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When we think of a person who is beautiful and graceful, we tend to attribute this perception to that person’s eyes, hair, or smile. However the most crucial component to looking your best is also the most often overlooked—posture. If you recall the movies where princesses are balancing textbooks on their heads as they strut around the castle, then you have the right idea.

Correct posture can add grace to and eloquence to anyone’s stride and while it is improving your image, it is also improving your health. Standing straight with your shoulders back allows your spine to relieve the stress that is often forced onto it by the heavy forward shrug of the head. This stress is not only damaging to the spine itself, but it can often lead to permanent damage of the surrounding muscles as well.

The best way to fix this future devastating damage is to walk as if you are being pulled up by string that is attached directly to the top of you head. This will encourage your spine to properly align itself and redevelop the muscle that will allow your posture improve over time without even thinking about it! Another easy tip is as simple as sitting in chairs with straight backs, making sure you sit all the way back and allow your spine to sit straight as well. Just like trying to grow a straight tree, your spine needs support to encourage its proper growth.

So next time you have the chance to watch an old princess movie, remember: you too can look just as graceful with the same perfected posture. 

If you are faced with the unfortunate decision of weather to have back surgery or to begin or continue a conservative course of treatment such as chiropractic or physical therapy, read on. For starters, If you choose to avoid surgery and continue exercise and manipulation in the form of chiropractic, there are a lot of factors to consider. For our purposes we will consider a disc herniation as the injury in question. Up at the top of the list is treating the injury as quickly as possible without causing further injury to the effected area. Another area of concern is medication. Here is where your situation could become sticky. For instance; If you are being treated by an M.D. such as an Orthopedic Physician, typically you will be given a course of oral steroids to reduce swelling. You could also be given oral pain medication to reduce pain. You could also be prescribed physical therapy along with the other two methods of treatment we just mentioned. If you are lucky, these methods alone will provide the right combination to get you up and running again within a few weeks. Let’s take a look at the other side of the coin.

Consequently, it is easily conceivable that you could do further damage to your already injured disc by attempting physical therapy while masking pain with powerful oral medications. There is a fine line between getting better and becoming injured even further. In contrast, there are some of us who would rather walk on hot coals all day long rather than take pain medication or have back surgery. If you happen to be one of these individuals who choose to treat with a chiropractor, you could possibly try Decompression Therapy. In theory, Decompression Therapy can provide the injured disc with blood and nutrients which can help the healing process. Additionally, decompression can help to create a “negative” pressure on the injured disc and help the herniated portion of the disc to retract just enough to back off of the nerve that is being aggravated. This along with Ultrasound, Electric Stimulation and Ice could be the answer. Another treatment that is gaining popularity is M.U.A. or Manipulation Under Anesthesia. In this procedure, the body is adjusted to levels that would be too difficult if someone were awake and their muscles were tense. Although controversial, this procedure has it’s advocates.

In either case, there are pros and cons to each method. The question is: What is right for you?

These methods of treatment that we have just discussed are regularly practiced with much success on both sides. There are many sufferers of back injuries who have been successfully treated both from conventional and alternative methods.

Discuss all of the methods of treatment available to you with your medical professional and make an informed and confident decision either way.

In Part-3 we will discuss further treatment such as Epidural Injections, Killing Nerve Endings and Surgical Procedures.

“Back surgery should be a last resort for back injuries”

If you have ever had a serious injury of the back such as a herniated disc, you have probably heard the above statement at some point. In this day and age of modern medicine and state of the art technology, surgical procedures involving the spine are still widely considered somewhat risky... even by those who advocate surgery! In the last post, we discussed how common back pain was in regards to documented missed work time. Moreover, back injuries sustained in the workplace pose an even dicier dilemma for the patient. That being said, it seems that it is not only in the interest of your employer to have you return to work as quickly as possible, it is in the interest of the insurance company to get you off of the dole as quickly as possible. So now that we’ve established both your employer’s and the insurance company’s main objectives, what should your main objective be?

The main objective for any patient should be to get well. Unfortunately, some patients are rushed or even persuaded into risky and costly surgeries when alternative methods of treatment are not only widely available, but far less expensive as well.

If you are reading this blog, you are probably aware of the benefits of Chiropractic and the alternatives that Chiropractic can offer us. In Part-2 of this series, we will explore some of these alternative treatments versus some of the more invasive procedures which are commonplace in traditional medicine. It would be foolish to suggest that surgical procedures are not a viable, and in some cases necessary treatment for a serious injury of a disc that was herniated or ruptured. However, it would be just as foolish to dismiss alternative, drug free treatments that have entered into, and proven successful to the mainstream in the last ten years.

Patients are becoming their own advocates these days opting for more and more non invasive procedures. Do not be afraid to be your own advocate. Learn about everything available to you... both traditional and alternative.

Continued on Wednesday

Have you ever woken up and experienced a back ache or pain in your neck or shoulders?

Have you ever experienced numbness or tingling in your toes or fingertips?

Often times, an obvious injury does not cause these symptoms or the pain associated with them. In fact, more often than not, everyday activities cause many of these painful injuries of the neck and spine. For instance, sitting at your desk with slumped shoulders can lead to severe pain and tightness throughout the neck and shoulders. Driving in your car can cause pain as well. Even sleeping can lead to back pain! Our bodies were designed to accomplish a wide array of tasks and for the most part, they do a remarkable job. There are instances though in which our bodies are thrown a curveball or two and consequently we experience some kind of discomfort or pain.

In the last twenty years, we as a society have become very well educated on diet and nutrition as well as general health and physical fitness. With the advent of the Internet, just about anyone can learn how to lose weight, how to gain strength, or how to exercise properly. Unfortunately, we often neglect to learn about the effects that many of the “healthy” activities we enjoy can do harm to our neck and spine. Far too many of us just accept the pain they experience as a badge of honor for all their toil in the gym.

Thankfully, Gyms and Health Clubs across the country have instilled the services of Chiropractors to assist their members in dealing with back and neck pain, stiffness in the shoulders and spine alignment. To our benefit, Chiropractic is not a secret society any longer.

A regimen of good nutrition and exercise is essential to a healthy lifestyle. Chiropractic completes the circle of health by keeping our spines healthy. Maintaining our spine on a regular basis allows us to endure the rigors of physical activity or even our daily activities.Use the interactive 3D Spine Simulator to the right of the page to learn more about your spine, nerves and even vital organs and how they all work together. This is an amazing tool which allows you to view exactly which section of our spines effect certain parts of our bodies. There is a wealth of knowledge available in the 3D Spine Simulator. Try it out and help yourself in understanding your body.