April Showers Bring May Flowers...

A new twist on an old cliché? Sure is! Although the Spring flowers arrived before the April showers, we love the Spring flowers and the joy they bring. (That's our goal with chiropractic care, too: bring joy back to your life.) But we know what comes with the showers besides the flowers: Weeds! Yard work! Outdoor chores! Whether or not we consider this work a necessary chore or a relaxing pleasure, back and neck pain may be the result. At Chiropractic Care, we are here for you and your family and friends!

Flowers have a long term effect on mood and immediate impact on happiness. Who hasn't smiled and found joy in receiving flowers, seeing the Spring blooms, or even ‘stopping to smell the flowers’? Rutgers University researchers have even proven it. So if someone you know suffers with headaches or back or neck pain, pick some Spring flowers and share! Please also share our website and phone number so we can help them return to the activities they enjoy.

Our doctors and staff are trained to determine and treat the cause of pain and prevent these symptoms from returning. A simple back strain will often resolve quickly with minimal therapy. If your symptoms are determined to be caused from a slipped spinal disc, our doctors are trained to gently and effectively treat these conditions in as few visits as possible. Regardless of the cause of your pain, simple home stretches and exercises can help prevent the return of your pain and allow you to continue enjoying your yard and flowers.

Enjoy the April showers and a few flowers on your way to our chiropractic office soon! 

For more information on Spring Flowers & Gardening, click here

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or call our Chicago office: 312-269-5556
or our Homewood office 708.798.5556

                

"The Doctors," "Dr. Oz Show" latest to feature chiropractic.

I wanted to make you aware that chiropractic will be featured on the "The Doctors" show. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about chiropractic and the role it plays in your health. I would greatly appreciate it if you would watch the program and let me know your thoughts the next time you come in. The show airs on Monday, April 23. You can check the exact time and station online at: http://thedoctorstv.com/main/local_listings.

Thank you so much.

Dr Ralph Kruse

Please visit our website for more information - click here -
or call our Chicago office: 312-269-5556
or our Homewood office 708.798.5556

        

Spinal stenosis is a growing problem as a large portion of our population enters the middle to older years of life. The term stenosis literally means the narrowing of any body orifice. Spinal stenosis is a common cause of back, buttocks, hip and leg pain. The pain may feel like a cramp which is made worse by standing, walking, or exercise. The pain may be relieved by sitting or bending forward and it is typical to be able to walk farther when leaning on a shopping cart while walking. Spinal stenosis can have multiple causes. Factors such as degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, spinal (facet) joint arthritis, subluxations, and spondylolisthesis all contribute to spinal stenosis.

Lower back (lumbar) spinal stenosis is the most frequent reason for spinal surgery in elderly people. Researchers recommend different conservative and surgical treatments for patients with moderate or severe symptoms. Different treatment options share the common goal of facilitating optimal, knowledge-based and individualized care for patients with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis. Chiropractic care, more specifically Cox Flexion Distraction Decompression Manipulation,  is a research-based, gentle procedure which helps treat the symptoms of spinal stenosis. Cox manipulation has been scientifically shown to reduce the pressure inside the vertebral disc, increase disc height and increase the area where the nerves exit the spine (intervertebral foramen). These effects provide more space for, and less pressure on, these pain-sensitive nerves, thus relieving pain. This non-surgical pain relief treatment helps patients be able to perform their daily activities with greater ease and comfort.

Read Successful Outcome for Spinal Stenosis Pain Relief for more published information.

Contact Chiropractic Care for a thorough examination and individualized treatment plan to relieve your spinal stenosis Read about this patient's relief of spinal stenosis pain with Cox Technic.

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or call our Chicago office: 312-269-5556
or our Homewood office 708.798.5556

        

Ready...Set...RUN!!!

As the calendar turns to spring, many people are considering starting or rebooting a running program. It’s a great idea, as running is good for the whole body. It benefits the musculoskeletal system, the cardiovascular system, and the brain! Biomechanical studies show that our bodies were built to run, but there are a number of factors which can influence our ability to avoid injury and run comfortably.

The first thing to consider is your feet. You should have a quality pair of running shoes. No running in tennis or basketball shoes! Running shoes are designed to support your forward movement while cushioning impact and helping to control the motion of your foot. That said, many people can benefit from more custom support for their feet, in the form of insoles specifically designed for their particular biomechanics. At Chiropractic Care, we can perform a specialized state-of-the-art digital scan of your feet and recommend sport-oriented orthotics which will address your specific needs.

Another thing to consider, especially if your winter has been fairly sedentary, is to start slowly. Muscles and joints take time to adapt to a different activity, so it’s important to listen to your body. Some soreness is normal, but persistent or worsening pain is not. Add mileage or pace only as you comfortably can.

Finally, correct spinal, pelvic and hip alignment can be critical to a satisfying running experience. Small misalignments are magnified when you start a repetitive exercise involving increased forces on your joints and muscles. Competitive athletes turn to chiropractic for not only treating injuries, but also preventing injuries, and to enhance their performance. The same thing applies to us weekend warriors and occasional racers. Maintaining good alignment is one of the keys to consistent training, which is the only way to improve.

Please visit our website for more information - click here -
or call our Chicago office: 312-269-5556
or our Homewood office 708.798.5556

   

Does Back Pain Go Away on Its Own?

Eighty percent of people suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor's office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. Most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic, i.e., not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture, or cancer.

What Causes Back Pain?
The back is a complicated structure of bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles. You can sprain ligaments, strain muscles, rupture disks, and irritate joints, all of which can lead to back pain. While sports injuries or accidents can cause back pain, sometimes the simplest of movements-for example, picking up a pencil from the floor-can have painful results. In addition, arthritis, poor posture, obesity, and psychological stress can cause or complicate back pain. Back pain can also directly result from disease of the internal organs, such as kidney stones, kidney infections, blood clots, or bone loss.

Back injuries are a part of everyday life, and the spine is quite good at dealing with these often "pulled" muscles. These very minor injuries usually heal within 1 or 2 days. Some pain, however, continues. What makes some pain last longer is not entirely understood, but researchers suspect that the reasons may include stress, mood changes, and the fear of further injury that may prevent patients from being active. In addition, sometimes a painful injury or disease changes the way the pain signals are sent through the body, and, even after the problem has gone away or is inactive, the pain signals still reach the brain. It is as if the pain develops a memory that keeps being replayed.

Will Back Pain Go Away on Its Own?
Until recently, researchers believed that back pain will "heal" on its own. We have learned, however, that this is not true. A recent study showed that when back pain is not treated, it may go away temporarily but will most likely return. The study demonstrated that in more than 33% of the people who experience low-back pain, the pain lasts for more than 30 days. Only 9% of the people who had low-back pain for more than 30 days were pain free 5 years later.1

Another study looked at all of the available research on the natural history of low-back pain. The results showed that when it is ignored, back pain does not go away on its own.2 Those studies demonstrate that low-back pain continues to affect people for long periods after it first begins.

What Can I Do to Prevent Long-Term Back Pain?
If your back pain is not resolving quickly, visit your doctor of chiropractic. Your pain will often result from mechanical problems that your doctor of chiropractic can address. Many chiropractic patients with relatively long-lasting or recurring back pain feel improvement shortly after starting chiropractic treatment.3 The relief they feel after a month of treatment is often greater than after seeing a family physician.4

Chiropractic spinal manipulation is a safe and effective spine pain treatment. It reduces pain, decreases medication, rapidly advances physical therapy, and requires very few passive forms of treatment, such as bed rest.5

How Can I Prevent Back Pain?
• Don't lift by bending over. Instead, bend your hips and knees and then squat to pick up the object. Keep your back straight, and hold the object close to your body.
• Don't twist your body while lifting.
• Push, rather than pull, when you must move heavy objects.
• If you must sit for long periods, take frequent breaks and stretch.
• Wear flat shoes or shoes with low heels.
• Exercise regularly. An inactive lifestyle contributes to lower-back pain.
What Should I Tell My Doctor of Chiropractic?
Before any treatment session, tell your doctor of chiropractic if you experience any of the following:
• Pain goes down your leg below your knee.
• Your leg, foot, groin, or rectal area feels numb.
• You have fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach ache, weakness, or sweating.
• You lose bowel control.
• Your pain is caused by an injury.
• Your pain is so intense you can't move around.
• Your pain doesn't seem to be getting better quickly.
________________________________________

References
1. Hestbaek L, Leboeuf-Yde C, Engberg M, Lauritzen T, Bruun NH, Manniche C. The course of low-back pain in a general population. Results from a 5-year prospective study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2003 May;26(4):213-9.
2. Hestbaek L, Leboeuf-Yde C, Manniche C. Low-back pain: what is the long-term course? A review of studies of general patient populations. Eur Spine J 2003 Apr;12(2):149-65.
3. Stig LC, Nilsson O, Leboeuf-Yde C. Recovery pattern of patients treated with chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for long-lasting or recurrent low back pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2001 May;24(4):288-91.
4. Nyiendo J, Haas M, Goodwin P. Patient characteristics, practice activities, and one-month outcomes for chronic, recurrent low-back pain treated by chiropractors and family medicine physicians: a practice-based feasibility study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2000 May;23(4):239-45.
5. Time to recognize value of chiropractic care? Science and patient satisfaction surveys cite usefulness of spinal manipulation. Orthopedics Today February 2003;23(2):14-15

Please visit our website for more information - click here -
or call our Chicago office: 312-269-5556
or our Homewood office 708.798.5556