. This is something I never understood when I had other orthotics made. How am I supposed to run in the same orthotic that was made for my dress shoe? It didn’t make sense. Sole supports are made specifically for your activity level.
Lastly, the orthotics should be calibrated to the flexibility of your feet. How strong your ligaments are in your feet determine the strength of the arch.
What all of this amounts to is that these orthotics can change how your feet FUNCTION because they work with what your current structural problems are. I personally love them and recommend them to you.
The price of the orthotics are $300. Figure out what the price of surgery is in your time, pain and money and you’ll find that these orthotics are a bargain.
These orthotics are made by the company named sole supports. I’ve taken the training and have passed the required tests to be a provider of these orthotics. First let me say that these are awesome. I’ve had many different orthotics made for myself at twice the cost and they don’t compare to the improvement I’ve felt from these specific orthotics.
Here’s the reasoning why:
Sole supports allow the natural motion of the foot to occur rather than trying to hold up your arch. Some people have flat feet and some don’t. Yet everyone’s foot is supposed to pronate when you step and push off with 60% of your weight on the big toe. Most off-the-shelf arch supports don’t allow you to do this.
Each side must be made separately and should not be mirror images of each other. Many patients I’ve noticed have the arch dropped only on one side, or their bunion is worse on one side, etc. You wouldn’t want to give them the same support on the left and on the right. This is the true value of “custom.”
The orthotics are calibrated to your weight and activity level. This is something I never understood when I had other orthotics made. How am I supposed to run in the same orthotic that was made for my dress shoe? It didn’t make sense. Sole supports are made specifically for your activity level.
Lastly, the orthotics should be calibrated to the flexibility of your feet. How strong your ligaments are in your feet determine the strength of the arch.
What all of this amounts to is that these orthotics can change how your feet FUNCTION because they work with what your current structural problems are. I personally love them and recommend them to you.
The price of the orthotics are $300. Figure out what the price of surgery is in your time, pain and money and you’ll find that these orthotics are a bargain.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Post-surgical nutrition
Having had two surgeries within 12 weeks wasn’t fun but I learned something. No one talked to me about what to do after the surgery. Once the last stitch was completed, there was almost a feeling of abandonment. I was told by one doctor that it was now up to me and God. Huh?
The only recommendations for nutrition were to stop all my nutritional supplements prior to surgery. Turns out it’s better to have blood more like sludge rather than water. It clots better.
So here’s what I did:
It’s well understood that your protein requirements increase in times of greater need. That’s why when you work out hard and damage your muscles, your body has an increased protein requirement to rebuild the muscle. A teenager needs protein during a growth spurt because protein is required to build muscle and bone. Surgery is a trauma to the body and what’s required to mend the pieces together is protein.
So I made some hard boiled eggs, 18 of them to be exact, plus had some chicken made as well. Eggs have 7 grams of protein and a chicken breast has 21 grams. After the surgery I ate an egg every hour (about 14 per day) and had two chicken’s per day in addition to my normal food. If my body needed protein, that should do it.
In addition to this, when our body becomes inflamed it will create scar tissue. This is often why the doctor will want you to do some form of therapy. The therapist will try to move your leg to prevent excessive scar tissue and do therapies to reduce inflammation (like ice). For some people that have had surgery, the scar tissue can then become a source of chronic pain. Chemically, anti-oxidants such as vitamin C, E, and selenium reduce scar tissue formation. Viola. Eat tons of vegetables during the day to get tons of these antioxidants. So, while I was icing, I’d be munching on crunchy raw veggies.
You can simply google protein requirements and antioxidants for all the research on this stuff. This in addition to icing every 20 minutes and starting to do my own rehab as soon as possible helped me recover from surgery quickly.
The only recommendations for nutrition were to stop all my nutritional supplements prior to surgery. Turns out it’s better to have blood more like sludge rather than water. It clots better.
So here’s what I did:
It’s well understood that your protein requirements increase in times of greater need. That’s why when you work out hard and damage your muscles, your body has an increased protein requirement to rebuild the muscle. A teenager needs protein during a growth spurt because protein is required to build muscle and bone. Surgery is a trauma to the body and what’s required to mend the pieces together is protein.
So I made some hard boiled eggs, 18 of them to be exact, plus had some chicken made as well. Eggs have 7 grams of protein and a chicken breast has 21 grams. After the surgery I ate an egg every hour (about 14 per day) and had two chicken’s per day in addition to my normal food. If my body needed protein, that should do it.
In addition to this, when our body becomes inflamed it will create scar tissue. This is often why the doctor will want you to do some form of therapy. The therapist will try to move your leg to prevent excessive scar tissue and do therapies to reduce inflammation (like ice). For some people that have had surgery, the scar tissue can then become a source of chronic pain. Chemically, anti-oxidants such as vitamin C, E, and selenium reduce scar tissue formation. Viola. Eat tons of vegetables during the day to get tons of these antioxidants. So, while I was icing, I’d be munching on crunchy raw veggies.
You can simply google protein requirements and antioxidants for all the research on this stuff. This in addition to icing every 20 minutes and starting to do my own rehab as soon as possible helped me recover from surgery quickly.
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