Chiropractic Care for Arm and Wrist Pain:
Have you ever slept on your arm and had it fall asleep? Imagine if it just felt like that all the time.
A few months ago I had a young lady come to my San Diego Chiropractic office with these complaints. In addition to numbness and tingling, she had neck pain, shoulder pain, arm pain, wrist pain and hand pain. She also complained of weakness in her left hand, which was resulting in clumsiness and was affecting her work as an executive secretary.
These complaints are seen with regular frequency in my office. The process is a familiar one and common with many musculoskeletal conditions that involve the nervous system. Usually, postural stresses such as leaning over a desk or computer will eventually irritate a specific joint in the spine. The irritation of the joint causes inflammation of the muscles and ligaments that surround that joint. This inflammation will cause compression of the local nerves resulting in pain and muscle spasm. If the nerve compression persists, numbness, tingling and weakness of the related muscles will follow.
This patient was displaying signs and symptoms of long-term nerve root compression that involved her left arm and hand.
We treated her with chiropractic manipulations that were delivered with the specific goal of eliminating the nerve root compression. She was also treated with ice packs, hot packs, electrical muscle stimulation and ultrasound in order to address the soft tissue inflammation. In addition to in office care she was given a set of stretches and exercises for at home therapy and advised to use ice packs daily for twenty minutes per session.
It took approximately eight weeks of active care, which is three treatment visits per week, to relieve 90% of her pain and 90% of her left arm weakness. The rest of her symptoms will resolve with at home therapy and chiropractic care delivered on an as needed basis for flair-ups that will occur in the future.
This is just one example of the many different types of cases that resolve with chiropractic care in my office.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Why You Need a Cleansing Diet.
Why You Need a Cleansing Diet.
In my San Diego Chiropractic Center we treat people as a whole. In general, chiropractors are concerned about the typical neck pain and low back pain complaints that our patients have, however, dietary concerns are addressed as well. The value of a properly spine can’t be ignored but if you have a poor diet consisting of high calorie, difficult to digest junk food you are not being as respectful to your body as you could be.
Cleansing diets can help you turn your health around. A cleansing diet should be used any time your digestion is sluggish or if you feel heavy, congested or lethargic. There are a variety of other symptoms for which a cleansing diet may be appropriate include headaches, fatigue, bad breath or if you experience other digestive discomforts like gas, bloating and constipation.
The first step with any type of cleansing diet is to cut out the junk food. Junk food includes: food additives, snacks, desserts, canned foods, processed foods and salty foods. The basic idea is to eat fresh foods that are freshly prepared and to keep meals very simple. Also, try to decrease the size and frequency of meals, and be sure to eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly.
The next step is to distinguish between the heavy and light food groups. Carbohydrates, proteins and fats are considered heavy food groups while fruits, vegetables and herbs are considered light food groups. The light food groups are the foods that we use for cleansing. In a balanced diet, heavy food group meals are evenly counterbalanced with portions from the light food groups. For the purposes of a cleansing diet, the heavy foods portions are reduced while we increase the portions from the light food groups.
Next, simple carbohydrates like sugars and refined flours should be eliminated completely. Complex carbohydrates like whole grains can also be eliminated or sharply reduced for up to a week.
The next step is to eliminate animal-based proteins. Animal-based proteins include pork, red meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy. These proteins are dense and highly nourishing foods and are unsuitable for a cleanse. These foods come from animals that are high on the food chain and are likely to carry environmental toxins.
During this cleanse, we can eat plant-sourced protein in small quantities. The best choice for plant based proteins is simple well-cooked whole grain and bean combinations. In general the smaller the bean, the easier it is to digest. The mung bean is well-known for its cleansing and protective qualities. Brown rice and lentils are another good complete protein combination. Nuts and seeds also provide protein but are higher in fat and best eaten fresh in very small quantities or avoided altogether.
Organic fruits are perhaps the best cleansers and are best if eaten alone.
Your cleansing diet can be supported by gentle stretching, aerobic exercise, deep breathing, chiropractic care and massage. Remember to leave ample time between meals and limit your eating times so that no food is eaten between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. A short cleanse can be accomplished in three days.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
In my San Diego Chiropractic Center we treat people as a whole. In general, chiropractors are concerned about the typical neck pain and low back pain complaints that our patients have, however, dietary concerns are addressed as well. The value of a properly spine can’t be ignored but if you have a poor diet consisting of high calorie, difficult to digest junk food you are not being as respectful to your body as you could be.
Cleansing diets can help you turn your health around. A cleansing diet should be used any time your digestion is sluggish or if you feel heavy, congested or lethargic. There are a variety of other symptoms for which a cleansing diet may be appropriate include headaches, fatigue, bad breath or if you experience other digestive discomforts like gas, bloating and constipation.
The first step with any type of cleansing diet is to cut out the junk food. Junk food includes: food additives, snacks, desserts, canned foods, processed foods and salty foods. The basic idea is to eat fresh foods that are freshly prepared and to keep meals very simple. Also, try to decrease the size and frequency of meals, and be sure to eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly.
The next step is to distinguish between the heavy and light food groups. Carbohydrates, proteins and fats are considered heavy food groups while fruits, vegetables and herbs are considered light food groups. The light food groups are the foods that we use for cleansing. In a balanced diet, heavy food group meals are evenly counterbalanced with portions from the light food groups. For the purposes of a cleansing diet, the heavy foods portions are reduced while we increase the portions from the light food groups.
Next, simple carbohydrates like sugars and refined flours should be eliminated completely. Complex carbohydrates like whole grains can also be eliminated or sharply reduced for up to a week.
The next step is to eliminate animal-based proteins. Animal-based proteins include pork, red meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy. These proteins are dense and highly nourishing foods and are unsuitable for a cleanse. These foods come from animals that are high on the food chain and are likely to carry environmental toxins.
During this cleanse, we can eat plant-sourced protein in small quantities. The best choice for plant based proteins is simple well-cooked whole grain and bean combinations. In general the smaller the bean, the easier it is to digest. The mung bean is well-known for its cleansing and protective qualities. Brown rice and lentils are another good complete protein combination. Nuts and seeds also provide protein but are higher in fat and best eaten fresh in very small quantities or avoided altogether.
Organic fruits are perhaps the best cleansers and are best if eaten alone.
Your cleansing diet can be supported by gentle stretching, aerobic exercise, deep breathing, chiropractic care and massage. Remember to leave ample time between meals and limit your eating times so that no food is eaten between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. A short cleanse can be accomplished in three days.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Legal Issues with Soft Tissue Injury Case
Legal Issues with Soft Tissue Injury Case
The plaintiff side of the issue is represented by the patient's attorney and we have discovered they are often placed in a position of "pressure" when attempting to justify some of the patient care issues common to the handling of soft tissue cases by the doctor or therapist. We believe anything which allows the claim to pass through the "legal" process easier, will be greatly appreciated by the attorney and will often result in a better long-term working relationship with the attorney. This better relationship often results in greater utilization of the doctor's services by the attorney.
If, on the other hand, the clinical treatment of the doctor or therapist causes the case to lose value, the possibility of a long-term relationship decreases dramatically. For example, the case we mentioned earlier in which the doctor treated the patient 454 times for an uncomplicated soft tissue injury, makes the case very difficult for the attorney to move the case through the "system" and do justice to their client's interests. This type of behavior makes the claim lose value and results in protracted litigation before settlement.
This discussion is designed to address the soft tissue personal injury case and to offer what we consider are reasonable points of view which are supportable in the literature when possible. In our experience, failure to follow a reasonable approach often leads to close scrutiny of the claim. It is our hope this discussion will bring the two different levels of expectation a bit closer and result in a higher level of cooperation between the two sides. Additionally, if the case you manage as the treating practitioner can pass through the medical/legal system, your relationship with the plaintiff attorney can only flourish. However, if the attorney representing the patient loses a potential award as a result of many of the topics mentioned in this article, how likely could an expanding relationship be?
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
The plaintiff side of the issue is represented by the patient's attorney and we have discovered they are often placed in a position of "pressure" when attempting to justify some of the patient care issues common to the handling of soft tissue cases by the doctor or therapist. We believe anything which allows the claim to pass through the "legal" process easier, will be greatly appreciated by the attorney and will often result in a better long-term working relationship with the attorney. This better relationship often results in greater utilization of the doctor's services by the attorney.
If, on the other hand, the clinical treatment of the doctor or therapist causes the case to lose value, the possibility of a long-term relationship decreases dramatically. For example, the case we mentioned earlier in which the doctor treated the patient 454 times for an uncomplicated soft tissue injury, makes the case very difficult for the attorney to move the case through the "system" and do justice to their client's interests. This type of behavior makes the claim lose value and results in protracted litigation before settlement.
This discussion is designed to address the soft tissue personal injury case and to offer what we consider are reasonable points of view which are supportable in the literature when possible. In our experience, failure to follow a reasonable approach often leads to close scrutiny of the claim. It is our hope this discussion will bring the two different levels of expectation a bit closer and result in a higher level of cooperation between the two sides. Additionally, if the case you manage as the treating practitioner can pass through the medical/legal system, your relationship with the plaintiff attorney can only flourish. However, if the attorney representing the patient loses a potential award as a result of many of the topics mentioned in this article, how likely could an expanding relationship be?
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Whiplash Accidents Injury Care San Diego
Whiplash Accidents
In my San Diego based Chiropractic Clinic we provide treatment for those patients involved in auto accidents on a regular basis. The most common injury resulting from car accidents is whiplash.
Whiplash is most frequently associated with rear-end auto accidents in which the heads of those in the front car are suddenly snapped backward and forward by the acceleration caused by the impact. The more descriptive medical phrase used to convey this type of injury is cervical acceleration/deceleration (CAD) trauma or syndrome. CAD accurately describes the rapid movements that can injure the vertebrae of the neck and the muscles and ligaments that support them.
Anyone can be subjected to whiplash at almost any speed, even in a minimal-force auto accident at speeds as low as 5mph. Incidents that cause whiplash can also be related to other incidents or mishaps in which the head is pushed or jerked beyond its normal range of motion. Whiplash commonly causes serious and chronic neck pain, as well as back pain, headaches blurred vision, ringing in the ears, nausea, numbness and dizziness. More serious injuries such as bruising of the brain can sometimes occur in auto accidents.
The sudden accident that caused the initial whiplash injury may fade into memory, but the physical and psychological damage of whiplash can become chronic, severely eroding the victim's quality of life. Chiropractic techniques are particularly well-suited to relieving the neck pain and other debilitating effects of whiplash because they can
• restore movement lost after the accident,
• overcome muscle weakness and enhance muscle tone,
• speed recovery, and
• diminish chronic symptoms that can persist or recur over many years.
Chiropractic adjustments and supportive treatment have proved successful for many thousands of patients. Chiropractic care significantly reduce patients' distress and allow them to return to their normal activities.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
In my San Diego based Chiropractic Clinic we provide treatment for those patients involved in auto accidents on a regular basis. The most common injury resulting from car accidents is whiplash.
Whiplash is most frequently associated with rear-end auto accidents in which the heads of those in the front car are suddenly snapped backward and forward by the acceleration caused by the impact. The more descriptive medical phrase used to convey this type of injury is cervical acceleration/deceleration (CAD) trauma or syndrome. CAD accurately describes the rapid movements that can injure the vertebrae of the neck and the muscles and ligaments that support them.
Anyone can be subjected to whiplash at almost any speed, even in a minimal-force auto accident at speeds as low as 5mph. Incidents that cause whiplash can also be related to other incidents or mishaps in which the head is pushed or jerked beyond its normal range of motion. Whiplash commonly causes serious and chronic neck pain, as well as back pain, headaches blurred vision, ringing in the ears, nausea, numbness and dizziness. More serious injuries such as bruising of the brain can sometimes occur in auto accidents.
The sudden accident that caused the initial whiplash injury may fade into memory, but the physical and psychological damage of whiplash can become chronic, severely eroding the victim's quality of life. Chiropractic techniques are particularly well-suited to relieving the neck pain and other debilitating effects of whiplash because they can
• restore movement lost after the accident,
• overcome muscle weakness and enhance muscle tone,
• speed recovery, and
• diminish chronic symptoms that can persist or recur over many years.
Chiropractic adjustments and supportive treatment have proved successful for many thousands of patients. Chiropractic care significantly reduce patients' distress and allow them to return to their normal activities.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Monday, April 19, 2010
Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain and Headaches:
Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain and Headaches:
Do you seem to get headaches whenever you get neck pain?
If so, you are dealing with a very common problem. My San Diego chiropractic office sees people on a regular basis who suffer from these symptoms. Neck pain is often accompanied by headaches because of the muscle tension that is so often present with neck problems.
I am sure that many of you have heard of muscle tension headaches. More often than not, muscle tension headaches begin in the neck where tightness has developed for a variety of reasons. Sometimes neck injuries such as those from auto accidents or postural stress secondary to sitting in front of a computer all day will cause the neck muscles to tighten up.
Tight muscles in the neck cause muscle tension on the back of the head. This tension causes the muscles that cover your skull to spasm. Between the aggravation of tight muscles and neck pain, headaches will often become a companion to your neck pain.
Treating muscle tension headaches often requires a multifaceted approach. Chiropractic care will help relieve a great deal of the muscle tension and spasm. Chiropractic adjustments relax muscles, restore normal joint motion and eliminate the associated neck pain. In addition to chiropractic manipulations, therapies including electric muscle stimulation, ultrasound and ice packs are beneficial to help reduce the muscle spasms that help cause the tension headaches.
Another important part of elimination or reducing the number of muscle tension headaches that you experience is to identify what sets them off. Postural stresses associated with computer work, reading, certain types of work or specific hobbies can lead to stress in the neck that causes headaches. Identifying the culprits and either eliminating them or modifying them helps greatly in controlling your headaches.
The bottom line is that neck pain and muscle tension headaches are closely related and often successfully treated with chiropractic care.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Do you seem to get headaches whenever you get neck pain?
If so, you are dealing with a very common problem. My San Diego chiropractic office sees people on a regular basis who suffer from these symptoms. Neck pain is often accompanied by headaches because of the muscle tension that is so often present with neck problems.
I am sure that many of you have heard of muscle tension headaches. More often than not, muscle tension headaches begin in the neck where tightness has developed for a variety of reasons. Sometimes neck injuries such as those from auto accidents or postural stress secondary to sitting in front of a computer all day will cause the neck muscles to tighten up.
Tight muscles in the neck cause muscle tension on the back of the head. This tension causes the muscles that cover your skull to spasm. Between the aggravation of tight muscles and neck pain, headaches will often become a companion to your neck pain.
Treating muscle tension headaches often requires a multifaceted approach. Chiropractic care will help relieve a great deal of the muscle tension and spasm. Chiropractic adjustments relax muscles, restore normal joint motion and eliminate the associated neck pain. In addition to chiropractic manipulations, therapies including electric muscle stimulation, ultrasound and ice packs are beneficial to help reduce the muscle spasms that help cause the tension headaches.
Another important part of elimination or reducing the number of muscle tension headaches that you experience is to identify what sets them off. Postural stresses associated with computer work, reading, certain types of work or specific hobbies can lead to stress in the neck that causes headaches. Identifying the culprits and either eliminating them or modifying them helps greatly in controlling your headaches.
The bottom line is that neck pain and muscle tension headaches are closely related and often successfully treated with chiropractic care.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Friday, April 9, 2010
Yoga and Chiropractic
Yoga and Chiropractic
My sister is a long time chiropractic patient. Not my patient, she lives 700 miles away from my chiropractic practice in San Diego, so she does not get free care from her little brother, she has to pay for it.
About ten years ago, my sister took up Yoga – about nine years ago she called me one day and said “Hey Steve, this Yoga thing is great, I bet that if all of your patients took up Yoga that they wouldn’t need you anymore!” I actually took this as a compliment because I had originally encouraged her to do Yoga – and now she was feeling better because of it.
While I know that the practice of Yoga is a wonderful method for keeping your muscles stretched and your spine flexible, it is a compliment for chiropractic, not a substitute.
Many of my peers consider my philosophy regarding the management of my chiropractic patients a bit odd. Instead of placing my patients on long term care programs, I prefer to get my patients out of pain as quickly as possible and then give them a combination of stretches and exercises that they can do at home that will help stabilize their area of pain.
Those of you who have not tried Yoga should do so. Yoga is a discipline that constantly challenges your physical being. The positions used in Yoga routines test your body and mind with combinations of stretching, strength training and balance that very few other disciplines can offer.
From a purely physical standpoint, Yoga helps even your muscle tone, improve your balance and coordination, build strength, prevent injury, focus your breathing, improve your posture and elongate muscles. Mentally, Yoga allows to focus on the “now” which helps reduce stress and consequently, reduce muscle spasms among other things.
It is because of all of the benefits of Yoga that I recommend it to most of my friends and patients. Combining the benefits of Chiropractic care’s ability to break down scar tissue and adhesions that limit or alter normal joint motion and Yoga’s benefits as discussed above makes for an exceptional approach to treating neck pain, back pain and many other musculoskeletal conditions that I see in my office.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
My sister is a long time chiropractic patient. Not my patient, she lives 700 miles away from my chiropractic practice in San Diego, so she does not get free care from her little brother, she has to pay for it.
About ten years ago, my sister took up Yoga – about nine years ago she called me one day and said “Hey Steve, this Yoga thing is great, I bet that if all of your patients took up Yoga that they wouldn’t need you anymore!” I actually took this as a compliment because I had originally encouraged her to do Yoga – and now she was feeling better because of it.
While I know that the practice of Yoga is a wonderful method for keeping your muscles stretched and your spine flexible, it is a compliment for chiropractic, not a substitute.
Many of my peers consider my philosophy regarding the management of my chiropractic patients a bit odd. Instead of placing my patients on long term care programs, I prefer to get my patients out of pain as quickly as possible and then give them a combination of stretches and exercises that they can do at home that will help stabilize their area of pain.
Those of you who have not tried Yoga should do so. Yoga is a discipline that constantly challenges your physical being. The positions used in Yoga routines test your body and mind with combinations of stretching, strength training and balance that very few other disciplines can offer.
From a purely physical standpoint, Yoga helps even your muscle tone, improve your balance and coordination, build strength, prevent injury, focus your breathing, improve your posture and elongate muscles. Mentally, Yoga allows to focus on the “now” which helps reduce stress and consequently, reduce muscle spasms among other things.
It is because of all of the benefits of Yoga that I recommend it to most of my friends and patients. Combining the benefits of Chiropractic care’s ability to break down scar tissue and adhesions that limit or alter normal joint motion and Yoga’s benefits as discussed above makes for an exceptional approach to treating neck pain, back pain and many other musculoskeletal conditions that I see in my office.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Monday, March 29, 2010
Soft Tissue Injury Case Medical
The "Well Managed Soft Tissue Injury Case" can be a bit misleading as it means different things to different people. The insurance companies or "defense" side, seem to have one set of expectations from the medical and chiropractic communities, while those who treat these injuries have a different set of expectations from the insurance carriers. There are those on the "defense" side who maintain all soft tissue injury patients should be released after several weeks of care and any patient who complains further has a financial motive. The other extreme is typified by our personal experience with a case in which the doctor treated the patient 454 times for an uncomplicated soft tissue injury. Neither point, in our opinion, is rational and both fail to represent a well managed soft tissue injury. The management of these patients should fall under the dual heading of "medical" and "legal" issues as both areas are critical to the case.
Medical
Our experience with these cases comes from clinical practice, file reviews, and contributions to the scientific literature on the subject. With this said, we are in a unique position to see cases at the request of both the plaintiff and defense. There is, despite the apparent contradiction in party philosophy, one area of commonality. Both sides utilize our opinion and both desires to know what, in our opinion, constitutes a well managed soft tissue case. Both sides, it seem, have a strong desire to be reasonable, but the different levels of expectations mentioned earlier make each party feel the other is often being unreasonable.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Medical
Our experience with these cases comes from clinical practice, file reviews, and contributions to the scientific literature on the subject. With this said, we are in a unique position to see cases at the request of both the plaintiff and defense. There is, despite the apparent contradiction in party philosophy, one area of commonality. Both sides utilize our opinion and both desires to know what, in our opinion, constitutes a well managed soft tissue case. Both sides, it seem, have a strong desire to be reasonable, but the different levels of expectations mentioned earlier make each party feel the other is often being unreasonable.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Friday, March 19, 2010
Causes of Back and Neck Pain
Causes of Back and Neck Pain
Like many across the United States my Chiropractic Office in San Diego provides treatment for neck pain and back pain. Although chiropractic care helps many different conditions, it is often viewed as treatment for just back pain and neck pain.
When dealing with back pain and neck pain, it is important to have your pain evaluated by a healthcare professional. Dismissing back pain and neck pain as insignificant can lead to more significant health issues.
Many conditions can cause back pain and neck pain, ranging from injury and infection too twisting or turning “the wrong way”. Injuries such as those sustained in an automobile or other accident can damage muscles, joints, ligaments, and vertebrae.
Overuse or under use of the back muscles is by far the most common cause of back pain that manifests as tightening or spasm of the muscles that connect to the spine. Inflammation and swelling often occur in the joints and ligaments, especially in the cervical and lumbar regions, as people age.
A herniated disc occurs when the nuclear pulposus, the inner material of the disc, pushes through a tear in the annulus fibrosis, the outer material of the disc causing nerve root compression. The cervical and lumbar regions of the spine have the most mobility and the discs there are more likely to wear down or be injured. Ninety percent of disc herniations occur in the lower two lumbar vertebrae.
Spinal stenosis, the narrowing of the spinal canal, can cause spinal cord irritation and injury. Conditions that cause spinal stenosis include infection, tumors, trauma, herniated disc, arthritis, thickening of ligaments, growth of bone spurs, and disc degeneration. Spinal stenosis most commonly occurs in older individuals as a result of vertebral degeneration.
A pinched nerve, or radiculopathy, occurs when something rubs or presses against a nerve, creating irritation or inflammation. Radiculopathy can result from a herniated disc, bone spur, tumor growing into the nerves, and vertebral fracture, and many other conditions.
Sciatica is a certain type of radiculopathy that involves inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Pain is experienced along the large sciatic nerve, from the lower back down through the buttocks and along the back of the leg.
A spinal tumor that originates in the spine (primary tumor) or spreads to the spine from another part of the body (metastatic tumor) can compress the spine or nerve roots and cause significant pain.
Infections of the vertebrae (e.g., vertebral osteomyelitis), the discs, the meninges (e.g., spinal meningitis), or the cerebrospinal fluid can compress the spinal cord and result in serious neurological deterioration, if it is not diagnosed and treated immediately.
Arthritis often affects the facet joints which are formed by two adjacent vertebra and direct or guide movement of the spine. As the joints degenerate, they loose their normal alignment, and the cartilage and fluid that lubricates the joints may deteriorate. Bone then rubs against bone, which can be very painful.
These are just a few of the conditions that can cause back pain and neck pain. Most cases of back and neck pains are due to mechanical causes and can be readily addressed by a chiropractor. The point is, however, neck pain and back pain is a warning signal that should not be ignored.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Like many across the United States my Chiropractic Office in San Diego provides treatment for neck pain and back pain. Although chiropractic care helps many different conditions, it is often viewed as treatment for just back pain and neck pain.
When dealing with back pain and neck pain, it is important to have your pain evaluated by a healthcare professional. Dismissing back pain and neck pain as insignificant can lead to more significant health issues.
Many conditions can cause back pain and neck pain, ranging from injury and infection too twisting or turning “the wrong way”. Injuries such as those sustained in an automobile or other accident can damage muscles, joints, ligaments, and vertebrae.
Overuse or under use of the back muscles is by far the most common cause of back pain that manifests as tightening or spasm of the muscles that connect to the spine. Inflammation and swelling often occur in the joints and ligaments, especially in the cervical and lumbar regions, as people age.
A herniated disc occurs when the nuclear pulposus, the inner material of the disc, pushes through a tear in the annulus fibrosis, the outer material of the disc causing nerve root compression. The cervical and lumbar regions of the spine have the most mobility and the discs there are more likely to wear down or be injured. Ninety percent of disc herniations occur in the lower two lumbar vertebrae.
Spinal stenosis, the narrowing of the spinal canal, can cause spinal cord irritation and injury. Conditions that cause spinal stenosis include infection, tumors, trauma, herniated disc, arthritis, thickening of ligaments, growth of bone spurs, and disc degeneration. Spinal stenosis most commonly occurs in older individuals as a result of vertebral degeneration.
A pinched nerve, or radiculopathy, occurs when something rubs or presses against a nerve, creating irritation or inflammation. Radiculopathy can result from a herniated disc, bone spur, tumor growing into the nerves, and vertebral fracture, and many other conditions.
Sciatica is a certain type of radiculopathy that involves inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Pain is experienced along the large sciatic nerve, from the lower back down through the buttocks and along the back of the leg.
A spinal tumor that originates in the spine (primary tumor) or spreads to the spine from another part of the body (metastatic tumor) can compress the spine or nerve roots and cause significant pain.
Infections of the vertebrae (e.g., vertebral osteomyelitis), the discs, the meninges (e.g., spinal meningitis), or the cerebrospinal fluid can compress the spinal cord and result in serious neurological deterioration, if it is not diagnosed and treated immediately.
Arthritis often affects the facet joints which are formed by two adjacent vertebra and direct or guide movement of the spine. As the joints degenerate, they loose their normal alignment, and the cartilage and fluid that lubricates the joints may deteriorate. Bone then rubs against bone, which can be very painful.
These are just a few of the conditions that can cause back pain and neck pain. Most cases of back and neck pains are due to mechanical causes and can be readily addressed by a chiropractor. The point is, however, neck pain and back pain is a warning signal that should not be ignored.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Work Station and Reaching:
Work Station and Reaching:
Have you ever noticed how tight your neck, upper back and shoulders are after a long day of sitting at the computer?
There are a number of factors that contribute to this tightness. Simply the stress of deadlines, an overbearing boss or an annoying co-worker can make your shoulders rise up and your head push forward. And this stress is the result of just the emotional stress of work. When you add the real physical strains of a poorly designed work station on top of the emotional stresses that already exist you have a perfect recipe for a repetitive stress injury.
A large part of designing an ergonomically friendly workstation revolves around limiting the “reach” for items that are frequently accessed.
The distance that you have to reach for any object in your workspace can have major implications on your health. In general, workers should have the items that they use on a regular basis through the day such as the mouse and keyboard for computer users or the telephone for a receptionist or a sales person, positioned close to their bodies so as to avoid awkward or overreaching.
As a general rule, the best positioning for your keyboard and mouse allows you to operate them while your shoulders hang straight down at your sides and elbows are slightly extended. This position reduces the stress of overreaching and allows for completion of your tasks with less muscular effort.
There are many ergonomic apparatus that allow for proper placement of your computer input devices. Pull out keyboard trays, split keyboards, mouse platforms and even foot controls help reduce the ongoing stresses of computer input.
Even with these devices, it takes awareness to maintain an ergonomically friendly work environment.
For a nice selection of high quality ergonomic office products you can visit www.comfortkeyboard.com.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Have you ever noticed how tight your neck, upper back and shoulders are after a long day of sitting at the computer?
There are a number of factors that contribute to this tightness. Simply the stress of deadlines, an overbearing boss or an annoying co-worker can make your shoulders rise up and your head push forward. And this stress is the result of just the emotional stress of work. When you add the real physical strains of a poorly designed work station on top of the emotional stresses that already exist you have a perfect recipe for a repetitive stress injury.
A large part of designing an ergonomically friendly workstation revolves around limiting the “reach” for items that are frequently accessed.
The distance that you have to reach for any object in your workspace can have major implications on your health. In general, workers should have the items that they use on a regular basis through the day such as the mouse and keyboard for computer users or the telephone for a receptionist or a sales person, positioned close to their bodies so as to avoid awkward or overreaching.
As a general rule, the best positioning for your keyboard and mouse allows you to operate them while your shoulders hang straight down at your sides and elbows are slightly extended. This position reduces the stress of overreaching and allows for completion of your tasks with less muscular effort.
There are many ergonomic apparatus that allow for proper placement of your computer input devices. Pull out keyboard trays, split keyboards, mouse platforms and even foot controls help reduce the ongoing stresses of computer input.
Even with these devices, it takes awareness to maintain an ergonomically friendly work environment.
For a nice selection of high quality ergonomic office products you can visit www.comfortkeyboard.com.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Personal Injury Case, Looking at Specifics
Duration of Care
The scientific literature indicates the vast majority of healing will take place during the first three weeks following the traumatic event. In addition, the majority of the injuries seen are limited to muscular injuries and treatment of patients over 90 days, in our experience, often hinders the solving of the legal matters. This is not to say that all soft tissue injuries need 90 days of care. Care, like the patient's injuries, are individual. But, if treatment is longer than 90 days, it should be stressed that the clinical necessity for care should be justified even more. It is the doctors responsibility to prove the care is needed, not the insurance company's responsibility to prove it's not needed. In our experience and opinion, documenting only the patient's subjective complaints, is insufficient criteria for the continuation of care. To support the need for continued care, the documentation within the file should show timely re-examinations which demonstrate objective physical examination findings. In addition, these objective signs would need to be reasonably "weighed" against the clinical potential for further healing.
Orthopedic Supports
The use of orthopedic supports, such as a cervical collar, during the acute states of the injury, is a common clinical practice in both the medical and chiropractic communities. It is, however, a double-edged sword. The most reasonable approach would entail use of these supports during the functional instability phase of injury, followed by removal as prolonged use can lead to dependency. Typically, the support is most beneficial during the ten days following the trauma. Prolonged use would support the need for additional investigation, which must include consideration of a psychological component.
X-rays
The initial use of x-rays in the well managed soft tissue injury is well supported in the scientific literature. The use of "follow-up" series of x-rays is, however, debated. We have found the use of serial x-ray studies is usually unwarranted, absent the clinical management of clear osseous injuries or delayed instability. The prudent use of x-rays should always consider the potential harm from radiation exposure. This is especially true in patients of child bearing years. The use of repeat plain film radiographs will often bring the case under immediate scrutiny, thus, complicating the settlement process.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
The scientific literature indicates the vast majority of healing will take place during the first three weeks following the traumatic event. In addition, the majority of the injuries seen are limited to muscular injuries and treatment of patients over 90 days, in our experience, often hinders the solving of the legal matters. This is not to say that all soft tissue injuries need 90 days of care. Care, like the patient's injuries, are individual. But, if treatment is longer than 90 days, it should be stressed that the clinical necessity for care should be justified even more. It is the doctors responsibility to prove the care is needed, not the insurance company's responsibility to prove it's not needed. In our experience and opinion, documenting only the patient's subjective complaints, is insufficient criteria for the continuation of care. To support the need for continued care, the documentation within the file should show timely re-examinations which demonstrate objective physical examination findings. In addition, these objective signs would need to be reasonably "weighed" against the clinical potential for further healing.
Orthopedic Supports
The use of orthopedic supports, such as a cervical collar, during the acute states of the injury, is a common clinical practice in both the medical and chiropractic communities. It is, however, a double-edged sword. The most reasonable approach would entail use of these supports during the functional instability phase of injury, followed by removal as prolonged use can lead to dependency. Typically, the support is most beneficial during the ten days following the trauma. Prolonged use would support the need for additional investigation, which must include consideration of a psychological component.
X-rays
The initial use of x-rays in the well managed soft tissue injury is well supported in the scientific literature. The use of "follow-up" series of x-rays is, however, debated. We have found the use of serial x-ray studies is usually unwarranted, absent the clinical management of clear osseous injuries or delayed instability. The prudent use of x-rays should always consider the potential harm from radiation exposure. This is especially true in patients of child bearing years. The use of repeat plain film radiographs will often bring the case under immediate scrutiny, thus, complicating the settlement process.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Friday, February 19, 2010
Whiplash Injury Care San Diego
Whiplash Season Is Here
During this time of year, we start getting calls from both established and new patients regarding aches and pains related to auto accidents. During a rainy commute, the number of auto accidents can be 4 to 5 times the number that occurs on dry roads. My Chiropractic office in San Diego has seen hundreds of auto accident / personal injury victims over the last 15 years.
The most common injury resulting from auto accidents is the classic neck injury termed whiplash.
Whiplash is a traumatic neck injury that results from a sudden, forceful backward / forward snapping movement of the head. The head is heavy compared to the size of the muscles that help turn and tilt your head. Because of the violent acceleration and deceleration of the head, the soft tissues of the neck are overwhelmed with the stresses of the gravitational forces. Ligament damage, pinched nerves, muscle tearing, spasm and spinal misalignment are typical results of whiplash.
Whiplash can become a nagging, intolerable condition if left untreated. Many people make the mistake of judging the amount of injury to their body’s based on the force of impact or the amount of damage to the car. This is poor judgment. There are many factors that determine how a person is rear-ended by a second vehicle traveling 60 mph walks away unhurt while an apparently light tap on the bumper in a parking lot can cause enough pain to ruin your summer. Factors including the angle of the impact, speed of the impact, occupant awareness of the impending impact, head tilt or rotation, use of seatbelts and area of impact all play a role in why some people are injured in accidents and some are not.
Many people do believe that only high speed impacts can cause injury, however even a low-speed impact in an auto accident can cause serious whiplash injuries. Whiplash symptoms can occur instantly but typically take days, weeks, or even months to develop.
Neck pain is by far the most common whiplash symptom, along with headaches, muscle spasms, shoulder pain, dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), arm pain and tingling, and insomnia. The constant presence of symptoms can make whiplash a debilitating problem, even resulting in clinical depression.
A common problem associated with whiplash is the misalignment of the vertebrae in the neck. If left untreated, these vertebrae will remain misaligned, causing chronic neck problems in the future, including loss of range of motion, chronic headaches and arthritis.
A 1998 Canadian study on whiplash examined more than 10,000 cases of neck injuries and concluded that chiropractic adjustments are one of the only proven treatments for whiplash injuries. This study also concluded that “accepted’ treatments such as neck collars, muscle relaxers, immobilization, and rest were not helpful for whiplash victims.
More Soon
Doc
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
During this time of year, we start getting calls from both established and new patients regarding aches and pains related to auto accidents. During a rainy commute, the number of auto accidents can be 4 to 5 times the number that occurs on dry roads. My Chiropractic office in San Diego has seen hundreds of auto accident / personal injury victims over the last 15 years.
The most common injury resulting from auto accidents is the classic neck injury termed whiplash.
Whiplash is a traumatic neck injury that results from a sudden, forceful backward / forward snapping movement of the head. The head is heavy compared to the size of the muscles that help turn and tilt your head. Because of the violent acceleration and deceleration of the head, the soft tissues of the neck are overwhelmed with the stresses of the gravitational forces. Ligament damage, pinched nerves, muscle tearing, spasm and spinal misalignment are typical results of whiplash.
Whiplash can become a nagging, intolerable condition if left untreated. Many people make the mistake of judging the amount of injury to their body’s based on the force of impact or the amount of damage to the car. This is poor judgment. There are many factors that determine how a person is rear-ended by a second vehicle traveling 60 mph walks away unhurt while an apparently light tap on the bumper in a parking lot can cause enough pain to ruin your summer. Factors including the angle of the impact, speed of the impact, occupant awareness of the impending impact, head tilt or rotation, use of seatbelts and area of impact all play a role in why some people are injured in accidents and some are not.
Many people do believe that only high speed impacts can cause injury, however even a low-speed impact in an auto accident can cause serious whiplash injuries. Whiplash symptoms can occur instantly but typically take days, weeks, or even months to develop.
Neck pain is by far the most common whiplash symptom, along with headaches, muscle spasms, shoulder pain, dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), arm pain and tingling, and insomnia. The constant presence of symptoms can make whiplash a debilitating problem, even resulting in clinical depression.
A common problem associated with whiplash is the misalignment of the vertebrae in the neck. If left untreated, these vertebrae will remain misaligned, causing chronic neck problems in the future, including loss of range of motion, chronic headaches and arthritis.
A 1998 Canadian study on whiplash examined more than 10,000 cases of neck injuries and concluded that chiropractic adjustments are one of the only proven treatments for whiplash injuries. This study also concluded that “accepted’ treatments such as neck collars, muscle relaxers, immobilization, and rest were not helpful for whiplash victims.
More Soon
Doc
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The Causes of Back and Neck Pain and Chiropractic Treatment
The Causes of Back and Neck Pain and Chiropractic Treatment
My Chiropractic Office in San Diego California is like many across the United tates. While chiropractic care helps many different conditions, it is often viewed as treatment for back pain and neck pain. Determining the specific causes of neck pain and back pain for each chiropractic patient is vital prior to the onset of any treatment.
When dealing with back and neck pain, it is important to have your pain valuated by a professional. Simply dismissing back or neck pain as typical and unimportant can be a very bad mistake.
Many conditions can cause back and neck pain, ranging from injury to infection to simply twisting the wrong way. Traumatic injuries such as those sustained in an automobile or other type of accident can damage muscles, joints, ligaments, and vertebrae.
Overuse or under use of the back muscles is by far the most common cause of back pain that manifests as tightening or spasm of the muscles that connect to the spine. Inflammation and swelling often occur in the joints and ligaments, especially in the cervical and lumbar regions, as people age.
A herniated disc occurs when the nuclear pulposus, the inner material of the disc, pushes through a tear in the annulus fibrosis, the outer material of the disc causing nerve root compression. The cervical and lumbar regions of the spine have the most mobility and the discs there are more likely to wear down or be injured. Ninety percent of disc herniations occur in the lower two lumbar vertebrae.
Spinal stenosis, the narrowing of the spinal canal, can cause spinal cord irritation and injury. Conditions that cause spinal stenosis include infection, tumors, trauma, herniated disc, arthritis, thickening of ligaments, growth of bone spurs, and disc degeneration. Spinal stenosis most commonly occurs in older individuals as a result of vertebral degeneration.
A pinched nerve, or radiculopathy, occurs when something rubs or presses against a nerve, creating irritation or inflammation. Radiculopathy can result from a herniated disc, bone spur, tumor growing into the nerves, and vertebral fracture, and many other conditions.
Sciatica is a certain type of radiculopathy that involves inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Pain is experienced along the large sciatic nerve, from the lower back down through the buttocks and along the back of the leg.
A spinal tumor that originates in the spine (primary tumor) or spreads to the spine from another part of the body (metastatic tumor) can compress the spine or nerve roots and cause significant pain.
Infections of the vertebrae (e.g., vertebral osteomyelitis), the discs, the meninges (e.g., spinal meningitis), or the cerebrospinal fluid can compress the spinal cord and result in serious eurological deterioration, if it is not diagnosed and treated immediately.
Facet joints allow movement of the spine. The facet joints are formed by two adjacent vertebra and direct or guide movement of the spine. As facet joints degenerate, they may not align correctly, and the cartilage and fluid that lubricates the joints may deteriorate. Bone then rubs against bone, which can be very painful.
These are just a few of the conditions that can cause back pain and neck pain.
Thankfully, most cases of back pain and neck pains are related to mechanical causes and can be readily addressed by a trained chiropractor. The point is, however, pain is a warning signal that should not be ignored. The best place to have your back and neck pain evaluated is with a chiropractor.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Chiropractic, neck pain, San Diego, back pain, chiropractor, treatment
My Chiropractic Office in San Diego California is like many across the United tates. While chiropractic care helps many different conditions, it is often viewed as treatment for back pain and neck pain. Determining the specific causes of neck pain and back pain for each chiropractic patient is vital prior to the onset of any treatment.
When dealing with back and neck pain, it is important to have your pain valuated by a professional. Simply dismissing back or neck pain as typical and unimportant can be a very bad mistake.
Many conditions can cause back and neck pain, ranging from injury to infection to simply twisting the wrong way. Traumatic injuries such as those sustained in an automobile or other type of accident can damage muscles, joints, ligaments, and vertebrae.
Overuse or under use of the back muscles is by far the most common cause of back pain that manifests as tightening or spasm of the muscles that connect to the spine. Inflammation and swelling often occur in the joints and ligaments, especially in the cervical and lumbar regions, as people age.
A herniated disc occurs when the nuclear pulposus, the inner material of the disc, pushes through a tear in the annulus fibrosis, the outer material of the disc causing nerve root compression. The cervical and lumbar regions of the spine have the most mobility and the discs there are more likely to wear down or be injured. Ninety percent of disc herniations occur in the lower two lumbar vertebrae.
Spinal stenosis, the narrowing of the spinal canal, can cause spinal cord irritation and injury. Conditions that cause spinal stenosis include infection, tumors, trauma, herniated disc, arthritis, thickening of ligaments, growth of bone spurs, and disc degeneration. Spinal stenosis most commonly occurs in older individuals as a result of vertebral degeneration.
A pinched nerve, or radiculopathy, occurs when something rubs or presses against a nerve, creating irritation or inflammation. Radiculopathy can result from a herniated disc, bone spur, tumor growing into the nerves, and vertebral fracture, and many other conditions.
Sciatica is a certain type of radiculopathy that involves inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Pain is experienced along the large sciatic nerve, from the lower back down through the buttocks and along the back of the leg.
A spinal tumor that originates in the spine (primary tumor) or spreads to the spine from another part of the body (metastatic tumor) can compress the spine or nerve roots and cause significant pain.
Infections of the vertebrae (e.g., vertebral osteomyelitis), the discs, the meninges (e.g., spinal meningitis), or the cerebrospinal fluid can compress the spinal cord and result in serious eurological deterioration, if it is not diagnosed and treated immediately.
Facet joints allow movement of the spine. The facet joints are formed by two adjacent vertebra and direct or guide movement of the spine. As facet joints degenerate, they may not align correctly, and the cartilage and fluid that lubricates the joints may deteriorate. Bone then rubs against bone, which can be very painful.
These are just a few of the conditions that can cause back pain and neck pain.
Thankfully, most cases of back pain and neck pains are related to mechanical causes and can be readily addressed by a trained chiropractor. The point is, however, pain is a warning signal that should not be ignored. The best place to have your back and neck pain evaluated is with a chiropractor.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Chiropractic, neck pain, San Diego, back pain, chiropractor, treatment
Friday, January 29, 2010
Looking at Soft Tissue Injury Case
Special Tests
The use of special imaging and diagnostic procedures are becoming more popular in the clinical management of patients. Attorneys will be placed in the position of justifying the expense and use of these tests to the claims adjustor or judge. The doctor should consider the following questions before ordering such tests:
1. What is the clinical criteria for performing the test? If based solely on the patient's subjective complaints, this represents a very poor criteria.
2. Is the test both sensitive and specific for the condition? Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), for example, represent procedures which are both sensitive and specific. However, their use is often inappropriate in an uncomplicated soft tissue injury. Thermography, in comparison, is very sensitive, yet due to vast testing and interpretation variables, often renders the use of this test questionable.
3. Is the testing procedure well accepted in the scientific literature? For example, the timely use of paraspinal EMGs producing $900 to the incurred bills, in our experience, will bring the settlement process to a halt. The treating doctor may contend that the use of this special procedure was clinically necessary, but the insurance carrier will only reimburse those procedures proven in the clinical and literary arenas.
4. How will a "positive" or "negative" test alter the form of care rendered? A "positive" paraspinal EMG finding, in our experience, has never produced a change in the type of care rendered. For that matter neither has a "negative" result.
5. Is the test timely? The thermogram, for example, would be expected to be "positive" on the first days following the trauma, thus, negating the clinical criteria for performing said test during the acute stages of injury.
For the above reasons, plus the high fees associated with these procedures, we feel the improper use of these tests often produces prolonged reimbursement to all parties; patients, attorneys, and doctors
Narrative Reports
In our experience, this is far and away the greatest downfall in the well managed soft tissue case. We, as a profession, have become dependent on the computer generated narrative report. In our opinion, and that of the legal community as well, these types of reports often do not represent original thought or an accurate depiction of the patient's condition. The various legal arenas involved in personal injury suits take a very dim light as to the veracity of these types of reports.
The narrative report must also be an accurate reflection of the treatment rendered. All sections of the report should correlate to eliminate inconsistencies, and above all should represent accurate and original work. Remember, the attorney will use the report as a settlement tool. It should contain answers, not new problems. The quality and accuracy of the narrative report should not be underestimated. It alone represents months of care, the patient's basis for future medical considerations, prognosis, and most important of all, reimbursement for the services rendered. "He who botches the report, botches the case."
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
The use of special imaging and diagnostic procedures are becoming more popular in the clinical management of patients. Attorneys will be placed in the position of justifying the expense and use of these tests to the claims adjustor or judge. The doctor should consider the following questions before ordering such tests:
1. What is the clinical criteria for performing the test? If based solely on the patient's subjective complaints, this represents a very poor criteria.
2. Is the test both sensitive and specific for the condition? Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), for example, represent procedures which are both sensitive and specific. However, their use is often inappropriate in an uncomplicated soft tissue injury. Thermography, in comparison, is very sensitive, yet due to vast testing and interpretation variables, often renders the use of this test questionable.
3. Is the testing procedure well accepted in the scientific literature? For example, the timely use of paraspinal EMGs producing $900 to the incurred bills, in our experience, will bring the settlement process to a halt. The treating doctor may contend that the use of this special procedure was clinically necessary, but the insurance carrier will only reimburse those procedures proven in the clinical and literary arenas.
4. How will a "positive" or "negative" test alter the form of care rendered? A "positive" paraspinal EMG finding, in our experience, has never produced a change in the type of care rendered. For that matter neither has a "negative" result.
5. Is the test timely? The thermogram, for example, would be expected to be "positive" on the first days following the trauma, thus, negating the clinical criteria for performing said test during the acute stages of injury.
For the above reasons, plus the high fees associated with these procedures, we feel the improper use of these tests often produces prolonged reimbursement to all parties; patients, attorneys, and doctors
Narrative Reports
In our experience, this is far and away the greatest downfall in the well managed soft tissue case. We, as a profession, have become dependent on the computer generated narrative report. In our opinion, and that of the legal community as well, these types of reports often do not represent original thought or an accurate depiction of the patient's condition. The various legal arenas involved in personal injury suits take a very dim light as to the veracity of these types of reports.
The narrative report must also be an accurate reflection of the treatment rendered. All sections of the report should correlate to eliminate inconsistencies, and above all should represent accurate and original work. Remember, the attorney will use the report as a settlement tool. It should contain answers, not new problems. The quality and accuracy of the narrative report should not be underestimated. It alone represents months of care, the patient's basis for future medical considerations, prognosis, and most important of all, reimbursement for the services rendered. "He who botches the report, botches the case."
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
How Your Posture Affects Back Pain and Neck Pain
Stand Up Straight - How Your Posture Affects Back Pain and Neck Pain
Have you ever wondered how you can develop back pain or neck pain without doing anything strenuous. It is amazing that humans don't sustain even more back pain and neck pain, given the structure of our bodies and the physical demands.
In my California chiropractic practice, I frequently treat office workers who experience chronic and severe back and neck pain tied to easy-to-fix ergonomic issues in their workspace. In my Columbus Ohio chiropractic business, I treat clients frequently who work in an office and could benefit from better ergonomics.
Anyone can experience back or neck pain at any time. I treat individuals regularly who experienced back and neck injuries from improper lifting, machinery usage, sports, falls, and auto accidents. The majority of patients think that chiropractic issues stem from lifting heavy sacks of concrete but are surprised to find that most are due to postural stress.
The "silent killer" of our spinal health is postural stress. Postural stress is experienced either while sitting or standing on one's feet. Postural stress is felt whenever the natural curve of the spine is altered or if the spine moves past its natural balance point.
As you sit at a computer, hunched over the keyboard or peering at the screen, your neck experiences postural stress. This posture, in which your head and neck are extended in front of your body, reverses the normal curvature of your spine and neck, and shifts your head away from its balance point.
The stability that is part of our structure when our postural boundaries are respected is lost when we assume postures that cause stress to our spines. Stress from the way we hold ourselves (either sitting or standing) opens our ligaments and muscles up to long periods of being stretched (perhaps incorrectly) which leads to muscle fatigue, irritation, inflammation, back and neck pain, and even arthritis over the long run.
A combination of therapies may be required to effectively treat back pain and neck pain from postural stress. Using this method of chiropractic care in conjunction with stretching and nutritional support relieves pain and stiffness and restores normal, full joint movement.If you have endured pain for a long time or if your symptoms are particularly acute, the road to recovery will not be short or easy. Don’t expect a quick fix.
Chiropractic care alone will not alleviate the problem; you must eliminate or change the causes of the postural stress. Have your workstation analyzed to highlight any ergonomic issues that could cause postural stress. Applying ice packs for neck pain and back pain for around twenty minutes at a time is also sometimes effective for relief.
Talking to your chiropractor is the first step in starting your treatment.
Chiropractors are medically trained to deal with postural stress problems and the neck pain that occurs as a result. At our chiropractic clinic in Columbus, we treat patients with a holistic approach using chiropractic care and enhanced with a regimen of stretching and exercise.
In order to facilitate the healing process we encourage the proper nutritional support.
You need to be aware of the importance of eliminating the source of the postural stress in addition to seeking treatment, regardless of which approach you take to relieve the pain of postural stress.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Have you ever wondered how you can develop back pain or neck pain without doing anything strenuous. It is amazing that humans don't sustain even more back pain and neck pain, given the structure of our bodies and the physical demands.
In my California chiropractic practice, I frequently treat office workers who experience chronic and severe back and neck pain tied to easy-to-fix ergonomic issues in their workspace. In my Columbus Ohio chiropractic business, I treat clients frequently who work in an office and could benefit from better ergonomics.
Anyone can experience back or neck pain at any time. I treat individuals regularly who experienced back and neck injuries from improper lifting, machinery usage, sports, falls, and auto accidents. The majority of patients think that chiropractic issues stem from lifting heavy sacks of concrete but are surprised to find that most are due to postural stress.
The "silent killer" of our spinal health is postural stress. Postural stress is experienced either while sitting or standing on one's feet. Postural stress is felt whenever the natural curve of the spine is altered or if the spine moves past its natural balance point.
As you sit at a computer, hunched over the keyboard or peering at the screen, your neck experiences postural stress. This posture, in which your head and neck are extended in front of your body, reverses the normal curvature of your spine and neck, and shifts your head away from its balance point.
The stability that is part of our structure when our postural boundaries are respected is lost when we assume postures that cause stress to our spines. Stress from the way we hold ourselves (either sitting or standing) opens our ligaments and muscles up to long periods of being stretched (perhaps incorrectly) which leads to muscle fatigue, irritation, inflammation, back and neck pain, and even arthritis over the long run.
A combination of therapies may be required to effectively treat back pain and neck pain from postural stress. Using this method of chiropractic care in conjunction with stretching and nutritional support relieves pain and stiffness and restores normal, full joint movement.If you have endured pain for a long time or if your symptoms are particularly acute, the road to recovery will not be short or easy. Don’t expect a quick fix.
Chiropractic care alone will not alleviate the problem; you must eliminate or change the causes of the postural stress. Have your workstation analyzed to highlight any ergonomic issues that could cause postural stress. Applying ice packs for neck pain and back pain for around twenty minutes at a time is also sometimes effective for relief.
Talking to your chiropractor is the first step in starting your treatment.
Chiropractors are medically trained to deal with postural stress problems and the neck pain that occurs as a result. At our chiropractic clinic in Columbus, we treat patients with a holistic approach using chiropractic care and enhanced with a regimen of stretching and exercise.
In order to facilitate the healing process we encourage the proper nutritional support.
You need to be aware of the importance of eliminating the source of the postural stress in addition to seeking treatment, regardless of which approach you take to relieve the pain of postural stress.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Chronic Pain Relief San Diego
Define Chronic pain
Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists longer than 90 days beyond the course of the natural expected healing time. As a chiropractor in San Diego, I get calls from both new and established patients on a regular basis who complain of back pain, neck pain, etc. One of the factors that comes into play when planning a chiropractic treatment program is the duration of the patients pain. In genereral, the longer that a patient suffers with a painful condition, the longer / more intense the treatment is needed in order to fix it. Acute or recent episodes of pain respond much quicker than do chronic conditions.
Pain is very difficult to quantify by any practitioner. Pain is subjective in nature and completely defined by the person experiencing the symptoms, the fact that chronic pain can exist without an obvious cause makes it much more difficult to treat.
I see the difficulties that my chronic pain patients have with their conditions on a daily basis. Aside from the actual pain that they experience, those who suffer with chronic pain often limit their activities for fear of exacerbating their conditions. They also have a much harder time focussing on mental tasks as the pain is a constant source of distraction. The more severe the pain, the more difficulties these people have with attention demanding tasks.
While we strive to avoid pain, pain is a wonderful tool of the nervous system. Pain lets us know of actual or potential tissue damage with an unpleasant sensation that directs our attention to the affected area so that we can either immediately take action to stop the process or focus on healing the injured body parts. Chronic pain sensations are a bit more insideous.
Chronic pain often involves a decrease in the sensativity of the nerve fibers that send messages of pain from the damaged area. With a decreased sensativity (threshold), the nerve is much more likely to transmit painful sensations to the brain then a healthy nerve / tissue combination. This activity within the nervous system is know as a wind up phenomenon and it is very difficult to stop once it has been established. In some other cases, nerve fibers that normally don’t carry painful sensations not only begin to transmit pain signals but it is thought that they may actually generate the signals themselves.
In my office, chronic pain is often the result of untreated sprain / strain type injuries of the joints. In untreated or under-treated sprain / strain injuries, the joint or the muscles that move the joint are laden with scar tisuue that acts to either limit or alter motion of that joint. With time, the awkward, unnatural biomechanics of the scar tissue laden joint results in irritation, inflammation and finally pain and spasm. While chiropractic care is often successful at re-establishing “clean” biomechanics of a joint, it is always better to get the care in the beginning of an injury versus waiting for that injury to become chronic, with a requiring more care with a decreasing chance of complete recovery.
Because of the possibility of an acute painful condition becoming a chronic one, I always encourage my patients to take care of themselves immediately when they first start to experience pain. I have practiced chiropractic care for almost two decades now and I can say that chronic painful conditions of the spine are devastating. Not only do they make you expereince pain, but in most instances they limit your physical activities creating a situation that can easily degrade from inactivity secondary to pain, to deconditioning and eventually to obesity and ill health in general leading to a dissatisying lifestyle.
The bottom line on chronic pain is this – avoid it if you can. Don’t ignore your pain. Painful acute conditions that are left untreated can easily spiral into a chronic condition that has the potential to alter your lifestyle in a negative way.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists longer than 90 days beyond the course of the natural expected healing time. As a chiropractor in San Diego, I get calls from both new and established patients on a regular basis who complain of back pain, neck pain, etc. One of the factors that comes into play when planning a chiropractic treatment program is the duration of the patients pain. In genereral, the longer that a patient suffers with a painful condition, the longer / more intense the treatment is needed in order to fix it. Acute or recent episodes of pain respond much quicker than do chronic conditions.
Pain is very difficult to quantify by any practitioner. Pain is subjective in nature and completely defined by the person experiencing the symptoms, the fact that chronic pain can exist without an obvious cause makes it much more difficult to treat.
I see the difficulties that my chronic pain patients have with their conditions on a daily basis. Aside from the actual pain that they experience, those who suffer with chronic pain often limit their activities for fear of exacerbating their conditions. They also have a much harder time focussing on mental tasks as the pain is a constant source of distraction. The more severe the pain, the more difficulties these people have with attention demanding tasks.
While we strive to avoid pain, pain is a wonderful tool of the nervous system. Pain lets us know of actual or potential tissue damage with an unpleasant sensation that directs our attention to the affected area so that we can either immediately take action to stop the process or focus on healing the injured body parts. Chronic pain sensations are a bit more insideous.
Chronic pain often involves a decrease in the sensativity of the nerve fibers that send messages of pain from the damaged area. With a decreased sensativity (threshold), the nerve is much more likely to transmit painful sensations to the brain then a healthy nerve / tissue combination. This activity within the nervous system is know as a wind up phenomenon and it is very difficult to stop once it has been established. In some other cases, nerve fibers that normally don’t carry painful sensations not only begin to transmit pain signals but it is thought that they may actually generate the signals themselves.
In my office, chronic pain is often the result of untreated sprain / strain type injuries of the joints. In untreated or under-treated sprain / strain injuries, the joint or the muscles that move the joint are laden with scar tisuue that acts to either limit or alter motion of that joint. With time, the awkward, unnatural biomechanics of the scar tissue laden joint results in irritation, inflammation and finally pain and spasm. While chiropractic care is often successful at re-establishing “clean” biomechanics of a joint, it is always better to get the care in the beginning of an injury versus waiting for that injury to become chronic, with a requiring more care with a decreasing chance of complete recovery.
Because of the possibility of an acute painful condition becoming a chronic one, I always encourage my patients to take care of themselves immediately when they first start to experience pain. I have practiced chiropractic care for almost two decades now and I can say that chronic painful conditions of the spine are devastating. Not only do they make you expereince pain, but in most instances they limit your physical activities creating a situation that can easily degrade from inactivity secondary to pain, to deconditioning and eventually to obesity and ill health in general leading to a dissatisying lifestyle.
The bottom line on chronic pain is this – avoid it if you can. Don’t ignore your pain. Painful acute conditions that are left untreated can easily spiral into a chronic condition that has the potential to alter your lifestyle in a negative way.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
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