I survived this car accident after being hit head on by a drunk driver at 65 MPH. Whiplash was only one of the conditions I incurred.

Immediately following an accident it might not sound to appetizing to go to a chiropractor, so you may be asking yourself, “Can a chiropractor help with whiplash?”

If you’ve ever suffered the soft tissue injuries and neck pain associated with whiplash, then you already know it’s no picnic. It’s not hard to see why either.

“Whiplash” itself is a non-medical term for an acceleration-deceleration injury caused by a sudden violent movement of the neck and head backward and forward from trauma such a car accident. Such a collision and subsequent injury can add up to considerable damage to the ligaments, joints, muscles and soft tissue that support the head and neck or entire spine.

Depending on the logistics of the accident there are numerous injuries that can occur. Whiplash can be very serious. It is capable of causing damage to intervertebral discs, breaking bones and severely injuring the brain. Head injuries such as ‘mild traumatic brain injuries’ (TBI) are common. After the accident to the right, my brain injuries were profound. One of the early questions people ask when seeking out treatment for whiplash is…

“Can a chiropractor help with whiplash?”

The short answer is… yes but it depends. Here is what you need to know…

The body’s reflexive response to such injury is often immobilization of the area in order to minimize additional damage (this is referred to as muscle splinting). Spinal joints can become stiff and highly limited in movement, even to the point of being totally fixed in place. This can result in decreased range of motion, blurred vision, sometimes debilitating pain, muscle spasms, dizziness, and numbness in the arms and hands.

One of the most common complaints after a whiplash injury is fatigue.

The body and brain were injured and a tremendous amount of energy goes towards healing itself…which doesn’t leave much energy left for you!

Whiplash neck trauma is actually under-diagnosed to a great extent. It’s also under-treated in many cases. Many doctors’ approach begins and ends with the prescription of pain medication, which really only masks the problem. However, a good chiropractor should be capable of more.

Chiropractic Treatments for Whiplash Injury

The most important thing to do in managing an injury after a car accident (or any other form of whiplash injury- such as a sports injury) is to rule out all the red flag conditions such as:

• Brain injury
• Ligament tearing
• Fractures or dislocations

This is usually done at the emergency room following the accident or by the first responders which may be the fire department or EMT’s (Emergency Medical Technicians).

When in doubt, play it safe and get checked thoroughly. Many times the person who has been injured is in a semi-state of shock and the adrenaline can mask the pain.

The first order of business for your chiropractor after the red flags have been ruled out when it comes to the treatment of a whiplash injury is to get your immobilized spinal joints and neck muscles rehabilitated.

Many times it’s a slow and strategic process. From there, it’s all about getting the spine back into alignment to help facilitate healing and restore function as close to pre-accident status as possible. In fact, the main point of focus for a chiropractor treating whiplash is going to be to assess the entire spinal column and extremities by way of a combination of non-force techniques at the beginning.

However, he or she will only proceed with this part of the treatment once the soft tissues and surrounding muscles have been properly stabilized. While the muscles are going through this process, the chiropractor will concentrate on assisting the body to heal by seeking to reduce swelling and inflammation that can exacerbate the problem. Ice treatments or even massage therapy may all be part of the treatment protocol. Many times a TENS unit can be prescribed or a cervical collar to ease the burden of the neck holding up the head.

At our clinic in Denver we use the following in the initial stages of treatment of a whiplash injury:

• Class IV Laser
• TENS
• Ice
• Kinesiotaping
• Electrical Stimulation
• All-natural trigger point injections with Sarapin
• All-natural anti-inflammatory supplements (We use an oral and a topical protocols to relieve swelling and inflammation)
• Gentle non-force adjusting with the ProAdjuster (a computerized adjusting instrument)
• Home support such as a cervical pillow or bracing

The last thing you want to have happen is a whiplash injury that gets worse with the treatment that’s supposed to make it better! The above listed treatments are only options. The best treatment for whiplash is the one that’s most appropriate.

Each patient must be assessed individually and the care must be given according to the stage of injury. I wouldn’t recommend the same care at week 8 that I would recommend on day 8 after the accident.

Chiropractic treatment of whiplash should not be a one-dimensional process. In order to get a feel for which exact course of treatment is best for you, your doctor should assess your entire body, not just the symptomatic areas, as opposed to just the cervical vertebrae in your aching neck. When and if warranted manual chiropractic manipulation may help restore normal joint integrity and motion. This may be done in tandem with a strategic array of therapeutic or stretching maneuvers.

The Benefits of Chiropractic Whiplash Treatment

Chiropractic treatment for whiplash can be beneficial in that it’s non-invasive and holistic, making it the perfect option for people who prefer natural, conservative courses of treatment  It should be highly individualized and most importantly…effective. The whiplash treatment center in our office provides integrated medical techniques along with physical therapy. The last thing someone wants do to is to be running all over town, while driving to go to different doctors and therapists.

If handled appropriately, a chiropractor can help tremendously with whiplash injuries. Although it can be tough going at first, with proper care and time, you are are bound to be surprised at how much your quality of life improves.

So, in general, when you ask if a chiropractor can help with whiplash, I say, “Yes… but it depends.”

Posted from Lakewood, Colorado, United States.

Lumbar Discs

Herniated, bulging, ruptured and deteriorated discs are being diagnosed more frequently today than ever before. Not because more cases are occurring but rather improved MRI imaging allows doctors to visualize these conditions in greater detail and sooner than ever before. This has been a tremendous benefit for patients who no longer have to undergo exploratory surgery to find out what is causing their pain.  Many people ask,

“Is a Herniated Disc The Same Thing As A Bulging Disc?  Here’s a nutshell explanation…

After being diagnosed with disc problems, many patients are confused as to what exactly is wrong with them and what their disc treatment options are. Many doctors either don’t have the time or just don’t want to explain the differences between these conditions. One of the many things I am most proud of at our clinic is not only do we explain these conditions, we are equipped to conservatively treat and resolve many of these cases because we have a wide variety of protocols and procedures.

Discs are tissue between vertebrae in the spine. They have several functions; one is to act as a spring or cushion between the bones so that when we jump up and down the bones don’t smash into each other. Second they create a space between the bones so a joint is formed to allow for movement. And three, that space also allows nerves to pass between the two vertebrae. Discs are made up of two parts, an outer portion made up of cartilage and an inner portion called the nucleus. These two parts like the rest of the human body is predominantly composed of water.  For the sake of a layman’s analogy and to help you understand disc pain, let’s a disc can be visualized as a jelly doughnut, where the jelly is the nucleus (the part of the disk that can bulge or herniate or escape the confines of the center of the doughnut) and the surrounding cake is the cartilage.

Bulging Discs:

Bulging discs occur when the nucleus moves from its central position pushing (bulging) the cartilage outward. Imagine pushing on a jelly doughnut downward and a little crooked, the jelly shifts to the open wedge side of the doughnut and ‘bulges’ the cake slightly. When the disc bulges it tends to move in a rearward direction which is where the nerves are. When the disc touches or hits the nerve, pain, burning, numbness/tingling, spasm even paralysis can occur.

“Is a Herniated Disc The Same Thing As A Ruptured Disc?”

Ruptured Disc:

Is when the nucleus is forced out of the confines of the cartilage. With the jelly doughnut, if we pushed real hard downward and a little crooked the jelly will shift as stated previously to the open wedge and blow out of the cake portion of the doughnut.  As with bulging, the direction of the nucleus rupturing usually occurs rearward and onto the adjacent nerve. Ruptured discs need to be seen by a surgeon.

Herniated Discs:

Herniation means tearing…annular tearing of the cartilage that surrounds the nucleus of the disc. A herniated disc is a condition half way between bulging disc and ruptured disc (to complicate things further, a ruptured disc is sometimes referred to as a sequestered disc). Going back to the jelly doughnut analogy, if we start pressing down like the ‘bulging disc’ example and add a little more pressure the jelly begins to tear the cake from the inside working outwards but DOES NOT break through the cake. In a sense, a herniated disc can be viewed as a very severe bulge.

“Is a Herniated Disc The Same Thing As A Degenerating Disc?

Degenerating Disc:

As the name implies, the disc is degenerating. This degeneration may be caused by chronic or long term misalignment of two or more vertebrae. The misalignment causes uneven stress on the disc and slowly begins to press the water in the discs out into the surrounding tissue spaces, very much like a sponge was being squeezed. And just as a sponge gets smaller/thinner after having the water squeezed out of it, a disc that loses its water becomes thinner. As the disc thins the two vertebrae begin to ‘pinch’ the nerve between them with resulting neck or back pain,  arm or leg pain, or sciatica or numbing and tingling.

Discs in the cervical and lumbar regions are more likely to have problems and produce pain than disc’s in the thoracic or dorsal spine (middle back). Conservative and proactive treatment can many times be very effective to relieve pain. Surgery (like a laminectomy procedure or discectomy or microdiscectomy) can be warranted in some cases that do not respond to physical therapy, spinal decompression or chiropractic care.

*Please keep in mind that the above examples are generalized for the lay person (with pain searching for understanding) to help visualize what is wrong with them. (Most patients appreciate simplicity rather than a thesis). If you are the 1% and want more than simplicity, I applaud you. If you are a student or doctor and want an authoritative guide and explanation on disc injuries and disc anatomy…go here.

Posted from Lakewood, Colorado, United States.

Have you been to the doctor multiple times and no matter what tests he or she orders, they can’t seem to find any major answers? Or on the other side of the fence, are your aches and ailments starting to accumulate like a cluttered closet?

There is no end-all, be-all, cure-all when it comes to optimum health, but there is one thing I know for certain- you are what you eat.

More appropriately, you are what your body does with what you eat. After 15 years of striving to guide people to wellness there is one culprit that deserves it’s fair share of blame:

Pro-inflammatory Food Sensitivities

Inflammation is the root of most evil when it comes to disease and morbidity. In just a minute you’ll see how Food Sensitivities (different than food allergies) may be the underlying cause of many of your nagging symptoms, stubborn weight gain and sapped energy.

If there were a set of “Golden Keys” to anti-aging, one of those keys would be a personal and genetic “Food Blueprint” to base your eating habits around.

What I’m about to share with you has been the ‘missing key’ for many.

What Is A Food Sensitivity?

A “Food Sensitivity” or “Food Intolerance” is a reaction to a food that doesn’t occur right away. It could take days, weeks, even years for a food sensitivity to manifest symptoms in your body. Many times it’s not even immediately  recognizable as a symptom. Most people mistakenly interchange “food sensitivities” with “food allergies”. What I am talking about here is NOT eating a strawberry and breaking out in a rash.

Let me explain… if you get migraine headaches, you have, no doubt, tried your best to track down something that you eat that trigger them. For many, in spite of their diligence, nothing seems to make sense, and even though you’d like to blame them on your hormones, the pattern doesn’t say conclusively that the headaches are hormonally related.

Hmm?

That’s when it’s time to utilize some cool science to investigate your body’s ‘hidden’ reaction to foods.

For example…

If your body reacts to tomatoes and lettuce with a Food Sensitivity, you may not have a migraine for a few days, because it may take that long for the food to cause the production of certain chemicals – and enough destruction in the body  – which eventually shows up as a migraine headache. This same pattern can hold true for pains from Arthritis, digestive disorders, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, ADD or ADHD, weight gain or obesity, or a variety of skin disorders.

Food Myths Interfere With Finding A Health Solution

Before you find out more about how to accurately identify Food Sensitivities or Food Intolerance’s, it’s important to examine common ways that most people look at foods, and see how they relate to what we are talking about.

Here’s a brief list of inaccurate information I frequently hear:

1.     Only certain foods cause trouble like gluten or lactose intolerance, but this doesn’t happen too often.

2.     Foods are either good or bad for you.

3.     Foods are usually digested by the body but if they aren’t, they simply come out undigested on the other end.

4.     Eating the same foods daily promotes good health as long as you are eating organic.

5.     Food cravings and overeating are normal human behaviors that can’t be overcome.

Myth #1: Only Some Foods Can Be Troublesome But Not Very Often

We’re living in an age where food allergies and Food and Chemical Sensitivities are at an all-time high. Experts predict that the numbers of people affected by food allergies and sensitivities is expected to continue rising.

It’s estimated by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology that more than half (54.6%) of all Americans test positive to one or more allergens. In 2007, about 3 million children were reported to have a food or digestive allergy. Allergic diseases affect as many as 50 million Americans.

Food allergies have increased 18% between the years 1997 to 2007 in children. And 6.5 million people are allergic to seafood, with more than 3 million people allergic to peanuts or other nuts. Peanuts cause more deaths than any other food allergy by the way.

Lactose intolerance, which is the inability to break down the lactose in the milk, affects more than 30 million Americans. It seems to be distributed among certain races, with up to 70 % of all African Americans and American Indians affected and up to 90% of Asian Americans affected.

And the statistics aren’t any better for Food Sensitivities. It’s not uncommon doctors who perform the ALCAT test regularly to reports that the majority of patients tested have significant Food Sensitivities – and once they remove the foods from their diet, the majority of all their health problems improve or resolve!

Food Allergies Versus Food Sensitivity

As we’ve alluded to, there’s a big difference though between food allergies and Food Sensitivities. Food allergies are associated with reactions that put you in the Emergency Room, such as anaphylactic reactions where the throat closes up and the person begins gasping for breath. If a food that you eat causes an immediate reaction, that food is considered an allergen.

The most common food allergies are peanuts, egg, soy, nuts, and seafood. And for those of you who are allergic to foods, you know that even the smallest amount of an allergic food can be enough to set off a bad reaction, one that may be life-threatening. A non-allergenic food could have been mixed in a bowl that previously contained the allergenic food and the non-allergenic food will cause a reaction. That’s how serious the problem is.

But what really happens between the time that someone eats a food and the anaphylactic reaction takes place minutes later?

When you consume a food that you are allergic to, the immune system and the nervous system work together to produce an immediate reaction. Just a very small amount of the food can contain enough of the antigen protein that causes the immune system to mistake it as a foreign invader. Then the entire body responds with an all-out attack against the antigen protein in the food. The attack can be as little as a flush face or fatal.

But a Food Sensitivity is different. Much different.

Food Sensitivities can cause reactions such as headaches, insomnia, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, fibromyalgia, aching joints, bloating, gas, foggy thinking, crying episodes, dark shadows under the eyes, acne skin breakouts, weight gain, swelling, inflammation, pain in the body near old injuries, or even just come-and-go pain.  If you experience any of these symptoms and haven’t found a solution you are in for some enlightening news.

Because food sensitivities occur days later (and because most people to continue to eat that same food), you need a very sensitive test that can actually track these reactions. Otherwise, standard medical tests (like skin tests or IgG) will miss them.

Myth #2: Foods Are Either Good Or Bad For You.

Although it’s true that some foods clearly are bad for the body while others are good, there’s a whole new level of medical understanding that you must be aware of.

In a nutshell, here’s the new paradigm:  A good food for Mary isn’t always a good food for Sarah. The foremost authority in the world right now on nutrition research, Gary Taubes, has perused the literature up and down and concludes that genetics definitely come into play when discussing weight gain and obesity.

The idea to grasp here is that there is an individual “Food Blueprint” for each one of us.

This blueprint may change, depending on what we are eating from time to time, but nevertheless, the underlying framework is there.

The salmon that’s good for Mary may be ‘toxic’ for Sarah because she has a  Food Sensitivity to it and her body goes into a reactive, inflammatory state – it reacts adversely to the food. Inuit Eskimo’s may live on a diet of 90% fat, but that would kill someone who is a 5^th generation sheepherder from Spain.

The apples that Randy eats may only be problematic when the birch tree pollen levels are high, because the antigens (a foreign molecule that triggers the immune system to attack) in apples may resemble those in birch. Interesting, huh?

A Food Sensitivity reaction will still have an immunological system component (most other allergy tests are based upon just that) but underlying and perpetual sensitivity reactions will go on to affect other organs and systems, in time, as well. And because of the individualized “Food Blueprint”, Sarah’s salmon sensitivity can cause headaches while Ted’s salmon sensitivity causes weight gain and fatigue. Many food sensitivities can cause mood swings because of the neurological aftermath of the body’s over-reaction to the food.

Myth #3: Foods Not Digested By The Body Come Out As Undigested Food Particles In The Stool.

Foods that aren’t digested properly may come out of the body as undigested food particles in the stool but that not where the damage is done.

It’s the proteins in foods that can start to act as an antigen that your body recognizes as foreign. And although the antigen response may not be strong enough to be considered a food allergy, a Food Sensitivity antigen response can be even more destructive.

The proteins can leak out into the bloodstream where they are carried to any and all of the major organs. Often the antigens head for already damaged areas, such as a previous knee injury or rotator cuff injury, and they accumulate there, contributing to the development of even more inflammation. (Many common musculoskeletal complaints can disappear when sensitive foods are identified and removed). Are you starting to see why this is important stuff?

That’s why your symptoms of Food Sensitivity can be different than your sister’s, and why your symptoms of Food Sensitivity can change as well. Maybe today the most damaged part of your body is that old knee injury but tomorrow it’s your back that’s aching.

Inflammation is dynamic and can move around in your body

Picture a fire..it’s never static and still, it’s ever-changing. The same goes for inflammation in your body.

Myth #4: Eating The Same Foods Daily Is Perfectly Fine For Good Health As Long As You Are Eating Organic.

The field of nutrition is constantly growing with new knowledge. Seventy years ago, the best thing you could do for your health was to eat “three square meals” a day.  In the 1970s, the trend was to incorporate more fiber and grains into your diet. By the 1980s, everything was ‘no-fat’. We now know for a fact that humans cannot thrive without the proper amounts of good fat. Grains have now been shown to be inflammatory (yet they still make up the foundation of our country’s Food Pyramid). Go figure…

So what’s one to do?

None of these ‘facts’ take into consideration that there exists in each of us what I call an individualized  “Food Blueprint”. To me it makes the most sense.

We all look different from each other on the outside, even if we are members of the same family. We all have different likes and dislikes. We have different medical and biochemical backgrounds. We all eat different meals daily. So how can we think that everyone should eat the very same thing – or that one thing will work for everyone?

The individualized “Food Blueprint” you that you have in your DNA may have sensitivities – or allergies – to foods that your identical twin does not have. That’s how unique you are and how distinct your Food Blueprint can be!

Myth #5: Food Craving and Overeating Are All Behaviors That Can’t Be Overcome.

Have you noticed there are certain foods you crave? Even at different times? Or that whenever you eat a certain type of food, it makes you want to keep eating more of it?

These cravings and binges are not normal. And let’s face it, if you could stop them your life and health would probably be a whole lot better. Those who have been tested for Food Sensitivities report the same thing over and over– that when they eliminated the culprit foods from their diet, they just plain do not have the cravings and binges.

We are now offering the Gold Standard in Food and Chemical Sensitivities and Intolerance testing- It’s called ALCAT.  This test is the only test that looks at the immunological reactions from foods that are occurring in the body over time. The test includes sensitivities to hundreds of foods, molds, environmental allergens, prescription drugs and even herbs.

It’s a simple blood draw here in the office and the samples are immediately sent and meticulously tested at the state-of-the-art ALCAT labs. From there, we will hand deliver and walk you through your custom and individualized ‘Food Blueprint’ report. You will also receive a 30 minute one-on-one phone consult with an ALCAT certified nutritionist to further go over exactly what to do to maximize your results.

With your Food Blueprint we can work to make 2012 your best year ever! Schedule now as it take about 10 days to get your results and action plan in hand.

Call our office now, 303-980-5699, to see if you have insurance coverage for this test.

Posted from Lakewood, Colorado, United States.

Botanical Source for Serapin

All- Natural Trigger Point Injections as a Safe and Effective Alternative to Cortisone

Have you ever heard of Sarapin? Odds are you probably haven’t. However, if you’ve ever suffered from chronic back, neck, or joint pain the odds are overwhelming that you have probably heard of or received Cortisone (a cortico-steroid). Serapin, however is used in all-natural trigger point injections.

So what do these two medicines have in common? They can both be used to treat chronic pain and reduce inflammation and they both provide pain relief. Both are recognized by the FDA and AMA, and both require prescriptions for treatments requiring injections. Lastly, they are both recognized as possible treatments for the following ailments: Sciatica, trigger points, joint pain, Intercostal Neuralgia, Occipital Neuralgia or cervicogenic (caused by the neck) headaches, Brachial Plexus Neuralgia, Lumbar Neuralgia and many more, but that’s where the similarities end.

Sarapin, used in natural trigger point injections, is a biological medicine – which means it is derived from a naturally occurring organism (the Pitcher plant- see photo). It works by stopping pain signals in the nerves of the spine where they exit the spinal column. It does not affect any other nerve functions or motor functions and is not affected by heat or cold. Cortisone, on the other hand, is chemical medicine –which means it is made using a chemical process. More importantly, Sarapin has no known side effects. There are dangers in receiving Cortisone.

Cortisone injection side effects can include thinning of the skin, easy bruising, weight gain, puffiness of the face, elevation of blood pressure, cataract formation, thinning of the bones (osteoporosis), and a rare but serious damage to the bones of the large joints (avascular necrosis).

I observed a back surgery not too long ago and after 30 minutes of frustration trying to remove a portion of a lumbar disc, the surgeon literally threw down his scalpel and said, “Sew her up… it’s a disc rock!” I had never heard of that term- “disc rock.” Later he told me her disc had hardened to point where it was almost like bone. When I asked him why he said, “Too many cortisone injections.”

After 30 minutes of frustration attempting to remove a portion of a lumbar disc, the surgeon literally threw down his scalpel and said, “Sew her up… it’s a disc rock!“

You see cortisone may reduce pain and inflammation but it actually degrades the healthy tissue and makes it weaker in the long run. That’s why most orthopedists  will only allow 3 per year. My opinion is that Serapin is a very viable option for stubborn conditions and the very nature of the injections make the tissue HEALTHIER! So if you can reduce pain and improve pain management and increase function while improving the overall long-term outcome for the patient…I’m all for it!

So why haven’t you heard of Sarapin natural trigger point injections?

One reason is that Sarapin lacks profitability and costs about 1/10 of cortisone. There is far more profit in injecting Cortisone. Serapin, used in natural trigger point injections, is a biological medicine that has been in use for over 70 years. Because it is plant derived and not a chemical compound, Sarapin cannot be patented. As a result, it can be made without the huge price mark-ups that are standard fare to patent protected medicines. (Patent protection is why branded drugs are so much more expensive than generic drugs that have the same chemical composition.) Not surprisingly, Sarapin has never had the financial sponsorship of a large pharmaceutical company to pitch it to doctors via the pharmaceutical company’s national network of drug representatives.

Understandably, it’s not your doctor’s fault that he or she may not be aware of Sarapin or how it can be used to address your pain. As part of our new integrated complimentary and alternative medicine model, we will be offering all-natural trigger point injections using Sarapin to treat conditions like muscular pain syndromes arising from trigger points, sacroiliac (SI) joint pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, chronic neck and low back pain. The patient experiences with these natural trigger point injections has been wonderful.

Posted from Denver, Colorado, United States.

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger – Athlete, Actor and Governor.

Arnold actually has an in house chiropractor and he is so grateful for having him. He says that the chiropractor gave adjustmets to all of his family including him. He also says that after the adjustments the whole family feels great. Even when Arnold had athletic injuries his personal chiropractor helped him get back to health. Arnold has a great respect for this profession and he thinks it’s just fantastic.

2. Evander Holyfield – Heavyweight Boxing Champion.

Evander says that he can’t go into the ring without having and adjustment first. He strongly believes in chiropractic care and he says that going to the chiropractor for an adjustment three times a week really helps his performance in ther ing.

3.Lance Armstrong – Seven Time Tour de France Winner.

This seven time Tour de France winner has been receiving chiropractic care about 12 years now since 1999. That is helping him to keep his body together for the Tour de France. After finishing Tour de France he said that he couldn’t have won it without the help of his chiropractor and called his sports chiropractor “the most important part of his team.”

4. Michael Jordan – NBA Superstar.

Michael said that after he started receiving chiropractic care he improved his leaps and bounds both mentally and physically. He was actually able to jump even higher after getting an adjustment.

5. Madonna – Popular Singer.

Madonna brought her personal chiropractor with her on her tour to help relieve stress and prevent possible injuries. She said that it’s very hard and draining and that she needs her chiropractor to help with her recovery after each show.

6. Tiger Woods – 14 time PGA Championship Golfer.

Tiger said that lifting weights and seeing a chiropractor every day made him a better golfer. He says that he’s been going to chiropractors for as long as he can remember. He also says that going to a chiropractor on a regular basis is as important as practicing his swing.

7. Sarah Harding- Miss Fitness USA 2006.

Sara says that she always believed in chiropractic care. Her parents introduced her to chiropractic and it became an instrumental part of her life. She believes that it allowed her to do gymnastics when she was very little and allowed her to stay in sports and keep up with a very active lifestyle. She says that she is going to a chiropractor for as long as she can remember.

8. Dan O’Brien – Decathlon Gold Medalist.

Dan said that he wouldn’t have won the gold medal if it wasn’t for chiropractic care. He says that you can’t compete at your fullest if you are not in alignment and that your body cannot heal if you back isn’t aligned. He says that the effects of chiropractic care is one of the things that no one can deny or refute.

9. Emmitt Smith – Running back Dallas Cowboys, Superbowl Champion and MVP.

Emmitt says that he found a specialist that’s really good in balancing out his body and making sure that his hips are rotated properly. He says that through chiropractic care you can balance your body out, put it back together and you will be able to function better and recover faster.

10. Liza Minnelli – Actress and Singer.

Liza said that she relies on regular chiropractic care to keep her in shape for her strenuous type of performing, acting and singing.

Posted from Lakewood, Colorado, United States.

Seek Care Immediately

When discussing whiplash treatment, many people are often confused by the term “whiplash”.  Whiplash is considered a non-medical term for a sprain/strain injury of the neck, which often occurs after an abrupt jerking motion of the head backwards and then forward commonly after car accidents.  The technical mechanics of what happens is the result of an acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle due to the force- many times a rear end collision. A neck injury of this type can result in many different types of symptoms and can appear immediately or even days after the initial injury. Treating whiplash requires patience, knowledge, and appropriate decision making. For the bureaucratic side of things, many times a good personal injury attorney can help you figure out the claim and insurance information. If you are properly insured (and most are in the Denver metro, Lakewood and littleton, Colorado area) you will have what is called “med pay”, usually around $5,000 and it allows you to obtain medical care that is appropriate for your injuries. Unlike some insurance policies for regular health care you can choose who you want to see without any gatekeeper or ‘network’ of providers. Back to whiplash treatment terminology…the term whiplash describes the actual mechanism of injury rather than the nature of the injury. Whiplash treatment is the type of care administered once the injury is classified as a whiplash associated disorder (WAD).

Whiplash Treatment: The Injury

Most whiplash injuries occur in car accidents where the person injured is rear-ended by another vehicle and pushed forwards.  In this type of accident, the head lags slightly behind the neck while the car is being pushed forward resulting in extension of the neck.  The head is then thrown forwards where excessive flexion of the neck results.  As the body falls back as the car decelerates from being pushed forward, the head is flung backwards again, resulting in further injury.  The severity of the injury can be determined by a few factors at the time of the accident:

• The posture of the driver at the time of the accident.  For example, if the driver was looking to the side.
• The force of the impact and amount of muscle tension.
• The angle of the headrest.
• The angle of the seat.
• The height of the patient.
• The speed of the vehicles involved.
• The road conditions.
• And many more (which will have en effect on not only your symptoms but your whiplash treatment)…

As you can see, there are many factors which play a part in the severity of the injury.  This is why the speed of the impact and amount of damage done to the vehicle alone cannot determine the severity of the injury. There is a lot of evidence that shows that occupants can, contrary to the opinion of insurance companies, be injured in low impact accidents. I have seen many in my clinic and I have been involved in several. Click here for a brief story of my worst car accident.

Whiplash Treatment: Symptoms

If you find yourself asking, “Do I have whiplash?” Understand this…symptoms of whiplash play a very important role in diagnosing and treating the underlying cause of a sprain/strain neck or back injury.  A wide range of symptoms can result from a “whiplash” type injury and can vary widely from person to person in both type and severity.  A common symptom of a sprain/strain neck injury is a deep, dull pain, which worsens upon movement.  Other symptoms of a whiplash injury include:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Pain in the shoulders or between the shoulder blades
• Pain or numbness in the arm
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sleep disturbances

Although these are some of the common symptoms that may warrant whiplash treatment, you could experience symptoms other than those on the above list of symptoms.  Some people experience nausea or fatigue or even feel like they have a cold.  Your overall state of health definitely has a lot to do with how your body will experience and manifest symptoms. If you experience any symptoms or have new symptoms that concern you, seek care as soon as possible.

Here is a list of injuries that can occur after an injury that may require whiplash treatment:

• Single and multiple cranial nerve palsies
• Peripheral neuropathy (numbing and weakness)
• Dizziness
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• Visual disturbances
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Herniation of cervical discs
• Rupture or tearing of ligaments and soft tissues
• Spinal cord injuries
• Hematomas
• TMJ injury/disruption
• Brain injury concussions or Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI)
• Damage to the posterior cervical sympathetic nerves
• Menstrual disorders
• Tremor and movement disorders
• Occipital neuralgia (back of head pain)
• Cervical dystonia
• Fibromyalgia syndrome
• Digestive disorders
• Low back pain

(Source: http://www.srisd.com/ )

Whiplash Treatment: Options

Most symptoms and signs of whiplash injuries can greatly benefit from immediate care.  Some injuries are best remedied in the emergency room and some are best managed actively yet conservatively. Once the emergency and dangerous or life threatening injuries are either addressed or ruled out, due to the damage to the muscles and surrounding tissues, it is important to seek care to minimize the severity of your discomfort and to facilitate the repair, regeneration and remodeling of the injured soft-tissues.  Treatment options usually include electrical stimulation (EMS) to relax the musculature and release excess tension, chiropractic adjustments, and K-Laser to reduce inflammation and heal the damage faster. I’ve seen statistics that say there are over 16,000 police reported car accidents each day. I have seen a fair amount of them near my home in Littleton near Ken Caryl, on my way to work in Lakewood and throughout the highway, street and even parking lots of Denver!

Here is a list of whiplash treatment options (once dangerous and life threatening injuries have been ruled out) at our complimentary and alternative clinic near Denver :

• Rest
• Bracing
• Ice
• Massage
• Manual chiropractic adjustments
• Computerized (Proadjuster) or instrument chiropractic adjustments
• Class IV Laser Therapy (K-laser)
• Taping (Kinesiotaping)
• Anti-inflammatory diet and supplements (Esterified fatty acids and proteolytic enzymes)
• Spinal Decompression Therapy (DRX9000 and other decompression machines)
• Electrical Physiotherapy (interferential or e-stim current or micro-current)
• Med-x Core Spinal Fitness machines for post-traumatic rehabilitation.
• Home exercises for whiplash, neck pain and/or low back pain
• Active Release Therapy (ART)

Being proactive at helping the body heal is highly advised. As you can see, there are plenty of whiplash treatment options available.

Posted from Denver, Colorado, United States.

Neck pain is a pain in the neck!

Ever wondered why an extremely annoying or an absolutely pest of a person is called “a pain in the neck?” The idiomatic expression, “a pain in the neck,” was first used in the 19th century as a more polite version of the expression “a pain in the ass.” This was coined presumably because neck pain, like the person one is alluding to, can be very annoying. Neck pain is supposedly not extremely painful, but it can cause a lot of discomfort and can be quite bothersome.

The neck, as everybody knows, is what separates the head from the rest of the body. Anything relating to the neck is medically referred to as “cervical.” It has the important task of supporting the head and protecting all the nerves running from the brain down to the rest of the body. It is because of this stressful task that everyone is sure to experience a form of neck pain at some point in his life. My chiropractic clinic in Lakewood has seen thousands of these cases over the years.

A stiff neck pain can be acute neck pain that can be the result of some sort of muscle strain, such as whiplash, or from body positions that can cause strain on the neck, while sleeping in awkward positions, for example. Whiplash is a term for neck injuries caused by a sudden outside force causing the spinal cord, especially the neck section, to be distorted or extended. This is the most common complaint of people who have experienced car accidents or who have fallen from horses or bicycles. A personal injury attorney in Denver that I consult with agrees with me. In the United Kingdom, three-fourths of all insurance claims are made from whiplash complaints. Whiplash is also called axial neck pain and can result from low impact collisions, especially if you are hit from behind (rear ended). Just this morning driving on Wadsworth boulevard in Lakewood coming from Littleton, I saw an auto accident and it appeared that the person who was in the collision was suffering from neck pain and it had only been a few minutes!

What are some neck pain causes? In many studies, the exact causes of mechanical or axial pain are the most disputed. In fact, most of the causes for this type of pain are all theories that have yet to be proven beyond any doubt. Some of the suggested causes are stress, bad posture or position, and even overuse. Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, wherein there is pain and inflammation in the joints, and fibromyalgia, wherein there is chronic pain in all the muscles and tissues in the body, are also known to cause axial neck pain.

Radiculopathy is a neurological effect on the nerve root or a nerve in the spine that may be compressed, causing the radiating pain into the shoulder, arm or hand and fingers. People who do heavy labor, repetitive motions or those involved in contact sports, often suffer from this type of pain, as their activities expose the spine to heavy loads and forces that result in compression. Disorders like multiple sclerosis, spinal stenosis or diabetes can also cause this type of neck pain as well.

Meanwhile, myelopathy neck pain is normally caused by injury to the spinal cord and is not something that a chiropractor normally treats.

What are the neck pain symptoms? Symptoms for axial pain include pain in either one or both sides of the neck, painful and limited range of motion, rigidity of the neck, “kinks” in the neck, and neck pain or tension headaches, otherwise known as cervicogenic headaches- which chiropractic care can be very effective in helping.

The major symptom for those suffering from radiculopathy neck pain, aside from the pain in the neck, is loss of feeling or sensation in the arms or legs. People with myelopathy usually suffer from pains in the neck, dysfunction of their upper and lower extremities, incontinence, and heightened knee and ankle reflexes. Neck pain diagnosis for axial pains is done using standard tests for range of motion, such as bending and rotation of the neck. These test the muscles and/or ligaments in the neck area that are involved in the pain.

Diagnosis for radiculopathy involves physical examination to check the person’s reflexes, sensory-motor range, and muscle strength. Myelopathy can usually be detected through neurological exams, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), CT (computed tomography) scan, and physical examinations, involving involuntary movements of the extremities.

What is considered the best neck pain treatment for neck pain symptoms? Available treatments for those suffering from mechanical neck pain include correction of posture, lessening of stress levels, or adjustments or spinal decompression from chiropractors. Visiting a chiropractor for regular maintenance on the spine can prove beneficial in many ways, including, but not limited to, proper nerve communication, spinal alignment, and better posture.

Most of the people who have been diagnosed with radiculopathy or a herniated disc and neck pain may seek conservative relief through the help of chiropractors with non-surgical spinal decompression therapy.

Surgery may be an option for those who have myelopathy. The surgical options available include spinal fusion wherein bone grafts or hardware are placed into  the spine, decompression of the disc and bone, and laminectomy wherein sections of the bone are removed from the back of the neck.  Medications like analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs are also prescribed.  Non-surgical treatments aim at minimizing pain and improving some movements of the extremities through activities such as stretching and cardiovascular exercises.

Acute vs. Chronic Pain

All the types of neck pain discussed above can be further subdivided into acute or chronic pain. Acute neck pain can usually be resolved within a short period of time, normally two to three weeks. Chronic pain may last longer than two months and may require more aggressive treatment.

Neck pain is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Statistics show that over 80% of American adults are suffering, or have suffered, from some type of neck pain. Out of this total number, 60% suffer from chronic pain and the remaining 40% recover fully after a short period of time. Even children are not exempt from this debilitating disorder. Medical cases have shown that children can suffer from neck pain when they sustain skateboard or bicycle falls, jump on the trampoline, carry heavy school backpacks daily, suffer from obesity, sit in front of the television or computer for prolonged periods of time, or use too many pillows when sleeping. Many Colorado sports activities can lead to sports injuries like skiing at places like Vail, Loveland, Keystone etc.

You should not wait to become part of the statistics for neck pain before taking action. Neck pain can be prevented through a healthy diet, regular exercise, proper posture and ergonomics (while sitting, standing, and lying down), and less emotional stress. It must also be kept in mind that when a person suffers from neck pain, no matter how slight or fleeting, it is always best not to self-medicate; instead, seek help for neck pain.

Posted from Denver, Colorado, United States.

It is important to be aware of the different causes of back injuries, especially the ones that you have control of so that you can prevent having these injuries. There are four common types of back injuries. These are acute back strain, chronic back strain, vertebral compression fracture, and herniated disk.

Acute Back Injuries

When a patient is diagnosed to be suffering from acute back strain the patient has torn (in part or fully) muscles of the back. Another case is the acute back sprain diagnosis; this is when a patient has torn (in part or fully) ligaments that support the back. The most common symptoms are back pain and stiffness that is aggravated by any strenuous activity. Back strain and back sprain are the two most common back injuries, whose treatments include simple stretching exercises, pain medications, and getting enough rest.

Chronic Back Strain

A patient who has chronic back strain or pain has been diagnosed to have recurring back pain caused by overuse. Sprains happen the moment your back moves beyond its standard range of movement. Like most back injuries, chronic back strain is characterized by stiffness in the back that can migrate or radiate down to the legs. Chiropractic care and physical therapy are two of the most common treatments for chronic back strain. Activities of daily living should be evaluated and altered to remove the stressors of the condition.

Vertebral Compression Fracture

Some back injuries are sometimes aggravated by certain medical conditions. For example, when you are suffering from osteoporosis or certain types of cancer, you are at risk of having vertebral compression fractures. This back injury happens when you have a ‘broken’ or compressed  vertebra. In case you didn’t know, your spine is composed of a group of bones called the vertebrae (the singular form is vertebra). An injury that caused one vertebra to become squeezed in between two adjoining vertebrae results in vertebral compression fracture.  The symptoms include tenderness in your back and pain that is felt more intensely when you move, usually severe. The spine may also appear to curve abnormally.

Herniated Disk Back Injuries

A herniated disk could be the most painful and most difficult back injuries and can cause sciatica, numbing, pinched nerve or severe lower back pain. It occurs when the soft tissue inside a disk in the spine is pushed outside a weakened disk wall, forming bulges along the side of the disk. The bulge is made more prominent when the disk is subjected to a lot of stress like when lifting heavy objects. Many of cases occur in the lower back (like at L5 or L4); however, herniated  discs (disks) are common in the cervical spine as well neck. Symptoms include severe back pain that radiates down to the legs, (or arms and hands from a disc in the neck like C5 or C6) numbness of the leg and foot, and difficulty in walking.

Knowing all these four types of back injuries is very important especially when you or a family member is showing signs and symptoms of back pain. Being aware of the symptoms of these back injuries will also help your doctor to accurately diagnose your injury.

Posted from Lakewood, Colorado, United States.

Lower back pain can be caused by a number of factors. Sometimes back problems are quite common as you age because of the changes in your bone density, degeneration and arthritis. Though back pain can occur in just about any part of your back, lower back pain is the most common. Most of us have experienced LBP after lifting a heavy item. You know,  you feel that sudden pain on your lower back? That is because lifting the heavy item might have caused strain on your muscles or compression on your joints or lumbar discs.

Lower Back Pain Symptoms

Pain in the lower back is the most common of back pain symptoms. The lower back pain may either radiate down to your leg or just be confined to your lower back. The pain may or may not go away after some time and rest; however, it can keep on recurring when you perform certain activities. Pain that is is more evident after prolonged sitting or standing can be a problem. The lower back pain may be associated with numbness in the leg, sciatica, making it difficult to stand up or walk.

Since pain in the lower back is often caused by muscle strain, the best relief from the pain is to rest your spine and see the extent of the injury. This will prevent further damage to your muscles and spine, and allow your muscles to not be injured further.

I frequently recommend putting a pillow between the knees while you are lying on one side. Or lying on your back with a pillow under both your knees to ease lower back pain.

Doing some lower back stretches can do wonders, too. (Like McKenzie exercises) One effective exercise requires you to lie down on your back on the floor or a firm bed. Then gently raise your knees up until they are above your stomach. Slowly spread your knees and grab the inside of your shins just below your knees. If you can reach for your ankles, that’s even better. While exhaling, bring your knees further out to the side. While doing this, you will feel your inner thigh stretching as your back relaxes. Stay in that position for a few minutes, continuously breathing slowly and smoothly. You may also try bringing one knee to your chest, then both and then each knee up towards the opposite shoulder.

You may have heard about traditional Chinese medicine. A lot of people resort to these centuries-old remedies to alleviate a lot of common ailments, including lower back pain. Some of the popular remedies for lower back pain are acupuncture, herbal remedies, massage techniques, and my favorite…chiropractic care.

Lower Back Pain Remedies

If you are industrious, and stubborn you may try to make a liniment out of common items that you can find in your pantry. Extract the juice from grated ginger. Then mix together equal parts of ginger juice extract and sesame oil. Next, heat the liquid mixture until warm. You may apply a small amount on the painful area and massage for a few minutes. This home-made liniment effectively stops the pain and aids in blood circulation.  It is generally safe to apply several times a day.

Treating lower back pain on your own is not the best approach if the symptoms persist, it is still advisable to consult your chiropractor or physician  to avoid further complications in case the injury is serious.. And if all else fails…a chiropractor in the Lakewood, Littleton and Denver area who has options such as spinal decompression, K-laser therapy, sports medicine treatments, computerized adjusting, spider-tech tape and spinal manipulation can be ‘just what the doctor ordered’ for lower back pain.

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Thank you reading our article Lower back pain – quick pain relief remedies.

Posted from Lakewood, Colorado, United States.

Back pain symptoms are some of the most common of problems, not just in the Denver Metro area of the U.S. but all around the world. Fortunately, many back pain problems are temporary and are often caused by certain overuse activities that an individual is not used to doing or from injuries or accidents. However, there are symptoms and signs that are caused by serious medical conditions or injuries, and that’s why knowing about the gamut of different back pain symptoms is important.

Many times, back pain can stem from poor posture. Your back muscles tend to receive maximum pressure while you are sitting on chairs that do not give adequate support to your spine – in fact sitting puts about 40% more pressure on your discs than standing. Accidents like sports injuries, say from a fall from riding on Green Mountain Mountain Bike Trail or car accidents near a busy intersection like Hampden and Wadsworth, can also cause back pain problems. Strenuous activities, especially if not conditioned or properly prepared, can also cause the development of back pain. Lifting heavy objects and bending are other activities that also may strain or injure your back.

You should observe and determine the exact location of your pain in order to accurately establish the treatment you may need. Doctors mainly rely on these back pain symptoms when prescribing the proper treatment. You can make it easier for your doctor or chiropractor to correctly diagnose your problem by observing the back pain symptoms  you might be experiencing or the ones that led up to the main problem.

The most common back pain symptoms include pain that starts from the upper back or lower back and some can even radiate down the leg (sciatica). Constant pain and stiffness are often experienced in the neck or lower back.

In order to get the most appropriate medication or back pain treatments, back pain symptoms can be classified as mild, moderate, and severe.

Here are just some of the most common mild symptoms:

• Mild aches (usually muscular)
• Sporadic sharp pains that  go away after a few minutes (maybe muscle or joint)
• A feeling of discomfort on the affected area or to other areas (maybe referred pain from a different area)
• Pain that usually appears after doing a strenuous activity (overuse, repetitive stress or maybe just healthy fatigue)

Meanwhile, the following are usually present with moderate back pain symptoms:

• Unceasing aches
• Very painful and persistent pains that do not seem to go away
• Presence of numbness or tingling (usually nerve involvement)
• Pain that is felt all the time (definitely not normal)

Your back pain symptoms are considered severe when the following characteristics are present:

• Constant aches that get worse
• Sharp pains felt that are long-lasting, spans multiple ares
• Pain or discomfort that is felt on the chest, arms or legs, and which radiates from the back
• A feeling of numbness that does not go away
• Marked difficulty in doing common daily activities like walking or standing up
• Inability to stop or start urination or defecation (usually a ‘red flag’ go to emergency room)

If are you experiencing any of the above back pain symptoms, it is highly recommended that you see a doctor immediately so that you will be given the proper treatment, especially if the back pain symptoms are persistent and severe.

These symptoms, no matter how mild or how severe they may be, should not be ignored, because, for one, these symptoms are the only wya your body can talk to you. My advice? LISTEN!

The early diagnosis of back pain problems is important, especially if your back pain seem to worsen each time your bend forward or even when you get radiating pain when you cough. These could indicate a condition known as a herniated disk. This is a very serious condition. Imaging studies such as an MRI and a thorough assessment is usually the best thing to do…right away.

Pay close attention to your back pain symptoms

Observe carefully how your signs and symptoms present themselves. Most importantly, don’t be shy about seeking chiropractic care, even for just the most trivial back pain symptoms as they may be a warning sign of bigger things to come.

Posted from Lakewood, Colorado, United States.