Pain Medicine for Lower Back Pain - Best Pillow to Use?

It may be easier and less time consuming to take pain medicine to help your lower back pain, but a recent study shows that spinal manipulation may be more effective.
http://www.spine-health.com/blog/chiropractic-manipulation-or-medication-low-back-pain

Patients with neck pain often ask "which is the best pillow to use?" and the truth is there’s no one pillow that works for everybody. This video reviews the advantages and disadvantages of different types of pillows.
http://www.spine-health.com/video/best-pillows-neck-pain-or-back-pain-video

Chiropractic can be an effective nonsurgical treatment option for many types of low back pain, including those associated with facet joint or sacroiliac joint dysfunction and disc problems. Chiropractic manipulation is a common therapeutic treatment designed to increase function and decrease pain and nerve irritability. Here's a video explaining what it looks like and how it works.
http://www.spine-health.com/video/chiropractic-adjustment-lumbar-spine-low-back-video

Understanding Spinal Stenosis

Understanding Spinal Stenosis

As we age changes cause spaces in the spine to narrow and put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves as they branch out. This can result in leg pain, weakness, or numbness that gets worse when walking or standing, and improves when sitting or bending forward.

» Find out More

When medications and injections fail to provide pain relief , your doctor may refer you to a spine surgeon for traditional lumbar decompression surgery. The surgery removes the bone and soft tissue putting pressure on your nerves and causing your pain. While effective, the traditional procedure typically requires general anesthesia and a hospital stay.

You may have an alternative to traditional surgery.
Learn more about the Steps Clinical Study for the Minimally-invasive Totalis™ Procedure.

What is the Totalis™ System?

 

The Totalis™ system is a set of specialized instruments that perform the surgical procedure through a small tube that is about the diameter of a dime. Through this tube, doctors use the specialized Totalis™ instruments to remove the tissue and bone that are compressing the spinal nerves, while using X-ray images to precisely guide the procedure.

The Totalis™ system is FDA cleared, and currently being offered at select spine centers as part of the STEPS Clinical Trial.

The Totalis™ system is:

• Minimally-invasive alternative to traditional spine surgery
• Does not require general anesthesia
• Allows most patients to return home the same day

» Learn more about the Steps Clinical Study for the Totalis™ Procedure and find Study locations

Visit these additional resources to learn more about spinal stenosis:

• About Totalis™ for Spinal Stenosis
• See if you might qualify for the STEPS Trial, and to get connected directly with the local spine center in your area.

Spring Forward into Spring Cleaning

With March comes the start of spring...and spring cleaning.

Household chores can come with unwanted pain if not done carefully. Bending and/or twisting at the waist is a common cause for upper and lower back pain. From washing dishes, to vacuuming, you'd be surprised to know that having a proper technique can prevent you from experiencing back or neck pain. 

Back-Saving Tips for Chores:

• When you wash dishes, open the cabinet beneath the sink, bend one knee and put your foot on the shelf under the sink. Lean against the counter so some of your weight is supported in front.


• When ironing, raise one foot a bit. Place it on a small stool or a book to take some strain off your back.


• To vacuum, use a "fencer's stance." Put all your weight on one foot, then step forward and back with the other foot as you push the vacuum forward and back. Use the back foot as a pivot when you turn.


• Use a cold pack if your back begins to hurt. Wrap an ice pack in a towel moistened with warm water. The warmth gives way to gradual cold, which likely will alleviate the discomfort. (No ice? Try frozen veggies instead.)


• If pain persists for more than a day or two or if you experience numbness after doing chores, tingling or weakness in your arms or legs, see a doctor of chiropractic.

Make Your Voice Heard: Help Veterans Receive the Care They Need

Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have introduced the Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act. The bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to phase-in the chiropractic benefit at all major VA medical facilities over several years. You, too, can help ensure the essential services provided by doctors of chiropractic are available to the brave men and women who have served our country by simply clicking the link below to urge your senators to cosponsor this bill!

To contact your senators, click http://cqrcengage.com/aca/app/write-a-letter?10&engagementId=78697

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Free Biofreeze Available While Supplies Last

Most people looking for a chiropractor these days don't look in the YellowPages anymore. They do a Google search, usually West Warwick Chiropractor if they reside or work near me, and then read reviews of the chiropractors listed.

As a result, I'm trying to get as many reviews as possible for my practice.
As an incentive for any of my patients to do so, I have decided to offer* a free tube of Biofreeze (normally $10) if they:
1. Write a review on at least three sites we are listed on: Google+, Yelp.com, Wellness.com, HealthGrades.com, Facebook, etc...etc)
2. Like our Facebook Page.

I appreciate your participation on my page and I hope you have time to review my office. Thank you!

*(Subject to availability. Must be picked up at our office.)

Come See Photos of the Office!

Whiplash: The Chiropractic Approach

Whiplash is a common injury in automobile accidents and some sports-related incidents. Doctors of chiropractic (DCs) diagnose whiplash by asking patients to explain important details of the incident and, in some cases, use advanced imaging. Chiropractic adjustments, massage and rehabilitative exercises are just a few treatments DCs may use. Exercises performed at home can also speed up the recovery process. Read more about the diagnosis and treatment of whiplash.

Chiropractic News - House budget plan to include repeal of Affordable Care Act

House budget plan to include repeal of Affordable Care Act
A House Republican budget proposal will include language to allow a repeal of the Affordable Care Act by a simple majority vote in the Senate. Future Medicare beneficiaries would receive support to buy private insurance, and Medicaid spending would be reduced and delivered as block grants to the states. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (3/16)

Chiropractic News - Link Between Obesity and Cancer in Women

Study links obesity to higher lifetime cancer risk in women
A Cancer Research UK study found a 40% greater risk of developing at least one weight-related cancer type among obese women compared with slimmer counterparts. For every 1,000 obese U.K. women, 274 are likely to get one of the cancers, compared with 194 among women of a healthy weight, the study says. HealthDay News (3/17)

Chiropractic News - Overweight Boys Higher Rsk of Knee Pain as Adults

Overweight boys may have higher risk of knee pain as adults
Excessive weight during childhood was linked to knee pain, stiffness and dysfunction among adult men, according to an Australian study in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. However, researchers found that overall childhood overweight measures were not significantly associated with knee problems. MedPage Today (free registration) (3/19)

Do you experience leg pain, tingling, or numbness when walking or standing?

Do you experience leg pain, tingling, or numbness when walking or standing?

You may have spinal stenosis, a common condition typically caused by changes that happen in the spine as we age.

» Find out More

Dr. Jardon - Have You Experienced Sciatica?

Dr. Rick Jardon on Sciatica

Join Current Care Today!

Current Care is the RI health community's central bank of patient's records. By joining it, you allow your doctors to access x-rays, blood work, medication lists...etc using their computers rather than waiting for faxes, mail or patients to pick up their information for them.

Everyone (not just my patients but friends, relatives co-workers...) should sign up! Stop by the office anytime and fill out the simple enrollment form that takes just two minutes and we will take care of it from there. Pick up more and have all of your family and friends fill them out and return to us. You can also enroll on the internet at CurrentCareRI.org or call 888-858-4815

Spring is Here. Use These Tips To Keep Out of Back Pain

So it's finally getting nice out! Believe it or not, this is usually my busiest period of time at the office. Why?
Most people haven't done very much activity during the winter (unless you call watching Dancing withe the Stars activity).

We've gained weight, exercised less and generally taken poor care of our backs. Then, the weather gets nice and we decide that all that work in the yard has to get done in a day!

Guess what? Your back can't take it. This is the classic case of overuse. What we were capable of doing last fall when we were in better shape cannot be accomplished now without building back up to it. 

So, some words of wisdom:

1. Start easy the first day or two. Spend short periods of time and gradually work up to longer periods of time each day.
2. Start with limiting the amount of time you stay bent over, as well as limiting the number of times you repetitively bend over
3. Lift light loads the first few days and find someone to help you lift the heavier stuff (lawn mowers...etc)
4. Make sure your body is warmed up before the activity, especially if it's cool and wet out. Dress in layers and as you get warmer shed layers. Do some easy cardio in the house before heading out. 5 mins of cardio (jumping rope, aerobics...etc) will build the internal heat in your muscles which makes them more flexible and less likely to strain with yardwork. Some easy back stretching after the cardio is even better.
5. Avoid early morning yardwork. We are generally stiffer in the morning (especially as we get older) and it's generally colder in the morning which makes us even less flexible.
6. The best thing that you can do is hire a neighborhood kid (if you can find one who wants to work anymore) and let him do the strenuous stuff as you boss him around with your coffee in hand

Hurt Your Back? Use Ice and Get in Quick!

Just a quick thought; if you hurt your back, remember to ice (not heat) and take ibuprofen asap and for the first 48-72 hours. Also, go swimming to help keep you loose while not stressing your back in the process. Call me asap so that we can nip it in the bud before it becomes a time consuming and costly issue.

Vitamin D Deficiency and What You Can Do

It looks like we will get some sun today! Did you know that no food naturally gives us Vitamin D? The only way for your body to get Vitamin D is either fortified foods (mainly milk) or your body making it which requires a certain level of sun. In the winter months, there is usually not enough sun for your body to produce it in adequate amounts. So, Vitamin D supplementation is almost a necessity for most people in the Northern climates. Research has recently found that Vitamin D deficiency is linked to many disease conditions afflicting us. A simple blood test can determine if deficiency exists.