Damron Chiropractic & Wellness

Give us a call


Schedule online

Most Insurance Accepted

Searching Online For Your Chiropractor

By Leave a Comment

Without a referral from a trusted source, where do we turn to help us find a chiropractor? Online. The world wide web brings the world to our fingertips, instantly connecting us to anything we are searching for. Type in what you are interesting in learning more about and up pops countless pages related to your topic. But how do you know if what you find is true? Any product or service can claim to be the best, but are they really? Searching for a chiropractor is no different. With so many doctors out there, how do you know which to choose?

If you Google the word ‘chiropractor’ you will see one of two things at the top of the page, a map with several doctors listed with their locations or Ads for chiropractors. After these two areas you will find other sites based on what Google feels is relevant to your search word(s). While all of this can seem a bit overwhelming, you can use the following tips to help you navigate the information and make the best decision for you.

Websites build credibility in any profession, but especially when it comes to your health. Look for chiropractors that have a website for their practice. For a more thorough search, don’t stop at the first page of your Google search. There just might be a great doctor out there that just isn’t Google’s best friend.

Take time to assess each doctor’s website and answer these questions:

  • Is the website professional looking?
  • How recent is the last blog post?
  • Can you find information about the services provided?
  • Does the chiropractor provide testimonials from his/her patients?
  • Has the practice utilized social media to educate their audience like Facebook?
  • What are the comments and online reviews of the practice?

The key here is the content. Looking at both the website and Facebook of the chiropractic office will tell you a lot about the doctor’s philosophy of care. In other words, is the doctor looking to sell you or educate you?

While we wish that we could have a referral for everything in life to make things easier, sometimes it just isn’t possible. When that happens, knowing how to search and what to search for will help you make the decision that is best for you.

You can learn more on choosing a chiropractor by reading “How To Choose A Chiropractor.”

Solve Your Health Clues

By Leave a Comment

Did you ever play the game Clue while growing up? You know, the game that has Colonel Mustard, Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, and Mrs. Peacock? The object of the game is to solve a murder mystery based on clues. Each player competes to find clues to determine first which character is guilty of the crime. What a chiropractor does is very similar to the premise for the game Clue. Our body reveals a series of clues that tell the doctor what the symptoms mean. In other words, a chiropractor does not diagnose and treat symptoms (clues). Instead, he or she evaluates all the symptoms (clues) to find the root cause of the problem.

This is not to say that medical doctors are wrong, only that their specialty is very different from that of a chiropractor. Doctors of Chiropractic rely on the symptoms and history of a patient to determine why they are experiencing a problem. Chiropractors focus on lifestyle factors, past injuries, other symptoms that may not appear related, and family history to solve the pain mystery. While a patient is seeking immediate relief from pain, they also discover that finding out the underlying reasons for the pain will help prevent it from returning. A chiropractor works to resolve the immediate problem of the pain and also providing a long-term solution as well.

The ultimate goal of chiropractic care is providing each patient with a lifetime of wellness. Most patients arrive with a problem, only to realize later the countless benefits of chiropractic. What began as a last resort for pain relief, turns into a partnership that elevates their quality of life. It also shifts them from disease care to wellness care.

Ultimately the choice in maintaining our health rests in our own hands. We can let the clues keep mounting, treat them as they arise with medications, or seek to change our lives through accountability and the desire to understand the clues and solve our health problems once and for all.

3 Examples That Help Explain Chiropractic Care

By Leave a Comment

What does a teacher do when the students don’t understand a concept? A common approach is to use an analogy to help explain in a way that is familiar. Foreign concepts do not disappear in adulthood, which is why analogies are a great way to help with understanding. To a vast majority, chiropractors fall under the category of a foreign concept. The care a chiropractor provides is something they have never experienced before. Plus, chiropractic doesn’t receive the press that other medical professions do.

To help build more clarity, here are 3 great ways to explain the fundamental benefits of chiropractic care:

1. Blown Electric Fuse –

Ever blow a fuse? It seems to happen at the most inconvenient times. Our first reaction is to head to the fuse box, locate the blow fuse and flip it back on. Then what happens? It usually trips again. The problem is that the need for electricity outweighs what is available causing the fuse to turn off. Similarly, our spine is like that fuse box. Daily living, plus all the extra stuff we do, can add a level of demand on our body that it simply can’t keep up with. When this happens, we experience pain, which tells us that something isn’t right with our body. That pain is being caused by a blown fuse, or a vertebrae that is out of alignment. A chiropractor works with the body through spinal adjustments to help put the vertebrae back into place, thus eliminating the pain.

2. Pinched Water Hose – 

Setting up a sprinkler can be difficult sometimes. You think once it’s positioned properly and the hose is attached you just need to turn the faucet on and you’re good to go. What usually happens is the water is on but the sprinkler isn’t. The pinched hose represents our spine. Messages cannot travel to different parts of our body is there is interference, just like the water that can’t get to the sprinkler. Chiropractic adjustments help to remove the interference so signals can travel up and down the spine to different parts of the body.

3. Braces – 

Anyone who has ever had braces knows how long it can take to move teeth. That perfect smile doesn’t just happen. Over a period of several months, the orthodontist slowly applies pressure to move the teeth. Likewise, a chiropractor uses the same approach with correcting a misaligned spine. It takes time for a body to reach the state of pain, so it stands to reason that it will take time to retrain the body on proper posture.

Just like anything new in life, once you have tried it, the misconceptions and misunderstanding slip away. What you are left with is the clarity that truth provides.

Standards of Care in Chiropractic

By Leave a Comment

standard of care

Standard, defined as “a level of quality or attainment.” Synonyms for the word standard are quality, guideline, norm, and ideal. Our daily life involves many standards, or guidelines, of care including:

  • the food pyramid
  • an academic grading scale
  • recommended daily physical activity
  • ideal weight
  • adequate sleep
  • water intake
  • alcohol consumption
  • medical check-ups

Research helps to define the standards we live by today. For example, the surgeon general determined after conclusive research that smoking was bad for your health, specifically linked to lung cancer. Therefore, not smoking is a standard for optimal health just as 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week is the standard. Having guidelines helps us to live as healthy as possible. In the field of chiropractic, there is also a standard of care, too.

One of the most popular myths about chiropractors is that you need to keep going once you start. Yet there is some truth to this myth because of the physicality of the adjustment. The doctor is training the body, much like we do when we exercise. Stopping the adjustments is similar to stopping exercising. We all know what happens when we stop working out. Our weight starts to creep up. We lose muscle mass. Our energy level declines. Chiropractic adjustments keeps our body in alignment so it can function as it is intended to. Without this type of care, daily life negatively impacts our body. Aches and pains return.

Ironically, despite knowing about guidelines and recommendations society tells us that we don’t always follow them. If we did, we would not have an obesity epidemic, smoking would cease, and every student would receive an A. Free will gives us the choice and all too often we choose poorly. The good news however is that we can choose differently which can reverse unhealthy trends.

Standards of care exist chiropractic, as well. This standard is one adjustment per week as it is meant to be proactive. Just like visiting your dentist every 6 months to prevent cavities. Visiting the chiropractor keeps the body functioning as it should rather than letting the daily wear and tear of life compromise it. And yes, that is exactly what life does. We go through each day incurring a series of micro-traumas from falling, playing a sport, working out, and poor posture. Yet a simple and painless adjustment once a week and significantly offset this.

The choice is ultimately ours to make. And while knowledge is power, it really only is when we do something with it.

 

Knee Pain

By Leave a Comment

Knee pain. There can be many causes for it. Initially we might ignore it, that is until it starts to interfere with our daily life. When that happens our immediate reaction is thinking we need surgery. Pain equals problem, right? While the pain does indicate there is a problem, it doesn’t necessarily mean surgery. In fact, quite the opposite is true.

Recently, a patient came into the office for her periodic adjustment. Dr. Damron noticed that she was limping. When he asked her why she explained she had been experiencing knee pain. She was having trouble walking up and down stairs and the pain was even keeping her up at night. She indicated that her parents felt she had a torn meniscus and should get in to have an MRI. Dr. Damron asked if he could take a look.

His assessment revealed not a torn meniscus but rather a patella (or knee cap) was not tracking as it should. The reason had to do with her IT band (iliotibial band) which is a ligament that runs down the outside of the thigh from the hip to the shin. It appeared that it was tight and inflamed which was causing the knee to become destabilized. An unstable knee cap will cause it to pull to one side or another. A common phrase heard when this occurs is patella tracking.

Dr. Damron’s course of recommended treatment included leg exercises that focused on strengthening the knee and relaxing the IT band with a foam roller. The first night the patient was able to sleep without pain. A major milestone! The following day she was able to walk up and down stairs a bit more freely without debilitating pain. The pain was still there, but it was much more tolerable only after two exercise sessions.

In conclusion, it’s is important to drop assumptions when it comes to pain. That pain does not equate surgery. Most importantly, that chiropractors do far more than simply provide spinal adjustments. Their scope of care encompasses the entire body with a holistic approach that minimizes healthcare costs. If you have yet to see a chiropractor, perhaps it’s time to align yourself with one in the new year to give yourself exactly what your body needs.

 

Kids and Car Accidents

By Leave a Comment

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.

Trigger Points (Part I)

By

Did you know that there are over 400 muscles in your body?  Every day they work in unison, just like the musicians in an orchestra, giving our body the gift of motion.  From the simplest movement to the most complex, each muscle is connected.  When something goes wrong, as with an injury or surgery, the results are instantaneous and obvious.  Our body no longer exhibits fluid movement, flexibility, or the range that it did.  We experience pain and discomfort.  But, it does not require a significant injury or surgery for our muscles to encounter dysfunction.  Everyday activities can lead to problems that manifest itself as trigger points.

Trigger points is a term that massage therapists, chiropractors, those in rehabilitation and physical therapy will use to identify areas of pain or tenderness on a patient they are working with.  Underneath our skin, every muscle, organ, tendon, nerve, and blood vessel is covered by fascia.  Fascia is the thin sheath of fibrous tissue that  holds everything in place within us.  Myofascia is the fascia that covers the muscles. Because we rely so much on our muscles every day, they are prone to overuse and stress.  When this happens, the myofascia can tear and then adhere together preventing the muscles from working as they should.  This, in turn, causes the “knots” you feel in areas like your neck and shoulders which massage therapists, chiropractors, and rehabilitation specialists call – trigger points.

In reality, trigger points have a domino effect on our body’s ability to function because it leads to an increase in muscle stiffness and tenderness and a decrease in range of motion.  Also, there is something called referral pain.  This is the result of the discomfort radiating from the adhesion or trigger point.  This can happen in the area with the knot or another area of the body altogether.  Interestingly, a vast majority of the time the pain felt is actually in a different location than what is triggering it.  A great example of this referral pain is with sciatica (shooting pain in the buttocks and legs).  The pain a person feels is not with the sciatic nerve, but rather from the gluteal area.  The gluteal area is triggering the referral pain which is felt shooting down the buttocks and legs.

Stay tuned for Part II on both the symptoms and treatment for trigger points.

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