There are several myths or misunderstandings about Chiropractic that are floating around. There is one myth that I feel is actually worth explaining. The others I will let stand; it kind of adds to the air of mystery surrounding Chiropractors, and I think I would miss that if it was totally gone.
The #1 misunderstanding that I hear is: Once you go to a Chiropractor, you have to keep going forever. There are several reasons for this misunderstanding, with not the least being the confusion between "have to keep going", and "want to keep going." For the most part, Chiropractors see patients for one of three main reasons. One, to help someone heal from an injury or acute episode of pain; two, to help someone feel better and manage a chronic or uncorrectable problem; and three, to help someone maintain a healthy spine in order to be healthier, prevent injury, and function better. Most patients are introduced to Chiropractic care for one of the first two reasons, but often maintain a relationship with a Chiropractor for the third reason.
In order to help someone maintain a healthier spine, it takes periodic visits; much like it takes periodic visits to a dentist to maintain healthy teeth. Unfortunately, unlike dental check-ups which can occur every 6 months or so, Chiropractic check-ups need to happen much more frequently. Our bodies, and specifically our spines, undergo an amazing amount of stress on a daily basis, which can result in stiff joints, tight muscles, and improper joint movement patterns. If left alone, this can lead to major episodes of pain and chronic problems. When corrected on a regular basis, these types of problems can be better avoided. A good rule of thumb for most people who have generally healthy spines is a check-up about every 2 weeks. Even though regular visits will keep you feeling better and reduce your risk of developing more complicated spinal problems, don't let anyone tell you that if you don't go often, you are guaranteed to have problems, or end of having surgery, or other such dire consequences. It is simply not true.
For the individuals that have chronic, uncorrectable problems, Chiropractic adjustments will usually help them feel better for a while, but they will start hurting again eventually. The idea behind regular adjustments in this case, is to keep them feeling as good as they possibly can and to keep the spine as healthy as it can be. Once again, this is a choice that individuals are allowed to make; to feel better or not.
It is always a matter of choice. Come in as long as you need to in order to feel better, or keep coming on a regular basis in order to stay feeling better, stay healthier, and try your best to prevent bigger problems from occurring.
If you have other questions that you would like answered or other "things" you have heard and want to know about, contact Dr. Calvin Shanks at 270-450-0848, calvinshanks@gmail.com, www.thefixchiro.com, or come by the office at 4645 Village Square Drive in Paducah (Behind The Home Depot).
Showing posts with label chiropractic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chiropractic. Show all posts
Monday, August 30, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Putting the final nails on the sugar coffin....
I am probably overdoing it with my anti-sugar campaign, but here is another great article about the dangers of sugar.
Click Here
Click Here
Friday, August 20, 2010
Sugar, Sugar
The following links expose the detrimental health effects of sugar.
http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/sugar.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32543288/
http://rheumatic.org/sugar.htm
http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/sugar.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32543288/
http://rheumatic.org/sugar.htm
Friday, July 9, 2010
New Study Shows That the United States Has the Worst Health Care.
A recent study showed that the United States ranks lasts among industrialized nations in quality of health care. Go to my website www.thefixchiro.com and click on the articles tab at the top for a review and access to the full text of the study.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
A Recently Published Study Shows the Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care for Back Pain.
A recently published article in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine found that many people who use chiropractic and other forms of alternative medicine for treatment of back pain find benefit from the services. For a review of the article: go to MedicalNewsToday, or for the full text, go to: JABFM.
Friday, June 18, 2010
What a great week!
This week has been awesome! I am so happy with all of the positive feedback we are getting. Sarah and I are very grateful to everyone who shared their ideas with us and helped get our marketing and advertising on the right track. I would like to give a special thanks to Sign-A-Rama, they went out of their way this week for us. Stay tuned for more posts next week. To all of our new clients: it was great working with you and I look forward to serving you in the future.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Should I use ice or heat? I answer this commonly asked question.
I get asked this question more than any other and the answer is actually pretty simple. Let me explain first what ice and do when you put them on your body, then I will explain the two different scenarios for their use, followed by some do’s and don’ts.
Both ice and heat serve to interrupt the pain that is traveling from an injured area to your brain. Essentially what happens is that the information your body transmits about the heat or cold, travels to your brain faster than pain, so you don’t feel the pain as much. Both heat and cold serve to reduce muscle spasms and muscle tension. Heat increased the circulation to an area, thereby bringing more nutrients and taking away more harmful waste products. Ice reduces the circulation to an area, thereby reducing swelling. So, they both work and technically it probably does not matter which you use, but there are specific times when one works much better than the other.
It is always best to use ice for the first 48-72 hours right after an injury; this is also known as an acute injury. R.I.C.E is an acronym standing for the things you should do to treat an acute injury; Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate. The ice will help to decrease the swelling and inflammation. After the first 48-72 hours, you can switch to heat, which will help to relieve any muscle tension while you continue to heal.
It is best to use heat for chronic muscle soreness or soreness after an activity (as long as an injury with swelling is not present). The heat will help the muscles relax better. Heat can also be helpful for chronic joint pain such as arthritis (osteoarthritis).
The directions for using ice and heat are the same. Apply ice or heat for 15-20 minutes at a time only! No longer! Then take away the ice or heat until the skin returns to room temperature, I usually recommend 30-40 minutes, then you can re-apply the ice or heat. It is ok to use a bag of ice or a commercial ice pack. For heat, it is best to use a moist heat source such as a hot shower, hot tub, or hot towel (but be careful not to burn yourself).
Now for the don’ts. Do not put ice directly on your skin; always use a towel or other protective barrier. Leaving ice on for longer than 20 minutes can have the exact opposite effect from what you are going for (think about what happens to your nose and cheeks when you come inside after being out in the cold for a long time). Never, never use an electric heating pad, especially not to sleep on. I know it feels good, but you are probably doing yourself more harm than good.
Both ice and heat serve to interrupt the pain that is traveling from an injured area to your brain. Essentially what happens is that the information your body transmits about the heat or cold, travels to your brain faster than pain, so you don’t feel the pain as much. Both heat and cold serve to reduce muscle spasms and muscle tension. Heat increased the circulation to an area, thereby bringing more nutrients and taking away more harmful waste products. Ice reduces the circulation to an area, thereby reducing swelling. So, they both work and technically it probably does not matter which you use, but there are specific times when one works much better than the other.
It is always best to use ice for the first 48-72 hours right after an injury; this is also known as an acute injury. R.I.C.E is an acronym standing for the things you should do to treat an acute injury; Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate. The ice will help to decrease the swelling and inflammation. After the first 48-72 hours, you can switch to heat, which will help to relieve any muscle tension while you continue to heal.
It is best to use heat for chronic muscle soreness or soreness after an activity (as long as an injury with swelling is not present). The heat will help the muscles relax better. Heat can also be helpful for chronic joint pain such as arthritis (osteoarthritis).
The directions for using ice and heat are the same. Apply ice or heat for 15-20 minutes at a time only! No longer! Then take away the ice or heat until the skin returns to room temperature, I usually recommend 30-40 minutes, then you can re-apply the ice or heat. It is ok to use a bag of ice or a commercial ice pack. For heat, it is best to use a moist heat source such as a hot shower, hot tub, or hot towel (but be careful not to burn yourself).
Now for the don’ts. Do not put ice directly on your skin; always use a towel or other protective barrier. Leaving ice on for longer than 20 minutes can have the exact opposite effect from what you are going for (think about what happens to your nose and cheeks when you come inside after being out in the cold for a long time). Never, never use an electric heating pad, especially not to sleep on. I know it feels good, but you are probably doing yourself more harm than good.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
If I go to a Chiropractor for my neck pain, will I have to keep going forever?
I get asked this question and ones like it a lot; the short answer is YES.
You probably did not expect me to say that did you? Probably if I was smart, I would come up with some compelling reasons why this is not true, but what can I say, the answer is YES.
Let’s look at this a little more closely, and I will explain. First of all, NO, you don’t really have to keep going to a chiropractor forever if you go once for neck pain, low back pain, headaches, or anything else like that. You don’t have to do anything except pay taxes (or something like that). However, there are three basic reasons that people tend to return to a chiropractor after going once. Let’s talk about them.
The first reason is a really bad reason, and I would advise you to make sure that you don’t keep going back to a chiropractor for this reason. Reason number one: you get told that if you don’t keep coming for a long time that you will end up having surgery, or being paralyzed, or something even worse. This is not true, but some chiropractors out there still insist on feeding their patients this line of bull. The real reason here is that it works out well for the Chiropractor’s pocketbook. If you hear something like this, run!
Reason number two: Many patients do not realize how bad they are hurting, or how bad it is affecting their lives until they start feeling better after getting adjusted by a Chiropractor. They may go through the normal period of corrective care (usually a couple of months) and for the most part feel normal again. Here is the kicker though, after you have been adjusted by a good chiropractor and your body really begins to feel great, you want to keep it that way. Also, you are now much more aware of what your body is supposed to feel like, so when it begins to feel just a little bit off, you want to get back to normal, quick! Hence the frequent return to the chiropractor for “maintenance” adjustments.
Ok, the final reason: Can you ever stop eating? Can you ever stop breathing? Sleeping? You get the point, something are necessary for life. Are Chiropractic adjustments as important as eating and breathing? Of course not! Think about this though, let’s say you are 75lbs overweight and you have horrible eating habits and you don’t exercise. Now, go on a diet and start working out at the gym. For the sake of our example we will pretend that in 16 months you have lost the 75lbs, are eating great, and exercise regularly. What is going to happen if you all of a sudden stop? What if you go back to your old habits? Will you keep the weight off, or will you end up right back where you were? The same is true with Chiropractic adjustments. In order to keep the spine as healthy as possible you have to keep up healthy habits, like getting adjusted on a regular basis.
Now we have covered why a person might keep going to a Chiropractor “forever.” Does that mean that if you go to a Chiropractor for a specific problem that you absolutely have to go back forever? No, it is still a free world. A good Chiropractor is going to explain the importance of “maintaining” a healthy spine however, and whether you choose to listen or not, is entirely up to you.
You probably did not expect me to say that did you? Probably if I was smart, I would come up with some compelling reasons why this is not true, but what can I say, the answer is YES.
Let’s look at this a little more closely, and I will explain. First of all, NO, you don’t really have to keep going to a chiropractor forever if you go once for neck pain, low back pain, headaches, or anything else like that. You don’t have to do anything except pay taxes (or something like that). However, there are three basic reasons that people tend to return to a chiropractor after going once. Let’s talk about them.
The first reason is a really bad reason, and I would advise you to make sure that you don’t keep going back to a chiropractor for this reason. Reason number one: you get told that if you don’t keep coming for a long time that you will end up having surgery, or being paralyzed, or something even worse. This is not true, but some chiropractors out there still insist on feeding their patients this line of bull. The real reason here is that it works out well for the Chiropractor’s pocketbook. If you hear something like this, run!
Reason number two: Many patients do not realize how bad they are hurting, or how bad it is affecting their lives until they start feeling better after getting adjusted by a Chiropractor. They may go through the normal period of corrective care (usually a couple of months) and for the most part feel normal again. Here is the kicker though, after you have been adjusted by a good chiropractor and your body really begins to feel great, you want to keep it that way. Also, you are now much more aware of what your body is supposed to feel like, so when it begins to feel just a little bit off, you want to get back to normal, quick! Hence the frequent return to the chiropractor for “maintenance” adjustments.
Ok, the final reason: Can you ever stop eating? Can you ever stop breathing? Sleeping? You get the point, something are necessary for life. Are Chiropractic adjustments as important as eating and breathing? Of course not! Think about this though, let’s say you are 75lbs overweight and you have horrible eating habits and you don’t exercise. Now, go on a diet and start working out at the gym. For the sake of our example we will pretend that in 16 months you have lost the 75lbs, are eating great, and exercise regularly. What is going to happen if you all of a sudden stop? What if you go back to your old habits? Will you keep the weight off, or will you end up right back where you were? The same is true with Chiropractic adjustments. In order to keep the spine as healthy as possible you have to keep up healthy habits, like getting adjusted on a regular basis.
Now we have covered why a person might keep going to a Chiropractor “forever.” Does that mean that if you go to a Chiropractor for a specific problem that you absolutely have to go back forever? No, it is still a free world. A good Chiropractor is going to explain the importance of “maintaining” a healthy spine however, and whether you choose to listen or not, is entirely up to you.
What causes Lower Back Pain when you wake up in the morning?
As a chiropractor, I get asked this question a lot, from people in their sixties and also from people in their twenties and thirties. Usually the symptoms are described as severe soreness and stiffness during the night while sleeping and/or when first getting up in the morning. For most people, the lower back pain and discomfort tends to ease up after thirty minutes to an hour after waking up.
So what is happening? Most doctors will just tell you that you have arthritis. While this may be possible, it is not exactly true. Arthritis is not a disease, but rather a process that can happen to a person’s joints, were the movement of the joints slowly decreases over time and allows stiffness and discomfort to set in. So, typically what has happened to someone who experiences pain at night while sleeping or stiffness in the morning upon waking up, is that the joints have stiffened up due to injury, lack of use, or chronic problems. Just like all the other tissues in our body, the joints need a constant supply of fresh nutrients and constant removal of waste products in order to stay healthy.
Unlike muscles, which have a blood supply to bring fresh nutrients in and take away waste products, the joints rely on movement. The movement of our joints acts as sort of a pump that is constantly exchanging fluid with the tissues around them. This allows for the delivery of fresh nutrients that can rejuvenate and repair joints as well as the removal of harmful waste products such as lactic acid. Through either acute injuries or chronic progressive miss-use, our joints tend to lose their normal movement, which allows for joint breakdown to occur, resulting in pain. The pain is usually worse at night or in the morning because a person has been very still for a prolonged period, resulting in more build up of harmful wastes. After moving around, the extra movement helps remove some of the waste and the joints begin to feel better, at least until the next morning.
Getting adjusted by a Chiropractor can help relieve this type of pain and discomfort as well as help restore the normal movement of the joints to prevent further occurrences.
For more information, go to our website www.thefixchiro.com
So what is happening? Most doctors will just tell you that you have arthritis. While this may be possible, it is not exactly true. Arthritis is not a disease, but rather a process that can happen to a person’s joints, were the movement of the joints slowly decreases over time and allows stiffness and discomfort to set in. So, typically what has happened to someone who experiences pain at night while sleeping or stiffness in the morning upon waking up, is that the joints have stiffened up due to injury, lack of use, or chronic problems. Just like all the other tissues in our body, the joints need a constant supply of fresh nutrients and constant removal of waste products in order to stay healthy.
Unlike muscles, which have a blood supply to bring fresh nutrients in and take away waste products, the joints rely on movement. The movement of our joints acts as sort of a pump that is constantly exchanging fluid with the tissues around them. This allows for the delivery of fresh nutrients that can rejuvenate and repair joints as well as the removal of harmful waste products such as lactic acid. Through either acute injuries or chronic progressive miss-use, our joints tend to lose their normal movement, which allows for joint breakdown to occur, resulting in pain. The pain is usually worse at night or in the morning because a person has been very still for a prolonged period, resulting in more build up of harmful wastes. After moving around, the extra movement helps remove some of the waste and the joints begin to feel better, at least until the next morning.
Getting adjusted by a Chiropractor can help relieve this type of pain and discomfort as well as help restore the normal movement of the joints to prevent further occurrences.
For more information, go to our website www.thefixchiro.com
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The Fix Chiropractic Solutions opens Monday June14th
We will be open on Monday June 14th. Please visit our website www.thefixchiro.com for more information.
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