What's That Pain at the End of My Collarbone?

Among the several joints of the shoulder complex is an articulation at the outer end of the collarbone, the end furthest away from the center of your chest, called the AC, or acromioclavicular, joint. 

It is a common site of injury, partly because it consists of two bones that essentially just “butt together” and their ends, and are fastened together by surrounding ligaments. It is a less efficient joint than many others in the body, and is vulnerable to injury. 

In my practice, an aberrant AC joint is a common cause of patients’ shoulder pain; I have very precise adjustments which I make with my Activator instrument that help.   

Can Chiropractors Opt Out of Medicare?

No. Medical doctors can choose to opt out, but Chiropractors cannot.

If a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic sees a patient who has Medicare, the Chiropractor must, by law, report it to Medicare. Medicare covers Chiropractic treatment to the spine, and patients with Medicare insurance have the right to have their Medicare pay for their spinal treatment. 

If your Chiropractor sees Medicare patients but does not accept assignment (accept payment from Medicare), you must pay at the time of service, your Chiropractor then sends the report of her / his services and charges to Medicare, and you will be reimbursed directly from Medicare. 

Medicare will process the statement of services and charges received from your Chiropractor, and then send the statement on to your secondary or supplemental carrier. Whatever amount your supplemental insurance will pay, they will also send the reimbursement directly to you.

Is My Foot Feeling Numb Due to a Disc in My Spine?

Possibly. But an injured or degenerated spinal disc is just one of several prime suspects that can result in numbness in the foot or feet. Irritation of the sciatic nerve in your buttock, often caused by too much sitting or sitting on hard surfaces, is also on the list. There can also be local impingement of nerves in the lower extremity, and diabetes is also a suspect. Questions about your health history, your daily activities, your injuries, and an exam will help your doctor narrow down the list. Then further diagnostic tests, if needed, can be done to confirm.   

Yes, “The Knee Bone’s Connected to the........”

The two bones in the lower leg between the knee and the ankle are the tibia and the fibula. The tibia, larger and heavier, is the primary weight bearer of the two. The fibula, smaller, lies alongside the tibia on the lateral side of the lower leg, and is joined to the tibia at top and bottom by ligaments. Between them is the interosseous membrane. An injury to either bone or to their connecting tissues may affect the efficient working of the biomechanics of the lower extremity. The patella, or kneecap, glides in a groove on the upper front of the tibia. 

Five Reasons Why LOCAL Food = BEST Food

When we get our food from local sources, it is FRESHER, with its highest NUTRITIONAL value, and likely to be closer to PEAK FLAVOR.  Instead of being transported from distant sources, local food is kinder to the ENVIRONMENT, using less resources to deliver, and creating less pollution. It also supports the LOCAL ECONOMY and the livelihood of local farmers.