Migraines in the life of a child.

He was an average child enjoying life as a 9 year old; soccer, school, friends and family. The only flaw in this young boy’s life was that he experienced severe migraine headaches on a regular basis. We’re not just talking about a headache that slows you down a little and makes normal activities seem like a chore, we’re talking about screaming, throbbing pain so intense that it is followed by extreme sensitivity to light and sound and continual vomiting.

His father being a dentist and mother, also very medically inclined, did what they knew to be best for their son. They took him to medical specialists throughout the state looking for an answer to their son’s migraines. They followed various doctor’s advice to try different drugs and restrict their son from dairy products, caffeine, chocolate, sugar, etc… However, nothing seemed to make a difference for their son.

The migraines kept reoccurring again and again, 3 – 4 times per month requiring their son to be picked up from school, consoled through wave after wave of nausea and vomiting and then left in a very dark room to scream himself to sleep. As you can imagine, this problem was taking its toll on this 9 year old boy as well as the entire family. One day this young boy experienced yet another migraine. However, this time one thing was different, he happened to be in the presence of his uncle, a Chiropractor, who offered to see if he could help him. This was difficult for the little boy to submit to, because the last thing you want anyone to do while you are having a migraine is to touch your head or neck. But after some gentle persuasion, the boy allowed his uncle to examine his neck. To everyone’s surprise, a misalignment in the bones of the little boy’s neck was discovered. A subluxation, as it is technically known, was pinching the nerves in the little boy’s neck causing interference of the nervous system and causing his headache. A few minutes later the boy allowed his uncle to adjust his neck and correct the misalignment of the bones in his neck to relieve the pressure on the nerve that was contributing to his migraine. Immediately after the adjustment, the boy realized that his migraine headache was gone. He and his parents could hardly believe that treatment could be that simple, that a pinched nerve could actually have caused that much problem and that it could be treated with a simple chiropractic adjustment to the spine.

Could this story be true? Could successful treatment for health conditions be that simple?

BELIEVE IT TO BE TRUE! – That little boy’s success story was a brief look into my own childhood. That was my personal chiropractic testimony of how a simple adjustment changed my life and somewhat changed the lives of my entire family. It impacted my life so much, that from that point on, whenever I felt that I was getting a headache, I went straight to my uncle or a Chiropractor nearby. It even inspired me to become a Chiropractor myself.

The SIMPLE TRUTH: Your body is a sophisticated organism designed to efficiently respond to illness and dysfunction on its own. When misalignments occur and pinch or put abnormal pressure on the nervous system, it can cause many symptoms of muscle pain, migraines, asthma, digestive dysfunction, etc… As a Chiropractor, I do not treat any of the above symptoms, I merely find the misalignment that is causing pressure on the nervous system and correct its alignment allowing the body to function correctly and deal with the condition as it has been designed to do. As a result of better function, symptoms begin to disappear.
Whether you have severe, life-changing problems or just occasional aches and pains, chiropractic care can change your life and allow your body to function correctly. It changed my life!

www.DrRobWatkins.com

The ABC's of Back Pain

Back pain is a common ailment, suffered by up to 80% of the population at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, because the back is such a complex structure, many people are unsure what has caused their pain and what to do about it. Adding to the confusion is often conflicting reports in the media about what preventative and at-home treatments work. So how does one know what to do? It is first important to understand the spine, the most common injuries, and where to turn for help.

About The Back

The spine is a column of 24 bones (vertebrae), cushion by spinal discs, and moved and supported by muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Built into these bones are openings top to bottom and through each side. Through these openings pass most of the body's nerves -- from the brain to all of the body's tissues and organs. The spine itself is divided into four main sections -- cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacrum/coccyx (tailbone). The lower back, or lumbar region, is where most back pain is felt.

Common causes of back pain are:

Muscle fatigue can be caused by many factors -- either as an accumulation of factors over a period of time or as a result of a single activity for which your body was not prepared. The more common factors include:
Improper posture.
Incorrect lifting techniques.
Repetitive twisting, bending, or reaching.

Sprains and strains from injuries and/or trauma. Symptoms of back sprain or strain generally include:
Muscle spasms, cramps, and stiffness.
Pain aggravated by weight bearing or specific movements, which is relieved by rest.

Disc problems and arthritis from repetitive trauma of bending, lifting, old injuries, and heredity. Symptoms can include:
Progressive or persistent back and/or leg pain.
Extremity numbness or tingling.
Increased pain or coughing, sneezing, or laughing.

Sciatica is caused when the sciatic nerve, which runs down the length of both legs, is compressed or inflamed. The nerve can be irritated by things such as an injury to the low back or by sitting too long on a lumpy object (such as a wallet). Symptoms of sciatica include:
Pain that runs from the low back to the back of the leg toward the toes.
Pain worsened by activities that add pressure to the spine -- such as laughing, coughing, sneezing.

Beating Back Pain:

There is no way to predict accidents but there are things that you can do to strengthen your back and reduce the risk of muscle fatigue, sprain, strain, disc problems or sciatica.
Where non-slip shoes.
Avoid long hours in one posture (whether sitting, standing, or sleeping).
Drive defensively.
Use ladders when reaching high places (rather than chairs, boxes, or other objects not intended for standing).
Exercise. Active, aerobically fit individuals have fewer back injuries, miss fewer workdays, and report fewer back pain symptoms.
Quit smoking. Some evidence suggests that smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to have lower back pain.
Proper bending and lifting techniques.

Chiropractic and Back Pain

Chiropractic examination is thorough and may include:
A complete medical history, including previous treatments and other factors that may play a role in the current case.
X-rays or other imaging tests (if clinically necessary).
Tests of range of motion, strength, coordination, posture, and others.
Physical examination, including (but not limited to) orthopedic and neurologic testing, laboratory work-ups, etc.
Palpation (examination by touch).

Chiropractic treatment will be based on the results of all tests performed. Because each case is different, each person’s treatment is different. All chiropractic modalities are non-invasive (do not pierce the skin), drugless, and promote overall health. Treatments commonly used in the chiropractic office included (but are not limited to):
The treatment most unique to chiropractic is spinal adjustment or manipulation. The Doctor of Chiropractic often, but not always, performs this method of care manually. Each adjustment is chosen following careful examination and should never be performed by someone who has not been thoroughly educated, trained and licensed in this procedure. The purpose of the adjustment/manipulation is to improve alignment of spinal structures as they relate to the nervous system, which will result in a relief of pain, improved function, and a reduction of inflammation. For back pain, adjustments may be applied to the spine, but if pain radiates to or affects other locations, those sites may be adjusted as well.
Therapies such as electrical muscle stimulation, massage, application of heat or ice, ultrasound, or others may be used.
The Doctor of Chiropractic will incorporate advice on appropriate exercise, posture, diet and nutrition, and other lifestyle factors that can play a role in health and healing.

To hasten your recovery from back pain -- and to prevent re-injury -- follow all of your chiropractors recommendations, including follow-up visits and prescribed rest and exercise. And when you have questions, ASK! Your active participation in your care is an essential component to your chiropractic treatment.

www.DrRobWatkins.com

Sleep Better: 8 Simple Steps

Ten to fifteen percent of Americans suffer from chronic insomnia. Do you? Most of us experience an occasional sleepless night, but prolonged bouts of insomnia can lead to decreased mental function, frazzled nerves, and lowered immunity. The good news is that you don't have to pop a pill or count sheep: Just follow these simple, natural steps to get more Zs.

1. Exercise regularly, but don't exercise within six hours of your bedtime. Physical activity speeds up your heart rate and metabolism, making it difficult to wind down at night. Try to schedule your workouts in the morning, so you can benefit from that extra energy during the day.
2. Avoid caffeine after noon. Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate. Some people clear caffeine from their bodies slowly (you know who you are). These people should avoid caffeine completely.
3. Avoid alcohol. Many people find that alcohol helps them relax at night. Although it may help induce sleep initially, alcohol disrupts your normal sleep patterns, leaving you tired and groggy in the morning.
4. Keep regular sleeping hours. Your body likes routine and will respond better to a consistent bedtime.
5. Don't work on the computer or watch television for at least one hour before going to bed. These activities stimulate your mind at a time when you should be preparing for rest.
6. Avoid eating large, late evening meals. Do eat a light snack a couple hours before retiring to avoid low blood sugar levels in the middle of the night, which can wake you up.
7. Decrease light in your bedroom. A dark environment is necessary for the production of melatonin, a hormone that encourages a healthy sleep cycle.
8. Try devotions to clear your mind and help prepare your body for sleep. Like regular sleeping hours, a steady practice will yield the greatest benefits.

In addition, if your insomnia is caused or made worse by aches and pains at night, it may be time for a new mattress and/or pillow—and a visit to your doctor of chiropractic. Your sleeping surface should support the entire body— including the spine, neck, head, and limbs— evenly, with no gaps.

For recommendations tailored to your specific needs, talk to your doctor of chiropractic. Chiropractic can also help promote better sleep by correcting imbalances and tension in the body, so that you can relax completely. Your body likes routine and will respond better to a consistent bedtime.

Strong Lower Backs: Having One That Works

You never know until you hurt it how much you use your lower back all day long. When your lower back is injured, every movement becomes painful. Simple actions, such as getting out of a chair or bending over the sink, become excruciating, and your daily routine becomes difficult and frustrating.

Back pain affects 60 to 80 percent of U.S. adults at some time during their lives, and up to 50 percent have back pain within a given year. Some of these problems are easily treated and never return, but in five to ten percent of patients low back pain becomes chronic and the person continues to have recurrences and exacerbations.

Effective treatment of uncomplicated lower back pain involves treatment in a chiropractor's office and beginning and continuing an exercise program. A recent study conducted by the Medical Research Council, a research organization based in the United Kingdom, has found that patients given a combination of spinal manipulation and exercise experienced greater improvement in back function and greater reduction in pain compared to those treated with spinal manipulation or exercise only.

Most mechanical lower back pain is associated with tight leg muscles and weak abdominal muscles. Leg muscles need to be stretched and abdominal muscles need to be strengthened to avoid recurrences of lower back pain.

People are generally not aware of these relationships. You may know you "should be exercising", but you may be unaware of the importance of stretching. Also, abdominal strengthening is usually the last thing a person thinks of when he or she thinks of doing exercise.

Exercise is a three-step process: stretching, exercising, and abdominal strengthening. Stretching prepares you for the work of exercise, and is done first — before anything else — gently and gradually. You may be tighter than usual on a particular day. This is not important — you should never try to stretch to where "you think you should be". Just stretch, making sure to pay attention to what you're doing. It's easy to injure a muscle if you're thinking about something else, or if you're rushing, trying to squeeze in some stretching before dashing off to the gym.

Abdominal strengthening helps support the lower back. Spinal muscles are not designed to carry your body weight. If your abdominal muscles are weak, then your back muscles will be used to carry your body weight, and eventually you'll have a lower back injury.

Abdominal strengthening not only helps keep your lower back healthy, but also helps maintain good posture. Postural benefits include an easy, relaxed gait; muscles that are long and supple, rather than short and tight; and an open chest that allows for easy, smooth breathing.

Your body is a machine. Everything's connected. A lower back problem affects many other areas, ultimately. By making sure to stretch regularly and by including abdominal exercises in your gym routine, you can help ensure having a lower back that works.