The Benefit of Guidelines
Clear Lake Chiropractor Comments: I continue to be surprised, and somewhat disappointed with doctors and therapists, when a person comes in saying that the last time that they had their problem, they went to physical therapy for 4-5 months for a problem that should have taken 2 months at most. Sometimes they say that they went to their family physician for a low back strain and were told to have 1 week of bed rest. Some have been told by their surgeon that since their MRI was negative for a disc herniation, that the problem was in their head and not their back.
One of the benefits of medicine now is that the most current research is available online. We can access treatment guidelines and read the supporting research to find out what works best for our patients. This is not to say that doctors should not use their own experience from treating prior patients, but instead to give a resource to find information if treatment is taking too long or if patients are not getting well.
When I was in school 30+ years ago, if a person strained their back, the advice was a week of bed rest. When the research came out against bed rest and for early movement such as walking, some doctors fought the change. When outcome assessments became common to measure a person’s response to treatment, some doctors didn’t want to use them. When studies show that certain types of therapies get better results, some therapists didn’t want to use the better therapies for a variety of reasons.
The guidelines and their supporting research give us the information to allow us to get our patients well faster and with better long term outcomes. As insurance companies reduce treatment coverage and out of pocket costs to patients rise, it is in everybody’s best interest to use the research and evidence out there to improve our care.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Meditation to Reduce Stress
Meditation is a simple and fast way to reduce stress and refresh your mind, body and soul. Take 10 minutes on your lunch break to decompress. Visit your doctor of chiropractic who can help you achieve and maintain optimal wellness.
Click here to read more about meditation
Keeping Cool When The Weather Is Hot
Clear Lake City Chiropractor Comment: As the temperature gets in to the upper 90’s and the heat index is well into the 100’s, the weather goes from being uncomfortable to deadly. Working or exercising in hot weather puts additional stresses on your body. The activity, temperature and humidity can all increase your core temperature causing serious health problems.
When you get hot, your body brings more blood to the skin which leaves less blood for your muscles which will increase the heart rate. When the humidity is high, your sweat doesn’t evaporate which also drives up your core temperature. Normally, your blood vessels, skin and perspiration level adjust to the heat. But these natural cooling systems may not work if you’re exposed to high temperatures and humidity for too long, you sweat heavily, and you don’t drink enough fluids. The result may be a heat-related illness.
The most common heat-related illnesses are heat syncope, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat syncope is the lightheaded feeling or fainting that occurs after exercise, standing for a long period of time or arising quickly from a seated position. Heat cramps are typically exercise induced causing the muscles to feel firm, but typically with normal temperature. Heat exhaustion is when your core temperature elevates up to 104° causing cold, clammy skin with associated nausea, vomiting, headache or weakness. The final illness is heat stroke. This is a life threatening condition. In this case the temperature is above 104°. Typically your skin will be dry with associated confusion, irritability, heart rhythm issues, vomiting or nausea. Immediate medical attention is necessary to prevent brain damage or death.
If you have a heat related illness, promptly begin cooling yourself off and hydrating. Cool wet towels or an ice pack on the head or under the armpits helps as does spraying water on your-self. You need to stop exercising or working and get into the shade.
Just remember to acclimate yourself to the heat, drink plenty of fluids, watch the temperature and dress appropriately.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Vertigo… When The World Keeps Spinning Around
Houston Chiropractor Comments: A couple times a year I see a patient who has recently developed signs of vertigo and the result can be debilitating. Sometimes it feels like the world is spinning around you and sometimes you are spinning around the world. The dizziness can be mild or severe enough that you can’t drive or function. It can last a few moments, a few hours or it can just come and go.
The first thing that needs to be done is to realize that vertigo is a symptom not a specific condition. As such, we need to determine the cause of the vertigo. Is the cause more central (ie. from the central nervous system) or peripheral (ie. from the inner ear)? A proper examination will help immensely.
Possible causes of vertigo are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This occurs when little calcium particles (canaliths) clump together in the inner ear canal and move around during sudden motions.
Another cause is Meinere’s disease. This is a disease that increases the pressure and fluid in the ear resulting in vertigo and ringing in the ear (tinnitus).
The vertigo can also be caused by vestibular neuritis. This is usually due to a viral infection causing inflammation in the nerves of the inner ear.
Additional causes of vertigo are certain types of medication, a stroke or tumor, dehydration or head/neck trauma.
The type of treatment rendered will be determined by the cause. For BPPV it is bets to use a canalith repositioning motion, such as the Epley maneuver or the guidelines by the American Academy of Neurology. I will post a video next week showing a series of head motions designed to get the canaliths in the correct position that I have found to work and can be taught to do at home. Some patients require vestibular rehabilitation which is a therapy designed on improving the vestibular system by improving ones balance and stability and minimizing dizziness and gaze instability. Spinal manipulation will help if there was any incidence of head or neck trauma. Medication or supplements are beneficial to help minimize any inner ear fluid buildup or secondary nausea. If the cause is from a tumor or a stroke then the appropriate medical referral should be made.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
The Feet Are The Foundation Of The Body
Lower back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide. When you’re running make sure to wear proper shoes to help reduce your chances of back pain. If you’re suffering, call us today to schedule an appointment and find out how chiropractic care can help.
Happy Feet Can Affect Your Back
Clear Lake Chiropractor Comments: Sore and achy feet can affect how you feel and how your spine functions. Here are a couple easy tips to help make your feet feel better and minimize any aggravation of your spine.
- Rotate your shoes so that you are not wearing the same pair every day.
- Avoid wearing shoes that are too tight. It should not be painful to wear your shoes.
- Check your feet daily for sores, infected toenails, cuts or blisters.
- If your shoes are wearing more on one side, then check your spine, hips, knees or ankles for alignment issues. You may need to be seen by a chiropractor to correct your alignment.
- If you have arch problems, too much or too little, then you might need to get an orthotic to correct the problem.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Is No Pain, No Gain A Smart Plan?
Clear Lake Chiropractor Comments: As people begin to act on their New Year resolutions, they have a tendency to think that pain should be expected. This is not true. As you increase your activity to reach your new health goals remember 6 things.
- Warming up – Warm muscles are far less likely to tear than cold ones. So, if you’re going out for a run, walk a bit first, then trot before you go into full running mode. Stretching your muscles, especially the ones you’re going to be using, also helps you to avoid injury.
- Cooling down – The same is true when you end an exercise session. You can’t just automatically stop when you are finished with your workout because this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. Using running as an example- slow down to a walk again before you just stop your exercise. It’s also important to stretch out those muscles again.
- Staying hydrated – Water, water, water! Drinking water before, during and after a workout replaces fluids lost from sweating and exertion, especially important in warm or hot weather.
- Listening to your body – Don’t continue your workout if suddenly you find yourself in pain. Your body is trying to tell you something. Ignoring it can only make it worse, so stop whatever you’re doing and give your body a few days to recover before starting up again.
- Learning the proper technique for the workout – Make sure you know the proper technique for any new workout routine you are attempting for the first time. Correct technique is as important as warming up to avoid injury.
- See your chiropractor – If you notice pain in your spine or joints that persist more than 3 days, see your chiropractor to make sure that your exercise did not misalign a joint. It is easier to fix a problem early than to wait and possibly cause other compensation problems.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Safely Managing Seniors in Pain
For seniors living in chronic spine and joint pain, chiropractic care offers a safe alternative. Give us a call today to discover if chiropractic care is right for you.
Chiropractors Can Treat Pain Without The Use Of Opioids
Chiropractors can treat pain without the use of opioids. If you have pain, contact us today and we’ll discuss if chiropractic care is a good option for you.
Co-Management of Health Problems
Co-Management of Health Problems
Bay Area Chiropractor Comments: Recently I was talking to two different patients about how their health problems were co-managed in completely opposite ways. The first patient had been referred to my office from her surgeon who suggested that she try chiropractic care with me before he proceeded with any surgical options. This patient has had excellent results and is no longer a surgical candidate. She knows what she can and cannot do physically and knows what home care stretches and exercises she can do to prevent a re-occurrence of the pain. The second patient went to a doctor who told him that he would only get well by doing what he said. He tried multiple different treatments at the office, all with no benefit. When my patient asked about alternative treatments the doctor became upset and suggested that the patient would not get well with his “bad attitude”. Lucky for the patient, a nurse gave him my card and told him to call for an appointment. The problem was mechanical in nature and the pain resolved in approximately 3 weeks.
If all healthcare providers would learn their strengths and weaknesses, it would be much easier to resolve patient’s health problems. This is not just an issue between MD’s and DC’s. All healthcare providers benefit. If someone has muscle issues that aren’t responding to therapy here, perhaps they would benefit from massage therapy or from a personal trainer. Some people require surgery even after the best care I can offer. Some patients that are post-surgical require chiropractic care to prevent scar tissue or correct structural problems as a result of a cast or wheelchair. Some patients need to have different health problems monitored to allow their body to heal quickly.
It all comes down to doing what is best for the patient.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
