Low back pain is a very common problem affecting 80-90% of all of us at some point in our lifetime. Why is that you ask? There are many reasons. One of the biggest reasons is that we are 2-legged animals carrying 2/3rds of our weight above our waist. Studies have shown deterioration or arthritis occurs much sooner in us vs. our 4-legged animal counterparts. A 180 lbs man carries roughly 120 lbs above the waist. This means, every time he bends over, in order to stand upright, he needs to lift 120 lbs PLUS whatever he is lifting. Hence, the argument of, “…but I only bent over to lift a pencil and my back went out,” seems on the surface as impossible but in reality, the man in our example is lifting the pencil plus 120 lbs. Now, let’s add to that the point that a 5 pound weight equals 50 pounds when held out in front with the arms stretched out straight. Now, if that’s not bad enough, now, let’s assume all of this is happening from a bent forward position, with a twist at the waist, with out stretched arms, while lifting a 20 pound object. Get the idea? It’s amazing our back doesn’t get injured every day as we lift 2 bags of groceries into the far end of a car trunk, or, when lifting our 30 pound child in and out of a car seat, height chair, or when they are screaming and pushing away from us as we try to lift them!

In order to further appreciate why the low back is so vulnerable to injury, some basic understanding of anatomy is needed. When we’re born, the back is made up of 33 segments of which 5 fuse by the time we’re about 18 years old to make up the sacrum (bottom of the spine) and 4 fuse to make up the coccyx (tail bone), leaving 5 lumbar (low back), 12 thoracic (mid-back) and 7 cervical (neck) vertebra. These are stacked up on top of each other like building blocks and are connected to each other by a shock absorbing disk in the front and two smaller facet joints in the back, acting like a tripod. In the low back, we’re supposed to bear about 80% of our weight in the front and 20% in the back but, if our abdominal muscles are a bit out of shape and the pelvis rotates forwards, the curve in the low back increases and overloads the back of the vertebra (facets) making them vulnerable to injury. The disk becomes injured when we bend/lift/twist. This can tear the outer tough fibers of the disk, allowing the central more liquid-like material to leak out. If this happens, the leaking or “herniated” disk can put pressure on the nerve that exits the spine and travels down our leg. If the pain pattern includes the back of the leg, it’s commonly referred to as “sciatica.”

OK, enough about anatomy. What can we do to reduce the chances of having periodic low back pain? Obviously, staying in shape is very important. Certain muscles of the body must be tight to keep us upright or standing. These muscles need to be stretched on a regular basis. For example: the hamstring muscle. We’ve all had to perform hurdler types of exercises and remember how tight they feel!

We realize that you have a choice in where you choose for your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for low back pain, we at Back in Action Chiropractic sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

DO YOU HAVE BACK PAIN? DO YOU LIVE IN THE BELLEVUE AREA?

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR LOW BACK PAIN! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 425-635-0495

Bellevue Chiropractor, Dr. Michael Weir talks about your pain

“Doctor, is it normal for people after a whiplash injury to notice problems with memory. I can’t seem to remember things I just recently did since my car accident?”

This is a common complaint occurring as a result of a whiplash injury, but it’s not commonly known, leaving those who are suffering wondering, “…what’s wrong with me?” Whiplash is an injury that classically occurs as a result of a car crash at any speed, even at low speed! This is because at low speed, there is little to no damage to the car, and the forces from the crash are not absorbed by the crushing metal. As a result, those forces are transferred to the contents inside the car – that is, the passengers. This sometimes results in a significantly greater injury compared to crashes that occur at twice the speed because the latter results in crushing metal. The actual injury that occurs in whiplash is caused by the sudden, rapid movement of the head resulting in varying degrees of injury to the neck, as well as to the contents inside the skull – that is, the brain. The brain literally “bangs” into the inside walls of the skull when the head is rapidly accelerated during a car crash. The resulting injury is a concussion. What’s interesting is that most patients injured in a car crash often don’t mention a concussion nor is it usually asked about at the doctor’s office as other, more obvious injuries are dwelt with. The condition is usually referred to by one of two names: post-concussive syndrome or mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI).

“Doctor, when I’m reading a book or magazine, sometimes I have to re-read the passage several times before it sinks in. It’s as though I lose my concentration and I can’t focus on what I just read. The other day, I was talking to a group of co-workers and I lost my place in the middle of the discussion and had to ask, ‘…now where was I?’ I notice this is happening a lot since the car accident.”

This can be very embarrassing, frustrating, and scary for patients suffering with MTBI. Other symptoms associated with this include difficulty in focusing (blurred vision), headaches, having difficulty in pronouncing certain words (“tongue twisted”), having difficulty in understanding what was said, difficulty remembering numbers or groups of numbers like phone numbers, addresses, birthdates, and so on. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and can be very disruptive, making work and everyday tasks challenging.

How long does it last? MTBI can completely clear up in 2 to 6 months without problems or, it can hang on for 2 years or longer, and may even become a permanent residual from the car crash. In one study, continued problems after a 2 year time frame were reported in close to 20% of those injured 2 years earlier. This study suggests that about 1 out of 5 may continue to suffer with MTBI and the associated brain-related problems for at least 2 years following a car crash. However, another study reported the long term “higher cognitive function” (such as the ability to communicate through written or spoken language) is usually not affected by whiplash injuries. However, they preface that with by reporting that a more commonly injured group with more mild brain problems was found.

As a chiropractor, I am trained to do a thorough history, orthopedic and neurological examination, and ask specific questions about mild traumatic brain injury. It is important to discuss this information with those suffering from whiplash injuries as frequently, MTBI patients think something is “…seriously wrong” and harbor unnecessary anxiety.

We realize that you have a choice in where you choose for your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for whiplash, chiropractic care is a logical first choice and we would be honored to offer our services to you.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR WHIPLASH! IF YOU LIVE IN THE BELLEVUE AREA CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION. 425-635-0495

“I was digging a hole in my garden and hit a rock with the shovel. After clearing the dirt from around the rock, I bent over and reached into the hole. I couldn’t get a good grip on the rock and had to twist my body to get my arm under it. As I started to move the rock, I felt something ‘give out’ in my low back and felt immediate low back pain, but it wasn’t terrible. Like a fool, I gave it another try but this time, the pain in my back was really sharp when I twisted to reach under it. Then, it felt like a knife stabbing me when I tried to stand up. Since then, I can’t stand up straight and pain is shooting down my left leg.”

The intervertebral disk is like a shock-absorber located between each vertebra in our spine extending from the tail bone to the upper neck. When healthy, your disks truly do function as shock absorbers. There are two parts to the disk – the inner part (called the nucleus) which is the liquid-like center and the outer part (the annulus), which is tough, laminated and rubber-like whose job is to hold the nucleus in the center of the disk. The annulus has concentric rings which look similar to the rings of an oak tree trunk and the strength of these laminated rings is due to the fibers crisscrossing, creating a self-sealing, secure border for the nucleus center. In spite of this great anatomical structure, our disks degenerate and can crack or tear allowing the more liquid-like nucleus to leak out of the annulus creating the classic “slipped disk” (technically referred to as a herniated or ruptured disk). When the herniated disk presses into the nerve that goes down the leg, pain is felt along its course and can radiate all the way to the foot. There are five vertebrae and disks with a pair of nerves that go into each leg and depending which disk ruptures, pain will follow a different course down the leg, which is why we ask you if you feel the pain more in the back or in the front of the leg. When the disk tears prior to both disk herniation and leg pain, low back pain occurs because the nerve fibers that are normally only located in the outer third of the disk grow into the central portion of the disk, making it generate more pain.

So now for the important question, “…what can I do for it?” When you visit Back in Action Chiropractic here in Bellevue, WA, we will ask you about how you injured your back. Often, the cause of a herniated disk can be the accumulation of multiple events over time. It certainly can happen after one major event, like our example of lifting a rock out of a hole, but that is usually the “straw that breaks the camel’s back” and not the sole cause. Many researchers have reported it is rare for a healthy disk to herniate. Rather, disk degeneration with tears already present sets up the situation where a bend plus a twist, “…finishes the job.” The orthopedic and neurological examination will usually clearly identify the level of herniation. Chiropractic treatment often includes traction types of techniques, some form of spinal manipulation or mobilization, extension exercises, and ice therapy. Core / trunk strengthening and posture management are also commonly applied and, proper bending/lifting/pulling/pushing techniques are taught. We realize that you have a choice in where you choose for your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for low back pain, we at Back in Action sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR LOW BACK PAIN! IF YOU LIVE IN BELLVUE CALL FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION 425-635-0495

We at Back in Action Chiropractic have shared the many powerful benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids in the past. Here is just another health benefit of these fishy fats. A recent study was done which showed that omega-3 fatty acids prevent disease of the eyes! The researchers fed two groups of mice diets which were either high or low in Omega-3’s. The group with higher amounts of the omega-3’s had a nearly 50 percent decrease in retinopathy or eye disease. I know what you are saying, “Eating fish will help me see better?” YES! “The retina has one of the highest concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids in the body,” said lead author and NEI fellowship recipient Kip M. Connor, Ph.D., a postdoctoral research fellow at Children’s Hospital Boston. The retina is a thin layer of cells in the back of the eye that “reads” the light that enters the eye. That light is then sent to the back of the brain where it is turned into the image that you are seeing now. So if one of the primary components of the retina is omega-3 it is vitally important to eye sight. But, if there is not enough omega-3 in the retina that will decrease the health and function of the eye.

As you may have read in past daily health secret emails, diet is vitally important to the health and wellness of the human body. Not only did inadequate levels of omega-3 affect the health of the eye, but diet also was found to influence it as well. More specifically they were looking at omega-6 fatty acids which are the black sheep of the fatty acid family. The omega-6 fatty acids (which are extremely common in the standard American diet) contributed to the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the retina. These abnormal blood vessels are found to eventually lead to eye disease and even blindness. Go to the grocery store and take a stroll down the inner isles of the store (the bread and box isles). Virtually every product on the shelves have omega-6’s in them. Do your absolute best to try to limit omega-6 fatty acids from your daily diet.

Now that I have shown you the importance of omega-3 fatty acids, let me show you how to get omega-3’s in your diet. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in flax seeds, some eggs and even some beef now. By far the best way to achieve optimal levels of omega-3 in the body and especially the retina of the eye is through fish oils. We are blessed in Bellevue to live in an area where we have plenty of fresh fish. The problem is that rarely in my patients do I find someone who even likes fish let alone gets the adequate amounts of four to five servings a day. What I recommend to all of my patients is to take an omega-3 supplement in the form of a pill or oil. When shopping for omega-3 supplements look for brands that have no omega-6’s in the formula. We are trying to stay away from the bad fatty acids, so there’s no point to have them in our supplements. Secondly make sure that the omega-3 supplement is “pharmaceutical grade”. What this means is that any of the impurities of the fish have been taken out before it is bottled. Many times it will say this right on the bottle as “Mercury Free”, or “Pharmaceutical Grade”. Be very suspicious if your supplement does not mention this in one way or another.

End of the day, make certain that you are supplementing your diet with omega-3 fatty acids as well as limiting your intake of omega-6 fatty acids in your diet.

Questions to Ask About Chiropractic Technique

There are many different chiropractic techniques for treating a person. Some doctors of chiropractic adjust with their hands, while others use various instruments.

Additionally, some chiropractors adjust deeply and strongly, while others have a lighter touch. Some patients prefer the immediate feeling of relief offered by the “joint popping” type of manipulation while others cringe at the mere thought and request a low-force chiropractic technique.

In short, the chiropractic technique is a very individual preference by both the chiropractor and the patient.

Sample Chiropractic Technique Questions

Many of these questions about chiropractic care have no right or wrong answer, but having a better understanding of the chiropractic technique will allow the patient to better assess if there is a good fit, and/or will allow the patient to do further research about the specific chiropractic techniques.

• Which chiropractic techniques does the chiropractor use and why?
• Does the chiropractor use his or her hands or an instrument for the chiropractic manipulation?
• Does the chiropractor employ deeper, joint-popping adjustment or a low-force, adjustment?
• How much experience does the chiropractor have treating similar types of problems as the patient’s? More experience that is relevant to treating the patient’s condition is better than little or no experience.

Potential Red Flags about Chiropractic Techniques

There are a few chiropractic techniques that most chiropractors agree are questionable. If a patient hears some of the following, it is cause to question the individual chiropractic technique. For example:

• It should be a warning sign if any practitioner claims to be the only one with a “special new chiropractic technique” that no other chiropractor can use.
• If after the first chiropractic visit, the chiropractor claims to be able to “cure” various conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, or some other long-term, chronic condition, another choice may be appropriate.
• Similarly, recommending a long-term treatment plan such as a chiropractic adjustment 3 times per week for 6 to 12 months, then 2 times per week for another 6 to 12 months, then 1 time per week for 6 or more months is a strong warning sign of unrealistic forecasting.

At Back in Action Chiropractic here in Bellevue, WA we use the most up to date science and technology which allow us to adjust the spine in a gentle way. If you are looking for a chiropractic office that uses gentle adjusting techniques call us today at 425-635-0495 to schedule a complimentary consultation to see if you are a candidate for the type of care that we deliver.

How To Select The Best Chiropractor

Chiropractic manipulation is a recognized and popular pain relief treatment, with an estimated 6% to 12% of the U.S. population seeking chiropractic care each year, according to a 2007 study. Given the current U.S. population (more than 306 million people), that could mean anywhere from 18 million to 36 million visits to a chiropractor in 2009.

Because chiropractic is a profession with a large variety of practice philosophies and techniques, selecting a good chiropractor can be a challenge.

This article outlines 6 key areas to ask questions to a chiropractor and provides guidelines for what to expect with chiropractic care. It also highlights some red flags that may indicate questionable approaches by a chiropractor.

Considerations for Choosing a Chiropractor

When looking for a chiropractor, a good place to start is to ask your primary care physician or spine specialist for the names of chiropractors who appear competent and trustworthy. It also helps to ask friends, co-workers and neighbors for recommendations.

Exercise caution however, because one person’s definition of a good chiropractor may be quite different from another person’s definition. In general, if multiple resources recommend the same chiropractor, chances are good that the chiropractor is reliable.

While recommendations can be valuable, it is also important to find a chiropractor who can meet an individual’s specific needs. This article includes guidelines of questions to ask when interviewing a chiropractor that can help assess the skills, qualifications and style of the chiropractor. Before starting treatment with a chiropractor, it is usually best to conduct a telephone interview or request an office consultation to find out more about how the chiropractor practices.

Find an integrated chiropractic clinic at the Spine-health Spine Center Directory.

If you are looking for a chiropractor in the Bellevue area, Dr. Michael Weir of Back in Action Chiropractic would love to sit down with you and discuss if you are a candidate for care. Call us today at 425-635-0495 to schedule your complimentary consultation.