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We don’t work with just anyone at Thomas Chiropractic. Our doctors are people that share our values and ethics, people that we work with and trust. It’s not about hiring a Chiropractor, but building a family.
The Art of Diagnosis
Full confession, I really do not like the word diagnosis. It is a little too limited, definitive, and stodgy for my tastes. I believe that we would be better served just identifying dysfunctional body parts than knowing fancy words that typically just describe...
Tennis Elbow? I Do Not Even Play Tennis!
In a world where we have so much access to information, I find that when it comes to diagnoses, there are some overly-simplified patterns. If there is pain in the foot, it is plantar fasciitis, pain down the leg is labeled sciatica, and elbow pain is tennis elbow. Not...
Chiropractic and the 3 Main Causes of Vertigo
It could be the late cold season or a rampant allergy season, but I have had several patients come in with vertigo this month. If you do not know what vertigo is, lucky you! If you have experienced the nauseating feeling of being on solid ground while your brain is telling you that the tilt-a-whirl is in full force, then you know that vertigo can seriously affect your life. Vertigo is described as a feeling of being stable while objects around you are spinning. The three systems that can cause vertigo, in order of most common to least, are the inner ear, the neck, and the brain stem.
- The Inner Ear has a complex system of tiny hairlike sensors, called cilia, that send information to the brain based on the movement of fluid through a maze of canals. When there is in an increase of fluid in the inner ear or the fluid gets too thick and mucousy, it affects the movement of the cilia, and can cause vertigo. This is common with inner ear infections, colds, flus, hay fever, and sinus infections. Drainage is critical to success in treating vertigo caused by inner ear congestion. Chiropractic adjustments help loosen the muscles in the neck which allows for freer lymph flow and better drainage. In addition, cranial adjustments can help pump the congested sinus and promote drainage. Drinking plenty of water will also help to thin the mucous which will help is drain.
- The Neck, especially the top two vertebrae called the atlas and the axis, respectively, have sensors in the joints called proprioceptors. Proprioceptors relay position to the brain. They are found in all joints but the nerves in the neck are particularly sensitive to head movement. When these vertebrae do not move as they should, they send a mixed signal which can make the brain feel like the body is moving when it is not. Again, chiropractic adjustments will help reset proprioceptors which will restore the proper flow of position sense, thereby halting the vertigo.
- Brain Stem Dysfunction is by far the least treatable of the three. In general, brain injuries are extremely slow to heal. Depending on the nature of the injury, there is little hope of treatment save time and prayer. I have no empirical evidence, but I would imagine that hyperbaric therapy could be helpful. Chiropractic adjustments will not directly help but keeping the body and nervous system functioning well is always beneficial.
If you are suffering with vertigo, there are some easy, non-invasive tests to figure out which system is causing the symptoms. Treatment is effective and we usually see results pretty quickly in most cases.
5 Things To Do When Your Back Goes Out
Have you ever bent over to pick up something only to experience a pain like someone shoved a hot poker into your low back and then started pulling your muscles apart? Yeah, most of us have felt that at some point. Hopefully, it never happens to you, too, but if it does, here is what you do.
- Stop and Breathe. You are probably feeling like your life is about to end. Most of what you are experiencing is muscle spasm. Your back muscles are trying to protect you but they have dramatically overreacted. If you can, stay where you are and do your best to let the muscles settle down. Deep breaths and relaxation will dramatically speed up the process. Have some water and wait it out.
- Stretch backwards. Typically, when a back goes “out” there is a disc inbetween the vertebrae that is stuck in a bulging position. Bending backwards will help squish that disc back to the center and will also shorten the spasmimg muscles. Go easy with this. Gently push into a cobra position if you are on the floor. Otherwise, brace yourself with your hands on your backside and carefully arch backwards. Do it several times in a row and often thereafter. Here is an old video for demonstration.
- Walk, Lie Down, Do NOT Sit. When the spasm has settled down, walk a bit. Movement will help get the blood moving which helps to settle the muscles and get the disc moving. You do not want to overdo this. Move a bit and then lie down on your back with the knees bent. The firmer the surface, the better. Sitting will be counterproductive. When you sit, you increase the pressure on the disc and stretch the muscles of the lower back.
- Ice. Icing helps reduce inflammation. Typically, when a back goes out, there is inflammation. The quicker you can get rid of the inflammation, the better. It is not completely out of the question to use heat. Heat will soften the spasming muscles and allow you to move. However, heat also brings more inflammation. If you decide you cannot move without heat, use it, but then move around for a while and then follow up with ice. Both heat and ice should only be used for a maximum of 20 minutes. For ice, the skin needs to get cold enough to go numb to be successful. Here are the stages of ice, so you know you are doing it right.
- Go See Your Chiropractor. Once the spasms have settled down a bit, the inflammation is under control, and you are able to move, it is time to get the joints working properly and the disc back to a good shape. This is what chiropractors do best. An adjustment will get all of the joints in the area to move correctly which will allow the disc to heal properly. Get in as soon as possible before scar tissue makes that first adjustment a painful one.
I Was Told I Have One Leg Longer Than the Other
I see it everyday. For some patients it is a major concern. They tell me their previous chiropractor diagnosed them with it. I tighten my lips and lower my eyebrows with an empathetic look. On the inside my eyes are rolling. I can tell the patient needs me to understand that this is a serious chronic issue. This is obvious learned behavior from their previous doctors. I wonder if I am the only one that thinks this is no big deal. I try not to be condescending and to acknowledge their concern. The truth is that it is another temporary sign. I am talking, of course, about having a “short leg.”
The truth is that perfect symmetry in nature is rare. I am sure everyone has one leg a little shorter than the other if you start measuring in millimeters. This begs the question as to why one leg can look so much longer than the other? The answer is found in the mechanics of the body.
Most movements in the body have a coupled movement to help maintain balance and flexibility. Side to side bending and rotation go together. In the low back, when a disc bulges and causes the vertebrae to bend to one side, it is accompanied by roation. Rotation, in turn, contracts…
Chiropractic and the Law of the Club
In Jack London’s Call of the Wild, the main character, a dog named Buck, finds himself face to face with a man who has a club in his hand. Buck attacks that man in an attempt to escape his abduction, only to be hit painfully on the head nearly unconscious. He attacks again with the same result. Buck is a large and powerful dog and honestly feels he can beat this man. However, after several more attempts, he finally submits believing that if he continues, he will end up dead. He reasons that the man with the club in his hand is too persistent and strong and therefore must be obeyed.
Switching perspectives to the man with the club, there has to be some trepidation when confronted by a large animal with sharp teeth.
The Cost of Waiting
Abraham Lincoln once said, “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” The same is true for addressing your health concerns. Several times each day I have patients come in who tell me they have been hurting for days, weeks, months, or even years. The story is usually that they just thought it would get better on its own but it never did. Inevitably, they express their remorse at waiting to come in.
The truth is that with any injury, the body starts the healing process immediately. The concern is whether you will heal correctly. The body will compensate in whichever way it can to stabilize. If muscles are tight or ligaments are overstretched, it will alter the proper movement of joints. Such improper movement causes the nervous system to become confused and ultimately desensitized. Consequently, the body will lay down scar tissue that will promote the new and improper movement patterns which leaves the body susceptible to reinjury or to injury of surrounding tissue.
As a chiropractor, if I can help move the joints in a proper manner before inflammation and scar tissue sets in, then the healing process is a much easier ordeal. If you wait until scar tissue repair has set in when you come in to see me, the first step will be for me to tear down most of that process so the healing can start over. As with remodeling kitchens, the demolition can be ugly. The old adage of getting worse before it gets better is often in play and can lead to a few days of discomfort.
Meet Eric Wagnon, DC!
If you have been in the office over the last three weeks, you may have seen a tall gentleman in passing or treating patients. We are happy to welcome Dr. Eric Wagnon!
Dr. Wagnon has relocated his practice from Rocklin to be with us. He brings with him nearly seven years of experience in helping others improve their health through chiropractic care. Dr. Wagnon and his wife, Jackie, are residents of Rocklin along with their children Tucker, Taylor, Tessa, Tyce, and twins, Trey and Talia. Dr. Wagnon was raised in the Sacramento area. His father has been practicing as a successful chiropractor for 30 years. Dr. Wagnon’s undergraduate studies in Biology were completed at Brigham Young University, and his Doctor of Chiropractic degree was attained from Life Chiropractic College West. He is also fluent in Spanish.
Dr. Wagnon plays an active role in the community involved with the Rocklin Chamber of Commerce and speaks regularly to different clubs, groups, schools, and organizations on different Wellness topics to help change the health of our community.
Consistency and Persistency in Chiropractic
First off, I know that persistency is not a real word. It is a joke to get your attention. Even if Charles Barkley, or any other athlete turned commentator, might use such a faux word to great effect, the true word is persistence. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about why this is the topic of this article.
We live in an instant gratification society. People want to see results immediately and there is very little patience if they do not. This is true in healthcare, as well. The only problem is that it does not work. Healing is a process that takes time, effort and energy. The more consistent the effort and energy put into healing over time, the better the results.
In addition, there is significantly more value in going through the process. All too often, I am sitting across from a patient explaining the healing process and how it takes time and consistency when I see the glaze fall over their eyes. From there, they either just ignore what I explained or they honestly believe they are the exception. Very few people are the exception, that is why they are the exception!
Keeping It Simple
I love being a chiropractor. I feel blessed to get to know so many great people and help them improve their health. I love discovering new things about the human body and the microcosm it is. I have seen thousands of patients come in hurting and dysfunctional and after a relatively short amount of time, they are feeling and functioning better. I love the simplicity of what I do.
In my profession, there are many ways to practice. I choose to keep my practice focused on the joints. There are hundreds of joints in the body and each one feeds the brain with information. When the joints work properly, the nervous system has a better chance at working properly, and if the nervous system works well, the body will be healthier. Simple! Right?
My success comes by improving joint movement. I do it well and I am fortunate enough to adjust around 400 patients a week. I get asked all the time how is it possible to adjust that many people? The truth is, I could do more. The fact that I am writing this article during office hours proves I could. I do my best to never rush but it does not take a lot of time to adjust someone and I am typically pretty quick at understanding where the dysfunction is. I do spend more time with new patients but a regular adjustment takes anywhere from two to three minutes.
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