Hip Pain

What do you mean by your hip? Is it on the side of your upper leg; or behind ,on one side, just below your spine ,but just above your buttocks? Your sacroiliac joint is the latter. In the spring when we start to lift and bend more frequently, this joint can misalign and become painful with
movement. Many times you will not be able to straighten up...you will bend to one side when you
stand up and walk..a lateral tortipelvis.
This usually resolves within 3 treatments.

Runny Nose?

Spring in Canada brings buds on the trees. Many of us start to experience runny noses, sneezing, coughing, and impaired breathing. these are usually allergic reactions to pollens in the air that irritate our nasal passages and lungs..Our brain perceives that something harmful to our health is entering our systems and it responds by increasing phlegm production to get rid of the poison. The pollen remains and the body keeps producing the fluid.
Allergy shots do work. Antihistamines lessen the reaction. Homeopathic products do help. And yes a Chiropractic adjustment at T1, and C1 or C2 lessen and limit the duration of the allergy response. Some patients may need frequent repetition of the treatment, others one or two may suffice.
I am reminded of an incident in Davenport Iowa while I was studying for my Chiropractic degree.I was promoting a local Chiropractor at his booth in a local mall. A young lady was walking by. She had a pronounced sniff. I mentioned to her that Chiropractic adjustments might lessen her
allergies..she responded that she didn't think so, and that her Dad was a "real" Doctor (MD).
I imagine she is still sniffing,,I hope some of my readers will try Chiropractic to lessen their allergies.

Mental Disorders and Chiropractic

When Chiropractic was relatively new..psychiatric hospitals appeared in Davenport Iowa. Patients with Schizophrenia, Bipolar and Depression Disorders, were adjusted daily. Results were interesting. Patients were returned to daily living faster that those who took medication at that time. The cost of Chiropractors treating patients became greater, than treatment with medications,
and the hospitals closed.
Today we manage "stress" with Chiropractic adjustments particularly at T10..your 10th thoracic vertebra..but little else is mentioned.

Neck Exercises

We have a short video clip discussing neck exercises on YouTube...simply type in Zubok Films on the youtube site..scroll down to neck exercises Dr. Mcleod..happy viewing

Power to your Body

Harrison Ford, in a TV interview, when asked about the "Force" in Star Wars , remarked, " May the force be with you..Force yourself!"
There is a huge idea in Chiropractic..Remove spinal blocks to normal nerve conductance in your spine and everything works better..that's right, You are healthier.
One radical example: a 70 year old man, with severe diabetes, and a large big toe gone black -with -gangrene.. refused to seek medical attention ...did get his spine adjusted regularly..did not lose the toe..did not see the gangrene spread.. and lived into his 90's.
The moral? A healthy nervous system can do miraculous things to keep you healthy...and You are better able to "Force Yourself".

Guillain Barre Syndrome and Chiropractic

A patient with Guillain Barre, an idiopathic polyneuritis came into my clinic yesterday..the patient presented after 4 months in the hospital..he had lost 30 pounds ..had a very frozen shoulder which was partially dislocated...a severe limp, but at least could walk. Why see a Chiro? Let's fix th frozen shoulder. A shoulder adjustment was performed..stretches suggested daily..and nutritional supplementation to rebuild the moscles. The patient had 30 percent improvement immediately, and should have more normal use of his shoulder within 3 weeks.
This is just another example of the "Big Idea" in Chtropractic...that is a bone or joint in its' normal position always works better.

Falls and Chiropractic

A patient fell off her horse last week. Does she need a Chiropractic treatment? Examination revealed whiplash-like misalignments in her neck, upper and lower back. Correcting these misalignments not only speeds healing, but also restores normal circulation and tone to the muscles in these areas. The nervous system benefits with freer movement of impulses, We have also found that people who fall repeatedly in their jobs or hobbies, are far less likely to sustain fractures..bones that are in their proper position can misalign with a fall...while a bone out of place already has nowhere further to move, and is more likely to fracture with a fall. Periodic check-ups then, act as an insurance against many possible fractures,

Do Treatments/Adjustments Hurt?

While it might seem logical to assume that if a joint hurts, moving bones would cause more pain, the reverse is often true. An adjustment is often like removing the weight of a heavy box that has fallen on your toes. When the box is removed, there is often an instant feeling of relief. Often there is an invigorating "aliveness" that is felt as the function and integrity of the spine is returned to a more
normal state.
The few patients who indicate discomfort, describe a soreness in the muscles supporting the spine, near the area where the adjustment was made. This is like the day after raking leaves, or shoveling snow, or other vigorous exercise.... these supporting muscles can become tired and ache.
In our clinic, most adjusting is done using my hands...with the help of drop tables. The feeling during the adjustment is far less uncomfortable than spraining your ankle, being hit by a soccer ball, or being bitten by a mosquito or deerfly.

Procrastination

Steve Jobs CEO of apple computers says that "If you live each day as if it is your last..someday you will most certainly be right." As you read this ,you may have one, or several decades left. Why would you want to spend this time in needless pain; or function below your full potential?
Chiropractors exist to lessen these blocks in your life...Why wait? Have your spine checked ASAP.

Knee Pain

In the summer we change footwear, into sandals and sport shoes..we also walk more. These changes can cause the bones in your knees and feet to misalign. You may feel like one knee is twisted out of joint... with an intermittent pain, that soon becomes constant. Your foot may feel like there is a swollen joint under the ball between the toes. A chiropractic foot and knee adjustment will usually clear this up.

Fractures and Chiropractic Adjustments

Can Chiropractic adjustments lessen pain in joints where fractures have occurred? In many cases yes. First the fracture must have healed..When this happens, the site of fracture, tends to be very strong... due to the boney bridge that forms during healing. Now when the bones are realigned there will be less inflammation and less pain...For example, I adjusted the feet of a senior patient today...One foot had multiple fractures,, from a time clock falling on it 30 years ago..After the treatment the patient felt immediate relief.
We find similar results with other joints and some spinal corrections.

Sciatica

Sciatica, or sciatic pain ,radiates down the back of your leg..sometimes along the side, and front. Many times the sciatic nerve , (which is composed of 5 nerve roots that exit through the spinal foramina at the levels L3,4,5,and S1,2 )has pressure against it, caused by a spinal twist and a partial dislocation of one or more bones in your low back. This misalignment or subluxation can be
reversed and the pain will disappear.
It is similar to dislocating your shoulder...in this case if you take pain killers, your shoulder will still hurt when their effect wears off.... you must relocate or adjust the shoulder back into the normal position to get rid of the pain.
Although other practitioners like Physiotherapists andAcupuncturists attempt this realignment in their ways.It is possible to correct the problem in one visit to a skilled Chiropractor. In an older patient, it may take several visits to get lasting relief. In patients who have had this condition for a long time, a maintenance schedule will be recommended.

Maniwaki Health Fair

Yesterday we were invited to participate in a health fair for aboriginal people from the Reservation in Maniwaki Qu. The theme was foot pain. we took foot adjusting equipment...an adjusting table, foot massager, and model spine. We arrived just on time to set up the table, and people lined up. I spent the next 5 hours non-stop adjusting the local people..several were existing patients.
We adjusted full spines..neck, back, and pelvis. We adjusted hips, knees, ankles, feet, shoulders, wrists in some as needed. We did several abdominal, soft tissue adjustments. Aswell we used subconscious suggestions to help a select few overcome stress, lack of ambition, and improve their focus. We seemed very popular and have been asked to return in October.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis, or narrowing of the spinal canal ,can put direct pressure on your spinal cord..If this happens in your lower lumbar vertebrae ie. low back ..you might experience pain in your legs..buttock pain..abnormal bowel movements..recurrent kidney infections..In some cases ,spinal correction does remove some or all of the pressure on the spinal cord,,,sometimes there is a lot of disc herniation as well..even so, some patients experience far less pain within a few treatments. If there is a lot of disc bulging,and joint and disc degeneration, you would need to maintain the correction periodically when symptoms return. The Chiropractic adjustment becomes a management tool to avoid surgery.

Monthly Maintenance

It is the first of the month..I have just had my spine adjusted..I have just adjusted my staff's spine as well. Why? Through many generations Chiropractors and their patients have discovered that after one month of intense living everything works better if their spine is realigned or "tuned up". I have found this to be true.

Quack

Are Chiropractors "Quacks"?? I saw a middle aged gentleman moving very slowly in front of my office. He had 2 canes and was gritting his teeth. I could not resist asking about his condition and if he had seen a Chiropractor..He responded that he had MS and Chiropractors are Quacks.
Until the public understands that a bone out of place, anywhere; can reduce muscle function, increase pain, possibly interfere with organ function, decrease range of motion (this fellow was barely able to move), and eventually dim your attitude (his was not positive) etc. etc. then we will get this label.
Isuppose the Wright brothers were called Quacks when they told people they were going to fly.

When do I need another treatment?

Ideally when you are misaligned...you may feel pain in your back or neck..muscle relaxers do not work..anti-inflammatories work at first.. but the pain persists when their effect wears off:you have a misaligned joint ,that is probably putting pressure on a nerve (we are aware that tumors,cysts, infection,fractures etc.could be the cause) . Sometimes you may not sleep well..or your thinking is below par. A treatment will correct this. If you are a patient and read this add.. yours s.v.p.

Requirements for Doctor of Chiropractic Degree

You need a 3 year Science Degree...then You study 4 more years at a Chiropractic College. The curriculum models the medical doctors education...more emphasis on neurology and less on pathology. Upon graduation You must pass board exams in the province or state where you want to work.

Foot Pain

Do the bones in your feet misalign? Of course. Can they be adjusted back into normal position? Yes.
A patient came limping in to the clinic today with left foot pain on the upper surface of his left foot.
Examination revealed 2 bones out of place. One of the cuneiform and one of the metatarsal bones were adjusted back into place. Within 2 days his pain should be gone...no need for orthotics ,arthritis medication, or a cortisone injection. In general..the longer the misalignment has been there, the more treatments needed for resolution.
However, no matter what treatment you choose it seems wise to correct the problem as well as treat the symptom!

Sinus/Lymphatic Drain

One branch of Chiropractic..SOT..Sacro Occipital Technique..treats organ dysfunction. We use some of these techniques. If you have recurring sinus infections, these areas can be drained manually....as can lymph nodes. We find a marked drop in the need foe antibiotics and a better functioning immune system after a few treatments.