Monday, November 13, 2017

Medicare = EXCELLENT Insurance!

     The current Medicare deductible is just $183 per year.  Where else can you get health insurance with such a low deductible?
     And, yes, Medicare covers care of your spine by your Chiropractor. 
     Be sure to inform your Chiropractor as soon as you are covered under Medicare.

Monday, November 6, 2017

Leave the Leaves!

     One of the best things you can do to support pollinators---bees, butterflies, beetles, & moths---is to let fallen leaves stay on the ground! Fallen leaves become food & shelter to insects that overwinter in our landscapes, protecting them from predators and the cold.
     Although Monarch butterflies migrate, most butterflies and moths spend the winter in the landscape as an egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, or adult, & all these stages use leaf litter for winter cover. Fallen leaves may become the first food of caterpillars in the spring.
     Some bees burrow into the soil to hibernate for winter; a layer of leaves helps protect them.
     Fallen leaves are free mulch. They suppress weeds and retain moisture, and the decaying organic matter enriches the soil. 
     Go to  https://xerces.org/2017/10/06/leave-the-leaves/  to learn more.

Monday, October 30, 2017

Scoliosis---Early Intervention is Critical

     Schools offer scoliosis screening for good reason; the earlier it is detected and addressed, the better chance that conservative care can be effective. 
     My treatment plan, preferably begun early, includes chiropractic balancing of the entire frame, special exercises, and ergonomic counseling. 
     This approach has successfully stopped advancement of the curvature for several girls in their early teens.

Monday, October 23, 2017

The Brachial Plexus

     Nerves from the neck that go down the arm are called the “brachial plexus,” literally meaning “arm (brachial) network of nerves (plexus).” 
     Picture the wires inside an electrical box outside your house---multiple wires coming in, maybe different colors, bundled together in clusters of wires, going somewhere inside your home. A rough analogy, but your brachial plexus is somewhat similar. 
     Nerves exit the spine in the neck, join into “bundles,” and travel down the arm and into the hand.

Monday, October 16, 2017

Severe Pain, But There's No Fracture

     A not uncommon cause of severe pain in the ribs, when X-ray rules out fracture, can be strain of the tiny muscles between the ribs, the intercostal muscles. Some kind of trauma is usually involved, such as a fall, an auto accident, overexertion, etc. 
     These little muscles help with the movements of our chest when we breathe, so if they are injured, every breath can be painful. 
     Healing can be slow, but can be assisted by careful assessment of the rib cage for misalignments that put stress on the injured area.