Inheriting Back Pain

Certain types of back problems may have a hereditary link. It's worth it to have your kids checked before problems set in! You understand that back pain may result from multiple causes, including improper lifting, trauma and emotional distress, but some wonder if hereditary factors can play a role in back pain. Certain spine conditions appear to be passed genetically from generation to generation. These include: Scoliosis – Abnormal spinal curves that run side to side, rather than front to back curves. Heredity is responsible for a 25% greater chance of developing abnormal spinal curves. Degenerative disc disease, disc herniation – A difference in the chemical properties of some people’s disks may render them more prone to fragmentation or herniation, conditions that trigger back pain. Osteoarthritis – Caused by the erosion of cartilage in spinal joints as a result of the aging process. A genetic predisposition for this condition is often passed down from the mother’s side of the family. Osteoporosis – Loss of bone mass that tends to occur mostly in older, post-menopausal women – the result of decreased estrogen production. Spondylolisthesis – A defect in a vertebra that may cause the vertebra to shift forward, out of alignment with the rest of the spinal column. This condition may result from a fracture and a genetic abnormality may predispose someone to a thin vertebra in the lumbar spine. Obesity-related back pain – Extra body weight adds undue pressure to the spine and increases the amount of pain associated with any existing back condition. But here's the catch. And it's a big one. The study of epigenetics is revealing that DNA is not our destiny. In other words, environmental and lifestyle decisions we make can profoundly affect whether certain inherited genes express themselves. So, the choices we make about nutrition, exercise and even the thoughts we think can interrupt unhealthy patterns we may inherit. It's one more reason to get regular chiropractic checkups to make sure our nervous system, the master system that controls everything, is in tiptop shape.

Why We Recommend Frequent Visits

When patients begin chiropractic care we will frequently recommend up to three visits per week or more. We're often asked how we arrive at this visit schedule. Since the patient is doing the healing, not us, everyone responds differently. Predicting the best course of care is a combination of education, experience and keen observation skills. A chiropractic adjustment applies a specific force, at a specific location, in a specific direction to assist your body in "righting" itself. We supply energy at the right time and place so your body can use it. Frequent visits at the beginning of care creates the repetition needed to establish a healthier spinal pattern. For most new patients, up to three times a week seems to produce the best results in the shortest amount of time.

Back Problems Cause What?

Removing misalignments in the mid-back can alleviate a host of medical problems. The central nervous system controls all organs and functions in your body. When there is a misalignment in your spine, the nervous system may become compromised, causing a vertebral subluxation. The areas (organs and functions) of the body affected by the vertebral subluxation may malfunction. Specific symptoms may signal that this malfunction is present. Here are the areas of the body that are controlled by the nerves stemming from between each vertebra in the thoracic (mid back) spine, and the related symptoms that may be experienced due to a vertebral subluxation in that area: Vertebra Areas/Organs Affected Possible Symptoms Indicating Subluxation T1 Arms (elbows down) hands, wrists, fingers, esophagus, trachea Pain in lower arms and hands, cough, difficulty breathing, asthma, T2 Heart Heart conditions T3 Lungs, chest, breast, bronchial tubes, pleura Pneumonia, bronchitis, pleurisy, chest congestion T4 Gall bladder Shingles, Gall bladder conditions, jaundice T5 Liver, solar plexus, general circulation Blood pressure problems, liver problems, arthritis, poor circulation T6 Stomach, Heartburn, stomach conditions, indigestion T7 Pancreas, duodenum, Gastritis, ulcers T8 Spleen, Decreased resistance T9 Adrenal and supra-renal glands, Hives, allergies T10 Kidneys, Chronic fatigue, kidney conditions, nephritis T11 Kidneys, ureters,Skin conditions (acne), eczema T12 Small intestines, lymph system, Gas pains, certain types of sterility To keep the areas affected by the mid-back section of the spine healthy, practice good spinal hygiene! Get to our practice for regular check ups to stay on track and keep your nervous system working in tip-top condition!

Tension Headaches

I have many patients that I have helped over the years at my Chiropractic office in Plantation. Tension headaches are - big surprise! - often triggered by stress. Here are some basic facts about tension (stress) headaches. They usually affect women more often than men. Generally, you feel them coming on slowly, usually in the middle of the day. You can have daily headaches or they can occur episodically. They are the most common type of headache, affecting from 30% - 80% of all adults. Finding the cause of tension headaches can be problematic. They may be triggered by stress, fatigue, depression, certain activities in which you hold your head in the same position for a long time (such as working on a computer), anxiety, PMS or hormonal changes, repressed anger, sleeping in an abnormal position and teeth grinding. Spinal misalignments are common culprits too. Many who experience tension headaches rely on non-prescription medications to reduce the pain. Ironically, overuse of these drugs can actually trigger subsequent episodes of tension headaches! Non-medical approaches may actually prove more beneficial. Relaxation therapy and biofeedback techniques, stress management, proper diet and nutrition (avoiding certain foods and additives that may cause tension headaches), massage and sleep can certainly help reduce the triggers that may cause your headaches. Naturally, chiropractic care is extremely effective in reducing the frequency and severity of tension headaches. Several studies have shown chiropractic care to be as effective as antidepressant medication in treating this type of headache, and these same studies concluded that the benefits received from chiropractic care actually lasted longer afterwards. If you suffer from frequent tension headaches, or know someone who does, please be sure to send them our way. My Chiropractic office is located in Plantation in the Plantation Professional Plaza at 301 NW 84th Ave, Suite 301 Plantation, 33324.

Causes of Subluxations

At my Chiropractic office in Plantation, many patients often ask how do I get subluxations?

Sometimes a bad day at the office is all it takes to interfere with your nervous system.

Not only must your spine help you stand erect, it must allow you to move while allowing the vital nerve communications between your brain and your body. Your spinal cord and nerve roots are the most vulnerable part of your nervous system. That’s why we’re so interested in your spine. If your spine isn’t working right, your nervous system probably isn’t either—even if you feel great and don’t have any outwardly noticeable symptoms!

There are many causes of spinal subluxations, which fall into three broad categories. Here are some of the causes our patients have mentioned:

Physical

Being born
Learning to walk
Raking leaves
Shoveling dirt
Car accidents
Getting into your car
Sitting on your wallet
Hotel beds
Contact sports
High heeled shoes
Sweeping the garage
A bad pillow
Mental

Getting bad news
Tomorrow’s deadline
Stress
Feeling rushed
Job interview
Frustration
The holidays
Paying the bills
Being late
Your mother-in-law
Funerals
A speeding ticket
Chemical

Drugs
Muscle relaxers
Alcohol
Pain pills
Cigarette smoke
Paint fumes
Sleeping pills
Preservatives
Allergic reactions
Too much coffee
Anesthesia

One or more of these may be a cause of the headaches and neck pain you've been suffering with for months now! A car accident or sports injury are obvious causes of subluxations - but sometimes it just takes a bad day at work.

If you are interested in having your spine checked for Subluxations, please call my Chiropractic office in Plantation office at 954-693-7601.

Pain Is Not The Problem

Many people begin chiropractic care because of an ache or a pain. Pain can be distracting, debilitating, irritating or annoying. Pain can be chronic, acute, intense or intermittent. Pain can be sharp or dull. And pain can be localized or general.

Pain may be a pain, but pain is not the problem!

Pain is a symptom. A signal. A sign. An indicator. A warning. Pain is no more a problem than a traffic light or your alarm clock jarring you awake.

If there's a problem, it's the meaning we attach to the pain.

When we meet patients who are in pain, our first thought is that they must have exceeded some physical, chemical or emotional limit to which they can no longer adapt. So, while we're interested in the pain, we're even more interested in what was the underlying cause of the pain. Did it just happen? Has it been present a long time? What circumstances brought it on? Plus, what change(s) should be made to avoid this in the future?

Do you know someone who lives in the Plantation area and thinks pain is a problem? Please send them our way. Because in our Chiropractic office in Plantation, pain is never a problem!

Sports Injuries to the Cervical Spine

Athletes of all types may receive neck injuries of varying severity.

Sports provide the perfect “arena” for injuries to the cervical spine or neck. Contact sports such as football, hockey, wrestling and rugby head the list of offenders, but non-contact sports such as skiing, skating, diving and track and field may also result in neck injuries.

The most common types of cervical spine injuries in sports include:

Cervical sprains/strains – includes injuries to the ligaments and/or muscles in the neck, which may result in pain that radiates to the shoulders, back, arms and hands.

Fractures or dislocations – these are far more serious and may lead to spinal cord injuries that can produce paralysis.

Damage to discs - includes tears, ruptures or herniation.
The most serious type of cervical spine injury is a spinal cord injury, which can lead to an inability to move, numbness, tingling sensations, inability to control leg/arm muscles, and/or loss of bladder or bowel control.

Many chiropractors have garnered permanent positions on all types of school, amateur and professional sports teams, including the Olympics, and for good reason. Sports chiropractors, in particular, have received specialized training in the care of sports injuries. Many medical doctors have not received the necessary training to effectively diagnose and treat the neuromusculoskeletal problems that are so common among athletes.

Even wiser than proper care for upper spine injuries is prevention. And that’s where chiropractic care shines. Regular chiropractic care, along with proper strengthening, can help maintain this vital area of your spine and nervous system and help withstand the stress of competition.

Do you know one of those competitive types who should be seeing us? Urge them to see us. At my Chiropractic office in Plantation, I can quickly determine if they’d be a good candidate for chiropractic care. Remind them that Olympic contenders and professional sports teams already see the wisdom of today’s chiropractic care.

The Healing Power of the Mind

Question: What do the spells cast by voodoo practitioners and researchers testing the effectiveness of the latest drug concoction have in common?
Answer: The placebo effect. The placebo effect means the more you believe you'll benefit from a drug or procedure, the more likely it is that you will experience a benefit.

From time to time we encounter skeptics who dismiss the sometimes amazing results our patients receive. Writing them off as merely the placebo effect, these cynics virtually ignore the mind/body connection that most forward-thinking health care experts are finally starting to recognize.

Placebo (from the Latin "I will please") is often a sugar pill or some type of sham treatment designed to specifically invoke the beliefs of the patient, and in double blind studies, the beliefs of the doctor. Some studies show that placebos are 30% to 40% effective.

And don't overlook the "nocebo" effect!

Nocebo (from the Latin "I will harm") is based on the effects of negative beliefs. Telling someone to get their affairs in order because they have two months to live is almost a death sentence! Being "scared to death" or "worried sick" can be equally powerful expressions of our self-talk.

Is the success that chiropractic patients enjoy merely the placebo effect? Hardly. Chiropractic helps newborns, infants and even pets, for which the power of the believing mind is difficult to explain.

As you know from personal experience, chiropractic results are real. If you know someone in Plantation that you think could benefit from Chiropractic, would you direct them our way? We'd love to help! I have helped thousands of Chiropractic Patients in Plantation over the past 23 years.

What Causes Muscle Cramps?

Don't let muscle cramps sideline you!

Many endurance athletes and daily exercisers alike suffer the pain of muscle cramps, usually in the calves, either during a sporting event or workout session or directly after. What causes these painful cramps?

There are many possible causes for why the cramping occurs. Some of these include dehydration, low blood sugar, salt imbalance due to sweating, nerve damage, compromised blood flow, heat or cold and even a disruption of energy along acupuncture meridians. While many of these are general causes of cramps, there is disagreement whether they are actually involved in exercise-induced cramping.

Research conducted by South African doctors on triathletes, and reported in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, July 2005, found that none of the these conditions seemed to actually cause the cramping. Rather, by conducting EMG studies on the athletes, the researchers demonstrated that the most likely cause of the cramping was muscle fatigue or a tear in the affected muscle itself.

The EMG studies showed noticeably higher electrical activity in the nerves that controlled the cramped muscles. They concluded that the muscle cramps appeared to be caused by exercise-induced damage to the muscles themselves. If that’s the case, muscle cramping can be prevented by slowing down when you feel tightness or soreness in any particular muscle.

Regular chiropractic care, along with pre-exercise stretching of the muscles are probably the two best ways to avoid muscle cramping. Should you start to feel a cramp or tightening, grabbing your toes and stretching the calf may stop the cramp, but most often, the muscle needs to simply rest for a bit.

The French Paradox

How do the French do it? They eat some of the richest, fat-laden foods in the world, yet they are some of the slimmest people in the world. In fact, only 7% of their population is considered obese!

The French eat more fat than we do, but they eat smaller portions and consumer fewer calories.

Red wine consumption is one explanation for this phenomenon. You know the French and their wines! One of the active ingredients in red wine is resveratrol, a grape compound from the skins of red grapes that reportedly fights cancer, heart disease and degenerative nerve disease. This fact alone led to an increase in red wine consumption worldwide.

One other thing about the French - they start out the day eating most of their daily food consumption, and then their meals get smaller as their day goes on.

Portion control seems to be another one of the main explanations for the paradox. Most portions are 25% smaller than what we’re accustomed.

Another thing. The French paradox is only a paradox if you assume that dietary fat is the major cause of obesity and cardiovascular disease. The French eat more fat than the rest of us, but they probably eat fewer calories, which over time can make a difference in weight gain.

You’ve no doubt heard the adage, “When in France, do as the French do.” Perhaps if we adopted their eating habits here, our obesity would diminish and our health would increase.