DCW Archives - Damron Chiropractic & Wellness

Plantar Fasciitis

September 7, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Plantar fasciits is pain that occurs in the heel of a foot. The pain is due to the ligament connecting the toes to the heel bone becoming strained. This important ligament is responsible for supporting the arch in a foot. Ongoing ligament strain causes tiny tears which means the pain continues. These tears create inflammation, swelling, and weakness. There are several factor that contribute to this condition:

being overweight
standing for long periods of time on your feet
high arches or flat feet
ill fitting shoes
tight Achilles tendons or calf muscles

Plantar fasciitis is more common in middle aged individuals, athletes, and soldiers. But that doesn’t mean it can’t happen to you. If you are experiencing heel pain with the first steps of your day, or heel pain that increases throughout the day, or even pain in your heels as you walk up or down stairs, you could have this condition. A chiropractor can provide an accurate diagnosis and successful treatment.

Vanessa M. came to DCW because she was experiencing painful episodes of plantar fasciitis. She had seen other chiropractors but found no relief. A friend referred her to Damron Chiropractic & Wellness and to her this was her last stop. Read Vanessa’s story below:

“I was plagued with Plantar fasciitis that began in November 2015. It was very painful and difficult to live with as I am a very active person. I work out daily and love to run in all kinds of races and events. Plantar fasciitis stopped me in my tracks. Damron Chiropractic & Wellness (DCW) was my 4th (and final!!) doctor I visited to treat it. Before coming to DCW, I hit my lowest point when I couldn’t put weight on my feet after walking in a charity race, the pain was that bad. I was going to doctors, but not getting any results.

When I walked into DCW, I could tell it was different. The atmosphere was very open and everyone was so nice. Instead of focusing on just my feet, Dr. Washam actually focused on my hips and diagnosed an imbalance that was causing the plantar fasciitis, which had taken years to get to the point of pain. Dr. Washam went over exactly what he believed was causing the pain and put together a plan to get me pain-free.

I started 3 months of rehabilitation therapy with Jaimie – she showed me strength moves and focused stretching techniques to work into my daily routine. I also had medical massages with Andy, and weekly adjustments with Dr. Washam or Dr. Damron – all of this really helped me get to a great place with my feet. Slowly, but steadily, the pain was less and less. And today, I am thrilled to say that my plantar fasciitis is now PAIN-FREE!!

I actually ran 2 miles this weekend which felt so good because I hadn’t run in over a year due to my pain!”

Who’s Carrying Your ‘Journey of Life’ Baggage?

June 27, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

The country of Nepal, located in southern Asia, is best known for the majestic Himalayan Mountains. Mount Everest plays the starring role, as many seek to conquer its incredible height by climbing. To reach the top requires extensive training, the highest quality equipment, and an expert to guide you. Perhaps the most important of all three is the guide. In Nepal, these guides are called sherpas. These natives not only guide but carry the climber’s equipment, which is usually more than 100 pounds. In order to reach the top of Everest, a sherpa is a must.

We can compare the journey of life to that of climbing a mountain like Mount Everest. When we are young, we find ourselves at the base of the mountain. There’s really no need for specific gear, aside from proper walking shoes maybe. The journey is easy. As a child, we recover quickly from injury, get plenty of sleep, don’t worry much, and eat what we want.

As we begin our ascent, we may not even realize it because the incline is so slight. Yet, we are still moving forward in our journey of life, into our teen years and early adulthood. Many of us play sports, enjoying the intensity of it. But that also comes with more intense injuries from fractures, concussions, and even surgery to repair things. Again, we recover quickly. We are young. Eating what we want, when we want – like those midnight fast-food runs!

Climbing still further up that mountain, we begin to feel the incline. We need more gear to keep us moving forward. The sherpa is ready for this. In our life, our 20s and 30s mean career and kids. This also means lack of sleep, a more sedentary lifestyle, and a body that takes on a bit more weight than it should. But, it seems to be the norm for people your age so you just accept it.

As the climb continues, the oxygen levels get thinner, the temperature decreases, and the journey much more difficult. Thank goodness for the sherpa and all that extra gear. If only we had a sherpa in real life! Unfortunately, we are our own sherpa, carrying all the baggage we accumulate over the years. From extra weight from lack of exercise; fatigue from lack of sleep due to career, kids, hot flashes, pregnancy, and worry; to injuries we might have sustained from accidents or falls. In other words, life happens.

The good news is that we can choose to offload some of the “gear” we are carrying as our own sherpa through self-care. In other words, we can choose to lose that extra weight, we can choose to help ourselves handle stress through massage or working out, we can choose to resolve that pain we have been dealing with for years. A solution like this does not just happen. It requires a commitment to oneself and the desire for change.

DCW can be your sherpa in life. Helping you to offload extra “gear” that you really don’t need on your journey of life whether it be extra weight, chronic pain, or stress. The nature of your climb is in your hands.

Stopping the Domino Effect With DCW

June 16, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

There is a major commonality between the people who attend a sporting event, concert or even a race. The energy one’s feels is almost palpable. If it’s a highly contested game, the last few minutes are deafening from all the cheering. It seems like everyone in the stadium is caught up in the quest for victory. Or at a concert, the final act can bring every person to their feet, singing the song in unison with the artist. At a race like the Flying Pig Marathon, all the runners in the ques are eagerly awaiting the starting gun. The common excitement on each face is obvious.

In all three situations, there is a common feeling. This shared interest has momentum and creates a sense of belonging. Sometimes life throws us a curve ball that derails us from living fully. It could be chronic pain from a past injury, extra weight hindering our mobility, or type 2 diabetes causing lifestyle changes. At this point in our life, we have two choices. The first is to do nothing, accept the situation as it is and let the chips fall where they may. It certainly is the easier of the two because it requires zero effort on our part. However, there are consequences with any choice and this choice is no different.

Choosing to do nothing creates a domino effect. If we are suffering from chronic pain and choose to do nothing about it, we may put on even more weight because we are more sedentary. More weight only exasperates the problem causing quality of life issues. And so the dominoes continue to fall.

The other option is choosing to act, choosing to change the situation. In other words, never letting the dominoes fall in the first place. If we are overweight or obese, we choose to seek help. We choose to surround ourselves with other like-minded people who share the same goals. This shared interest gives us momentum and support, much like we find at a concert, game, or race. At Damron Chiropractic & Wellness (DCW), this is exactly what you will find.

Wellness is a state of mind, but also a personal journey. The team at DCW will walk beside you every step of the way. We have helped countless individuals just like you. Dominoes don’t need to fall. You have the power to prevent that from ever happening. Come and experience the DCW difference. This is a choice you won’t regret.

Why a Car Accident Is Never Minor

January 26, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Why do we minimize pain? It seems that no matter the situation, from truly minor to extremely major, we brush it off and move on as if nothing happened. Watch any sporting event and observe how players experience serious physical contact yet get right back in the game again. Or the people on the side of the road after a car accident, declining the trip to the emergency room because they “feel fine.” Feeling fine does not mean our body is fine. If that was the case, then we would know the moment a cancer cell becomes a threat to our health.

A police officer was referred to DCW after experiencing a minor crash during a high speed chase that he walked away from. On the surface he appeared uninjured. Yes, there is no immediate trauma that requires emergency attention; however, what about the micro-trauma inside the body from the impact?

The average car weighs 4,000 pounds, or 2-tons. In the case of the cop, he was pursuing a suspect in his car and traveling fast. This energy of motion is called kinetic energy. The faster the motion the higher the energy. While there are many safety features in a car to protect us like seat belts, air bags, and shatterproof glass, we are still delicate flesh traveling inside a metal container. Upon impact, the car is designed to absorb as much kinetic energy as possible. However, the faster the car is moving the less time the car has to absorb the energy. So, where does it go then? To us. Our body absorbs it.

To ensure that our body is functioning as it should after any car accident, a visit to the chiropractor is a must. Why? Because symptoms may not present themselves until several weeks later. Minor misalignment in the spine can affect different parts of the body and can cause significant problems later on. Be proactive and see your chiropractor after a car accident, no matter how minor. This approach will save you unnecessary pain and suffering, not to mention money.

Tinnitus (Ringing In the Ears)

December 6, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

It might surprise you to learn that tinnitus, commonly known as ringing in the ears, is one of the most common health ailments in our country. Over 50 million Americans suffer from this condition, which can range from annoying to debilitating. That is 15% of the population! Although the name implies ringing, other common sounds can be “buzzing, hissing, whistling, swooshing, and clicking,” according to the American Tinnitus Association.

There are four types of tinnitus:

subjective tinnitus – where only the person experiencing the sound can hear it (accounts for 99% of cases).
objective tinnitus – this is extremely rare where the person and others can hear the sound. This is typically caused by the internal functions of the body such as circulation or muscular-skeletal system.
neurological tinnitus – is usually caused by a disorder such as Meniere’s disease that affects the auditory system.
somatic tinnitus – is part of the nervous system that connects the limbs and organs to the brain and spinal cord.

Interestingly, when researching this condition, chiropractic care is often overlooked as a reliable and effective treatment option for those looking for relief. The truth is that pressure and irritation in the cervical spine, specifically the C1 and C2 vertebrae, are the cause of the ringing symptoms. However, the noise that one hears when suffering from tinnitus is not the problem. It is only the indicator light that something is wrong.

In addition to the ringing, sufferers also experience:

anxiety
depression
irritability
confusion
sleep disturbances
mood swings
poor concentration

The cervical spine is the most important area of the spine due to it’s close proximity to the brain stem. A chiropractor’s goal is not only to relieve the pressure and irritation that is creating the ringing symptom but also to determine the root cause for it. For every person the cause will be different, which means that each person’s care plan will also be different.

Quality of life is very important to us at Damron Chiropractic & Wellness. You can take control of your health by changing your path in life from “disease care” to “wellness care.” Come to DCW to thrive!

Addressing Pain Once and for All

October 20, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

At Damron Chiropractic & Wellness (DCW), people come to us who have been told by other health care practitioners that they were unable to help them. Usually the reason was because they could not determine the source of their problem. The person is typically referred to other specialists, only to be given the same information. How frustrating and expensive this situation can be. Fortunately, collaborative care through chiropractic, therapeutic massage, rehabilitation, and nutrition provides the solution that person has been searching for all along.

Imagine being given a band-aid to stop the bleeding of a deep cut that really needs stitches. Is that the best solution? Would that effectively stop the blood flow? Yet, many of us accept that reality when we take pain medications if there is no long-term solution. While the pain may subside, the problem still persists. When does the cycle end?

Solutions. People like them. We also like to live without pain. So, how can one get an effective solution to their pain, without the band-aid approach of pain medications? The answer is chiropractic care. The approach and results are unique to this field of health care.

Chiropractic is a holistic approach, meaning the entire body and it’s systems are considered in a diagnosis rather than only one or two. For example, a patient with bladder pain is typically treated for their bladder pain. But what if the problem persists, even after treatment. The patient could be referred to urology. But what if nothing is found and the problem still persists? Perhaps this scenario sounds familiar to you, however with another type of pain like the head, back, leg, or neck. How was that pain resolved? Is there still pain?

Time and again we see patients that have found no solutions from other doctors. As almost a last resort they decide to see a chiropractor. The results are profound. It’s time to change the perception of chiropractic care for the 80% of the population that has never seen a chiropractor. Rather than trying to convince you of the benefits, we encourage you to check out our Google and Facebook reviews to learn more.

Healing With Functional Medicine

October 18, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Functional medicine is similar to bringing your car in for service when there is a problem. A mechanic will perform various diagnostic tests to determine the cause of your problem, looking under the hood, checking valves, and fluid levels. What would you think if the mechanic simply walked around the perimeter of your car and did nothing else to determine the problem? How accurate would the assessment of the true problem be?

Many times a doctor does just that with us. We make an appointment due to a symptom we are experiencing like a fever, coughing, rash, or sore throat. The doctor “walks around our perimeter” by taking vitals, asking a few questions, making a diagnosis, then prescribing antibiotics, if necessary. Problem solved. However, shouldn’t seeing a doctor be more like how our car is treated at the mechanic?

Functional medicine is much like the approach a mechanic takes. The doctor looking to identify and correct the root cause, or the underlying mechanisms, of the problem. The result is that symptoms improve and the disease process is halted or reversed. Overall health is improved, as well.

Three factors are involved in the development of disease:

Antecedents are precursors that set the stage for illness. These can include asthma, antibiotics, previous injuries, irritable bowel syndrome, and childhood stress.
Triggers are what sets off an illness such as a virus, suffering a loss, and a lack of exercise.
Mediators are what contributes to an illness such as low hormone levels, inflammation, stress, and poor nutrition.

The goal of functional medicine is to look at the entire patient picture and including as many facts and data as possible. This information allows for the development of clear road map for treatment by the doctor. The goal is to ensure good health is recovered, not simply masked.

At DCW, we take a functional medicine approach to each and every patient we treat. Because success should mean resolving a person’s health problems once and for all, shouldn’t it?

Commit to Your Health

September 22, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Bringing a child to the grocery store is challenging. A battle typically ensues that is a balancing act between food that promotes good health and food that does not. When we grow up things are no different. We battle ourselves over how much we should indulge ourselves and how well we should eat. As an adult the difference is there is no one telling us ‘no.’ We are left to make decisions for ourselves; countless ones, each and every day.

We can face making too many bad choices over a long period of time. Things like too much fast food, not enough water or exercise, eating processed foods, and skimping on sleep. At some point in our life we second guess our bad choices. We want to change, but change can be difficult and it take time to see results.

However, change can happen if we are committed to ourselves. After awhile, poor lifestyle choices ultimately have a domino effect on our bodies from weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. It can even then lead to conditions like chronic pain in places like our back, neck, and legs.

A healthier life means surrounding yourself with others that have the same wellness goals as you. That doesn’t necessarily mean joining a health club (although those are fantastic places to find those people) but rather doing simple things like:

walking with a friend.
heading to the local farmer’s market and talking to the farmers about their produce.
packing a lunch for you and a co-worker instead of going out to eat.

It’s amazing how surrounding yourself with the right people in the right environment can inspire you. At Damron Chiropractic & Wellness (DCW) we work hard to create an environment of wellness. We work hard to be a positive influence in people’s lives through weight loss, alleviating pain, strength training and healing gut issues. We are committed to your health, but are you committed too?

Neck Pain

September 20, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Neck pain is not synonymous with getting older. However, many of us equate getting older with aches and pains. Below is a testimonial from one of our patients about how she thought just that. That is until she was referred to Damron Chiropractic & Wellness:

“I started at Damron on the referral of my massage therapist and, to be honest, I was not expecting a whole lot. I had lived with pain in my neck and lower back for so long I did not even realize there was something wrong. Or that it even could be fixed! Dr. Damron and crew took me in right away. They made me feel part of their family and I started getting better!

The improvements did not last long. Dr Damron explained that in order for the results to stay, I needed to strengthen my muscles so they would remain in the correct alignment. Made sense. So, I started seeing Jaimie Hensley, DCW’s Rehabilitation Coordinator, three times a week. That’s when things really started to work! The exercises Jaimie has me do, seem innocent enough, but they aren’t! They really work! And the stretching exercises she has me do simply make me feel good!! I am now about finished with my rehab program. My lower back is at about 100% and my neck is almost there. To top it off, I have more muscle tone, lost some weight and I feel so much better about myself than when I started!”

– Lynn Zimmer

The truth is that getting older can be a wonderful thing. You can be fit, feel good, and pain-free. The choice is ours as to which path we choose. We don’t need to learn to live with neck pain, back pain, or any pain for that matter.

Chiropractic Adjustment Answer

September 15, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

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.

Plantar Fasciitis

Who’s Carrying Your ‘Journey of Life’ Baggage?

Stopping the Domino Effect With DCW

Why a Car Accident Is Never Minor

Tinnitus (Ringing In the Ears)

Addressing Pain Once and for All

Healing With Functional Medicine

Commit to Your Health

Neck Pain

Chiropractic Adjustment Answer

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