Office visits

I have to see my chiropractor how often?

Apr 212011

How often do I need to see a chiropractor? The problem with going to a chiropractor is once you start going, you will need to go forever.

Many people discuss chiropractic care with this attitude. Chiropractic care, much like modern dentistry is a profession geared towards treatment by prevention. Imagine the following statement, “the problem with getting your teeth cleaned, is that the dentist wants you to have them cleaned again in another six months. And if that were not enough, my dentist told me to brush and at least twice a day! On top of that they want me to floss my teeth can you believe it!” Should I go on and tell you what the dentist has to say about sugary snacks and soda?

Chiropractors view health with a preventative model in much the same way as dentists. Ideally, individuals would eat nutritious, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly and see our chiropractor for wellness visits every 1-2 months. Chiropractic physicians view health not just as the absence of disease or injury, but living in a state of optimal wellness.

In my practice patients can be divided into two types, the acute care patients and wellness patients. Acute care patients are those who come in with a specific injury or complaint often related to pain or disability. In these cases, I will give a patient a treatment plan of therapy designed to address that specific issue. As the patient progresses through the plan, the patient and I will regularly discuss what is working, what is not and make adjustments to the therapy as necessary. At the beginning of a plan, therapy will occur regularly with a set plan to reduce in frequency or duration over time. After a patient is dismissed from acute care many stay in care for wellness care.

A wellness patient may come to my office every 1 to 2 months for a wellness visit. They often tell me that they look forward to their wellness visits as an opportunity to discuss health care issues. At this time we will also discuss lifestyle issues and how these contribute to or detract from an individuals overall wellness. Some wellness patients schedule their appointments well in advance and some wake up one morning and decide that they really need to see me that day. As a chiropractor, I see this as a sign that a patient is in tune with their bodies and can sense an issue before it becomes a problem.

Will I expect you to do things outside the office? Of course. Chiropractic care is not a “lets see what the doctor says” kind of relationship. It is your body and your health. You are in charge of your health care. I like to support my patients by prescribing appropriate therapies for their health issue. Therapies may consist of adjustment, patient specific exercises, ergonomics, food, supplements, or homeopathic medications.

You know the difference between your body feeling just okay and the feeling of wellness accompanied by good health and energy. Often people look at kids and say if only I had that energy. You can, maybe not as much as a child but much more than that tired, I just want to get through the day feeling you may have now. It begins with the first step of being proactive and deciding to improve your current health to achieve optimal wellness!

Spring has sprung and so have your allergies!

Office visits 3 Responses »

Apr 152011

The onset of spring, brings warmer days and for those with allergies, stuffy noses and burning eyes. There is much we don’t know about the why certain individuals are hit so hard by allergies but those who endure seasonal allergies can tell you it makes their days less than pleasant. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, you may want to consider some of the following suggestions.

When you find yourself suffering with allergies, there are some steps you can take to reduce your suffering.

The first thing to look at is your actual living or work spaces. Many individuals regularly place themselves in home or work environments that exacerbate allergy symptoms. Pay attention to the rooms you spend time in. Is your office in the basement where the mold and mildew count may be higher than the rest of the house? Is there some landscaping planted right outside a window that is open all summer?

One of the most common household allergens is pets. I see many allergic individuals who live in a house with dogs or cats. While I can appreciate the love and companionship that animals bring us, they can bring misery to those who are allergic. If someone in the family has allergies please try the following suggestions to reduce severity of allergens in the house. Consider eliminating all carpeting in the house, or have your carpets professionally cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis. Also upgrade your air filter if you have forced air heating/AC to one that is electric or HEPA grade and clean or replace them every season. Have all duct work cleaned and disinfected at least annually. Finally, have pets trained not to climb onto specific furniture (beds, non-leather couches).

Dust and dust mites are common allergens. Even for individuals not allergic to these items, dust can exacerbate an ongoing allergy. Dust mites are little bugs that eat dead skin flakes, and can be found in bedding. Pleasant thought isn’t it? You can find both mattress and pillow covers that protect your bedding from dust mites at most stores that sell bedding. In addition, washing of sheets on a weekly basis will help eliminate dust mites. When projects require you to be in dusty areas, consider wearing a mask to protect you.

Nasal irrigation can also help reduce allergy symptoms. It can also help reduce suffering from the increased colds and sinus infection allergy sufferers have to endure. Initially practiced in Indian medicine with a neti pot, nasal irrigation cleans the nose and sinus of allergens and excess mucus with a gentle saline solution. Nasal irrigation systems can be found now at most drug stores.

Herbal remedies can also provide allergy relief, reducing or eliminating the need for over the counter or prescription allergy medication. A combination of quercetin and bromelain can inhibit mast cells, the first cells effected in an allergic process. Many patients find relief from this combination with none of the side effects of traditional antihistamines.

References

Chirumbolo, S, (2010). The role of querctin, flavonols and flavones in modulating inflammatory cell function. Inflammation and Allergy Drug Targets. 9(4) 263-285.

Helms, S & Miller, A (2006). Natural Treatment of Chronic Rhinosinusitis. Alternative Medicine Review: A Journal of Clinical Therapies. 11(3) 196-207.

Shaik, Y.B., Castellani, M.L, Perrella, A, Conti, F., Salini, V., Tete, S., Madhappan, B., Vecchiet, J., De Lutiis, M.A., Caraffa, A., Cerulli, G, (2006). Role of quercetin (a natural herbal compound) in allergy and inflammation. Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents. 20 (3-4) 47-52.

Ouch, That Hurts!

Office visits No Responses »

Apr 072011

A precipitating factor for a visit to my office is pain. Some pain is so uncomfortable, that you know it is time to see a doctor. Other pain is not so clear….there are instances of “normal” pain: the soreness after a minor injury, the “good pain” felt the day after a workout. So how much is too much and when do you know it is time to see the doctor? Does your pain:

interfere with daily activities?
not resolve within 48 hours?
not respond to the usual treatments of rest, ice and over the counter pain relievers?
get worse over time?
increase at night or awaken you from sleep? (Normally pain decreases with rest.)
have associated numbness?
have associated fever?
have associated sudden weight loss?

If any of the above apply to you, it may be time to make a visit to my office.

If the pain is severe enough to interfere with daily activities, or has occurred for a period of time longer than you would expect for the injury, it may be time to visit my office. Also of concern that pain that gets worse over time, instead of getting better.

Some pain, no matter how mild or short in duration should warrant immediate attention by a health care professional. Pain that is associated with numbness; fever, sudden weight loss, inability to control bladder, accompanied by falling; or the loss of function and or sensation is not normal and needs immediate attention.