What is Gout?

Gout is a type of arthritis that frequently occurs in the big toe. The pain that gouty arthritis can cause in a big toe (or other joint) can be quite severe. When you add the swelling and stiffness that accompany the pain, you've got an uncomfortable condition that’s a recipe for misery.

This painful type of arthritis is caused by too much uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is the waste product that’s a result of body processes, but it can also be found in various foods. The kidneys are usually able to remove uric acid from the body via urine, but when the body produces too much uric acid or the kidneys cannot eliminate it properly, gout can occur.

Gout can strike anyone, but it’s most often diagnosed in patients who are overweight, frequently indulge in alcohol or who eat a diet that’s rich in purine-laden fish and meat. In addition, some medicines like diuretics may cause gout.

While gout attacks can occur in joints in the knees, foot, or ankle, the most common sign is nighttime pain and swelling in the big toe. These painful attacks can last for days or even weeks before going away for an indefinite amount of time. It’s not uncommon for a gout patient to go years without another attack.

How Can Chiropractic Help?

Your chiropractor can help alleviate the symptoms of gout. First, your doctor of chiropractic will ask you some questions about your symptoms. He or she will then perform a physical examination to test for gout. If you do have gout, your chiropractor will probably prescribe several different treatment methods to combat the pain and inflammation.

First, your chiropractor will most likely advise you to reduce your intake of alcohol, meat, or other foods that are high in purine. Lowering the purine levels in your body is one of the most effective ways to manage gouty arthritis. Your chiropractor may suggest certain foods like cherries that have been shown to reduce uric acid levels naturally. Other foods and herbs may be recommended to support kidney function and reduce the inflammation that you’re experiencing.

In addition to dietary advice, your chiropractor may perform adjustments to help alleviate the pain in your joints. He or she may also suggest certain exercises that you can perform at home or heat treatments that will give you relief away from the office.

Gouty arthritis is extremely painful, but it can be managed. If you’re suffering from pain, redness, or swelling in your big toe or other parts of your body, contact your chiropractic team. They’ll be able to work with you to relieve your symptoms naturally without medication or surgery.


Resources: http://chiropractordallas-thejoint.com/preston-royal/chiropractic-care-for-gouty-arthritis/

Back injury problems due to improper lifting techniques are all too common, especially work related lifting injuries.  According to FamilyDoctor.org, the proper way to lift a heavy item is to get as close as possible to the item and use your legs and arms to lift, bending your legs and keeping the back straight as you lift up.  The heavy load should be held at chest-level to avoid straining your back muscles. Of course, these tips may be a little too late if you have improperly lifted a heavy item and have caused work related lifting injuries. Sometimes people who lift weights for exercise also hurt their shoulders, knees or cause a herniated disk, stretched ligament or sprain in the back, but work related lifting injuries are most common.  These injuries are often seen in jobs that require physical labor such as bending, lifting, moving and carrying heavy items.

SYMPTOMS OF  LIFTING INJURIES
If you injure your back or another area of your body through lifting something heavy, you will probably know it right away.  You may feel pain, stiffness or muscle spasms immediately and continued symptoms that might continue for several days or for several weeks. For work related lifting injuries, this may mean that you will be unable to perform your typical job duties and may need to file for workmen’s compensation as a result.  Ask your manager or human resources representative for more information.

TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS FOR LIFTING INJURIES
A doctor can generally diagnose injuries caused by lifting and may use additional diagnostic tools such as an MRI or an x-ray if a herniated disc is suspected.

In addition, a doctor may prescribe short-term bed rest and anti-inflammatory pain medicine such as ibuprofen to help manage pain. Ice packs may also reduce swelling and pain.  You may be prohibited from working or lifting items for a certain amount of time if the issue is caused by work related lifting injuries.

HEALING LIFTING INJURIES THROUGH CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT
While traditional treatment methods may help improve the symptoms of a lifting injury, a skilled chiropractor can help treat the issue and re-align the bones, joints and muscles to shorten the severity of the symptoms and improve the condition of the spine, joints and muscles.  This is called spinal manipulation and adjustment.

In addition, hydrotherapy like  heat and ice treatments,  help reduce pain and swelling and using active release therapy to get tight, tense muscles to relax and release.  This can reduce muscle spasms and pain.


Resources:  http://fremontchiropractic.com/

Have you or someone you know been involved in a motor vehicle collision? One of the most common injuries from a car crash is the damaging effect of whiplash. Whiplash occurs when a sudden, jarring movement of the head is sustained backward, forward or even to the side. Whiplash destabilizes the spine and causes severe pain as well as these other indicators:

• Blurred vision
• Neck pain
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Shoulder pain
• Reduced range of motion in the neck
• Arm pain
• Neck stiffness
• Low back pain

It is critical that chiropractic care is sought immediately after an automobile accident since allowing the effects of whiplash to go untreated can induce long-term pain. The seriousness of the physical effects of an accident is not always known or felt immediately following. It can take days, weeks or even months for major symptoms to show up, which is why chiropractic care is essential to maintaining the health of a spine that has been through a trauma.

Any body part that is jarred or thrown forward unexpectedly and beyond normal limits can sustain stretched ligaments and even tears. Those supporting the head and neck are especially vulnerable to this kind of tearing during a collision. Since chiropractors specialize in the care of bones, muscles, nerves and connective tissue, they are crucial to visit after an accident. All those major parts of the body are important to keep in optimal health and correct alignment so they can function properly and all body systems can operate seamlessly.

Early care and treatment means full healing and recovery is quickly realized. Even a car crash that is seemingly minor with limited damage to the car itself can cause serious injury to the driver and passengers. Chiropractic treatments are the right step toward restoring the body. They relieve pain, make necessary adjustments to spine alignment and may include massage or foam roller techniques. Beyond treatment, advice for optimal nutrition, as well as exercises to continue healing on your own after appointments.




Resource:  https://www.lifetimefitness.com

Injuries from falls are one of the leading causes of accidents that cause injury. With well over 1 million injuries each year in the US,  slip and fall injuries can be caused by a whole host of things including a slick or rough surface, problems with shoes, and the mental and/or physical state of the person who took the fall.

What Happens When You Have a “Slip and Fall” Injury?
When a person suffers a slip and fall injury, they often suffer trauma to the bones, joints, muscles and ligaments along with the nervous system from the impact of the fall. This trauma can cause misalignments in the spine and interruptions in the signals within the nervous system.  If you have back pain after a slip and fall injury, it’s best to check with a professional chiropractor for further investigation of long term injuries.

Slip and Fall Back Injury Treatment
A chiropractor’s work is to adjust the spine to correct those misalignments and remove the interference within the nervous system caused by the injuries. Once the interference is removed, the body is then free to heal itself and return to a state of health.

Because chiropractors focus on correcting physical alignment to facilitate the body’s own healing mechanisms, they are very much involved in the area of personal injury treatment. They are adept at treating soft tissue injuries and sprains with drug-free, non-invasive, healing techniques.

Chiropractors have on-site x-ray machines to discover if there has been any serious injury to the discs that make up the bone structure of the spine. If they discover a serious compromise they are able to begin a program complete with adjustments and formulated exercise for treatment of the back pain. Chiropractors are holistic healers who consider the entire body when diagnosing and treating their patients.

Slip and Fall Injury Treatment
The rehabilitation process consists of a series of exercises designed to return strength and flexibility to the area where the injuries occurred. In the beginning, the chiropractor may move the injured parts through their normal range of motion until the patient has healed to the point where they can perform the exercises on their own.

Slip and fall injuries can often occur with older people within their own homes. As we advance in age, if we do not remain active and continue to perform weight-bearing exercises to keep our hips and legs strong, supple and limber, we are more prone to developing brittle bones and weakened skeletal systems.

You can prevent slip and fall injuries by strengthening the body by walking for exercise for at least 30 minutes each day and being careful when walking at night or in icy conditions or other severe weather conditions. Keeping your body strong and healthy and keeping alert for hazards in your physical environment is an effective way to prevent slip and fall injuries.



Resource: http://corewellnesscentre.ca/chiropractic-treatment-for-slip-and-fall-injuries

Physical pain is a common occurrence for many Americans. A national survey found that more than 25% of adults experience pain lasting more than one day. Pain is a response of the nervous system which can occur in various natures such as an achy, sharp, dull, or throbbing sensation and which can be localized or all over. It is an alert for us that there is some type of injury or illness present in the body which needs our attention. Most pain dissappates after the underlying condition is resolved; however, some experience recurring or chronic pain. For those who have tried medications or surgery without any results or who want a more natural method of relieve, especially women who are pregnant or anyone who has experienced a bad reaction due to medication, acupuncture could be the natural pain reliever for you.

Acupuncture is among the oldest healing practices in the world and the most widely practiced forms of alternative medicine in the country. Acupuncture is divided into two philosophies. The first being the Eastern idea which is a 5,000 year old Chinese system of natural healing (no drugs-no surgery) which is concerned with restoring proper energy flow to the various organs, glands and tissues of the body on the premise that most diseases are the result of malfunction due to disrupted energetics. The Western idea is the use of needles to stop pain by blocking nerve pathways, as well as, the release of your body’s own natural drugs-known as endorphins and enkephalins.

Acupuncture treatments are typically performed by inserting approximately 10 needles into the channels of energy which are called meridians, located throughout the body just underneath the skin surface. Needles are left in places typically for 15-20 minutes. Sessions are performed three times a week for the first two weeks in order to determine the effectiveness of the bodies response. If there is a good response, treatment will be continued until the problem is resolved. Very commonly acupuncture can be used with fingertip pressure, electrical stimulation, and numerous other techniques which do not involve using an actual needle.

Acupuncture can be used in the treatment of numerous health conditions, most of which are related to pain management. There are over two thousand conditions which can be treated with acupuncture. Back pain is the most common condition treated, followed by joint pain, neck pain, severe headaches/migraine, and recurring pain. Typical ailments reported in literature also include carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, neuralgias, trigeminal neuralgia, tics, spasms, muscular rheumatism, neuralgia of the shoulders and arm, tennis elbow, osteoarthritis, rheumatism, ulcers, stomach problems, diarrhea, hepatitis, asthma, bronchitis, shortness of breath, coughs, certain types of heart trouble, abnormal blood pressures, hemorrhoids, lumbago, bladder irritation, bed wetting, certain kidney problems, female disorders, impotence, glaucoma (sometimes), weak eyesight, hay fever, loss of smell, tonsillitis, loss of hearing, skin conditions, and even nervous and psychiatric factors based on the fact that mental problems often arise from physical disorders.

Acupuncture is quickly becoming known for its effectiveness and efficiency in alleviating many kinds of pain and many Americans are taking advantage of this process. According to the 2007 National Health Survey, approximately 3.1 million Americans stating using acupuncture in the past year. Though it is most commonly sought out by adults, it is used with growing frequency for children. According to estimates, about 150,000 children in the U.S. underwent acupunture in 2007. Additionally, there are relatively few complications or side affects due to acupucture treatment. Acupuncture is drawing more Americans towards this form of pain management since it has fewer adverse side affects than many standard drug treatments used, such as anti-inflammatory medications and steriod injections. In a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine which was conducted over the past decade, it found that acupucture outperformed standard pain care and sham treatments when used by people suffering from osteoarthritis, migraines, and chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain.

Acupucture is becoming an increasely popular form of alternative healthcare in the U.S. due to its efficacy of treatment, few adverse side effects, and natural method. On average, a very high percentage of patients will respond satisfactory to acupuncture treatment; however, some patients do not respond due to a variety of reasons. Advanced age, severity of condition, irreversible tissue damage, etc., are deterrents to recovery. However, in conjunction with chiropractic, physical therapy, and acupuncture, the odds are very favorable for a good response.

By: Dr. Seyoung Kim, as seen in Brag Book Magazine Fall/Winter 2013 Issue