Chiropractic Finds its roots!

There have been more internal battles in chiropractic over the last thirty years, than any other profession that I am aware of.  Granted, there have been no internal strikes, but we aren’t set up for that.  There have however, been many chiropractors who have come into the profession, not because of a love for the profession.  But rather from a desire to have the “doctor” title, or because they read that it was a growing profession, or perhaps some other reason.  Many of the chiropractors who join the profession with this kind of motivation, do not appreciate the philosophical position that the profession was founded on.

Let’s go back and review.  DD Palmer discovered chiropractic (we use discovered because we don’t believe a man invented it, but rather this was from God… laying hands to heal was and is the method of choice from a Biblical perspective), in 1895 in Davenport Iowa when he adjusted Harvey Lillard and restored hearing.  This began the start of a very vitalistic approach to health of chiropractic, and was expanded upon by BJ Palmer (son of DD) through his lifetime.  This approach is the one that we use to govern our treatment philosophy.  Basically, you are an amazing and magnificent creation with vital life forces flowing through your nervous system.  To truly measure those signals is impossible, and to try to quantify life forces is an endeavor that will fail miserably as their are inexplicable intricacies to life that will remain illusive.  The goal of care then, is not to guarantee a specific outcome, but rather support bringing the body back to its normal function.  If that means greater symptoms, then it is a proper endeavor.

DD Palmer

This is in stark contrast to the mechanistic philosophy that has governed medical practice for years (though recently there has been large groups of MD’s who are departing from this philosophy).  The growth of animal science as it relates to quantum physics has been a contributor in the growing number of questions of this philosophy.  The sad thing, is that in chiropractic, their has been a division for years, that is based on this difference.  Many chiropractors who have come into the profession (as stated above), have sought after mainstream acceptance.  In many cases it is because of the desire to be more financially successful, thus insurance acceptance has been a goal, along with hoping to come alongside MD’s and receive referrals.

In other cases, it is common to see chiropractors working with MD’s these days.  Though from the outside, that might seem like a very promising idea to many of you.  However, if we dig in and consider the implication, you will realize that it is probably not the best situation for you, them or the profession.  The number one reason according to industry surveys for MD/DC clinics is to allow for greater insurance billings for the DC (if MD’s refer and prescribe specific treatments, then bill those treatments under their license, those treatments will receive higher insurance reimbursement, than in a DC office).  This has come under great scrutiny, and their have been massive insurance penalties levied on some of these practices (not good for anyone).

In addition, most of these DC’s do not maintain as one of their practice goals the desire to get their patients off of medications (makes sense).  So are there any of you reading this who would prefer to take medication over being free of them?  So then who is to help lead you?  If one your goals would be to live a life as free from meds as possible, then you probably want someone leading you that way.  If all the effort from your health care providers is to treat with meds, then you WILL end up on them.  We have learned this all too often, from the most conservative anti-med people around, who have ended up taking them.  It’s part of leadership towards health.

OK, let’s keep going on this path.  Have any of you ever been adjusted by an Osteopath?  I know some of you have, as we have talked about it.  The DO designation started as a license to treat disease through manipulation of joints of the body, to improve blood flow and restore circulation.  Many osteopaths were much like the chiropractors of today though.  Complaining about low volume practices, wanting greater involvement in the insurance reimbursement world, these doctors have gone the way of the MD, choosing to prescribe medication instead of manipulate (they have been trained in full medical practice, and awarded an MD degree benefit along with their DO degree).  Now it is hard to find a practitioner who manipulates, as most examine, diagnose and prescribe medications as their usual office protocol.

So, where are these roots in chiropractic?  Well, one of the greatest chiropractic accomplishments of the recent past has been the explosive growth of practices in Maximized Living.  There are more patient visits that happen in these offices, than in the offices of ten times the number of other chiropractic offices.  Which means that much more influence towards healthy lifestyle, corrective focus of care, an understanding of the value of lifetime care, and a bent towards natural health and clean living.  The model is one that helps to rescue the insurance problem that exists in our country, while rescuing from the chronic disease problem as well.

In the last few weeks I have had several cool testimonials come out, from a man in his sixties telling me that his balance has improved dramatically, to another telling me that he has been able to eat spicy foods again without heartburn, to another telling me that their daily headaches have stopped, and lastly another who fought through the flu in 2 days, which their immune system has never been able to do.  Chiropractic has found its roots!

Be well, be well adjusted!  – Dr. E

“My disc healed on a nerve”

My wife heard this comment at her gym Wednesday night… she goes to Lifetime for kickboxing, and CrossFit with me.  This was Lifetime.  She was sitting near one of our neighbors after class, and the person commented to someone else that her “disc healed on a nerve”.

“Healed on a nerve?” her friend said.

“Yes, my doctor said that it healed after they injected it with junk, and it is now healed on the nerve”.

“What are they going to do?”

“Need to go in now I guess.  I don’t want to, but they aren’t giving me many options.”

I need to make some comments on this topic.  This is really a sad situation of poor understanding of how the body works, but it is because of a doctor poorly educating a patient.  I can think of one really good reason why, it removes accountability from the doctor, and puts it all on the patient.  First off, true healing is not healing with disease.  True healing occurs when you heal to your natural state.  A disc (protruded, herniated, etc) does not “heal” onto your nerve.  It is still a clinical condition, it is still diseased and sick, it is not healed.

So why did this doctor use this terminology?  He was injecting a steroid very likely, into her disc to reduce inflammation, and the “healing” terminology was used because it is easy to help a patient get around the idea of healing.  The reality, is that all the steroid is doing is reducing inflammation, and healing is the thing that your body is doing on its own, under the control of the nervous system, however the nervous system is compromised by the disc pushing on the nerve, so it cannot heal.

You see, the important point of this discussion is that healing cannot occur without a clear signal from that nerve that is being compressed by the disc.  So what do you do in this situation?  Well, decompression is the necessary step.  You need to try to remove the pressure from the nerve, and in that process gain healing of the disc.  There is probably a 50/50 chance that she could be healed fully, if she does the right thing.

The conversation of the two women was preceded with a “My back is killing me comment, I shouldn’t be doing this class… but as long as I don’t do kicks I should be ok”.  When in reality, she shouldn’t be doing any kind of twisting rotating motions with a disc that is protruded or herniated, and symptomatic.  They should be focused on activities that will allow for healing to occur.  Once again, misinformation has led her to believe she can continue without worsening the condition, when in reality, everything that she is doing is worsening her condition.

When you have the sensation of nerve pain, it is a sign that you have really put a significant amount of pressure on your nerve.  It isn’t an insignificant problem at all.  Nerve pressure comes without pain first and foremost, then it slowly develops into pain.  When you feel it shooting down your leg, there is a significant amount of pressure, and it might be disc related.  I know spending extra money isn’t anyone’s favorite pasttime, but if you have nerve pressure, then you should consider talking to us about trying decompression, and considering what other activities you should avoid.

I hope that helps you gain a little better understanding of your discs and healing.  Be well, enjoy the weekend, Dr. E

Injury and Health

Injuries are a common thing.  Last week, as I review my patients, I can recall no less than 8 brand new injuries that took place.  From car accidents (1), falls <some on stairs> (4), to gardening incidents (1) to working out (2)… and there might be more?  That is a lot of damage done in one week, especially for a summer week where I am seeing on average 20% less people.

So with this much injury happening all around me, I think we should discuss what happens following an injury, and make sure that we are taking all of the necessary steps to heal at our absolute best.  I am first reminded of my eye injury, and the systemic havoc that it played on my body.  For those who are newer to my office, and don’t know the history… it will soon be five years since the day I was hit with a hockey puck from a slapshot.  It hit me in my left eye, cracking my cheek bone on the way in, and rupturing my eye.  It was a 25+ stitch repair to my “globe” (eyeball) to put it back together.  The iris was displaced, so it appeared as though I was looking up, but in reality, that bit of color was simply exploded into the wrong place.

The thing that I often forget about, but was reminded when I got into this discussion on Saturday with one of my patients, was the way I felt following the injury.  Not right after, but months after.  Starting about six months after the injury, and lasting for close to a year, I had acquired such severe body pain, that had I actually opened up and talked about it at the time, I would have said that I had acquired fibromyalgia.  I had taken care of so many fibro patients over the years, that this would be the only way I could have described my symptoms.

Real untouched photo of Tyrone Prothro of the Alabama Crimson Tide

It might have been a small case of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) which is a nervous system/immune system over-response to injury.  It typically occurs in limbs (the pain is there) following minor injuries.  Whatever it was, it was pretty awful.  I would wake up in the morning and moan and groan on my way to the bathroom.  My legs were the primary source of pain, but everything felt stiff.  I was working out the same, but feeling pain like it was ten times the amount of work going in.  So part of my desire today, is to help you understand the different directions that your body could head following minor injury.

First, most injuries = healing.  Normal healing is dependent on a few things, but you will at least head in that direction as the primary movement of your body.  Those factors, however that support moving your WHOLE body towards healing are:

1. nervous system function

2. diet (necessary nutrients as well as avoiding certain things)

3. rest

These are the primary needs for healing.  Notice, there is no need for medication or band aids to heal, kind of cool, those are actually totally unnecessary, and in many cases will actually disturb healing (keep that in mind when you are using the med to gain the rest).  So let’s review this list.  The first is hinged on being a low stress peaceful individual, with normal brain function and normal spinal and nerve function.  This allows your brain to direct healing (mitosis and DNA replication) at the cellular level.

Second, diet.  You need a HOST of nutrients.  Every cell has two layers of fat, so a diet high in healthy fats (coconut oil, avocado, fish, nuts, organic dairy – butter and yogurt are tops); a diet with clean and lean protein and a diet with a ton of vegetables to support the enzyme processes of tissue re-building and inflammation breakdown.  If you adhere to this kind of diet, you are now more likely to be healed properly.  And lastly, the one that I probably did not do enough of when I was post injury/post surgery… rest.

You should really be thinking about 8+ hours of rest as a minimum for as long as it takes to know that you are through the worst.  I actually as so beat, that for the first three months, I averaged about 12 hours of sleep everyday.  It was really weird for me.  I am always working on something, writing on the computer, publishing sprouts, etc.  But all of a sudden I found myself both unable to look at a computer without significant pain, and the feeling of absolute fatigue; there was nothing left to do but sleep!  I just think I cut it off too soon, and likely that was responsible for my 11 month slide into daily pain.

What should you avoid when it comes to healing?  Sugar, excessive lectin (not leptin) foods such as grains, legumes, dairy (other than the good stuff listed above), and potatoes.  These foods, especially when you are susceptible “post trauma”, can do some significant damage.

Bottom line – pursue health, harder when you are hurt if you need more motivation, otherwise pursue it hard all the time.

Take this daily sprout and pass it on, email it out, and help change the world.  Every bit of knowledge is power, and health is the most important thing you have in your life.  Every time, health is it.  Be well, Dr. E