Simple Solutions to Neck Pain

   

     One of the most important things you can do to relieve neck pain is to AVOID HEAD - FORWARD POSTURES. Put another way, avoid having your head out in front of the center of gravity of your body. Examples:

---bending your head forward to look down at a book or work at your desk,

---jutting your head forward, a very common, and often unconscious, posture when at your computer, 

---leaning forward from your hips when sitting.

     Think about it. In each case, your head is FORWARD of your body’s center of gravity. This causes the muscles in your neck to tighten up to support the weight of your head, which commonly weighs 10# or more!

     Practice awareness of where your head is. When you notice it’s FORWARD, gently bring it back over your center of gravity. You will notice immediate relief.

An Unsuspected Cause of Headaches

  

     Trying to identify the cause(s) of chronic, unrelenting headaches that plague some unfortunate patients is a challenge faced by Medical Doctors and Doctors of Chiropractic alike. There are many different types of headaches, and multiple causes.

     Food triggers may be involved, in which a person gets headaches when they ingest certain foods or food additives. Stress, both biomechanical and emotional / psychological, is often part of the picture.

     Now sleep apnea has emerged as a not-uncommon culprit. The mechanism is a disturbance in proportions of oxygen & carbon dioxide caused by interruptions or aberrance of breathing.

     For patients whose headaches seem insoluble, appropriate professional sleep assessment studies may yield a solution.  

An Unlevel Pelvis

     Our pelvis is the bio-mechanical foundation for our entire body. Its stability (or instability) affects everything above and everything below.

     Disturbances to the pelvis, aka the "pelvic girdle," can cause the pelvis to become unlevel.  

     An example is when your pelvis becomes distorted, or out of proper alignment. One or more of the component bones may become slightly twisted, or stressed abnormally in a superior or inferior direction. Pelvic ligaments may be affected by abnormal stresses due to joint misalignments. Any or all of these may cause pain. 

    A distorted, unlevel pelvis makes an unstable foundation for your spine. Uncomfortable, this may lead to problems above, in your neck or shoulders. An unlevel pelvis may also have consequences downward, into the lower extremities. 

     As an Activator Chiropractor, I correct and balance an unlevel pelvis as part of every gentle, comfortable full-body balancing.

Isn't Honey Better?

You may have heard that honey is healthier than table sugar. But is this true? 

     Perhaps it is, for these reasons: honey has ratios of glucose (30%) and fructose (40%) a bit lower than table sugar (50% glucose, 50% fructose). Table sugar breaks down quickly and causes a surge in blood sugar, whereas honey, which also contains other, different, and some more complex, sugars, breaks down slower. Dextrin, a starchy fiber in honey, also slightly slows the blood sugar surge. 

Table sugar is highly processed, and is devoid of minerals. Honey may have tiny amounts of minerals, picked up by the bees as they went from flower to flower, varying by the region(s) where the bees collected their nectar.

The “big picture” is that sugar is sugar, and is implicated in many health problems, so it’s better to minimize consumption of any sugar. But if occasionally you’re choosing, choose honey.

Co-Morbidities---Conditions for Which Medicare May Allow Extended Care

     Some things that often go along with aging are considered by Medicare to justify an extended, or longer term, of chiropractic care.

     These include degeneration of spinal discs, usually associated with spondylosis, which means bony spur formation around vertebral edges. Another term for this is DJD, or degenerative joint disease. Sciatica, or low back pain with sciatica, as well as spinal stenosis, are other conditions that may warrant extended care.

     Other co-morbidities, or health conditions which may complicate or impede healing, are diabetes, osteoporosis, and spinal curvatures such as scoliosis or kyphosis. 

Supraspinatous---An Essential Muscle of the Shoulder

     The supraspinatous is a small but powerful muscle located in our back, along the top part of our shoulderblade, or scapula. It connects the scapula with the top of the humerus, the bone in our upper arm, and is essential in our ability to raise our arm (abduction).  

     Technically, it is one of the muscles of the rotator cuff, and is commonly affected in rotator cuff injuries.

     A simple orthopedic test rules out an injury to this muscle. However, if the test is positive and involves a tear in the supraspinatous, treatment may require surgery.  

Over-The-Counter Orthotics

Patients who have fallen arches or who pronate need to support their feet with orthotics, not just for comfort, but also because these conditions in the feet reverberate up into the knees, hips, and pelvis and cause problems. Some may need prescription orthotics, but many people will find over-the-counter orthotics can do the job.

I commonly recommend a patient try one of two types that they can buy “off the rack.” One is softer, made of foam, with a mild arch support, that is easy to get used to. The other is a harder, molded orthotic appropriate for people who need more support. Either should be appropriately fitted by a staff person at the store who knows how to size them.

It’s not a bad idea to start with an over-the-counter orthotics and see if they will be sufficient. Certainly they are kinder on the patient’s wallet. If it turns out more fine-tuned or specialized support is needed, prescription orthotics are the next step.   

Polypharmacy

Literally, this means “the simultaneous use of multiple drugs by a single patient for one or more conditions.”

There are now patients coming into my office who are taking upward of eleven or twelve different medications. Often their meds are prescribed by different doctors, and there may be no one doctor who is overseeing or coordinating the mix. Potential harmful drug interactions are not being monitored, and the patient is subject to a myriad of side effects of the various drugs.

Sometimes the pharmacist who fills the patient’s prescriptions may be serving as overseer or monitor, but this is not always the case.

For patients on multiple medications, I advise them to talk with their primary care physician about making sure some caregiver is fulfilling this role.

Numbness, Tingling in Arm or Hand

Nerve impingement of the brachial plexus, the nerves exiting the spine in the neck, can be the cause of numbness or tingling in the arm and / or hand. If the alteration of sensation is diffuse throughout the upper extremity, all or most of the nerves in the brachial plexus may be affected, sometimes due to impingement between the clavicle and the first rib, or in passage between the scalene muscles at the sides of the neck. However, if only parts of the arm or hand are affected, it may be possible to pinpoint the specific spinal nerves that are being impinged. This can guide the specific Activator Chiropractic adjustment which can help alleviate the problem.

From Ribs to No Ribs: Transition Areas of the Spine

     There are two areas of transition in our spine, one at the base of our rib cage and one at the top of it. They are called “transition” areas because they are where attachment of the ribs begin at the lower and upper borders of the rib cage. 

     These are often trouble spots because they are “transitions” from regions of comparatively less mobility to ones of comparatively more mobility. For example, in the low back, the lumbar region, where no ribs attach, is comparatively more mobile than the thoracic region, where, from T12 and up, ribs attach on each side at each vertebral level. 

     Similarly, where ribs cease to attach in the upper back, around T2 & T1, there is a transition to the cervical, comparatively more mobile, region. 

     These transition areas are more vulnerable to biomechanical stresses, and can be recurring trouble spots for some people.

Let's Hear It For Purple Foods!

     Did you know that color of most vegetables is a clue to the kind(s) & how many nutrients they contain?

     Purple vegetables often carry more nutritional “punch.” For example, purple carrots have more powerful antioxidants than the beta carotene in orange carrots. Deep purple beets are more nutritious than yellow or multicolored beets, such as Chiaogia. 

     Purple sweet potatoes, though sometimes hard to find, are richer in antioxidants than other sweet potatoes.

     Intensely purple cauliflower, which existed before the white kind we most often see today, has 2 & 1/2 more times antioxidants than the white. Purple cabbage is very nutritious, and packs 6 times more antioxidants than green cabbage! 

What Causes Scoliosis?

     Abnormal spinal curves develop for reasons that are largely unknown. Although there are several theories, about 80% of scoliosis is considered idiopathic (of unknown cause). 

     Statistically, about 4 adolescent girls in 1000 may develop it, and about 1 in 2500 boys. Roughly 2% of the adult population has some degree of it. 

     In my practice, I have found, in working with several adolescent girls, that a combination of stabilizing the pelvis & focused exercises can reverse or halt the progress of scoliotic curvatures. 

Conservation Comes Home

We can all help monarch butterflies, bees, and other endangered pollinators by planting food gardens, even tiny ones, in our yards. If you live in an apartment, put them in pots, or in community garden plots. Street medians can be planted with pollinator gardens, with support of city councils and volunteers. Support chemical-free pest control, at home and in your town. Go here for some helpful advice from The Xerces Society:  http://www.xerces.org/local-action/intro/  

Essential Function of the Pelvis

     Our pelvis, commonly called the “pelvic girdle,” is the bio-mechanical foundation for our whole body. Everything above and below depends on the stability of the pelvis.

     If your pelvis becomes distorted, due to a fall, a sudden twist or jolt, or just due to accumulated stresses, then it becomes unlevel. An unlevel foundation is an unstable foundation. This can reverberate downward and affect your lower extremities, or upward and affect your chest and neck. 

     As an Activator Chiropractor, I specialize in full-body balancing, including careful attention to the pelvis. This helps my patients’ adjustments to be more effective and more long-lasting.

Golfer's Elbow

     Pain and tenderness near the inside of the elbow may be inflammation of the tendon that attaches the wrist flexor muscles in the forearm (the muscles that bend your hand downward). 

     Called "golfer’s elbow" because it's common in golf players, it is due to overuse / repetitive motion. The muscles should be massaged, cooled with ice, and rested, and the tendon has to be protected so it can heal. 

     As an ACTIVATOR Chiropractor, I find golfer’s elbow is associated with particular misalignments of the bones in the forearm. Correcting these misalignments is an essential part of my treatment plan.

Medicare for Chiropractic Patients

     Medicare patients are welcome in my office. Although the annual deductible for Medicare has increased slightly, to $183, for 2017, it is still comparatively low.

     I enjoy serving Medicare patients in my practice. My low-force Activator Method is especially suitable for elders because it is gentle, comfortable, and safe. 

Choosing Seafood That Supports Healthy Oceans

“Many of the fish we enjoy are in trouble due to destructive fishing & farming practices,” says the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s SEAFOOD WATCH.  They recommend asking your favorite restaurants & businesses, “Do you serve (sell) sustainable seafood?” to let them know you want ocean-friendly seafood.

On the website  https://www.seafoodwatch.org  you can:

 Download Consumer Guides by region where you live 

             Get the Seafood Watch App for iPhone or Android

Ribs---Like a Bucket Handle

Think of each of your ribs as being like a bucket handle:  on our right side, each rib is attached in our back at a thoracic vertebra, and curves around under our arm and across our chest, where it attaches in the front to our sternum. Ditto each rib on our left side at the matching spinal levels.

With inhalations, our chest expands. With deeper breaths, the ribs move up / out from their front & back attachments, in the same way that a bucket handle moves from its attachments on either side of a bucket.

An impact on a rib in the back can affect its attachment in the front of the body, and vice versa. Impacts on side(s) of rib(s) can disturb their attachment(s) in front and / or back. Careful assessment of the rib cage is part of my full-body balancing with Activator Chiropractic.

Using FOOD to Reduce Inflammation

Many things in the standard American diet (SAD) stimulate inflammation in the body. Avoiding these foods or food components can be an effective way to reduce inflammation in our joints and throughout our bodies. Here are some of the main “culprits:”

SUGAR in any form, including honey.

DAMAGED (oxidized or chemically altered) FATS & OILS including hydrogenated oils, which have trans fats (found in margarine, shortening, & many packaged or processed foods such as pastries, cookies, and chips). Damaged oils include vegetable (soy, corn, sesame, etc.) or nut oils, (except coconut) which oxidize at room temperature. Exposure to heat (even cooking at low temperatures) causes accelerated oxidation. Oxidized oils are highly inflammatory.

GRILLED FOODS and foods cooked at high temperatures or “blackened.”

WHEAT products, including white, whole wheat,&  sourdough breads, pasta, cereal, pretzels, crackers, or any product made with wheat flour, which includes most desserts and packaged snacks. Exception is any food made with heirloom wheat, which has not been hybridized.

Diet high in MEATS, which contain inflammation-promoting prostaglandins. Use healthy meats in moderation.

Scoliosis--An Unwelcome Spinal Curve

Our spines have normal front-to-back curves:  forward-facing curves in the neck & low back, and a backward-facing upper back curve.

But “sideways” curves in the spine, called scoliotic curves, aka "scoliosis," those that you would see if the person has their back to you, are abnormal and can cause trouble. They have the effect of weakening the stability of the spine, which affects the attached and related soft tissue, including muscles and organs. 

Severe or advanced scoliosis can impair the lungs & breathing, as well as the functioning of other essential internal organs, and may require surgical stabilization. 

In my practice, I have worked with scoliosis patients who have successfully chosen to avoid surgery, and instead relied on consistent, regular, specific exercises and regular chiropractic care to manage the effects of their abnormal spinal curve(s). 

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.   

Surprising Secrets About Palm Oil

P

Have you noticed Palm Oil appearing in our supermarkets & food stores? Perhaps you've noticed it being touted as new & improved, healthy, and budget friendly? Hmmm.......truth is, Palm Oil is highly processed (extracted and treated with heat and / or chemicals). If solvents are used in extraction, the oil may contain chemical residues. Although it is low in unsaturated fatty acids & thus  less prone to oxidation, its oxidized portions are highly inflammatory in the body. Worst of all, it is very environmentally costly. In Indonesia, 1,000s of acres of forests are being clear cut and burned to plant palms for production of palm oil, creating pollution, reducing forests' carbon sequestration, and destroying native rain forest habitats. 

VITAMIN K2---Essential For Our Bones

Vitamin K has long been understood to be associated with the ability of blood to clot, but we now know there is a special form of Vitamin K which is essential for healthy bone density. The K associated with blood clotting is now called Vitamin K1, while Vitamin K2 is the kind needed for bone health.

Many of us have been supplementing absorbable forms of calcium, in combination with magnesium, to help keep our bones strong. However, research shows that unless we also have Vitamin K2, calcium may not be targeted into our bones, but instead may end up in our arteries, where it isn’t needed, and causes trouble, including arterial plaques and atherosclerosis.

Vitamin K2 isn’t that easy to get in our diet. Curd cheeses provide some, but only small amounts. A Japanese food product called natto is rich in K2, but is unpalatable to most Americans.

Supplementing with K2, preferably the MK7 form, which is from natural food sources, usually natto, is a good solution. The MK4 form is synthetic.

The Traction Effect of An Orthopedic Pillow

Gentle traction is often part of the treatment plan for neck problems and pain. It can be very helpful after injury, or when there are degenerative changes occurring in the cervical discs.

A good orthopedically-designed pillow will have a gentle tractioning effect on the neck, assist chiropractic adjustments to hold, relieve pain, and help with healing. In my office, patients are shown how to properly use the orthopedic pillows I provide, to get maximum benefits from their support. 

MEDICARE---What is "Maintenance Care" and Why Won't Medicare Pay For It?

     Medicare guidelines state that they will only pay for chiropractic treatment that is Medically Reasonable or Necessary (defined as treatment that yields a significant improvement in clinical findings and patient functionality). 

     To you, and in the clinical judgement of your chiropractor, your treatment may be CLINICALLY APPROPRIATE:  it may enhance your life, relieve your symptoms, support your health and well-being, or prevent the deterioration of a chronic condition. 

     But treatment that is CLINICALLY APPROPRIATE may not fit Medicare’s definition of MEDICALLY NECESSARY. Your chiropractor, by law. must inform Medicare when your care is maintenance care, so that Medicare understands that this care is not reimbursable, and you will be responsible for payment.

Do You Need a Heel Lift?

Sometimes patients come to me who have been told by another caregiver that they need to wear a heel lift in one shoe. Careful assessment often shows that the patient does, in fact, have one leg shorter than the other, but the difference is not anatomical, but functional.

Anatomical leg length difference is when one leg is actually physically shorter. This may be due  to a previously healed fracture in the leg, or it may be congenital. Wearing a heel lift in this case can be the right thing to do. The lift should be prescribed and designed specifically for the patient by a qualified practitioner.

Functional leg length difference is due to distortions or imbalances in the person’s frame---the entirety of the bones and joints of their body. Once the distortions or imbalances have been corrected, which is exactly what I do, the legs will even. In this case, wearing a heel lift is a bad idea. It is only worsening the problem.

Numbness or Tingling in the Arm or Hand

      Nerve impingement of the brachial plexus, the nerves which exit the spine in the neck, can cause numbness or tingling in the arm and / or hand.

     If the alteration of sensation is diffuse throughout the upper extremity, all or most of the nerves in the brachial plexus may be affected, sometimes due to impingement between the clavicle and the first rib, or in passage between the scalene muscles at the sides of the neck. 

     However, if only parts of the arm or hand are affected, it may be possible to pinpoint the specific spinal nerves that are being impinged. This can guide the chiropractic adjustment which can help alleviate the problem.

Why NOT to Bake With Most Nut "Flours"

 It has become popular to bake cookies, cakes, etc. with almond “flour” or other nut “flours,” particularly in the Paleo community, which advocates avoiding grains. With the exception of coconut flour, which does not readily oxidize, using nut flours for baking is hazardous, because all nuts contain unsaturated oils. These oils readily oxidize at room temperature when nuts are ground into flour.

Oxidized oils (monounsaturated or polyunsaturated oils take on oxygen across their carbon-carbon double bonds) are highly inflammatory and very unhealthy.

When dough is made by grinding nuts into flour in a cookie, etc., recipe, and baking it, the heat of the oven accelerates oxidation of these oils.

What can you do if you don’t want to use grain flours for baking?

All nuts contain some combination of saturated, MONOunsaturated, and POLYunsaturated oils. Baking with coconut flour, which contains almost 100% saturated oil, is safest, because saturated oils will not oxidize. 

    

What's Medicare Done For You Lately?

If you have a question, you can call Medicare (1-800-MEDICARE), and you will reach an actual person, who will answer your questions with patience and courtesy.

Your annual deductible is just $166.00!

        When Medicare receives your Doctor's Statement for your chiropractic care, they process it first, then they automatically send it on to your supplemental insurance for that part of processing. You don't have to do a thing!  

Medicare covers chiropractic care, but currently, only for treatment to the spine. It doesn’t cover extremities, exams, or adjunct therapies. Yet. But we’re (your chiropractors) working on it.

Agroforestry---An Ancient Science

 Agroforestry - growing crops or pasturing food animals near or among  trees - has lots of advantages. Trees give protection from wind, help hold soil in place, help reduce runoff water loss, and their roots help enrich the soil with microorganisms. Deep tree roots capture leached nutrients. Tree leaf litter decays & enriches the soil. Trees offer habitat for birds & other natural predators of food crop insect pests, thus reducing the need for artificial insect control. Agroforestry has been used for centuries in many countries around the world. One source of more information:  http://www.worldagroforestry.org/about/agroforestry-our-role  

Jaw Pain That Just Won't Go Away

Persistent pain in the region of the TMJ (temperomandibular joint) that isn’t resolved by treatment focused on the joint itself may actually be due to aberrance of the temporal cranial rhythm. I see this fairly frequently in my practice. Balancing the temporal rhythm will often bring relief.

Spinal Stenosis

Photo by E. Quinn: Yosemite High Country from trail to May Lake High Sierra Camp

Spinal Stenosis

An abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal is called spinal stenosis, and it may result in impingement or pressure on the spinal cord. Often it develops with advanced age, and can cause constant pain or paresthesias in the legs or feet, arms or hands. Although is can occur anywhere in the spine, a common site of spinal stenosis is in the lower lumbar or sacral area of the spinal canal.

Stenosis, or narrowing of the passageway of a nerve or nerves, can also occur elsewhere, such as in the neural foramen, where the spinal nerves come off the spinal cord and exit the spine through openings on either side of the vertebrae.   

Sometimes careful, gentle, precise chiropractic adjustments can help relieve the symptoms, but in more severe or advanced cases, chiropractic usually is not an effective solution. Sometimes surgery can be done to enlarge the narrowed passageway and relieve the impingement.

F = M x A (??-Remember this?)

Photo by E. Quinn: High Sierra Meadow

F = M x A 

Remember that formula you learned in high school physics, “Force is equal to Mass times Acceleration (F = M X A)?” This is the basis of the effectiveness of the Activator adjusting instrument. A hand-held tool that delivers a metered impact in less than 3/10 of a second, the Activator instrument creates sufficient force (F) to precisely re-position, or adjust, bones, because of its high acceleration (A). The patient, however, doesn’t feel the adjustment as forceful, because it is so quick. Just a quick but firm “tap” in the right place by a trained Activator Chiropractor makes the adjustment, relieves pain, and restores equilibrium to the affected joint.

Hip Replacement

Photo by E. Quinn: High Sierra Wildflower Garden

Hip Replacement

As they heal from hip replacement surgery, patients often come in with pelvic or low back discomfort. The repaired hip is relieved from long - standing pain in the affected joint, but post- surgery gait disturbances inevitably happen while the hip is healing. Gait disturbances have a destabilizing effect on the pelvis, often reverberating to the lumbar spine. Activator chiropractic offers gentle, corrective support and relief.

Texting Syndrome

Photo by E. Quinn: Pywiack Dome, across Tenaya Lake, Yosemite High Country, Yosemite National Park, CA

Texting Syndrome

More patients are coming in now with hand soreness and pain, often localized in the middle joint of the thumb, at the base of the thumb, or in the muscles that join the thumb to the hand. It’s no surprise that these parts are being overworked by frequent texting. I’ve noticed that the rate and intensity with which some texting is done is pretty amazing. Texting syndrome may soon surpass carpal tunnel syndrome in the litany of hand complaints. Be kind to your hands! 

Simple Strengthening For the Low Back

Strengthening the muscles that support the low back is an essential part of relieving low back pain and keeping a healthy, resilient, less vulnerable low back. Sometimes physical therapy is prescribed, and can be very helpful. However, when the underlying framework---your bones and joints---is skewed, or out of proper alignment, exercising will be less effective. Before beginning an exercise regimen, it is important to get your frame checked and balanced. This is my specialty, as an Advanced Proficiency Rated Activator Chiropractor. I then show patients simple strengthening exercises to help their adjustments hold and lessen the vulnerability of their low back.   

MSG---Just Say "NO!"

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor enhancer commonly added to many fast foods, canned & processed foods, salad dressings, bouillon cubes, seasonings, etc., is an excitotoxin which can over-stimulate the heart, be a trigger for migraine headaches, and has been associated with facial pressure or tightness and paresthesias such as burning, tingling, or numbness. Some people react to it more strongly than others. It is definitely wise to avoid if you are a migraine sufferer. 

How Well - Educated is Your Doctor of Chiropractic?

The D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic) is a 4 - year doctoral degree. Prerequisite for entry into the doctoral program, most chiropractic colleges require an undergraduate degree with rigorous science training in Anatomy, Biochemistry, Embryology, Microbiology, Physics, Physiology, Mathematics, and Statistics, virtually identical to the basic science requirements for entry into medical school. After being admitted to a  chiropractic college, science training continues with Neuroscience, Physiology, Pathology, Clinical Medicine, and Physical & Differential Diagnosis. During the final 2 years of a 4 - year professional program, chiropractic education specializes in Musculoskeletal Conditions and Diagnosis, with a full year of Clinical Internship under the supervision of licensed D.C.’s, whereas in medical schools, specialization becomes directed more into Pharmacology and Surgery.

Enthesopathy---What Is It?

Tenderness or soreness in the area where a tendon attaches to bone is called “enthesopathy.” It is a specific part of a musculoskeletal diagnosis, and may extend the time needed for a condition to heal. Some insurances, including Medicare, may allow additional treatment to resolve the problem.

Low-Force Chiropractic for Seniors

"Special Considerations of Low-Force Chiropractic for Seniors" was a talk I gave to my professional women's networking group. I enjoy serving elders in my practice, and Activator Chiropractic is especially suitable for them because it is gentle, safe, and comfortable. Medicare patients are welcome in my office.

Facet Compression Syndrome

In the spine, the parts of the vertebrae that touch are the facets. If you look at the vertebrae one-on-top-of-the-other, they are separated by the discs, so the bones do not touch. But behind the vertebrae, at each spinal level, are projections from the main, roundish, vertebral body, somewhat like little bony “feet,” and these parts, the facets, DO touch each other, on both the left and right sides of the spine. If the facets get jammed, or compressed, the surrounding soft tissue---muscles, etc., gets affected, tight, somewhat like a clinched fist. This is painful, and needs precise, directional release. I find facet compression frequently in patients with back pain, and am able to successfully release it with my Activator Chiropractic Method. 

Hiking Sticks---The New Walking Aid for Elders!

Are you an elder, or do you know an elder, who has reached the point of being a bit unsteady on their feet and could benefit from a walking aid? Consider those boring, stodgy old walking canes no more, and go get a hiking stick! Every 20-something in the Sierra hikes with one or two; almost no one attempts the Pacific Crest Trail or the John Muir Trail without one anymore. Elders can join the “hip” crowd with a stylish hiking stick, many of which telescope down to fit into a carry bag or backpack. 

Sugar and "Pancreatic Panic"

One way to think about what sugar does to our bodies is to imagine how it affects our pancreas. As sugar content in the blood goes up, the pancreas springs into action, since one of its jobs is to secrete insulin to balance blood sugar levels.

Simple sugars, simple carbohydrates, and high-glycemic index foods cause a rapid spiking in blood sugar, which demands a quick and equal response from the pancreas. Somewhat like the response at a fire station when a call comes for a building on fire. Another way to think of this is “Pancreatic Panic.”

Keep on eating sugars, over-taxing your pancreas, and at some point the pancreatic cells that secrete insulin begin to ‘wear out,” they begin to not work as well. This is part of how Type II Diabetes develops.  

Keep a Little "Spring in Your Step"

Stand with your knees completely extended, or “locked back.” Notice how your low back feels. Then release both knees until you have a little “spring,” a little loosening from the rigid, “locked back” knees position. Now notice how your low back feels. Better, right? If you keep a little “spring in your step” this way, it helps keep a much healthier and more comfortable posture in your low back.