spinal adjustment - Top Chiropractor in San Leandro, CA

Sciatica Pain Relief and Chiropractic Treatment

November 5, 2010 by drburt

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is not a medical condition in itself but rather a symptom of other medical problems. It refers to the pain, numbness, tingling or weakness felt in the legs as an effect of compression or injury of the sciatic nerve.

The pain is usually felt in the buttocks, lower back or at various parts of the patient’s leg including the foot. The pain is usually severe combined with weakness of the muscles as well as numbness and tingling sensation. This condition is usually felt only on one side of the patient’s body.

Treatment Options

The treatment for the symptoms depends on the problems that cause the symptoms. Sciatica can be caused by spinal disc hernia, spinal stenosis, pregnancy, piriformis syndrome and many other conditions. What’s important is that the patient gets a proper diagnosis of his or her problem in order to get the right treatment.

Treatments for this condition vary from taking pain medications to surgery. Anti-inflammatory medications and paracetamol are taken to relieve the pain experienced by the patient. If this isn’t enough, narcotics can also be used especially if the pain is already severe. Steroid injections provide short-term relief and benefits as well. Acupuncture, physical therapy, massage therapy and chiropractic care are also great treatment for sciatica. Some also benefit from yoga sessions and weight loss to reduce the pressure on the nerve roots of the spine.

Chiropractic treatment

Sciatica is treatable by chiropractic care and most of the time, it responds positively after spinal adjustments on the patient’s lower lumbar vertebrae as well as on the sacroillac joints. Some types of nerve irritation respond much faster while some takes a little while depending on the severity of the case and especially if the symptoms are already chronic.

A type of sciatica that is very difficult to deal with even for a chiropractor is when there is an actual herniation of the patient’s intervebral disc. This causes extreme pain that even taking narcotics and analgesics won’t give enough relief for the patient.

Before considering a chiropractic treatment to aid in your symptoms, you must know that most spinal adjustments done can only provide you with short-term relief to pain. It really depends on what causes the symptoms of nerve irritation and you must consult with your health professional regarding the matter. Your local chiropractor would tell you if your problem that results to sciatica symptoms can be improved through chiropractic care.

The best way to get real pain relief the pain in this condition is to relieve the sciatic nerve of the pressure. Correcting the root of the problem is the best solution in order to completely recover from the injury. If you only want pain relief then it will only be a temporary solution. Finding the real source and correcting it would get rid of the symptoms for a long time. By permanently relieving pressure off the sciatic nerve is the best solution to the problem.

Question: Have you or anyone you know experienced Sciatica? What kind of treatment have you had?

Who is Your Chiropractor Doctor Burt?

November 1, 2010 by drburt

Many of my patients ask me the same question during the course of the care in my clinic. Who is your chiropractor Dr. Burt and how often do you get adjusted? I love to get my spine adjusted and I am certainly the type of Chiropractor who is utilizing the service that he is preaching about. As many already know I am an avid Mountain Biker and my body needs frequent maintenance after prolonged and fast pace rides.

I am fortunate enough to have two chiropractors who adjust my spine on regular bases and both of these Docs get the same in exchange. One of my Chiropractors is Dr. Rick Ciderstrome who is practicing in Castro Valley and the other One is Dr. Robert Faggiano who is practicing in Fremont. Dr. Rick is coming to my clinic every Friday after 3.00 pm

where we exchange Chiropractic adjustments with each other. Dr. Rob comes in twice a month, usually on Monday and we do the same. Chiropractic adjustment from a different Doctor is like a handwriting, it does not feel or look the same. Both of these Docs have different adjusting styles and virtually achieving the same result.

Here is a list of topics that can help you to understand how chiropractic care can benefit anyone:

What Can a Doctor of Chiropractic Do to Help? Read More …

Common Musculoskeletal Complaints. Read More …

Why is Posture so Important? Read More …

How to Manage Pain? Read More …

What is a Pinched Nerve? Read More …

What is a Subluxation? Read More …

What is a Spinal Dysfunction and How Doctor of Chiropractic Can Help? Read More …

Below are two videos where you can witness how I get my Chiropractic adjustment.

Chiropractic, Busy Business Executives, and Other Healthy Tips

October 13, 2010 by drburt

Chiropractic Busy Business Executives, and Other Healthy Tips

When it comes to pain and discomfort our bodies react the same way either it is a blue color worker or top notch business executive. Pain is a neurological signal that tells the body that there is something wrong with it and it is time to take care of the problem. However, with constant deadlines, business meetings, prolonged flight hours, and sleeping in an uncomfortable bed on regular bases will take a toll on people who are in a constant stress mode. I am talking about business peoples who are on the go all the time.

Business Executives are bombarded with deadlines at all times. As we all know deadlines are extremely stressful and often times force to push the body to a limit. During these periods of time large amounts of coffee is being consumed and lack of sleep is a final result of this wishes cycle. Coffee is a great way to keep one awake but there is a price tag that comes with it. During coffee consumption two things are happening to a body.

It drains the adrenal glands. These are small glands that are located one on top of each kidney. These glands are responsible for production of the adrenaline that is only designed to be produced during the “fight or flight” reflex. As a result your heart rate and the rest of the internal body parts work several times faster than in normal working conditions. This process drains to much energy and requires more coffee consumption and more adrenaline production.
Caffeine is diuretic. It completely dehydrated your body. Does it ring a bell that you need to go pretty soon right after you have a cop of coffee? If this process goes for a frequent period of time (I am talking about months) eventually person will collapse due to the over exhaustion. This process also Producess extra stress on a muscloskeletal system.

The other stressful part of being Business Executive is being involved in a prolonged international flights. Sometimes it takes up to 24 hours to travel from one part of the world to another. Of course, flying business class help a lot but it is not the same as sleeping in your own bed. Also the other factor is a huge time difference that a person has to adapt to. Sometimes it takes up to two weeks to adjust to a new time zone. By the time you get used to a new time zone it is a time to fly back or fly to different part of the world. This schedule will alter the sleep cycle of the human body. My teacher used to say:” Sleep is your weapon.” He was always saying get as much sleep as possible before the exam. Your mind and body will function at its physiological maximum potential.

Everyone who travels has to stay in a Hotel. Often times, it does not matter how expensive the hotel is and how good the room looks like inside. Nothing can replace the mattress you sleep on and your home environment. I think everyone can relate to this experience. In the morning your neck or your back is sore, twisting and turning all night because one can’t find a comfortable position.

When you get up you feel like you have been hit by a truck or you drank with your bodies all night long. I think the story sounds familiar to many. The next most probable step would be have a breakfast with COFFEE. Have you noticed a pattern here? It is back to the COFFEEE again.

Let’s find a solution to these problems:

Instead of reaching for your morning cup of coffee, you can do your body a big favor by eating a healthy breakfast instead. A good breakfast, maintained by a healthy lunch, will keep you energetic all day. You can read News Target’s page on breakfast to learn to distinguish between the good and bad breakfast foods, but whatever you do, don’t wash it down with a cup of coffee.

How to Survive Overnight Flights:

What is “economy class syndrome?” I thought it referred to dark circles under the eyes, cramped legs and sore necks that are part of the joy of long haul flights. Recently I learned that “economy class syndrome” is a more serious condition, described as “ deep-vein thrombosis, or the formation of a blood clot, usually in the legs, a rare but fatal condition that occurs as a result of sitting for long periods of time, immobile, on international flights.” Read More …

Sleep better in hotels with these 10 tips

Trying to sleep when you travel is a challenge – sure, some people may be born with the ability to sleep anywhere, but others (myself included) need a little more comfort to grab a good night’s sleep. In this list, you’ll find ten tried and tested tips for getting a better night sleep in a hotel room. Best of all – most of these tips don’t involve spending (too) much. So, check out these ten tips, and with a bit of luck, your next hotel stay will be a more relaxing experience! Read More …

When you travel for business to a different part of the world chances are that you will land in a major metropolitan city. Doctor of Chiropractic who had training in accredited Chiropractic school is available for you in these big cities. Chiropractic adjustment of the entire spine will enhance the performance of your nervous system and therefore your entire system will function much better. You will feel more energetic and will not have the need for coffee. Here is a list …

Question: Did you find this post useful? What healthy tricks do you use when you travel to a different part of the world? Read More

Social Media, Chiropractic, Twitter and Lewis Howes Experience.

October 11, 2010 by drburt

This is a story about my personal experience in a blogosphere world. It is a true and amazing live event that opened my eyes on possibilities with Social Media and how one can integrate it into his or her business.

I found out about Twitter existence on April 15^th, 2010. Some of you might laugh, and wonder why I was missing out on this wonderful platform for such a long period of time. Some of you are probably still wondering what Twitter is all about. Now I don’t feel so bad.

The official opening date for my blog was on August 1^st, 2010. That was the time where I took things to a different level with Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn, and YouTube Channel. I personally think that these four channels are the most important channels in Social media, and your blog is the center of it. But this story is not about my blog. This story is about my Social Media experience using Twitter, meeting Lewis Howes and providing Chiropractic service to a legendary American Football Player and coauthor of LinkedWorking book.

I found out about Lewis Howes via Jeff Bullas’s blog who is a huge Social Media expert, based in Australia. His entire blog is dedicated to Social Media evolution, research and news. In one of the posts, “10 Simple Steps To Increase Your Digital Influence” he mentioned that Lewis is the master of LinkedIn – which is the largest professional Social network in the world. I clicked on the www.LewisHowes.com and read his entire blog, followed him on Twitter and ordered his book.

On September 24^th, of this year I got up around 5am to have a drink of water and automatically checked my Twitter updates on my Iphone. Lewis was letting all of his followers know that he is heading to San Francisco. I replied back by saying: “It is 5am here.” Lewis replied by asking if I have any openings. I was thinking to myself: “Am I actually going to meet this guy.” To make a long story short Lewis made an appointment. The last time he saw a chiropractor was about three years ago and his spine and old wrist injury were way overdue for some good Chiropractic Rehabilitation.

A little bit of History about Lewis’s injury. This comes directly from his book “LinkedWorking”.

In the spring of 2007, I had an opportunity to fulfill a childhood dream. After a highly successful career in high school and college football, I earned a spot on an arena football team. This is simply football played indoors during the spring and summer months and serves as a training or proving ground for those vying to play in the National Football League.

During the second game of the season, I dove to catch the football. Unfortunately, however, I slammed into the walls that surround the playing surface in arena football and severely broke my wrist.

I finished out the season with my hand taped, at the end of the season I took the team doctor’s advice and had surgery. The surgery turned out to be more complicated than anyone imagined. They literally had to take a piece of bone from my hip and fuse it to my wrist bone.

What was only supposed to be a few weeks in a cast turned into over six month in a cast, and then another six months of rehabilitation.

After initial spine and wrist examination, I have set up Lewis for Electric Stimulation and Moist heat. These two procedures would allow me to reduce the tension in his paraspinal musculature and therefore perform a deeper chiropractic adjustment. I have also added deep tissue massage that was performed by my CMT who is one of my staff members. During Chiropractic adjustment his 6’6” frame made some really laud sounds. Right after adjustment I worked on his injured wrist. Lewis had really bad case of postsurgical fibrosis (scar tissue) in his injured wrist. The ROM (Range of Motion) was very minimal and extremely painful at the end range. I used special tools to break down the adhesions in his wrist. I don’t think he really enjoyed that part – very painful procedure. After five minutes of breaking down postsurgical fibrosis, I have asked him to move the wrist and both of us saw immediate improvement in ROM with less pain. The side effect was redness and swelling which is what I wanted to achieve – breaking down calcification will cause an inflammation process which will activate Macrophage and will facilitate the destruction of Calcified particles. Next procedure was Erchonia Pl 5000 Cold Laser for about 5 minutes on his injured wrist.

After therapy we had lunch at Top Thai Restaurant – Lewis is big fan of Thai Cuisine. My three and half year old son, who calls himself Dr. George every time someone asks his name, joined us as well. During lunch we both talked about Social Media experience. My guest has informed me that he has met many interesting people via Twitter, who he would not get a chance to meet otherwise. This story is a primary example, not so much for Lewis, but for me. It was a pleasure to make a new friend.

Next morning I have asked Lewis via Twitter How he was doing. Here is a small script of our conversation.