Occupational Hazards May Be at the Root of Your Back & Neck Pain

By Dr. Steven Warfield

As a chiropractor I treat back pain every day.  Some are caused by automobile accidents and others from overdoing physical activities.  However, one of the predominant reasons that people over the age of forty wind up in my care has to do with the fact that when it comes to getting your back out of whack, nothing is more effective and insidious than the workplace.  I’m not talking about people who work for the US Post office, FedEx or UPS or those who work in warehouses.  Those folks know the proper way to lift heavy packages.  What I am referring to are office workers.  You see, more people do more damage to their back sitting behind a desk than most other occupations combined.

The Personal Computer is Not Your Friend

If you spend a significant portion of your day staring at a computer screen, this is known to lead to forward head and shoulder posture which can cause  pinched nerves and degenerative disc disease.  If your monitor sits flat atop your desk, this necessitates that you lean your head forward to read the screen.  Doing this day in and day out sets up a domino effect of sorts caused in part by the pull of gravity on your head.    This head down posture puts strain on the vertebrae of the lower neck, which in turn causes the muscles of the upper back to work overtime in order to compensate.  Over time, the lower cervical vertebrae may slide forward, further curving the spine until sufferers of this syndrome begin to suffer neck pain, tingling or loss of feeling in the fingers and persistent muscle ache as the muscles and tendons become tight. 

Beware Your Chair

Lumbar lordosis refers to the hollow in your back which is a natural feature of the spine.  It is also one of the first areas to be affected by poor posture brought about by hunching when we sit.  The first culprit is the office chair.  Believe it or not, most people do not realize that the backrest on many office chairs is designed specifically to be adjusted to help maintain correct process. Look for a knob directly behind the backrest which can be turned right and left that moves the backrest in and out.  By twisting the knob clockwise the backrest should move forward and vice versa.   If your chair is not adjustable you can purchase a lumbar roll or even roll up a towel to properly support the lower back. 

There are also a number of exercises that you can perform for a few minutes every day that can help stretch the muscles that become overworked and tight as a result of prolonged periods sitting at a desk.  Below are a couple of exercises that can help correct the situation.

  

Corner Stretch

A basic exercise that is important for stretching the chest and shoulder muscles is the corner stretch. It is performed in the corner of a room.

This neck stretch is done as follows:

·         Patients stand approximately two feet back from the corner, facing into the corner.

·         Feet should be together.

·         Forearms are placed on each wall, and elbows are a little below shoulder height (Figure 1).

·         Lean in as far as possible without pain. Patients will feel a stretch in the front of the shoulders and chest (Figure 2).

·         Hold the stretch for about 30 seconds to a minute.

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/neck-stretches

The Slouch Overcorrect Procedure

This exercise helps you find your correct sitting posture. 

·         Slouch completely

·         Sit up and accentuate your lumbar lordosis as far as possible. (Hold this posture for a few seconds.)

·         Release the strain.

http://www.drsarasolomon.com/oxygen-magazine-blog-if-you-are-slouched-in-your-chair-then-sit-up-straight-and-read-this-by-dr-sara-solomon/

One of the easiest ways to know if you are succumbing to any of these occupational postures is to stand with your back flat against the wall and note whether your head is touching the wall or whether it is several inches or more away from the wall.  (People with forward head and shoulder posture find it extremely difficult if not painful to straighten their neck so that the back of the head touches the wall.)  If you suspect that you or any one you know suffers from this condition, tell them to consult a chiropractor right away.  Not only can a chiropractor correct this problem, they can also show sufferers a number of exercises that are designed to alleviate the muscle strain that this condition can cause before it leads to more serious problems down the road.

Dr.’s Steven Warfield and Dave Edenfield offer the most advanced treatments for back pain, sciatica, neck pain, whiplash and headaches. They also treat auto accident victims with state-of-the-art technologies.  For more information visit http://www.lakewoodchiropracticjax.com/

Are You Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired?

By Dr. Dave Edenfield

Chronic fatigue syndrom (Photo credit: MyBestTreat)

We have all been there, in a state of mind and body where you just feel like you don’t have the energy to get

 through the day.  For most of us it is a fleeting occurrence that happens once in a blue moon.  Usually it is the result of staying up too late, or trying to cram too many activities into a weekend.  But for others it is a constant companion that relentlessly causes them to feel run down and tired most of the time.  No amount of rest seems to relieve the feeling of malaise.  This can lead to clinical depression.    If this condition has happened to you or someone you know, do not despair.  Because it is a treatable condition known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Common symptoms include:

·         Feeling exhausted even after sleeping 8 hours or more

·         Muscle and joint aches

·         Intense headaches

·         Sudden severe fatigue, especially following a flu-like illness

·         Swollen lymph glands in the neck or armpits

·         Inability to concentrate

While there is no definitive cause for CFS, it has been known to be associated with viral infection or immune system reactions.  While there is no laboratory test that can pinpoint CFS as the cause of chronic fatigue, your health care provider may be able to rule out other causes by conducting a consultation and physical exam.  By asking a few simple questions and ruling out other conditions, your health care provider can determine if CFS is to blame.  Then treatment can begin.

Since chronic fatigue syndrome presents itself as an emotional as well as physical condition, both these factors will need to be taken into consideration.  For the physical side, a combination of herbs, vitamins and dietary changes can help to ease the symptoms.  A number of herbs and other homeopathic remedies have been known to improve overall energy.  B-vitamins, magnesium, vitamin D and beta-carotene among other supplements have been known to reduce symptoms and/or boost immune response, as can Echinacea and ginseng.  (Consult a health care professional before using any of these.)

Xray-Keith-Spondylosis-1.jpg (Photo credit: yugenro)

Other treatments, such as massage and stretching exercises can also be of benefit, since stress can be a 

major trigger for CFS.  Several studies have indicated that people with CFS who exercise regularly present fewer symptoms than those who do not.  Spinal manipulation such as that used by chiropractors can also help to correct spinal misalignments, reduce pressure on associated nerves, and in short reduce pain that may underlie this debilitating condition.

As for reducing the emotional toll, there are several treatment modalities from which to choose.   Counseling and support groups are a great way to converse with others familiar with the condition.  Since many CFS sufferers are mislabeled as malingerers or their condition is otherwise ridiculed as an excuse for poor performance by those not afflicted, just having the opportunity to discuss the syndrome with others who understand what CFS is all about can help start the healing process. 

Even worse than the condition is the isolation that comes with the disease.  You need to know that while there might not yet be a cure for CFS, with treatment there is hope for those who are sick and tired of being sick and tired all the time.

Dr. Dave Edenfield  and Dr. Steven Warfield are part of the team of doctors and therapists at http://www.lakewoodchiropracticjax.com/ who are dedicated to helping you and your family lead  healthier, happier and pain-free lives.  

Is Gardening Digging Into Your Back?

By Dr. Steven Warfield

As spring rapidly turns to summer here in North Florida, many homeowners are stepping out into their yards to weed, feed, mulch and mow.  While a properly trimmed garden may increase the curb appeal of a home, your back will pay the price should you overdo it.  So before you wind up seeking my help to help you overcome an aching back, here are a few helpful hints that are sure to make gardening less of a thorny issue.

      1.      Before you start mowing, hoeing, digging and weed whacking, it’s always a good idea to do some warm

Spine 103/365 (Photo credit: @Dave)

      up stretches to prepare the body for the stresses ahead.  Just as with sports, gardening is a physical activity that tends to strain the muscles, ligaments and tendons.   It is also one of the more accident prone activities, due to the fact that many of the implements used in the pursuit of the perfect lawn and garden are edged and/or powered.  So a few minutes of stretching might be just the thing to keep you from spending several hours in the ER.

      2.      Learn how to lift with your legs.  Many of the patients we deal with at this time of year come to us in pain due to the fact that they attempted to lift something with their backs as opposed to employing their legs.  Making a trip to the garden center to pick up bags of mulch, seed, manure, fertilizer or gravel to beautify your yard is almost a rite of passage every this time of year.  The problem is that some of these bags can weigh 50 pounds or more.  And most gardeners don’t buy just one or two.  They usually come home with a half dozen or more.  Hefted improperly, this dead weight is more than enough to cause you to strain your back or even slip a disc.   

      3.      Dress for success.   You need to choose attire that is loose fitting and comfortable.  Restrictive clothing not only makes you sweat more, it can also bind and cause injury.  (Also make sure you wear a hat.)

      4.      Choose the right time to perform heavy labor.  The last thing your body needs is a lot of strenuous activity at noon when the temperature is hovering at or above 90 degrees.  As the summer progresses, you need to garden either in the early morning or after the sun has set.  You also need to drink plenty of water to avoid heat exhaustion.

      5.      Give yourself a break.  Or even a number of breaks.  If your yard is a half-acre or larger and you use a push mower it’s best to break the task down into two quadrants (front and back), in order to do the task on the installment plan.  Trying to do too much in one go is the primary reason that people injure themselves in the yard.  Unless you are a professional landscaper used to working long hours in the sun, then the stresses associated with gardening can do you more harm than good. 

While gardening, just like any other physical activity is potentially good for the body, overdoing it can leave 

Jim Dubel demonstrating adjustment protocals (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

you sore come Monday morning.  If you or anyone you know experiences pain in their back or neck, then chiropractic care can quickly help them reestablish balance and make the pain go away.  More importantly, chiropractors can help you avoid injury in the future by showing you simple stretching exercises that are designed to prepare the body for strenuous activity.  This way you can enjoy the fruits of your labor in the garden without having to pay the price of having to endure an aching back.  

Dr.’s Steven Warfield and Dave Edenfield offer the most advanced treatments for back pain, sciatica, neck pain, whiplash and headaches. They also treat auto accident victims with state-of-the-art technologies.  For more information visit http://www.lakewoodchiropracticjax.com/

Helping You Breathe Easier

By D. Dave Edenfield

Asthma is one of those diseases that continues to grow in this country.  In 2000, roughly twenty million 

Asthma Inhaler (Photo credit: NIAID_Flickr)

people in the US were afflicted with asthma.  By 2009 those numbers had grown to twenty five million, or one person in twelve.  In fact, in the past twenty years the occurrence of asthma has nearly doubled in the population.  While many of those afflicted suffer in silence, asthma can sometimes turn deadly, being responsible for 3,447 fatalities in 2009, including 185 children. 

Thought to be caused by a combination of inherited traits along with a number of environmental factors, asthma attacks involve both muscle constriction along with inflammation of the victim’s airways.  The most common symptoms are wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest.   Triggers can include such things as stress, allergic reactions, physical exercise, and even inclement weather.  Sufferers usually rely on drugs such as steroids and inhalers to control the symptoms.  Even with insurance, the cost of treating the disease does not come cheaply.

What many people do not realize is that chiropractic can offer a drug-free approach that can help to fight this disease.  In the first place, a chiropractor can perform a physical examination to see if spinal misalignment 

Asthma: Mild and Chronic (Photo credit: NIAID_Flickr)

which can irritate the nerves is one causative factor that can trigger asthma.  Since the lungs and diaphragm are controlled by the nervous system, any interference can make it impossible for the lungs to do their job properly.  In such circumstances, a series of spinal adjustments can be all it takes to alleviate any pressure that is interfering with the nerves ability to send signals to these areas.  Although chiropractic treatments will not necessarily eliminate all the symptoms, periodic adjustments can prove instrumental in helping those afflicted improve their quality of life.

More importantly, chiropractic care is safe for even the youngest of children.  One study of children aged six 

to seventeen who had asthma and who underwent chiropractic treatment revealed that they experienced less severe attacks than those children using traditional remedies.  Chiropractors can also discuss a number of other strategies, including nutrition and dietary supplements that can help young and old reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. 

Tips for Reducing Asthma Symptoms:

•   Switch to hypoallergenic bedding to reduce exposure to dust mites.
•   If strenuous activity brings on attacks, talk to your chiropractor about safe exercise routines. 
•    Your chiropractor can also advise you about medications which are known to exacerbate the condition.  
•      Avoid foods known to contain MSG. 
•     Install air filtration at home to reduce pollutants and allergens.

While asthma is one disease that is difficult to cure, by taking the proper precautions and creating an environment that minimizes triggers, all asthma sufferers can breathe a little easier.

Dr. Dave Edenfield  and Dr. Steven Warfield are part of the team of doctors and therapists at http://www.lakewoodchiropracticjax.com/ who are dedicated to helping you and your family lead  healthier, happier and pain-free lives.