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 headaches. Show all posts
Showing posts with label headaches. Show all posts
Monday, August 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
What is a Chiropractor? What Kinds of Problems do They Treat?
What is a Chiropractor? What Kinds of Problems do They Treat?
A chiropractor, or Doctor of Chiropractic, is a licensed physician with the educational and professional expertise in the area of treating musculoskeletal disorders of the spine; in other words, they are experts at treating symptoms such as back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Chiropractors commonly work with problems such as sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, disc problems, arthritis, and many others.
The word Chiropractor comes from the Greek words for “hand” and “practice or treat”, so Chiropractic literally means “treating with the hands”. This definition is very appropriate to the practice of Chiropractic, as Chiropractors work with their hands to “adjust” or “mobilize” the joints of the spine in order to provide a drug and surgery free method of relieving a person’s symptoms and restoring their spine back to normal health. Chiropractors rely on different adjusting techniques to correct postural problems, reduce structural misalignments, and improve joint range of motion. A Chiropractic adjustment is a specific movement or maneuver performed by a Chiropractor that includes the proper force, speed, and direction in order to effectively move or mobilize the bones of the spine. Chiropractors rely on their extensive background in spinal anatomy combined with years of hands-on education to provide adjustments in a comfortable, pain free, and safe manner.
Before beginning adjustments on a patient, Chiropractors typically take a thorough history, including information about the patient’s presenting problems, as well as past health history, relevant family health history, and a review of systems. A Chiropractor also performs a complete orthopedic and neurological exam to determine if the patient is a candidate for Chiropractic adjustments or if a referral needs to be made. The exam also helps to determine the projected length of treatment and expected outcomes. In some offices x-rays may be taken or referred out, depending on the needs of the patient.
Besides treating musculoskeletal conditions of the spine, many Chiropractors are heavily involved in preventative health measures as well. They are advocates of proper nutrition, exercise, non-smoking, natural foods, limited use of medications, proper posture, and proper biomechanics while at work. Many Chiropractors also recommend maintaining the health of the spine through the process of regular “maintenance” adjustments.
This has been a brief overview, for more information about the practice of Chiropractic, call or visit a local Chiropractor in your area.
Dr. Calvin Shanks, a practicing Chiropractor of nine (9) years is the owner of The Fix, Chiropractic Solutions in Paducah, KY. For more information please visit the website at www.thefixchiro.com, or telephone at 270-450-0848, or visit the office in The Village Business Center (behind The Home Depot, next to Dallas Medical and David Spicer Jewelers) in Paducah, KY.
A chiropractor, or Doctor of Chiropractic, is a licensed physician with the educational and professional expertise in the area of treating musculoskeletal disorders of the spine; in other words, they are experts at treating symptoms such as back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Chiropractors commonly work with problems such as sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, disc problems, arthritis, and many others.
The word Chiropractor comes from the Greek words for “hand” and “practice or treat”, so Chiropractic literally means “treating with the hands”. This definition is very appropriate to the practice of Chiropractic, as Chiropractors work with their hands to “adjust” or “mobilize” the joints of the spine in order to provide a drug and surgery free method of relieving a person’s symptoms and restoring their spine back to normal health. Chiropractors rely on different adjusting techniques to correct postural problems, reduce structural misalignments, and improve joint range of motion. A Chiropractic adjustment is a specific movement or maneuver performed by a Chiropractor that includes the proper force, speed, and direction in order to effectively move or mobilize the bones of the spine. Chiropractors rely on their extensive background in spinal anatomy combined with years of hands-on education to provide adjustments in a comfortable, pain free, and safe manner.
Before beginning adjustments on a patient, Chiropractors typically take a thorough history, including information about the patient’s presenting problems, as well as past health history, relevant family health history, and a review of systems. A Chiropractor also performs a complete orthopedic and neurological exam to determine if the patient is a candidate for Chiropractic adjustments or if a referral needs to be made. The exam also helps to determine the projected length of treatment and expected outcomes. In some offices x-rays may be taken or referred out, depending on the needs of the patient.
Besides treating musculoskeletal conditions of the spine, many Chiropractors are heavily involved in preventative health measures as well. They are advocates of proper nutrition, exercise, non-smoking, natural foods, limited use of medications, proper posture, and proper biomechanics while at work. Many Chiropractors also recommend maintaining the health of the spine through the process of regular “maintenance” adjustments.
This has been a brief overview, for more information about the practice of Chiropractic, call or visit a local Chiropractor in your area.
Dr. Calvin Shanks, a practicing Chiropractor of nine (9) years is the owner of The Fix, Chiropractic Solutions in Paducah, KY. For more information please visit the website at www.thefixchiro.com, or telephone at 270-450-0848, or visit the office in The Village Business Center (behind The Home Depot, next to Dallas Medical and David Spicer Jewelers) in Paducah, KY.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
I am having headaches that feel like a tight band around my head, what do I do?
Headaches are one of the number one problems that drive people to either visit a doctor or take over-the-counter pain medication. As a chiropractor, headaches are also one of the most common problems that I treat on a daily basis.
The most common type of headache is the tension headache, where the sufferer experiences a tight band around the head, almost as if the head were caught in a “vise-grip.” The pain and tightness is usually the most intense at the base of the skull and tends to start in the neck and shoulder muscles. The headache can last only one (1) day but may last up to a week or more. Tension headaches tend to be aggravated by stressful situations and can be brought on by prolonged periods of sitting in incorrectly supported positions such as while driving or sitting in a chair with poor support.
Even though tension headaches are the most common, researchers and medical professionals cannot reach an agreement as to the likely cause and appropriate treatment. As in many cases, it is often the most obvious answer that is easily overlooked. The fact is that most tension headaches sufferers also have poor upper back and neck posture, have reduced mobility of the joints of the neck, and experience chronic tightness of the neck and upper shoulder muscles. For many people, treatment and correction of these underlying causes is an extremely effective means to either reduce or totally eliminate these headaches.
The good news is that these treatments do not involve drugs or surgery. Both Chiropractors and Physical Therapists can work with headache sufferers to increase the mobility of the neck joints and to decrease the tension in the surrounding muscles. They can also provide advice related to proper ergonomics while driving and sitting and simple tips for things you can do at home when you feel a tension headache starting.
Dr. Calvin Shanks, a practicing Chiropractor of nine (9) years is the owner of The Fix, Chiropractic Solutions in Paducah, KY. For more information please visit the website at www.thefixchiro.com, or telephone at 270-450-0848, or visit the office in The Village Business Center (behind The Home Depot, next to Dallas Medical and David Spicer Jewelers) in Paducah, KY.
The most common type of headache is the tension headache, where the sufferer experiences a tight band around the head, almost as if the head were caught in a “vise-grip.” The pain and tightness is usually the most intense at the base of the skull and tends to start in the neck and shoulder muscles. The headache can last only one (1) day but may last up to a week or more. Tension headaches tend to be aggravated by stressful situations and can be brought on by prolonged periods of sitting in incorrectly supported positions such as while driving or sitting in a chair with poor support.
Even though tension headaches are the most common, researchers and medical professionals cannot reach an agreement as to the likely cause and appropriate treatment. As in many cases, it is often the most obvious answer that is easily overlooked. The fact is that most tension headaches sufferers also have poor upper back and neck posture, have reduced mobility of the joints of the neck, and experience chronic tightness of the neck and upper shoulder muscles. For many people, treatment and correction of these underlying causes is an extremely effective means to either reduce or totally eliminate these headaches.
The good news is that these treatments do not involve drugs or surgery. Both Chiropractors and Physical Therapists can work with headache sufferers to increase the mobility of the neck joints and to decrease the tension in the surrounding muscles. They can also provide advice related to proper ergonomics while driving and sitting and simple tips for things you can do at home when you feel a tension headache starting.
Dr. Calvin Shanks, a practicing Chiropractor of nine (9) years is the owner of The Fix, Chiropractic Solutions in Paducah, KY. For more information please visit the website at www.thefixchiro.com, or telephone at 270-450-0848, or visit the office in The Village Business Center (behind The Home Depot, next to Dallas Medical and David Spicer Jewelers) in Paducah, KY.
Monday, June 14, 2010
What causes tension headaches? Can a chiropractor help?
Back in the mid to late nineties several researchers set out to find the cause of so called tension headaches (also known as cervicogenic headaches). They made a discovery that confirmed what many chiropractors already knew, and had the potential to change how headaches would from then on be treated. But, nothing changed. What happened? Maybe we were all too busy watching Bill and Monica on T.V., or maybe The Spice Girls had our rapt attention. Maybe over-the-counter pain meds for headaches is way too big of a business for a few researchers to compete with. I don’t know, but let me share with you what they found.
First of all, let’s talk a little about headaches. There are too many different kinds to even think about, but the broad categories are: tumor related, infection related, blood pressure related, lifestyle related (chemical, drug, alcohol, etc.), and everything else. If you don’t know what kind of headaches you are having, it is best that you visit a doctor and find out. If you have headaches that fall into the “everything else” category, then keep reading, this information is for you.
Surrounding our brain is a thin layer of very sensitive tissue called the dura mater. Through some advanced imaging, the researchers found that there is a small “tissue bridge” connecting this dura mater to the muscles of the cervical spine (neck). They further found that changes to the muscles of the cervical spine greatly affect what happens to the dura. Increased tension in the cervical muscles causes increased tension on the dura and results in kinks or folds in the dura. When this happens, it would be similar to wearing a hat too tight all day.
What causes changes in the muscles? Postural changes in the cervical spine, misalignments of the joints, and decreased mobility of the joints are the most common causes. These issues tend to either be caused by injury or more often just slowly occur over time.
A chiropractor specializes in adjusting or mobilizing the joints of the spine in order to restore normal motion and reduce the tension on the cervical muscles, thereby reducing the tension on the dura, resulting in reduction in headache intensity and frequency. A Chiropractor will examine your spine to determine if your headaches are cervicogenic in nature and either recommend a course of care or make the appropriate referral if necessary.
First of all, let’s talk a little about headaches. There are too many different kinds to even think about, but the broad categories are: tumor related, infection related, blood pressure related, lifestyle related (chemical, drug, alcohol, etc.), and everything else. If you don’t know what kind of headaches you are having, it is best that you visit a doctor and find out. If you have headaches that fall into the “everything else” category, then keep reading, this information is for you.
Surrounding our brain is a thin layer of very sensitive tissue called the dura mater. Through some advanced imaging, the researchers found that there is a small “tissue bridge” connecting this dura mater to the muscles of the cervical spine (neck). They further found that changes to the muscles of the cervical spine greatly affect what happens to the dura. Increased tension in the cervical muscles causes increased tension on the dura and results in kinks or folds in the dura. When this happens, it would be similar to wearing a hat too tight all day.
What causes changes in the muscles? Postural changes in the cervical spine, misalignments of the joints, and decreased mobility of the joints are the most common causes. These issues tend to either be caused by injury or more often just slowly occur over time.
A chiropractor specializes in adjusting or mobilizing the joints of the spine in order to restore normal motion and reduce the tension on the cervical muscles, thereby reducing the tension on the dura, resulting in reduction in headache intensity and frequency. A Chiropractor will examine your spine to determine if your headaches are cervicogenic in nature and either recommend a course of care or make the appropriate referral if necessary.
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