Tag Archives: chiropractic adjustments

Researching Chiropractic: Birth trauma, diarrhea, headaches

Chiropractic clinical case histories have been a regular feature of our patient newsletter since its inception. There seems to be no limit to the health problems that respond to chiropractic care. How many people suffering, on drugs, facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care? 

Probably most of them.

Birth trauma and brachial plexus injurystroke

A mother brought her five-month-old son with severely limited left arm movement to a chiropractor. She reported a healthy pregnancy but difficult labor and delivery; her son was breech and experienced birth trauma. An episiotomy and forceful pulling on his head and neck were performed in the delivery process.

Chiropractic was utilized as appropriate for the age and size of the patient. The infant gained full motion of his left arm within the two months of chiropractic care and the mother stated that her son may even have a tendency to be left-handed. (1)

Hourly bowel movements in a 98-year old old woman

A 98-year-old man complaining of frequent, nightly bowel movements began chiropractic care. He reported no bowel problems during the daytime but at night he had to get up to defecate nearly every hour, up to 8-9 times a night.

The patient was diagnosed with adverse mechanical cord tension, cervical (neck) vertebral subluxation, coccyx subluxation, and a twisted pelvis. After one month of care (12 visits), the patient’s nightly, frequent bowel movements were completely resolved. (2)

Headaches from a sports injuryspring resoutions

A 12-year-old girl suffered from headaches after a collision during a lacrosse game. She received three upper cervical (upper neck) adjustments to her atlas (C-1) vertebra over a period of five visits within 28 days. Not only did her headaches disappear but her scoliosis (spinal curves) also improved. (3)

Please pass this info on…

Do you know anyone who is suffering from any of these symptoms or issues? Please share this article with them and encourage them to make an appointment with us.

Call to make an appointment:  517.627.4547

  1. Rubin D, Drumheller, K. Resolution of obstetrical brachial plexus injury in a 5-month-old male following chiropractic to reduce vertebral subluxation: a case report & review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic. December 4, 2020:50-56. 
  2. Cameron D, Kountz C. Resolution of hyper frequent nightly bowel movements in a 98-year-old male following chiropractic care: a case study. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. November 12, 2020:143-149.
  3. Salminen B, Smith Z. Reduction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis & improved cervical curve in a 12-year-old female undergoing orthogonal upper cervical chiropractic care: a case report & review of the literature. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research. September 28, 2020:50-57.

 

 

Is That a Snake Down Her Back?

We often like to show you the picture of the woman on the right. snake down her back

People have asked, “Is that a snake on her back?” “No, it’s her spinal column (backbone)” we say.

We’ve also been asked:

“What’s with the chiropractic fascination with the spine?”

“How does the back make me sick?”

“How does the chiropractor working on my back make me healthy?”

Good questions. Let’s answer them:

Your brain controls your body. How? Your brain has a marvelous communication system-the nervous system. Billions of nerves leave the brain in a bundle known as the spinal cord and travel down your spine.

Millions of nerves from the spinal cord branch off between your spinal bones. 

Your spinal cord and nerves send your brain’s messages to all your internal organs: heart, lungs, stomach, liver, intestines, etc., and all your muscles, joints, glands, blood vessels, and more! 

For you to be healthy your spinal bones (vertebrae) must be in a healthy alignment or your nerves may be irritated and that can cause a lack of proper communication between your brain and your body. 

That’s where your chiropractor comes in. Your Doctor of Chiropractic locates distortions where the nerves are impinged or stressed (subluxations) and corrects or “adjusts” your spine to relieve this distortion. 

For a healthy body, for ideal function, for a strong terrain, you need a healthy spine. A healthy spine helps ensure a healthy nervous system. That’s the role of your chiropractor.

Click HERE to make an appointment or call 517.627.4547

Latest News From Charmaine: February 2021

Well, we are well into the heart of winter! Trust you are making time to enjoy it, even if it is only from behind a window.photo3-300x198
But seriously, getting out into the “chilly” weather is good for your immune system and also helps to fend off the very real weight gain that happens when you combine major sports events, the ritual eating that goes along with such events, chilly weather, and being somewhat sedentary.

I am back to playing with heavyweights after a long covid layoff and I must say the body does thrive with being challenged.

Please watch out for the ice that is to be found at this time of year because, as one practice member said, his wife was stargazing in broad daylight! I really love Yak Trax or similar gadgets that give you a little more traction right now…but it definitely does not mean you are fireproof (or fall-proof!!)

SEE YOU IN THE OFFICE/STUDIO/UNDER BARBELLS

Drs. Ray & Charmaine

Click HERE to contact us or call 517.627.4547

Chiropractic Healing from the Past

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_David_PalmerDD Palmer discovered chiropractic in 1895. He saw its potential as a powerful drug-free natural healing art, a rediscovery of ancient practices going as far back as ancient Egypt and Greece. With his understanding of anatomy and physiology, Palmer developed a system of natural care he called CHIROPRACTIC.

Palmer divided his discovery (or re-discovery) into two parts:
1. A procedure to locate nervous system interference or blockages in a person’s spine and
2. A procedure to release or unblock the flow of nerve energy.
The nervous system blockage he called a subluxation, the procedure used to release this blockage he called an adjustment. While these are common terms today, used by chiropractors throughout the world, they were a breakthrough in his day – and quite controversial. But that
didn’t matter because it worked! It worked very well.

Palmer founded a school to teach his new method. Initially, he would only teach people who were themselves health care professionals. His first students were doctors of osteopathy, naturopathy, and medicine. Later, seeing a great need, he expanded the curriculum and
permitted non-professionals to enter the Palmer School of Chiropractic and learn this new science, art, and philosophy.

Palmer’s writings inspired many. Below is one of his more famous selections. It is as relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1910. In the dim ages of the past when man lived in rude huts and rocky caves, even up to the present time, he resorted to charms, necromancy, and witchcraft for the relief of mental and physical suffering. His whole object was to find an antidote, a specific for each and every ailment which could and would drive out the intruder, as though the disorder were a creature of intelligence.

In his desire to free himself from affliction and prolong his existence, he has searched the heavens above, he has gone into the deep blue sea, the bowels of the earth, and every portion thereof. He has tried animal and mineral poisons, penetrated the dark forest with superstitious rite and incantations, has gathered herbs, barks, and roots for medical uses. In his frenzy for relief … he has slaughtered man, beast, and bird, making use of their various parts alive and dead. He has made powders, ointments, pills, elixirs, decoctions, tinctures, and lotions of all known vegetables and crawling creatures….(1)

In his maddening search for something out there, something outside of his body to heal him, man forgot to look inside – where health and healing truly arose. Dr. Palmer’s words were a wake-up call to humanity. He was crying out: “Look within; what is preventing proper function? What is interfering with healing? Release the blockage and health will be restored.”

Such was the message of his new discovery, chiropractic, which was to bring to suffering humanity. This natural healing art, science, and philosophy – Chiropractic – has saved untold millions from drugs and surgery.

It continues to do so today.

Chiropractic: Run Faster, Jump Higher, Be Stronger

It’s summertime and we’re out playing. Can Chiropractic really help sports performance? It certainly does, and that’s why professional sports teams keep chiropractors on staff so their players’; bodies are more balanced, their nervous systems are healthier, their muscles function at their peak and, if they get hurt, they recover faster from injuries.

Name the sport:golf-83869_1920

  • golf
  • tennis
  • football
  • soccer
  • track
  • swimming
  • hockey
  • martial arts
  • wrestling
  • all the others

Chiropractic can give you the winning edge. Of course, you don’t need to be a professional athlete to benefit from chiropractic;
anyone who uses his/her body needs it to function at its peak. That means everyone, including you, your family, your friends and sports team, can have the winning edge. (1-3)

surfing-1208255_1920

1.Haldeman S. Spinal manipulative therapy in sports medicine. Clinics in Sports Medicine 1986;5:277.
2.Lauro BM. Chiropractic effects on athletic ability. Chiropractic: The Journal of Chiropractic Research and
Clinical Investigations. 1991;6(4):84-87.
3.Interview with Nick Athens, DC Chiropractic Achievers. November/December 1989;38.

The Power of the Adjustment

Nearly 125 years of chiropractic success shows that when the nervous system is free from obstructions (subluxations) the body can respond more effectively resulting in improved overall health. There are thousands of published cases (and many millions of non-published cases) describing people suffering from nearly every known disease healing after chiropractic care.

Chiropractor treating a patient

The chiropractic adjustment is so powerful because it releases stress from your many systems including your nervous, muscular, skeletal, lymphatic and immune systems. 

We refer to separate “systems” only for convenience. You are one complete organism and all your systems are interconnected. There is no true separation. For example, your skeletal and respiratory systems create blood for your circulatory system, and your brain drains into your lymphatic system. Your brain is directly connected to all your immune system organs such as your lymph nodes, spleen, etc.

Your nervous system guides your immune system cells to go where help is needed to keep your resistance to infection high and to keep your body detoxifying, digesting, eliminating, breathing and moving properly.

Regular chiropractic adjustments ensure that all your “systems” are talking to all your other “systems” without interference from subluxations. That’s why anyone with any health condition or challenge can benefit from chiropractic care. Remember, miracles do occur and chiropractic journals are filled with them. Adjustments help you function at your peak-you’ll be the super you! (1) 

Contact us   517.627.4547 to make an appointment.

  1. Cohn A. Chiropractic and the neuroimmune connection. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. September 30, 2008:1-5.

Why do chiropractors spend so much time working on my back?

Because that’s where the nerves are.How many joints are in your spine?

There’s a common misconception that because chiropractors work on the spine their care is limited to spinal pain and spinal problems such as backache, disc problems, sciatica, hip or neck problems. 

But that is an incomplete way of looking at things. We chiropractors locate and release spinal nerve pressure. Your body functions in a more balanced manner, with less stress on the entire system especially your internal organs. So you can heal yourself, no matter what the condition.

That’s why you’ll see children in our office with asthma, allergies, ear infections, pneumonia, colds, flu-and adults with immune conditions, headaches, migraines, infertility, menstrual problems and more!

Check out our series of Case Studies to learn more about all the ways Chiropractic care can help you and your family.

We work on your spine, because that’s where the nerves can get irritated and interfere with the information going to (and from) the internal organs. That’s why we give you adjustments there.

 

What is a subluxation and why are they so dangerous?

A subluxation is a distortion in your spinal column and body structure that affects your brain, spinal cord and nervous system. ChiropractorsHow many joints are in your spine? spend years learning how to locate and adjust subluxations using various physical testing devices, body biofeedback and other instruments as well as X-rays and imaging devices. Why are subluxations so bad?

Disconnection

The subluxation is a “communication disorder” wherein your parts have become disconnected; your parts, muscles, disks, ligaments and organs aren’t working together as efficiently as they could be working; there may be too much or too little cerebral spinal fluid, lymphatic fluid and/or blood flow to vital body organs.

When you are disconnected your resistance to disease lowers, your ability to detoxify from life’s stresses drops and you are less alive. The term used to describe this is dis-ease.

The goal of the chiropractor 

The goal of the chiropractor is to locate and remove subluxations so you may be better connected to yourself. 

What is the best age for chiropractic care?

Everyone needs to be checked for subluxations and to have them adjusted by a chiropractor.

Whether you are sick or apparently healthy, subluxations are interfering with your health. There is no age limit for a person to get chiropractic care: 1 day old or 120 years old.

Everyone needs chiropractic checkups: pregnant women, professional athletes, kids-it is essential for everyone to be subluxation-free. That could make the difference between having energy or being exhausted all the time, between living a life of health or a life of sickness, between healing or deteriorating.

Schedule your check up today!  517.627.4547

Researching Chiropractic: Migraines, Torticollis, & Tic douloureux

How many people suffering, on drugs, facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care? Probably most of them.

Migraine and hypnic headachesheadache

A 59-year-old woman suffered from chronic migraines and hypnic headaches (headaches that wake people from sleep) along with nausea and skin rashes. Migraine has a global prevalence of 10% and is the seventh leading cause of time spent disabled. Hypnic headaches are less common.

The patient’s migraines began 15 years prior and significantly affected her quality of life. During that time, her care consisted of RelpaxT, a prescription drug, massage and TylenolT. Her headaches continued unabated. She also recalled that her mother had migraines that began around her menopause.

Chiropractic care of two visits a week for 3 months and then once per week for 6 weeks resulted in resolution of her headaches as well as additional health benefits. (1)

Torticollis, cranial distortion and difficulty feedingbaby-303068_1920

A 13-day-old boy and his twin sister were brought in for chiropractic evaluation and possible care. The boy had torticollis, difficulty latching to his mother’s left breast and cranial distortion. The parents reported that the baby was very gassy and seemed uncomfortable daily. The pediatrician could offer no options. 

The parents reported that the boy was in the head down position for most of his time in utero with the weight of his sister on top of him.

After analysis for subluxations of his spine and skull, the boy was adjusted while he was lying on a pillow on his back or on his mother’s chest while she was lying on her back on the chiropractic table. 

The child had seven visits over 6 weeks with continued improvements. He was able to latch onto both breasts, the gassiness had decreased and the torticollis had resolved. Improvements were noticed by his third appointment. (2)

Tic douloureuxperson-2438587_1280

Trigeminal neuralgia, also known as “tic douloureux,” is a chronic nerve disorder characterized by intense, persistent and often debilitating shooting sensations of pain in the face. The pain is so intense people have killed themselves and for that reason it is sometimes called the “suicide disease.” 

A 62-year-old woman came to a chiropractic clinic with a chief complaint of chronic right-sided facial pain of 2 years’ duration which she said felt like stabbing and throbbing, “like a bunch of pitch forks.” 

She had experienced three separate automobile accidents over the past 27 years but had no residual symptoms. The pain began four months after she had had a dental surgical procedure, either a filling or root canal on a wisdom tooth on the right side of her face. Over the course of two years, numerous prescription drugs and alternative supplements had been prescribed by multiple doctors and specialists. She had spent over $9,000 in personal funds seeking relief.

Over the course of six months, the patient received 26 chiropractic adjustments. As a result, she experienced significant reductions in frequency and duration of pain. (3)

  1. Niddery E, Alcantara J. Resolution of chronic migraines and hypnic headaches in a 59-year-old female: a case report & review of the literature. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. September 2, 2019:117-126.
  2. Green S, Alcantara J. Resolution of torticollis, breastfeeding difficulties & cranial distortion in a twin infant undergoing chiropractic care for vertebral subluxation: a case report & review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic. July 10, 2019:78-81.
  3. Cramer J, Persky A. Reduction of chronic trigeminal neuralgia following upper cervical specific chiropractic care: a case report & review of the literature. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research. September 9, 2019:56-62.

Headaches and Chiropractic

What Puts the Ache in Headache?headache

The ache in headache does not come from your brain-your brain cannot feel pain. For example, during brain surgery a patient may be wide awake, talking to the surgeons while his brain is being operated on (a local anesthetic numbs the scalp). What puts the “ache” in headache? Stretched, compressed, irritated, inflamed or infected blood vessels, membranes and cranial nerves.

The Chiropractic Approach

Millions of headache sufferers turn to the natural, drug-free chiropractic approach to health. (1)

Why?

Because chiropractic has a unique approach-chiropractors are the only health professionals trained to analyze your body for a serious and often ignored condition that can damage your nerves, inflame your tissues, cause muscles to tighten and knot, weaken your body, cause fatigue and set the stage for sickness and disease: the subluxation. A subluxation is a tiny distortion or misalignment in your spine that stresses your nervous system, the system that controls your body.

Patients who received chiropractic showed significant improvement, on a par with those given a powerful prescription drugs and without the side effects. (2) 

Anyone suffering from headaches (and any other condition) should make sure they are free from subluxations-for the health of their whole body, not just certain parts.

The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence. To understand the true nature of the universe, one must think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration. Nikola Tesla

  1.  Nilsson N, Christensen HW, Hartvigsen J. The effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of cervicogenic headache. JMPT. 1997;20:326-330.
  2. Nelson CF, Bronfort G, Evans R et al. The efficacy of spinal manipulation, amitriptyline and the combination of both therapies for prophylaxis of migraine headache. JMPT. 1998;21(8):511-519.