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Chiropractic Adjustment Answer

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a chiropractic adjustment can help minimize your health concerns.

Aches and pains. The older we get, the more we seem to have them. Some we know the reason why, but some we don’t. Raking leaves means our back will ache the next. But, what if we wake up one morning and suddenly have pain radiating from our shoulder and don’t know why?

Recently, I had an experience like that. While getting myself ready one morning I felt a sharp pain to the right of my sternum as I was putting a necklace on. It hurt when I inhaled and bent over to put my shoes on. The mind begins to race when we have unexplained pain. We begin to think about all the things it could be – cancer, heart attack, stroke, aneurysm – lots of bad things. It’s a natural reaction and I did the same thing.

The pain continued throughout the morning. Shortly before noon I asked Dr. Damron what it could be that was causing my chest to hurt, especially when I inhaled. Without hesitation he responded, “Oh, you have a rib out of place.” I looked at him in disbelief. He then added, “This is common, but fixable.” A chiropractic adjustment was my solution. Immediately following the adjustment I noticed an improvement in my pain level. Dr. Damron told me that I would be sore for the rest of the day but should be much better the following morning. He was right.

I was sore for the rest of the day, but it was much more manageable. I also wasn’t worried it was some life threatening disease. The next morning I was pain-free. It was relief to know that the pain had an explanation and it was addressed rather quickly with an adjustment. How many times do we find ourselves going to various doctors to determine the cause of our pain? Think of the costs involved. At DCW established patients receive same day care and better results.

It doesn’t get any better than that.

Pain and the Choices We Make

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Imagine two closed doors. You have a choice as to which one you will open. The only information you have been given to help you decide is the following:

Behind the first door is something that you are familiar with. The results you are looking for are not 100%. It may cost you more, but there are no surprises. 

Behind the second door is something that you are not familiar with. However, the results you are looking for are closer to your ideal. It costs less but there are surprises, ones you will like.

You have two options because of a health problem that is affecting your quality of life, pain. So, given the two options, which door do you choose?

A recent study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) revealed three reasons to choose the second door – “superior satisfaction ratings, reduced costs, and similar outcomes to medical care.” Chiropractic care represents the second door. The first door the care received by a medical doctor (MD). Not surprisingly, most of the U.S. population chooses to visit a medical doctor first when it comes to relieving pain. In the study, 403 patients saw a medical doctor and 316 patients saw a chiropractor as their first choice of care for “their spinal, hip, or shoulder pain.” A questionnaire was completed on day 1 and at 4-months to evaluate the patients pain, the care received, and the costs of care.

The results of the study:

  • Patients treated by a chiropractor experienced a greater reduction in pain.
  • Patients treated by a medical doctor first were less likely to be satisfied with the care they received.
  • Those treated by a chiropractor were more satisfied with the outcome of the care they received.
  • The costs were much lower for those who were treated by a chiropractor.

Now, given what you have learned, which door would you choose?

Why We Need Mobility and Stability as We Age

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In our youth we take many things for granted – our health, time, money, high metabolism, and there will be food on the table when we get home. We have a sense of immortality, that nothing bad will happen to us. It is the gift of our youth, ignorance. You can tell by how kid behave on the playground this sense of innocence. Climbing, running, swinging, it seems they are showcasing the benefits of their youth. Compare this to those who are living in a nursing home. The sharp contrast in both the mobility and stability between the two groups is obvious.

Mobility implies freedom. The freedom to move from one place to another. The ideal is the ability to move easily and without pain. Stability, on the other hand, implies strength and steadiness. Children manifest both. The older we get, the more we need to work to keep both. However, the reality is that we don’t appreciate what we have until it is gone. According to the most recent statistics published by the CDC, over a third of U.S. adults are obese (11/2015). But it doesn’t stop there. In addition to the extra weight, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and certain cancers are also connected to obesity. So, what happened? In one word, life happened.

Mobility and stability are not only for the young. Granted, it is easier for our youth to be like that because not enough life has happened yet. However, as we age, keeping our mobility and stability is essential to living well and here’s why. Mobility is freedom. Being mobile allows us to remain active which helps keep us fit. Stability helps to prevent falls. Falls, especially in older people, contribute to broken bones and other injuries. These consequences of falls can affect our mobility which in turn can affect our weight and create further health issues.

At DCW, we help our patients with both mobility and stability through our Rehabilitation Department. We make it a priority to individualize treatment plans to ensure each patient can improve their ability to move without pain. We also incorporate balance exercises to strengthen stability. While we cannot be young again, it doesn’t mean we can’t reverse the effects of time on our body and regain our movement.

Why You Should Treat Pain Like an Injury

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Have you ever wondered why many of us do not treat our pain like we treat an injury we sustain? It’s important to understand why we should view them equally.

Remember when you were growing up and your parents would send you upstairs because they were entertaining? The expectation was that you would not interrupt the evening unless there was an actual emergency. To head downstairs because your brother or sister was hogging the television simply would not cut it. To make it crystal clear your parents would say something like, “Unless someone is bleeding or the house is on fire, do not come downstairs.” That was some serious business. There was no question as to what constituted a situation that needed immediate attention. If only the rest of life was that crystal clear.

Pain is one of those things that would be much easier to deal with if its source was obvious. Unfortunately, we usually decide to dismiss the discomfort, take medications, or simply live with it. But what if we decided to treat pain like we would an injury, such as a broken bone or other trauma? If we did that, far fewer people would willingly accept settling for a lower quality of life. The cause of symptom would be addressed correctly and the needless suffering would be over. Perhaps it’s time to change our perception of what defines an injury and how to go about true healing.

What we don’t realize is that there are solutions to resolving our pain. Solutions that many of us have never considered because of misconceptions and misinformation. One solution in particular is the care provided by a chiropractor. This specialist takes a holistic approach, where the nerves in the spine communicate with every part of the body. An interruption in any of these nerve communications creates symptoms such as pain. With chiropractic treatments such as:

  • adjustments
  • decompression
  • therapeutic massage
  • traction
  • electrical stimulation and
  • rehabilitation

the body heals and relief is found. Pain can be optional, but only if we treat it as such.

Adrenal Fatigue Progression

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There are four stages involved in the progression of adrenal fatigue as a result of stress:

  1. Alarm Reaction
  2. Resistance Response
  3. Exhaustion
  4. Failure

The first phase, Alarm Reaction, is also known as the fight or flight response. This is a necessary reaction to survival. The body kicks into high gear to deal with the stressor that the body has encountered which means an increase in cortisol.

In the second phase, Resistance Response, the stressor is still affecting the body’s ability to produce cortisol. This is a gradual process, but the result is that the adrenal glands simply cannot keep up. In the third phase adrenal exhaustion occurs. This phase might take a few years to occur and actually impact the sex hormones, too. The impact of the stressor takes a toll on the rest of the body, not just the adrenal glands. This happens because the body redirects energy to focus on cortisol production to keep up with demand. Imbalances in the sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, and androgens) are a common precursor to adrenal failure.

The final phase of adrenal fatigue is failure. The glands are completely exhausted and the patient has a significantly higher chance of heart failure.

So what does this all mean to you? Well, think about the stress that is running rampant in our society. It seems that from the moment we wake up until the moment our heads hit the pillow at night, we are on the run. Running to prepare breakfast, get the kids off to school and ourselves to work. We also rush to get the errands run, dinner on the table, kids to games, practices, recitals, and meetings. Now what about homework, laundry, the dog walked and fed. When does it end?

Life is not a race. Every hour of the day is not meant to be filled with an excess of activities. We are not machines. There is a limit to what our body can do. If we treat it like a machine, we are equipping ourselves for failure. And this failure could cost us our life.

The Truth About Stressors

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Stress has become normal in today’s society. In fact, we have become so accustomed to living with it that we take it with us on vacation. Do we mistakenly believe that the level of stress in our life equates to how successful we are? Or that there is nothing we can really do about it? Perhaps we believe it really isn’t harming us because everyone is living this way. Maybe it’s time to seek the truth about stress, understanding the causes of it, and it’s impact on our body.

Stress is a natural response to something we find difficult, scary, worrisome, frustrating, or demanding. It is a survival mechanism that is physical in nature. However, it was never intended to be a constant state of being like it seems to be today. The adrenal glands, located on top of each kidney, allow our body to cope with the effects of stress through the release of hormones. One of the most important hormones released is called cortisol, because without this our body is unable to deal with the effects of stress.

You might be asking yourself, “what type of stress can cause problems?” Listed below are some of the more common stressors:

  • Chronic conditions such as fatigue, illness, infection, and pain
  • Excessive behaviors such as exercise, sugar consumption, and caffeine
  • Sleep deprivation
  • Late hours
  • Surgery
  • Depression

When faced with stressors, the body responses by stimulating the production of cortisol. You may recall the term “fight or flight.” The cortisol provides the energy necessary for the body to deal with the stressors. Over time, the continual release of cortisol exhausts the adrenal glands, yet cortisol is still produced. Our body is designed to help us survive, so this is the one hormonal system that does not shut down, especially during prolonged stress. This is not a good situation for our body and here’s why:

  • A consistently high cortisol level creates reduced insulin sensitivity which over time can lead to diabetes.
  • A lowered ability to fight infections.
  • An increased loss in bone mass which can lead to osteoporosis.
  • Increased fat around the waist.
  • Increased water and salt retention which can lead to high blood pressure.
  • Higher levels of estrogen which is linked to breast cancer and uterine fibroids.

The next blog post will focus on the progression of adrenal fatigue as a result of our chronic stressors.

Kids and Car Accidents

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At Damron Chiropractic & Wellness (DCW) we emphasize education. Every day we make it a priority to arm our patients with relevant information to help them live a safer and more healthy life. A recent article in Dynamic Chiropractic (August 2016) caught our attention and we felt it was important to share. The article, titled “A Spinal Cord Injury That Can Be Hard to Spot,” covered pediatric injuries to the spine as a result of car accidents. However, the injuries sustained by a child may not require X-rays if examined at the emergency room. If there is not an X-ray taken, how and when will an injury reveal itself? What can be done to ensure your child is okay after a car accident, even a minor one?

No one would argue that a major car accident would be indicative of X-rays on all parties involved, especially if there is trauma. But there are countless other car accidents that would not be classified as major. In fact, these car accidents can be so minor that there is little if any damage done to either vehicle. Regardless of the scale of the accident, the people inside the cars absorb the impact. Where else could this energy go?

A study was conducted in 1992 called the National Emergency X-Radiation Utilization Study, or NEXUS. This study established protocols to direct emergency rooms how to treat patients following a car accident. If certain symptoms were not present then the patient may not be considered for X-rays before being discharged. The symptoms the ER physicians are looking for include:

  • tenderness in the neck or cervical spine
  • intoxication
  • lack of alertness, confusion
  • problems with vision, hearing, or speaking
  • pain or obvious injury (i.e. broken bone)

But what if the child that is involved in the car accident is young, say under the age of 8? Would it be safe to assume that the younger the child is the more difficult it would be to get reliable information? If it is a minor accident and a very young child, perhaps a visit to the emergency room is declined. The lack of severity of the accident does not necessarily mean there has been no injury.

Symptoms may not present themselves until four days after the accident. In the case of the child, they may have a difficult time explaining how they feel. Fortunately, a visit to a chiropractor can ease not only a parents worry but ensure the child has been properly treated after the accident. Many chiropractors can see a new patient the same day and provide treatment as well. Just because an injury is not visible to the naked eye does not mean it does not exist.

The Athlete in All of Us

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Many of us watch television shows that reveal the lives of celebrities and their exclusive lifestyles. It seems these individuals have access to things that a majority of us never will. From backstage passes, red carpet events, and the best doctors. The same can be said when it comes to their health and wellness. Great care is given to the food they eat, the dining establishments they patronize, and their appearance in the public eye. Yet, the reality is that we too can have access to many of the benefits enjoyed by those we consider to be the “rich and famous” of our society.

One group in particular is worth noting – the professional athlete. These celebrities also give great care to selecting trainers, nutritionists, and doctors. Interestingly, one such doctor that is heavily relied upon by professional athletes is the chiropractor. Why would it be then that a majority of the U.S. population does not take advantage of the same level of care? Especially when chiropractic care is affordable and easily accessible?

Think about it. We buy the shoes that celebrities wear, purchase products that are endorsed by an athlete. The question we need to ask ourselves is, does the same philosophy also apply to the level of care an athlete receives? Are we not just as worthy? Do we think that because we are not a “professional” athlete that it isn’t necessary? If that is the case, why even buy the expensive sneakers?

The benefits of seeing a chiropractor should not be limited to a select group of the population. Whether they are pro-athletes, or suffered an injury from a car accident. Seeking the care of a chiropractor should be more proactive and inclusive. If a professional athlete sees a chiropractor so they can perform at their desired level of play, imagine what this profession can do for the rest of us?

Unhealthy Choices

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Going through each day is like walking through an amusement park. There are constant distractions in the form of unhealthy choices. It could be tempting desserts, a late night cocktail, a quick meal at a fast food restaurant, or vegetating on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn and a great flick. Our bed might just be too comfy to get out of early to work out. We need that extra boost of energy mid-day with a diet soda or a fancy coffee to get us through. Someone in the office brought in a cake to celebrate a milestone. There’s a box of donuts in the break room. The daily distractions that keep us off the path of wellness are too numerous to count. So what are we to do?

Maintaining a life of wellness requires discipline from an unhealthy lifestyle. Discipline because we need to be aware of our choices on a daily basis. Wellness also requires accountability to ourselves. We can make the wrong choice but should strive to do better the next time. To help with these daily distractions, it helps to surround ourselves with others who also want to live in wellness. It will be those people who will encourage us to avoid the distractions and make the better choice. Whether it be choosing water over soda, fresh fruit over cake, or going out for a walk versus sitting at home.

The team at DCW takes our role as your accountability partner very seriously. We act as your training wheels, holding you up until you are ready to sustain yourself. Minimizing the daily distractions and increasing your awareness of what your body is telling you. Helping you to understand the benefits of chiropractic care, therapeutic massage, proper nutrition, supplements, stretching and strength training. Education is the foundation to your success. Having the knowledge allows you to take those training wheels off and sustain the wellness you’ve created. It also allows you to know what your body need and when.

B12 Benefits Your Brain

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Getting older is a fact of life, even if we don’t necessarily like it. It doesn’t need to be a bad thing either, especially if we know there are things we can do to slow it’s progress and maintain a higher quality of life in the process. Mounting evidence is revealing that vitamin B12 actually slows the shrinking of the brain that commonly occurs after the age of 60. This is truly exciting news!

Brain shrinkage, also know as atrophy, results in a higher incidence of cognitive impairment. It is this mental decline that sets the stage for an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The evidence is revealing that if we can prevent brain atrophy, then perhaps we can also prevent this cognitive decline, too. A study published by JAMA Psychiatry in June of 2016 focused solely on B12. The results of this study indicated that “high blood levels of vitamin B12 can slow the shrinking of the brain” which is very common once a person reaches the age of 60.

Vitamin B12 provides another benefit, as well. It also lowers a chemical found in the blood called homocysteine. Homocysteine is found in high levels in individuals who eat a lot of animal protein with little fruits and vegetables. This chemical is thought to contribute to heart disease, brain atrophy and Alzheimer’s. The higher levels of vitamin B12 is overwhelmingly positive. It is the only supplementation that is able to slow brain shrinking, or atrophy, in human clinical trials. And, to date, there have been no drugs that have been able to do this at the same level. That feat is truly amazing.

OUR TEAM

Dr. Andrew Damron, Chiropractor

Why ChiropracticProfessional Experience Personal Information
Dr. Damron established DCW because he was fed up with the current health model. Statistics continue to show an increase in pharmaceutical prescriptions to patients every day. Although he does believe some medications are necessary, he believes the majority of what is prescribed is actually harmful to the patient’s long-term health, creating another set of healthcare issues as a result. Dr. Damron believes DCW’s unique approach to achieving overall wellness will revolutionize the healthcare industry through collaborative care utilizing chiropractic, massage therapy, rehabilitation, and nutrition. The DCW focus addresses the whole person versus a only symptom and uncovers the root cause. He also believes that education is vital to sustaining a healthier more vibrant lifestyle as well. His goal is to create a healthier society and a better place for our children to live.
Dr. Damron began his medical career with a Biology Degree from Wright State University in 2002. He went on to receive his Doctorate of Chiropractic from the prestigious Palmer College of Chiropractic in Port Orange, Florida in 2007. While attending Palmer, he had the opportunity to travel abroad to Madagascar and provide chiropractic care to the native Malagasy people. Dr. Damron has continued his post-graduate studies with a focus on nutrition, rehabilitation, and functional medicine.
Dr. Damron and his wife, Kristy, reside in West Chester with their two young children, Graden and Isabelle. An avid Buckeye fan, Dr. Damron enjoys playing the guitar in a band with his college friends, watching/playing any sport, cooking, reading, and attending concerts, especially the Dave Matthews Band and Foo Fighters.

Dr. Greg Washam, Chiropractor

Why ChiropracticProfessional Experience Personal Information
Dr. Washam was introduced to Chiropractic by his mother at the age of 16. She was working for a Chiropractor at the time, experiencing all the benefits that Chiropractic care had to offer, and thus began taking Dr. Washam and his siblings in for regular adjustments. Dr. Washam had been experiencing painful bouts of Strep Throat from the age of 8, which always included a 10 day course of antibiotics. While under Chiropractic care his doctor convinced him to avoid the antibiotics and receive Chiropractic adjustments instead. To his amazement, Dr. Washam’s strep throat symptoms had vanished within three days and he never had an issue from that point forward. He was so astounded by his experience that he fell in love with Chiropractic and decided that was the path for him. He wanted to commit his life to helping people through the power of Chiropractic, just as it had helped him.
Dr. Greg Washam began his college education at the University of Cincinnati, studying biology. After he made the decision to become a Chiropractor, he attended Logan College of Chiropractic in St. Louis, MO. While at Logan, he received his Bachelor of Science in Biology and Life Sciences in 2009. He received his Doctorate of Chiropractic in 2011. Dr. Washam was presented with various awards upon graduation. These included Dean’s List honors, the Senior Intern Assistant Award, and the Award of Excellence from the Division of Research. He has completed many hours of post graduate education focusing on nutrition, supplementation and injury recovery.
Dr. Washam and his wife Kassie reside in Mason, Oh with their two daughters, Lillian and Wren. In his free time, Dr. Washam enjoys cooking, exploring new restaurants, touring local craft breweries and reading. He also spends a great deal of time outdoors with his family and his Beagle, Willow. Dr. Washam is a music enthusiast and listens to all genres of music. He especially loves classic rock from the 60’s and 70’s. His favorite band of all time is Led Zeppelin.

Brooke Snyder, Operations Manager

Why DCWProfessional Experience Personal Information
Brooke had never been to a medical office where she really felt like they cared more about her than her money until she came to DCW as a patient. DCW made it so easy to arrange financial payment with, they were compassionate, dedicated and most importantly 100% honest. The team addressed all aspects of her health and well-being, above and beyond chiropractic care. Her initial impression of chiropractic offices were that they would only adjust then send her on her way. She realized that she was wrong. Because of her experience as a patient at DCW she realized she wanted to pursue a career within it. She saw everything she wanted in healthcare at DCW. Finally, a place where patient care really comes first! She comes to DCW with a degree in Nursing and a background in finance. When someone asks her “Why DCW?” she cannot think of one reason why not.
Brooke has a background in business finance and computer technology prior to the start of her medical career. She attended Southern State and obtained an Associate’s Degree in Science, R.N. Sh began working from DCW in December of 2014.
Brooke has five beautiful girls from 15 to 6 years old. She is married to Jamey Snyder who has two boys of his own. She lives on a two acre farm in the country with horses, dogs, cats, and a pot belly pig. Brooke enjoys spending time with her very active family and watching their kids play sports.

Nicole Foreman, Licensed Massage Therapist

Why MassageProfessional Experience Personal Information
Nicole always wanted a career that was focused on helping people. It wasn’t until she drove past the Dayton School of Medical Massage on a daily basis that it became clear what she was meant to do. She enrolled as soon as she could and it has been the best decision she has ever made. She loves the feeling of knowing she has alleviated someone’s pain and possibly made their day better in some way. She had been working alongside chiropractors for over 7 years before joining the DCW team. Before DCW she never really felt her opinions and insights were valued or even asked for, which she felt hindered patient care and the effectiveness of each treatment. At DCW she feels valued and part of a practice that is focused on changing the approach of wellness with cohesive and effective patient care.
Nicole is a graduate of the Dayton School of Medical Massage and obtained her license in 2008. She utilizes Deep Tissue, Swedish and Thai massage techniques to relieve pain, tension, and stress while increasing range of motion and flexibility.
Nicole is married to her husband of 5 years and they one daughter, Rylee, and one child on the way due in September 2016. As a family they enjoy camping, hiking and spending time at the lake during the summer.

Erika Pantona, Insurance Specialist

Why DCWProfessional Experience Personal Information
Erika started coming to DCW in 2010 after spending two years in substantial pain after an injury. She had spent those two years at various specialists and taking medications to simply get up in the morning due to the pain. She was 18 when she found herself facing a major, life altering surgery (SI Fusion) and realized there must be another way. When she began her treatment plan at DCW she started to have days with little or no pain. She stopped taking her medications and realized they had been affecting her overall mood. In 2015 Erika joined the DCW team because they allowed her to live her life once again. She wants to prevent others from living in pain like she did unnecessarily, and to receive the benefits of chiropractic care.
Erika is well versed in the insurance industry with her previous employment at Express Scripts and Anthem.
Erika has two siblings and resides in Liberty Township. In her spare time she enjoys traveling and hiking with her family.

Amy Faris, Patient Care Coordinator

Why DCWProfessional Experience Personal Information
After moving to Ohio in 2010, I was in need of some relief from minor pain associated with working in customer service fields for 15 years. I was interested in seeking alternative forms of therapy and found a chiropractor in our small town. After going for a few visits, the therapy seemed somewhat outdated compared to what I had researched. In talking with my husband, he remembered that he knew someone who was a chiropractor. After just a few visits with Dr. Damron, I definitely noticed a difference in his techniques and style. It was nice to see results and feel like I was being listened to as a patient, not just heard…something you don’t always feel with doctors. After being a patient for several years, the opportunity came about to join the DCW team. It would be something different from what I had done in my past, however I knew my passion for working with people would translate well into helping patients receive the best care possible. I believed in the mission of DCW as a patient, and I am excited to be part of living that mission every day. 
 I am originally from St. Louis, MO. I graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia with a degree in Secondary Education – Language Arts. I worked in restaurant/catering management for several years before starting a career in retail management and training.
In that position, I met my husband, Matt, who is from Wilmington, OH. After we got married in 2010, I moved to Wilmington. Realizing retail wasn’t where my heart was any longer, I began working as a substitute teacher in the Clinton County area. Matt and I live in Wilmington with our 6 year old German Shepard, Dale. I enjoy camping, boating, riding 4-wheelers, and spending time with family and friends. I love St. Louis Cardinals baseball and am a recently converted Cincinnati Bengals fan.

Hours

Monday 9-1 & 2-6

Tuesday 9-1 & 2-6

Wednesday 9-1 & 2-6

Thursday 9-1 & 2-6

Friday 8-11

Saturday and Sunday CLOSED

Contact information

 3187 Western Row Road Suite 114
    Maineville, OH 45039

Office:
     (513) 770-3434

Email:
    info@damronchiropractic.com