Recent studies have lifted the stigma of the risk of stroke previously and erroneously associated with chiropractic cervical adjustments. For a list of references and a good synopsis of these studies and what they indicate, take a look at Dr. Anthony Rosner’s article in Dynamic Chiropractic. In his words, “the issue of stroke now needs to be retired as a specific reason to avoid chiropractic care.”
Digital X-rays Now Available at Our Office
We are happy to announce that we have upgraded our x-ray equipment and now have a state-of-the-art digital system. From what we understand we are the only chiropractic office in the Roanoke Valley with the advanced DR system. This amazing technology will allow us to provide our patients with much better x-rays. With better quality, we can improve diagnosis (for example, fractures or arthritis). Also, we will easily be able to make copies of x-rays on a CD for patients when they request them.
Fountain of Youth Exercises
We discovered the book “Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth” by Peter Kelder over 20 years ago and have marvelled at the strength and flexibility these exercises impart to those who do them regularly. We now instruct our patients to do them as part of an advanced active physical rehabilitation. They are valuable for re-establishing normal fluid ranges of motion of the spine and extremities. We recommend the youtube video or the book for complete instructions for those wanting to add them to their fitness routine. If joint restrictions are a problem, chiropractic care may be in order before the exercises can be performed without pain or discomfort.
Webster Technique
The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment used to correct subluxations in the pregnant mother’s sacrum and pelvis. These adjustments relax the mother’s muscles and ligaments, providing the physiological environment necessary for normal baby positioning. (Remember, chiropractors work to correct subluxations or misalignments of spinal bones and other joints. When subluxated, spinal bones put pressure on the spinal cord and the spinal nerves causing malfunction of any part of the body.)
Dr. Larry Webster, Founder of the Internationsl Chiropractic Pediatric Association, developed this technique as a safe means to restore proper pelvic structure and function for pregnant mothers. Some expectant mothers presenting breech will respond to the non-invasive, safe technique.
Most commonly known for its success in allowing breech babies to turn, the Webster technique also assists other non-vertex positioning which may indicate the presence of subluxation. Chiropractors trained in this technique strongly recommend its use throughout pregnancy to detect subluxations. For more information visit icpa4kids.com.
Headaches are a pain in your neck
Medical research shows that 90% of all headaches are cervicogenic. That’s a fancy way of saying almost all headaches start with problems in the neck. It is rare that I see a fully functioning neck in the many patients I’ve examined and x-rayed. Problems in the cervical spine directly affect the nerves, muscles, and vascular system (blood vessels) to the head and to other parts of the body. Sometimes, the brain signals us that something is wrong by providing pain. This is why using medications to alleviate the pain and not finding out the cause of the pain is going against the wisdom of the body.
Americans consume 15 tons of aspirin per day, 19 billion tablets per year, causing 2000 deaths per year. This is the leading cause of kidney disease. How much medication do you consume to simply decrease the pain? Our goal is to stop the pain by finding the cause.
Headaches significantly affect a person’s ability to function normally, whether getting through another day at work, taking care of family, or trying to enjoy some free time alone. We have treated individuals as young as four years old with headaches. We have also seen individuals who “toughed their headaches out” for years despite the poor quality of life they endured. And then there are those who were receiving regular injections of the most potent headache medications that medical doctors prescribe. It is not uncommon for symptoms of chronic headaches to reduce 50 to 100% in two weeks time with chiropractic treatment.
Here at Towers Family Chiropractic the patient has an examination and if necessary radiographs to localize and evaluate the causes of headaches.
To schedule a consultation, call Towers Family Chiropractic at 343-6636. To save time you can print and fill out the New Patient Forms located on the homepage and mail them or bring them with you for your appointment.
Scoliosis and Chiropractic Treatment
Dr. Burgoon has completed over 200 hours of post-graduate study on scoliosis. At Towers Chiropractic we work with many individuals who have been diagnosed with scoliosis. When curvature of the spine is less than 30 degrees at the initial examination, significant decreases in the curvature of the spine is possible with treatment. The symptoms related to the scoliosis usually decrease significantly within the first two to three weeks of care. For patients who choose treatment in order to decrease the curvature, a 15 to 20% decrease in the curvature after 90- 120 days of treatment is not unusual. We base the percent decrease of curvature on x-rays taken both before and after the treatment period. Our treatment includes chiropractic adjustments, a graduated exercise program and a nutritional program.
Proactive Treatment of Scoliosis
We do not have a “wait and see” attitude -we are proactive when it comes to scoliosis. The more time the body has to adapt and compensate for abnormal spinal function the more difficult it is to correct the problems. We have treated people with scoliosis ranging in age from 12 to 92 years of age. Obviously the goals and expectations differ with the age of the patient. However, regardless of the age we are constantly amazed at the healing capacity of the body. It is not uncommon to see patients who have had scoliosis for greater than 40 years with varying pain patterns be pain-free in a couple of months.
Want to know more about scoliosis?
- Scoliosis is a lateral curvature of greater than 10 degrees as viewed on an anterior to posterior x-ray.
- The bones that make up the spine and the ribs are distorted in three dimensions in the x,y,z planes.
- Scoliosis is a multifaceted disease process causing psychological, osseous, neurological, digestive, and hormonal imbalances.
- According to the International Scoliosis Society “one out of every nine females have some signs of scoliosis”.
- Scoliosis can be caused by spinal deformities, trauma, and unknown causes (Idiopathic).. The most common form of scoliosis is called idiopathic adolescent scoliosis. This begins most often during adolescence in young females. The most common early changes indicating this type of scoliosis are postural distortions and growing pains.
Remember that the nervous system controls and coordinates all functions of the human body. Distortion of the spine, the structure protecting the nervous system, can affect body functions extensively.
To schedule a consultation, call Towers Family Chiropractic in Roanoke, Va. at (540)343-6636. To save time print and fill out the New Patient Forms and mail them to our office or bring them with you for your appointment.
Suggested Reading on Scoliosis
- Idiopathic Scoliosis: Natural History. Spine, 11, 1986, Whenstein.
- Correction of Spinal Curvatures by Transcutaneous Electrical Muscle Stimulation. Spine, 8, 1983, Reuber, Schultz, Spencer.
- Morphology of Scoliosis: Three Dimensional Evolution. Orthopedics, 10, 1987, Vidal, Perdiolle.
- Long-term Follow-up of Patients with Untreated Scoliosis. Spine, 17, #9 1992, Pehresson.
- Long-term Effects on Personality Development in Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis, Spine, 11, # 5, 1986, Fallstrom, Cochran.
- Postural and Ocular Motor Control in the Idiopathic Scoliosis. Pathogenesis of Idiopathic Scoliosis. 1984, Herman
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Many of our patients have been diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Remember this: the nervous system controls and coordinates all functions in the human body. We have seen quite a few people cancel their scheduled carpal tunnel surgeries following chiropractic treatments.
We correct the misalignments (subluxations) in the spine, shoulder, elbow or hand. To help you understand this, visualize an electrical system in a house. The breaker box divides electrical current to all the different areas in your house. If there is dysfunction at the breaker box or anywhere along the wires that take the current to its final destination, there will be dysfunction at the final destination. At each segment of the spine, a spinal nerve exits the spinal column to deliver its vital life force to its designated areas of nerve supply. In your body the nerves that send sensory and motor information to the hand exit the spine at the neck and then pass under the collarbone, through the shoulder and elbow, then on to your hand and fingers. The function of all the joints along this nerve path need to be checked by a chiropractor before any surgery is done.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome according to Dorland’s Medical Dictionary is “a complex of symptoms resulting from compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel, with pain and burning or tingling parathesias (sensations) in the fingers and hand, sometimes extending to the elbow.”
An important note to this definition is that the symptoms occur primarily in the area of the thumb and pointer finger. Therefore, if you are having abnormal sensations, pain or change in strength in the ring finger or smallest finger it is a problem with a completely different nerve, and is not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Preventing Surgery
If you have been told that you need spinal surgery, you have a difficult decision to make. A second or third opinion is always a good idea. Chiropractic is a viable and often very effective alternative to surgery. It is cost effective too!
We have treated people who have been recommended for spinal surgery. Depending on the cause of the problem, and the duration, we have seen symptoms resolve in 2 weeks up to as long as 12 weeks. Usually within three to four weeks of treatment we will know if surgery is necessary. The most important thing for you to figure out is how to prevent the problem from reoccurring-because it can!. As you begin to improve we require that you take an active part in your rehabilitation. We begin with basic exercises that we build upon over the recommended treatment period to help you insure that you will not experience the problem in the future.
As a certified chiropractic extremities practitioner, I am more than happy to provide a second opinion for individuals interested in preventing surgery for shoulder, elbow, hand, hip, knee and foot problems. I have been very fortunate to help many individuals with biomechanical joint dysfunction. Unfortunately, we see many people who likely could have avoided surgery and they are often still in pain. They tell me that they wonder after having unsuccessful, irreversible surgery, whether they needed surgery at all. This usually is divulged when they are pain-free after a few chiropractic treatments.
The very best advice I can give anyone having a joint problem is–don’t wait until it is a huge problem!! Get It Checked out and Corrected!
Here are a few medical diagnoses treated successfully with chiropractic adjustments and nutritional evaluation:
- Osteoarthritis
- Disc herniation
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spinal stenosis
- Scoliosis
- Spinal compression fractures
- Rib problems
- Costo-chondritis/intercostal neuralgia
