Chiropractic Questions and Chiropractor Answers

September 19, 2011 by drburt 2 Comments

Chiropractic Questions and Chiropractor Answers

Question #25

Lower back pains !!!?

I work an eight hour shift almost every day and stand on my feet constantly. My work duties require me lifting heavy objects. I always try to lift with my legs and not my back. However, lately the lower right side of my back has been killing me. It is very painful to sit, so I stand more or lay down when I get the chance. What can I do to lessen the pain?

Answer:

From my professional standpoint it appears that you might have an overuse or repetitive soft tissue injury. That might involve sprained tendons and strained musculature around the lumbar spine. Also herniated disc and subluxated lumbar vertebral level can also be contributing factors for the pain. I would suggest that you take some time off of work and see your local chiropractor who has physical therapy equipment and massage therapist in the office. The time off of work will allow your body to avoid farther soft tissue damage and proper rehabilitation will expedite the healing process. Hope it answered your question

Question #26

What’s wrong with my ankle(s)?

Last year during volleyball practice, I dove and twisted my ankle. Ever since it has been weird. I’ve had really flat feet since I was a little kid, and my ankles always hurt because of that. i don’t wear very supportive shoes, but even when I do it doesn’t help. I went to a podiatrist a few months ago, and he diagnosed me with an excessively flexible flat foot. Strange. I use an ace bandage on my ankle, but to no avail. Nothing has made it feel better. It hurts off and on, though, and when it hurts it hurts a lot. I think I sprained it that day, and since I have bad feet, it just never healed. Do you think that’d what happened? Also, do you recommend for me to get those sport supports you put on your ankles with your shoes while playing? Thanks in advance. Also, I’m kind of an injury magnet 😀 never broken anything, but I always seem to be hurting myself

Answer:

You are correct about sprain injury to your ankle. When this happens the soft tissue needs a proper rehabilitation in order to prevent scar tissue formation. Most likely you did not have any rehabilitation at all thus is the reason for the pain. At this point it is in chronic stage and will require some time to fix it. Deep tissue massage and active/passive ROM will help. As to your second question about ankle support – you can use it if it does not interfere with your game and running pattern. The most important thing is keeping your gate normal.

Question #27

Tingling in my left leg, please help?

It started with lower back problem where i could sit down for a period of time, couldnt bend over or put on my socks. This happened overnight. This lasted for 5 months then I woke up with tingling and pain on my left butt cheek all the way down my leg. All of this has lasted for 8 months now and wont go away. Have been through 3 X-rays, and 3 Physical Therapist and nothing. They refuse to give me an MRI. They keep saying it’s a weak core but I know it’s not because I can do advanced core exercises with not problem. I believe my muscle is pinching my sciatic nerve. Can someone please shed some light on this for me?

Answer:

X-Rays will not show soft tissue problem. What you need is an MRI, but it looks like your ignorant doctors refuse to authorize it. Sounds like a Kaiser type of therapy. Physical therapy will not help either at this point and time as strengthening injured musculature and soft tissue is only going to make things worse. Get a second opinion about your problem. I am afraid if you are attached to a particular treatment facility your only option would be paying out of your own pocket and figure out what is going on. I think finding a local neurologist or a chiropractor would be my first step. It all depends on what kind of treatment you would prefer for this kind of problem. It could be Sciatica but it could also be Sacroilliac Joint misalignment.

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Mattress Advice From Your Chiropractor

October 15, 2010 by drburt 7 Comments

Many patients have been asking my professional advice on which mattress they should buy. There is not a definite answer for every patient. Every single one is going to need a different one in order to get a good night sleep for years to come. Below are some tips and tricks that you can use when buying a new mattress.

A mattress should provide uniform support from head to toe. If there are gaps between your body and your mattress (such as at the waist), you’re not getting the necessary support that your body requires.

If you do have back pain and your mattress is too soft, you might want to firm up the support of your mattress by placing a board underneath it. But do this just until the pain goes away; such firmness is not good for “routine” sleeping.
Every few months, turn your mattress clockwise, or upside down, so that body indentations are kept to a minimum. It’s also good to rotate the mattress frame every so often to reduce wear and tear.
If you’re waking up uncomfortable, it may be time for a new mattress. There is no standard life span for a mattress. It all depends on the kind of usage it gets.
Be aware that changes in your life can signal the need for a new mattress. For example, if you’ve lost or gained a lot of weight, if a medical condition has changed the way you sleep, or even if you have changed partners, it could mean that it’s time to find a new mattress that will accommodate those changes and help you sleep more soundly.
If you’re not in the market for a new mattress, and your current mattress is too firm, you can soften it up by putting a 1- to 2-inch-thick padding on top of it – usually available at mattress and bedding stores

Question: Was this Advice Helpful?

Patients Questions and Dr. Burt’s Answers #14-#18

October 8, 2010 by drburt 1 Comment

Do you think I have a concussion?

I was at cheer practice yesterday, and we were staging, and I guess I got hit in the face somehow. I don’t remember any of it. I barely remember anything that happened yesterday afternoon. I don’t remember the incident, or any of the rest of practice. It hurts a lot. I was knocked to the ground, I was told, and the next thing I remember is sitting on the ground holding my head.

It is still swollen a little, I’ve been dizzy since it happened, and it has been about 29 hours later, I still have a bad headache, even though I am on numerous ibuprofen, and I keep saying bazaar things. I am mixing up words, and saying things that don’t make any sense. I feel really dizzy still, and it is hard to concentrate, and I have a lack of motivation to do my work (when normally I used to do everything to the dot and on time. all a -student.) but now, I am irritable, and I feel confused. But I don’t know about what.
My mom won’t take me to the doctor, even though my coach thinks I have a concussion. She thinks “ill be fine”.

What should I do?

Answer:

In my professional opinion I think you most likely had a concussion. The only way to find out how serious is to go to a Hospital and get CT Scan done of your brain. Your mother must take your complaints seriously. If she does not listen, you must go to your school’s nurse and have her evaluate you. If necessary she will refer you out to a specialist. Dizziness, difficulty concentrating, confusion are all signs of a concussion. Please do not delay seeing a specialist ASAP.

I have a migraine, how do I get rid of it ?

Hello , I have a painful migraine . I got it today around 5:30 pm , it is now 7:52 pm where I live its not as painful anymore , now it feels like a regular headache but it still hurts and I want it to go away. We have no Advil or Tylenol in my house & my mom cant get any because she is sick as well .
Do you have any home remedies? or what ?
My birthday is Friday & I would hate for me to still have one .
I remember I had one migraine that lasted a whole week when I was little 🙁 & I hope it doesn’t happen it again .

So any home remedies ? Or what should I do?
Thanks.

Answer:

Since your mother is sick I assume she will not take you to a local Chiropractor to have your neck checked. At this point and time I would recommend you to educate yourself about migraine headaches – taking into consideration that it is migraine and you can use some stretches that will help to reduce the stress in the musculature of your cervical spine. Please read the following

1. Exercises For Cervical Strain http://bit.ly/bvspRp

2. Headache Secrets Revealed and Chiropractic Care http://bit.ly/99B24r

3. C1 Vertebral Level and Chiropractic http://bit.ly/aIqkiQ

4.C2 Vertebral Level and Chiropractic http://bit.ly/cVFc8r

How To Get Better Sleep?

Every time I wake up, I always have a stiff neck. I have tried to lessen the amount of pillows…same result, even if I sleep with 10 pillows it is still stiff in the morning. I have also tried icing it down while I sleep. Please help. Thanks a lot!

Answer:

This is an advice that I usually give to my patients who have similar problem. Your pillow width must match the width of your shoulder base. In plain English – junction of your neck and shoulder and junction of your upper extremity and a shoulder. The width of your of a shoulder base must match the width of the pillow width after you place your head on it. This will insure that your cervical spine is in neutral position all night long. Neutral position of the cervical spine will insure that you don’t have a sore neck in the morning or during a sleep. It would be a great idea if you could go see a local CMT for your strained muscles

How to get rid of constipation?

I am always constipated and its really annoying because I always feel like I need to go but can’t 🙁 I’m fed up of it now…I spoke to my doctor about it recently and she said that it is because of the pills I have taken but basically she didn’t care & just told me take a laxative. but I don’t really want to take them anymore because I was constipated for about a month not long ago and I took them everyday for about 1-2 weeks and they didn’t even work as well as they should have. It’s really embarrassing as well because every time I go my belly makes these really loud rumbling sounds *sighs. I eat so healthy I could never squeeze in anymore salad & veg but I also eat a lot of take always help?
Oh and I heard that drinking water helps is that true because barley drink more than a can of diet coke a day.

Answer:

First of all you need to stop drinking diet coke. Diet coke contains Aspartate (Artificial Sugar) which is known as damaging neurotransmitters in your central and peripheral nervous system. Plain water is the best way to go.

You must go see you local chiropractor and have your L1 Vertebral Level Checked. When the peripheral nerve at this vertebral level is not functioning properly one of the symptoms is constipation. Just remember there is a cause to every problem. Laxative is not a solution. Please read this post for better understanding of your problem –

Relationship of The Nervous System And Spine To Organs … read more

What is wrong with my ankle?

Ever since Saturday (it is now Wednesday) my ankle has been really swollen. I’m a runner and run anywhere from 3-5 miles daily. It also feels creaky when I try to roll it around, what is wrong? I’ve had lactic acid build up in the past, but it wasn’t like this, could it be the lactic acid again? Should I stop running on it? Because I was told that you should keep exercising when you have lactic acid build up…

Answer:

Swollen ankle usually indicates that there is sprain or strain of the soft tissue in your ankle. It usually happens to runners. I would suggest that you go see a local Chiropractor who has Physical Therapy modalities and Certified Massage Therapist as a staff member.

Please read this post – Ankle Injury and Rehabilitation Options …read more