migraines Archives - Damron Chiropractic & Wellness

Myth #7: Chiropractors Only Treat Back Pain

April 21, 2017 By Pam Rezai 1 Comment

It’s natural to associate seeing a chiropractor when experiencing back pain. This medical professional works with the spine, or back. Yet, what most people don’t realize is that back pain is only one of many ailments and conditions that a chiropractor can treat.

Think of a chiropractor as you would your primary care doctor or pediatrician. You don’t see either just for the flu or seasonal allergies. You visit these two doctors for various reasons. The same is true for a chiropractor. Granted the spine, or back, connects the body. So, it makes sense to only think of back pain when seeing a chiropractor. But, because the spine connects the body, a chiropractor treats the entire musculoskeletal system.

If we look at the Grey’s Anatomy “Chart of Body & Anatomy” we can see that the spine is comprised of vertebrae. Each vertebrae connects nerves to specific parts of the body. For example, vertebrae 1C in the cervical spine contains the nerves connected to the head, brain, middle and inner ear, and the sympathetic nervous system. Irritated nerves in 1C can create symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, migraines, and high blood pressure. Relieving that irritation with chiropractic adjustments alleviates the symptoms. This is one of the biggest differences between how a chiropractor treats an ailment and how a medical doctor treats one.

Traditional medical doctors typically treat the symptoms. In other words, if are suffering migraines, you may only receive a prescription for pain relief medicine. The symptom may be addressed, but not the cause of it. With chiropractic care, the cause is determined and addressed, not just the symptoms. And not with the use of prescription medications either. The goal is to eliminate the cause of them problem, not just mask the symptoms.

Chiropractors treat the entire body, not just back pain. Think of it this way, your spine is the central piece that connects your entire body. So, whether you have pain in your shoulder, hip, neck, or back, a chiropractor can provide you the care you need.

Chronic Diseases

May 27, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

In November of 2015, Prevention magazine had an article titled “6 Things Chiropractors Can Help With – And What They Can’t.” The overall message of the article gave very compelling reasons to see a chiropractor beyond neck and back pain. However, it missed the mark on what they cannot treat. With all the misinformation out there regarding the field of chiropractic, it’s time to set the record straight. A Chiropractor can help treat chronic diseases.

First, let’s address the 6 things are that Doctors of Chiropractic can help with:

Lower Back Pain
Neck Pain
Pregnancy Pain
Digestive Issues
Headaches
Blood Pressure

The first two are the most obvious reasons people choose to see a chiropractor. But what about the other four?

A pregnant woman is told to avoid anything that would harm her developing baby. However, the pain that accompanies most pregnancies, especially the further along a mother is, can make her think twice about how to alleviate it. A Chiropractor can use the Webster technique to realign the pelvis. This can successfully address the pain associated with the lower back and sciatica without the use of potentially harmful medications.

Now what about digestive issues? The nerves in the thoracic spine are connected to the digestive system. A misalignment in this region can cause symptoms from indigestion, heartburn, ulcers, bloating and gas. Spinal adjustments can keep a person’s digestive systems functioning as it should. No more digestive issues.

Next on the list are headaches, which is a common problem experienced by many individuals. The cervical spine contains the nerves responsible for this type of pain if there is an irritation. A chiropractor can restore proper alignment to offset this interference, many times eliminating the headaches and migraines all together.

Lastly, let’s talk blood pressure. There is a University of Chicago study that took 50 people who had both high blood pressure and neck misalignment. With only one chiropractic adjustment, their blood pressure dropped the same as if they took two blood pressure medications at the same time? That is truly an amazing outcome!

Now for the areas that a chiropractor cannot help with, according to the article. It’s true that a medical doctor is better trained at treating acute emergencies, infections, fractures, tumors and injuries that require surgery. But, just like a medical doctor, a chiropractor can and does help with chronic diseases. The difference is in their approaches. Many times a chronic disease like diabetes, heart disease, or high cholesterol is treated with prescription medications by a medical doctor. A chiropractor, on the other hand, will take a more holistic approach and work with the patient to make lifestyle changes to address the chronic disease. This is addressing the root of the problem rather than the symptoms. Which in the end, resolves the symptoms and the problem as well.

The Cervical Spine

May 6, 2016 By Pam Rezai

There are four distinct parts of the human spine – cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and the sacrum/coccyx. Each of these parts contains the nerves responsible for specific functions of the body. For the sake of this blog post, the focus will be on the cervical spine, or neck region, of the body, and the possible symptoms indicating a potential problem.

There are seven vertebrae in the cervical spine. Each of these vertebrae are labeled with the letter C and a number between one and seven. For example, C1 is called the Axis and contains the nerves that provide the blood supply to the head, controls the pituitary gland, scalp, the bones of the face, brain, inner and middle ear, and sympathetic nervous system. When there is a misalignment of the vertebrae and disc in the C1, irritation can occur. This irritation can cause a multitude of symptoms such as:

headaches
nervousness
insomnia
head colds
high blood pressure
migraine headaches
nervous breakdowns
amnesia
chronic fatigue
dizziness

Remember, there are 7 vertebrae in the cervical spine and the symptoms listed above are only for the first vertebrae. You can see how the spine is like the main thoroughfare, where everything in the body is connected. Can you see how if you simply treat the symptom, like taking aspirin for a headache, how it is only a temporary fix if the vertebrae are not in alignment? Yes, the aspirin makes the pain go away, but the problem still exists. Yes, the sleep aids help you to control your chronic tiredness, but the true problem has not been addressed. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. If you knew that you could prevent your headaches from happening in the first place, or lower your blood pressure without the aid of prescription medications, or sleep better at night naturally, would you pursue that means?

Chiropractic adjustments realign the spine so the vertebrae are not putting pressure on the nerves that control the various parts of our body. Chiropractic adjustments correct the spine from the wear and tear we put our body through each day. It allows our body to function as it was intended to. It allows us to improve our quality of life and live pain-free. It gives our body the maintenance it deserves.

Finding the Root Cause

February 3, 2016 By Pam Rezai

In the field of law there are attorneys. Just as in the field of medicine there are doctors. However, within each field there are countless specialties. In law, there are attorneys that specialize in real estate transactions, divorce, legal defense, prosecution, corporate, and tax. With medicine, there are doctors that specialize in pediatrics, cancer, surgery, heart, female reproduction, and trauma. It is good to have specialities because when there is a specific problem, we want a specific answer, not generalities. When it comes to our health, we know preventative is best. But there are inevitably times when that doesn’t happen and we get sick or injured. Sometimes when that happens there is a ripple effect. Symptoms may be alleviated, but the underlying problem may persist. The good news is that with our overall wellness, there are doctors that focus on finding the root cause of the problem and preventing future problems. One of those doctors is a Doctor of Chiropractic.

What many people don’t realize is that a Doctor of Chiropractic chooses this field of practice because he or she believes in a holistic approach to a person’s health. Each part of a person is intimately connected – mentally, physically, emotionally. What happens to one part of us affects all the others. We cannot separate things into compartments. Chiropractors also believe that prescription medications tend to mask the underlying problem and have the potential to create other problems for the person down the road, too. Chiropractors work tirelessly to resolve the root cause of the problem, whether it’s pain, discomfort, lack of mobility or flexibility, migraines, fatigue, or inflammation. If you have never been treated by a chiropractor this may sound counterintuitive to what we have been exposed to in the media and press with respect to what one might call “modern day medicine.” You needn’t look too far to find countless advertisements for prescription medications offering a solution to various health ailments. But do they always solve the true cause of your problem?

Chiropractic care is a comprehensive approach to the overall wellness of the entire individual. It seeks to understand, then provide a solution to the real problem. It finds the cause.

Identifying a Concussion

September 8, 2015 By Damron Chiropractic

An injury to your brain can be deadly, especially because the injury is typically something you cannot physically see. The person experiencing the injury may not even know how extensive it is and may exhibit normal behaviors to those around them. This does not mean the injury is minimal or that the person is okay. In fact, of all injuries a person can sustain, one to the brain can be the most deadly because of its elusive nature. A brain injury, or concussion, happens when a person sustains a blow to the head, or suffers an injury that jars or shakes the brain inside the skull. Knowing the signs to look for after someone experiences this injury can mean the difference between life and death.

Football is a national past-time. We love it at all levels of play. Recently, there has been a lot of media coverage regarding the concussions sustained by NFL players and the debilitating side effects that have handicapped them for life. But, a concussion can happen at any age, and not just with football either. A fall on the ice, a collision with another player during a soccer game, a hit in the head with a lacrosse stick can all cause a concussion.

Surprisingly, only 10% of concussions actually result in loss of consciousness. If that’s the reality, what happens the other 90% of the time? To help you identify whether or not someone has suffered a concussion, here is a list of common symptoms:

headaches/migraines
visual problems
light sensitivity
noise sensitivity
nausea
dizziness
attention problems
trouble with memory
fogginess
fatigue
trouble sleeping
sleeping less than normal
sleeping more than normal
increased emotions
sadness
irritability
nervousness

To be safe, it’s always best to seek medical treatment with any head injury. And although a concussion is considered a “manageable injury” by healthcare professionals, the key is early detection and proper treatment.

The Lifestyle Game Changer

September 3, 2015 By Damron Chiropractic

People are interesting. We love to procrastinate, even though we know we shouldn’t. We claim to like change, yet resist it. We have a tendency to act like we are immortal, so we do some pretty crazy things especially when we are young. We are aware of what is unhealthy, yet still decide to drink too much, smoke, eat fried foods, cheat ourselves on sleep, or not exercise. Unfortunately, life happens. There’s an event that alters our course. It’s the game changer that causes us to consider doing things a bit differently, to change our lifestyle. A game changer can be:

Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
Chronic pain
Migraines
Excessive fatigue
Cancer

But why do we wait until this point to change our lifestyle? Is it human nature? Is it denial of our own mortality? Whatever the answer, not waiting until we reach that game changer, is the ideal. For the benefits of preventative self-care save us from sometimes years of damage control. At some point in our life, we know that our choices are impacting our health. However, instead of acknowledging that reality, we choose to ignore that inner voice. We reason that we have time, we can change later. Or, “everyone else is doing it, so why can’t I?” This mentality has played a role in our society’s current health crisis – from obesity and type 2 diabetes to high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Yes, everyone else may be doing it too, but is it really worth it?

Ask those who have had a game changer experience and they will tell you it wasn’t worth finding out the hard way. They will tell you to make better lifestyle choices so you can benefit from healthy aging. Being proactive with your health is a lifestyle choice that will reap numerous benefits. The proactive choice of working with a chiropractor is one way to achieve that goal, but not all chiropractors are alike. Experience the Damron Chiropractic (DCW) difference with a team approach to your wellness. Combining chiropractic, massage, and rehabilitation not only increases the effectiveness of your treatment, but also the duration. Because retraining the body will allow it to function as it was meant to.

Avoid the game changers.

Allergy Diagnostic Testing

July 31, 2015 By Damron Chiropractic

It may come as no surprise that the incidence of food sensitivities has increased dramatically over the years. According to a study released in 2013 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food allergies among children increased approximately 50% between 1997 and 2011. There is also an increase in gastrointestinal problems associated with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and acetaminophen. These digestive problems can become chronic conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) which can significantly impact the quality of one’s life.

There are also other allergies besides food. People are allergic to mold, pollen, spices, and gluten. Despite this overabundance of allergens, simply uncovering the root cause of symptoms does wonders for the sufferer. Allergy diagnostic testing provides that microscope to determine what is causing the problem so steps can be taken to correct it.

Dealing with allergens can be tricky business. Many times we cannot even see the culprit. We feel it’s effects, but can’t say for certain what caused it. Was it something we ate? Something we touched? Breathed in? Trying to discern for ourselves the hows the whats and the wheres can be exhausting and confusing. A simple diagnostic test can pinpoint the allergy, allow for course correction in one’s life, and immediately begin to reap the benefits of implementing the change.

But what are some of the symptoms you might have to alert you to the need for allergy diagnostic testing?

asthma
arthritis
migraines
ear infections
eczema
sinusitis
urticaria
colitis
hyperactivity (as it relates to children)
IBS
anemia
abdominal cramps, gas, bloating
diarrhea
gastric ulcers

Obviously the list is quite extensive. How the body reacts to an allergen can be different for each person. However, knowing the signs helps prevent needless suffering.

While we aren’t sure why allergies are on a significant rise, we do know what we can do to stop them from affecting our lives. Knowledge truly is a powerful thing, especially when it comes to dealing with an allergy.

Whole Food Potential

June 14, 2015 By Damron Chiropractic

A key is designed to fit into a certain lock, and when that perfect combination occurs doors open and opportunities are realized. This analogy can also be applied to food, too. How pairing particular foods together can unlock countless health benefits to our bodies. Mother Nature is truly clever. She has provided a tremendous assortment of whole foods that have the ability to become a powerhouse when eaten in unique combinations – for one is the key and the other the lock.

Take for example, raisins and dark chocolate. There is a vital trace mineral in raisins called boron that allows the body to absorb more magnesium from the dark chocolate if they are eaten together. Magnesium provides many essential benefits to our body such as:

helping to prevent osteoporosis with the formation of healthy bones
lowering the risk of heart disease
regulating high blood pressure
preventing type 2 diabetes
treating migraines, insomnia, and depression

Eating foods rich in magnesium with foods that are rich in boron significantly increase the benefits to us. Another example of food synergy is found with green tea and lemon. The ascorbic acid found in lemons helps the body better absorb the antioxidant catechin which is found in the green tea. The medical community has long touted the benefits of antioxidants in protecting the body from its daily onslaught of free radicals. Free radicals are a danger to our well being. They are either created internally from normal metabolic processes or as the result of exposure to external sources such as X-rays, cigarette smoke, air pollution, and industrial chemicals. Antioxidants help the body protect itself. Unlocking more antioxidant absorption by combining two key foods together is a huge benefit to maintaing good health. Here are a few other great food pairings from the most recent issue of Experience Life (2015) magazine:

Tomato Sauce & Olive Oil – the phytochemical lycopene needs the fat in the olive oil in order to be absorbed by the body.
Avocado & Mixed Greens – the good fat in the avocados helps the body to absorb the phytochemicals from the greens.
Broccoli & Steak – the iron in the meat needs the vitamin C from the broccoli to aid with absorption.
Spinach & Tofu – the vitamin K in the spinach helps the body absorb the calcium in the tofu.

Take time to learn more about the benefits of not only whole foods, but which whole foods are best together and why. Not only will you do your body good, but you will undoubtedly find new foods and recipes to love as well.

Chiropractic Relief for Migraines

May 29, 2015 By Damron Chiropractic

It might come as a surprise, but migraines are a very common disease in the U.S. affecting 36 million people – including children. This debilitating condition causes not only pain, on one or both sides of the head, but also symptoms like:

visual disturbances
nausea
vomiting
dizziness
extreme sensitivity to sound, light, touch, and smell
tingling or numbness in the extremities or face.

The quality of life for those suffering from migraines is greatly affected, however there is good news! A Doctor of Chiropractic has been shown to provide much needed relief, all in a relatively short period of time. For anyone who has experienced a migraine, every second is like an hour, so time is of the essence.

In February of 2000, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) conducted a study to “access the medical efficacy of chiropractic manipulative therapy in the treatment of migraines.” It was a randomized controlled trial over six months that collected data in three sessions – two months before treatment, two months during treatment, and two months after treatment. There were 127 participants in this study that were between the ages of 10 and 70 years of age. Each suffered at least one migraine per month, which is the International Headache Society standard when diagnosing a migraine. During the treatment phase of the trial, the maximum number of adjustments a participant could receive was 16. The results at the conclusion were overwhelmingly positive:

There was a statistically significant improvement in migraine frequency duration.
There was an obvious reduction in a debilitating symptoms due to a migraine.
With less migraines there was less need for medication.
22% of the participants reported more than a 90% reduction of migraines during the two months of treatment.
50% reported a significant improvement in the “morbidity” of each episode.

This is fantastic news to those who suffer from chronic migraines. There is now hope that a person can reclaim their quality of life once again. The key is finding a reputable Chiropractor that can alleviate the duration, frequency, and severity of migraines in a way that is non-invasive and without pharmaceuticals.

Water and Health

April 2, 2015 By Damron Chiropractic

Up to 60% of our body is comprised of water. 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water. All living organisms need water to survive. Fresh water is a modern day convenience that allows us to wash clothes, operate dishwashers, water our lawns, flush our toilets, boil water, and make ice cubes. Yet, despite all this availability, the average person in the U.S. consumes only 3.9 cups per day (USDA, 2011). If asked, we could easily articulate that without water we would become dehydrated, that we need it to survive, but why then do we consume far less than we should? Why do we opt for sugary colas or other beverages if given a choice? Do we really know and understand what the amazing benefits of this life-sustaining liquid really are?

Let’s break the benefits of water down into bite-size pieces of helpful facts:

Fluid Balance – With 60% of our bodies comprises of water, drinking sufficient water will help maintain that delicate balance. Sweating, breathing, urinating, and bowel movements cause us to lose some of that 60%, so replenishing for those very reasons is important.
Calorie Control – Drinking water helps us to feel full, reducing our desire to eat too much during meals or snacking.
Clearer Skin – Water flushes the toxins out of our body which causes skin inflammation, clogged pores, and acne.
Kidney Function – Consuming enough water helps our kidneys do their job of eliminating toxins via urine and waste. Amazingly, our kidneys process 200 quarts of blood daily. That’s a lot of fluid.
Fatigue Lifter – One of the most common symptoms of dehydration is fatigue. Drinking water helps to keep you more awake.
Pain Reliever – After every work out it’s important to drink plenty of water to help prevent sore muscles and achy joints, especially if the body is dehydrated to begin with.
Alleviates Migraines and Headaches – Again, dehydration is a major cause for both of these ailments.
Constipation Aid – Drinking water helps to keep things moving – literally. If the body needs more it will pull it from the colon, resulting in constipation.
Metabolism Boost – Sufficient intake helps the body to break down food more efficiently with a higher metabolism.
Keeps Temperature Regulated – Water has the ability through sweat evaporation to release heat from the body. This process helps to keep the body’s temperature regulated properly.
Moisture Protection – Having an optimal level of moisture in our body helps to protect our tissues, spinal cord, and joints with proper lubrication and cushion.
Disease Prevention – Drinking more than the minimum amount of daily water has been linked to a lower chance of developing kidney stones, urinary cancer, colon cancer, and heart attacks.

So, to ensure that we enjoy the benefits of water, how much do we need to drink? A popular piece of advice many of us have heard is “Drink 8 8-ounce glasses of water per day,” or the eight-by-eight rule, which dates back to 1945. But according to the Institute of Medicine, an adequate intake of fluid for men is approximately 13 cups and women 9 cups. Interestingly, it states fluid rather than specifically water. Given the vast benefits of water, wouldn’t it be better for us if we chose to make those 9-13 cups of fluid strictly water? Imagine the reaction from your body and how good you will feel!

Myth #7: Chiropractors Only Treat Back Pain

Chronic Diseases

The Cervical Spine

Finding the Root Cause

Identifying a Concussion

The Lifestyle Game Changer

Allergy Diagnostic Testing

Whole Food Potential

Chiropractic Relief for Migraines

Water and Health

Dr. Andrew Damron, Chiropractor

Dr. Greg Washam, Chiropractor

Brooke Snyder, Operations Manager

Nicole Foreman, Licensed Massage Therapist

Erika Pantona, Insurance Specialist

Amy Faris, Patient Care Coordinator

OUR TEAM