Top Chiropractor in San Leandro, CA

San Leandro Chiropractor

Patient Asks and Dr. Burt Answers the Question #19-#24

by

PATIENT QUESTIONS AND DR BURT'S ANSWERSQuestion: Are there cures for plantar fasciitis?

Answer: There is a great treatment protocol that I have used on my patients with great success. It takes somewhere between 10-12 sessions in order to get a desirable results. An object with a round edge would be a perfect tool for this task and also a good massage lotion. I direct gliding force is applied along the plantar musculature. Most likely you will feel a lot of pain during the procedure. About 5 minutes would be more than enough. After the procedure your plantar musculature will be very swollen – which is what we want. During this inflammation process macrophage will destroy the calcified particles that were accumulated during the treatment. An ultrasound therapy would be a plus. It is important that you get this done every other day of the week for the best results.

Question: What are the symptoms and treatments for the sciatica nerve?

Answer: Hi, You would probably want to read this post: “Sciatica Pain Relief and Chiropractic Treatment.”

Question: Whiplash injury questions please? I was in a car accident back about 8 years ago and I was wondering what is the proper treatment after the whiplash? Is it possible for the pain to increase many years later like a flare up? I’m experiencing horrible pain and I looked up whiplash injury and those are some of my symptoms

Any advice?

Thank you

Answer: All of your answers are in this post: “What is Whiplash?” Please read related posts below as well as they will provide all of the answers to you question. I hope you find a local doctor who will help you to resolve the complaints after your whiplash injury.

Question: Do the home ultrasound machines really work on torn MCL?

Additional Details: Doctor told me there was nothing he could do for me. I just have to let it heal. He said I should be back to “my normal” around spring time but I have to take care of two puppies and laundry downstairs so I’m looking for something that will help.

Answer: It is better to have Home Ultrasound units and apply it to your injured MCL than not having any therapy at all. The outcome will greatly depend on the severity of the tear. Your doctor should have sent you for MRI and at least physical therapy, instead of just letting it heal on its own till spring. I would highly recommend for you to get a second opinion ASAP.

Question: Do I have a herniated disk? I bent over yesterday and I got sudden pain in my lower back. It continues to hurt today. This has happened to me a couple other times, but over a year ago. I’m only 19 so it’s not like it’s an old age thing. My mom has had the same problem and she called it a slipped disk, or herniated disk. Is that what’s wrong? Why is it happening at my age?

Answer: Pain in your low back does not necessary mean that you have herniated disk. You could simply have a vertebral subluxation in your lumbar spine and that could be the cause of your problems.  Pick up the phone and have your mother pick up the phone have her call your local chiropractor. You can also read this post – “Low Back Pain and the Wonders of Chiropractic.” This article will help you to understand of what is going to happen when you go see your local chiropractor.

Question: What’s wrong with my ankle? I hurt it last night during my basketball game but I do not know exactly what happened. There is little to no swelling and slight bruising. The pain is mostly targeted on the outside top of my ankle. I can slightly put my weight on it.

Answer: If you cannot bear weight on that leg, it could be a significant injury.
You need immediate medical attention. Could be any number of problems, hairline fracture is a possibility. You MUST get X-RAY of your ankle ASAP.

Good Luck.

Please Post a comment below or share your thoughts through Facebook, Twitter or comment section below to join the conversation.

7 Major Causes of Lower Back Pain?

by

INTERVERTEBRAL DISCMillions of people are affected with lower back pain all over the world. It could be a minor and temporary pain and it could be as extensive as referring pain into upper and lower extremities. There are different factors and causes of lower back pain. Below is the list of 7 major causes of lower back pain.

SPRAIN AND STRAIN:

A deconditioned lower back and the one with previous injuries is more prone to soft tissue injuries like sprains and strains. An overstretched muscle is a definition of a sprain injury. An overstretched tendon is definition of a strain injury. Both injuries result in fibrotic tissue which is extremely painful if not properly and timely rehabilitated.

DISC PROBLEMS:

The IVD or intervertebral discs (look at the main picture) are serving a function in our spine as shocks or struts in a vehicle. Their job is to prevent the vertebral bodies of the spine from degeneration which in medical term is called osteoarthritis.  Lack of mobility between vertebral bodies will cause the IVD to dehydrate and eventually shrink in height. IVD does not have any blood supply and the only way it gets the nutrients is by the process called imbibition. In plain English – when two adjacent vertebras move they help to pump liquids with nutrients into the IVD. Common disc complaints involve the disc protrusion or bulging (which can be prolapsed or sequestrated) the later is a very bad one. Make sure that you schedule your appointment with your local chiropractor at least once a month. Our body just like the vehicle we drive, it requires maintenance.

MUSCLE IMBALANCE:

Muscle imbalance is the cause of a poor posture. Over the time certain muscles loose their function under overworking conditions or when they are under utilized. If this happens the inevitable result will lead to problems such as neck pain, shoulder pain, and lower back pain or even frozen shoulder.

EMOTIONAL:

Emotional problems linked together with neuromuscular system. Stress or emotional trauma would lead to muscular tension. Muscles such Upper Trapezius and SCM (Sternocleidomastoid) are innervated by cranial nerves (which are the nerves that are connected directly to the brain).

STRACTUAL PROBLEMS:

Scoliosis – an excessive sideways curve of either the upper or lower regions of the spine. Kyphosis – sometimes referred to as “hunchback”, this is an excessive outward curve of the upper back.

DISEASE:

Ankylosing spondylitis – a disease that causes inflammation in spinal joints and limb joints potentially leading to fusion of vertebrae Arthritis – especially osteoarthritis, involves cartilage that normally cushions joints breaking down. Osteoporosis – is a condition involving thinning of the bones. It commonly occurs in women after the menopause but can also affect men.

SCIATICA:

Sciatica is a nerve pain from the sciatic nerve, a nerve that runs from the spine through the buttock and down the back of the leg. Sciatica is often caused by a disc bulge or prolapse pressing on the spinal nerve. Other causes can include a narrowing of the nerve tunnel between the discs as a result of osteoarthritis. If you would like to discover how to completely cure sciatica naturally without drugs, surgery, physical therapy, exercise, or change of diet you might want to take a look at this report “Stop Sciatica.” (affiliate link)

Please Post a comment below or share your thoughts through Facebook, Twitter or comment section below to join the conversation. Feel free to add any additional tips.

Flu, Cold, Nasty Symptoms and Natural Remedy

by

FLU VIRUS
Flu Virus

We have entered an official cold and flu season. In Northern California it rains none stop this time of the year and some northern parts of the country it snows none stop. The only people who have fun this time of the year are residents of Hawaii and Puerto Rico. I guess they have fun all year long because of the abundance of sunny days. Many families get seasonal flu or cold symptoms. Some have to skip days of work and some can coop with symptoms and move on. The strength of the symptoms will depend on how strong the immune system of the individual is. Many factors will contribute to the strength of the immune system; nutrition, physical shape, well functioning nervous system and level of stress environment.

Flu symptoms are viral in nature. Please do not ask your Primary Care Physician for antibiotics if you have a flu. They will only make your symptoms worse as they will kill your good bacteria resides in our intestine. These little guys are responsible for your general health. If the are destroyed with antibiotics one might develop  additional symptoms. It takes about a week for our body to destroys the virus inside our body. If the immune system is week it might take much longer with more severe symptoms.

Our son brought as we call in our household a “bug” from preschool. He was the first one who got fever and vomited several times. I was next and my wife followed. During this time we did not take any antibiotics or syrups from Walgreens or other pharmacy department stores. Our daily diet included lots of hot liquids – green tea with lemon, Ginger and a table spoon of honey – yum. Daily food intake always contained fresh garlic in it. 100,000 I.U. Of vitamin A with Zinc has provided a necessary additional boost for the immune system. Our little one was the only who had severe symptoms and continues to have slight cough. As of this writing Saturday 12/18/2010 my symptoms are completely gone and the first time I began to experience themwas last Friday. My wife still has occasional sneezing problem but nothing major. As you can see the body will find the way to fight the “bug” aka viral infection. Even if you have fever that is a sign that your body fights the infection. By raising body T our immune system can easily destroy the protein membrane of the virus. Lay down in your bed and sweat it out. You will feel much better in the morning. However, if fever reaches a critical point and it does not go down call 911.

Symptoms Cold Flu
Fever Rare Characteristic, high
(100-102 degrees F); lasts three to four days
Headache Rare Prominent
General Aches, Pains Slight Usual; often severe
Fatigue, Weakness Quite mild Can last up to two to three weeks
Extreme Exhaustion Never Early and prominent
Stuffy Nose Common Sometimes
Sneezing Usual Sometimes
Sore Throat Common Sometimes
Chest Discomfort,
Cough		 Mild to moderate;
hacking cough		 Common; can become severe
Complications Sinus congestion
or earache		 Bronchitis, pneumonia;
can be life-threatening

Wellness Chiropractic Care or Symptom Based Care

by

Wellness or PainThis month I have seen my three old patients who have not received chiropractic care for a very long time. The treatment gap varies for each of them. For one patient it was a year and a half, for another nine months, and for the third one it was six months gap. All three patients made an appointment to see me because their pain symptoms got so bad that none of them could function properly on day to day bases. Their quality of life has gone down to the point that it was basically a painful existence.

I have asked all of these patients the same question.  “Why would you wait for so long that your pain level has gone to the point that you can not enjoy your activities of daily living?” The first patient told me that He felt good for a long time since he saw me last time and gradually his symptoms reappeared and got worse. This gentleman has to seat in his office chair for 10 hours a day six days a week. When he walked in to my office his posture looked like a question mark.  Pretty scare stuff. He was crying like a baby when my massage therapist was working on his soft tissue. The second person was a patient who had a sport injury while skiing. Her neck and mid back were in pretty bad shape. The worse symptom was her eye site. She was loosing it very rapidly. Prescription glasses had to be replaced every other month. About twelve sessions of therapy brought her eye site back to normal, to the point where she did not need to wear any glasses. Neck and mid back pain has disappeared. Good results in a relatively short period of time. Third person had a bad case of TMJ. After several sessions utilizing SOT technique and some other tools his problem was resolved and he was very pleased with the results.

My advice to all of these three patients was to come back once a month for maintenance cares. I like to compare our bodies to a vehicle.  Everyone changes oil in their vehicle every 3000-5000 miles depending on the oil they use. After certain mileage we change tires, rotate them and balance the wheels. Tune up is a must for every car and changing brake pads is an inevitable process. Human body needs the same thing.

Every day stress creates micro injuries in our bodies. These micro injuries turn into more serious problem over time. For some it takes longer for some it takes much faster. Maintenance or Wellness care is the same thing as the tune up for your vehicle, oil change, and brake pad replacement. Without these basic things the vehicle will not run properly, and eventually will brake down. The same thing will happen to our bodies in a form of pain and eventually disease. My question is:  “Is it better to have a healthy quality of life or to live in a miserable existence.” Choice is always yours.