Are You Running Yourself Ragged?

By Dr. Steven Warfield

Running is a great way to stay in shape.  It promotes heart health and muscle tone, while decreasing blood pressure and even spurring weight loss.  On the flip side, it can also result in a number of injuries brought about by the fact that the human body was never designed to run on concrete.  So on today’s blog I thought I’d cover the pluses and minuses of running.

Have a Heart

Without a doubt, running is one of the best things you can do for your heart.  It not only strengthens the heart muscle, but it also lowers your blood pressure and increases HDL cholesterol levels which helps stave off heart disease. As your cardiovascular system becomes stronger, it will pump more blood and oxygen to the rest of your body, which results in increased endurance and deceased body fat.

Studies have also shown that rigorous exercise strengthens the bones and stimulates the production of white blood cells that are crucial to fending off disease.  Improved circulation helps deliver these microscopic disease fighters faster to the places where they are most needed.  It is also known that cardiovascular exercise such as running can significantly reduce your risk of cancer.

Now for the flip side of the coin.  Many runners suffer from repetitive motion injuries caused by running on unyielding or uneven surfaces, inadequate running shoes, and running up steep slopes.  Statistics tell us that more than 70% of runners (whether professional or amateur) will sustain some kind of injury at one point or another in their lives. Some of the injuries will be the result of stress to their legs or joints, while others involve their backs.  Everything from shin splints to tendonitis and/or stress fractures are common complaints with runners.

Break a Leg

Stress fractures as the name implies are characterized by a crack or break in the bones of the leg or foot  that are caused primarily by repetitive stress. (In older patients it can also be caused by Osteoporosis.)  That is the definition of the term.  However the causative factors can be a bit more complicated.  Stress fractures while affecting the bones are in many cases triggered by an imbalance of the muscles. For instance, a weak or overworked muscle can cause increased stress on an adjacent bone.  Sometimes an imbalance of the back can interfere with the nerves that actuate the muscles of the legs or feet.  As the runner continues on his or her way, the miscommunication combined with the repetitive nature of running can ratchet these stresses up to the point where the bone can no longer sustain the load. 

Are You Pulling My Leg?

Another common source of pain in the lower leg, particularly one that begins nearly as soon as you start running is shin splints. Typically this condition begins as a dull ache in the front of the lower leg. Upon closer inspection the knee may appear swollen and inflamed as well.  Also known as medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), shin splints can be caused by a number of triggers, including everything from worn-out shoes, running on rough or uneven terrain or even not running for a long period of time.  In short, anything that causes a sudden increase in muscle activity in the calves can result in shock that the tibia is forced to absorb.  If left untreated, shin splints can result in stress fractures. (Women are two to three times more likely to have stress fractures resulting from shin splints then are men.) 

Treatment of MTSS includes rest, as well as putting ice packs on the affected area.  It is also important to allow any swelling to subside before returning to full activity.  Your chiropractor may also recommend a number of exercises that strengthen the lower leg and hip muscles.  It is also imperative that individuals stricken with shin splints gradually return to full activity in order to avoid a relapse. 

Tendonitis Anyone?

The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle to the heel of the foot. When this tendon becomes stressed and inflamed, people (particularly runners) will experience everything from pain in their heel, to swelling and tenderness in the ankle, along with stiffness of the joint.  Like stress fractures, Achilles tendonitis can be brought on by misalignments in the back.  Unlike them, the pain associated with tendonitis is worst at the start of exercise only to lessen as the workout progresses.

Treatment for the condition revolves around resting the ankle and applying cold to reduce inflammation.  Just as with MTSS, it can take months to heal Achilles tendonitis, during which time you need to gradually ramp up your activities in order to avoid relapse and/or complications.

Run Away

Icon Runners MillaSagradaFamilia2005 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Runner’s knee is a painful condition that can develop in anyone that overworks their knee joint.  Typified by a dull ache that develops around the knee, the pain is most pronounced when either bending or twisting the leg.  This condition can be caused by a number of factors, including direct trauma to the knee (such as that caused by a fall), misalignment of the kneecap, overstressing of the tendons, or even flat feet.  While the being predominantly relegated to runners, runner’s knee can also strike any athlete that does a lot of knee bending or jumping, such as cyclists, soccer players, football players and basketball players.

Typical symptoms of the condition are pain around or behind the kneecap, pain when bending the knee, or pain when walking, squatting, kneeling, running or sitting.  While in severe cases surgery is needed to remedy this condition, the good news is that in minor to moderate cases, resting, icing and elevating the knee along with stretching and strengthening exercises can help speed recovery.  Along with treatment, your chiropractor may also recommend wrapping the knee and/or adding arch supports to your shoes.

While running can be a terrific way to ward off illness and stay in shape, the most important thing to remember is not to overdo it.  By pacing yourself and dealing with any aches or pains that crop up during or after a run you can maximize the benefits of running and minimize the damage done.  Because the last place you want to run to is the doctor’s office.

Dr.’s Steven Warfield and Dave Edenfield offer the most advanced treatments forback pain, sciatica, neck pain, whiplash and headaches. They also treat autoaccident victims with state-of-the-art technologies. If you or anyone you know suffers from herniated discs, degenerative discs or spinal stenosis,visit http://chiropractor-orange-park-fl.com/ & http://chiropractic-jacksonville-fl.com

Weed 'Em and Reap

How to Keep Spring Cleaning from Giving You an Aching Back

By Dr. Dave Edenfield

Spring is in the air.  With it come thoughts of gardening to many Floridians.  Unlike those in more northern climes who have spent the winter shoveling snow, for the most part we in Jacksonville have had a bit of a hiatus these past few months.  While this gives us reasons to gloat, what it can also do is set us up for undue physical stress once we start wheeling out lawn mowers, edgers, rakes and blowers.  My advice to those who have a green thumb is to take a bit of advice from their friendly neighborhood chiropractor.  Don’t let the growing season wind up planting you firmly in my office.

Here are a few things to do before, during and after yard work:

1.           Start off with a good stretch.  Yard work taxes virtually every muscle and sinew in your body.  Just like any athlete, before you get off the bench and get into the game, you need to limber up.  Ten minutes or so of stretching can save you days of aches and pains afterwards.
2.       Stay hydrated – I know this sounds elementary, but most people do not drink enough fluid when working outdoors.  Carrying a little bottle of water around is okay if you only plan on doing a little pruning.  If you intend on really getting a jump on your garden by spending several hours in the yard, think pitcher.  Not only will this help you avoid dehydration, but it will also help your system flush the acids that your muscles create when they are worked hard. 
3.          Lift with the legs as opposed to the back.  Whether you are planting a shrub, toting a bag of leaf litter or pulling weeds, most people make the mistake of using their backs as opposed to their legs when lifting.  Instead of leaning over when you need to heft a heavy load, get up close and personal and then lift straight up by bending your knees and keeping your back straight.
4.          Pace yourself – Instead of doing a marathon session in your yard, break the tasks down into a number of sessions and take breaks of at least twenty minutes between each session.  Better still, schedule the project over several days.  The weeds aren’t going anywhere and neither are you if you cripple yourself on your first go at yard work. 
5.         Wear shoes as opposed to flip flops.  Many garden implements could double as lethal
   
   weapons. Even something as innocuous as a shovel or rake can tear up your toes if it is dropped on them.  Not to mention the kind of damage a stick or a stone coughed up by a lawn mower or string trimmer can cause. 
6.         Whenever you have a choice between bending or kneeling, choose the latter. Buy either a set of knee pads or a cushion to kneel upon whenever you are weeding.  Or sit on an overturned bucket.  Your knees will thank you.
7.         Soreness is a common after effect of yard work.  It only becomes problematic if it fails to abate after 24-48 hours.  If you not only feel sore but experience any of the following symptoms, consult your doctor right away: Shortness of breath, dizziness, cold sweats, chest pain, pounding headache or muscle spasms.

The joys of the season of renewal should be a time to enjoy all the simple pleasures that come with more daylight, warmer weather, and balmy breezes.  Don’t let your zeal to embrace the rights of spring derail your health before you even get started.  Take the time to plan your activities and acknowledge the stresses that come with exerting yourself in the great outdoors.  Then all you’ll really have to deal with this spring are your allergies.

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

When Can Pain Be a Plus?

By Dr. Steven Warfield

Nobody likes pain, be it the pain of a stiff neck, a headache or your aching back.  So where’s the plus side of pain?  Pain in and of itself is just the body’s warning system trying to tell you that something is amiss, that you might be pushing your body beyond its limits.  In short it works like your home’s smoke alarm which tells you when a fire is imminent.  What you do about it and how fast you respond to these warnings can be the difference between an overdone pot roast to the fire department breaking down your door.

The same can be said of your body’s pain response.  Were we to feel no pain, our lives would literally be on the line 24/7.  In fact there is a medical condition known as CIPA (Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis), that literally renders people with the condition unable to sense pain of any kind.  While this sounds like a gift to anyone who suffers from chronic pain, what you need to understand is that people born with the condition can do irreparable harm to their bodies without even knowing it. 

In a report by NBC News on an infant with CIPA: The doctor put drops in Ashlyn’s eye to stain any particles that might be irritating it. The infant smiled and bounced in her mother’s lap while the dye revealed a massive scratch across her cornea. “They put the dye in her eye and I remember the look of puzzlement on all their faces,” Ashlyn’s mother says. “Ashlyn was not fazed by it by any means.”

Once CIPA was confirmed, the problems became even more pronounced for her parents. “There were many things they couldn’t anticipate. Ashlyn’s baby teeth posed big problems. She would chew her lips bloody in her sleep, bite through her tongue while eating, and once even stuck a finger in her mouth and stripped flesh from it.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6379795/ns/health-childrens_health/t/rare-disease-makes-girl-unable-feel-pain/

Far from being a blessing, CIPA can turn out to be a curse with a lifetime of injuries.  Those with CIPA can expect to collect their fair share of burns, strains, sprains and broken bones that if left untreated can lead to more serious conditions.  While CIPA sufferers can overcome pain, one thing that they are just as susceptible to as the rest of us is infection.   Because while CIPA covers up the pain, it doesn’t stop the complications that injury can bring.

  

The Pain Pill Cover Up

This is one of the reasons that I am often astounded at the ways in which the public has been taught to deal with pain.  Turn on any television and it won’t be long before you come across an advertisement touting one kind of “pain reliever” or another.  Some of these pain pills are available over the counter and some require a prescription.  But one thing is universal.  These pills do not “relieve” pain.  What they do is mask it.  And therein lays the rub.

Just as those with CIPA, by masking the pain, what we are doing in essence is removing the battery from the smoke detector instead of confronting the fire.  (Which is why it’s illegal to do so in most states.)  While I’m not suggesting that people should suffer in silence every ache and pain that comes along, what I am suggesting is that when you hurt, there is an underlying cause that needs to be diagnosed and treated.  This is the real way to eliminate pain, by putting out the fire. 

What most people do not consider is that in many cases simple aches and pains if treated promptly can mean quick and long lasting relief.  Masking the pain and ignoring it can lead to complications, infection and more radical treatment down the road.  And unlike those with CIPA, many analgesics are habit forming to those who use them and that can lead to even more complications. 

While nobody starts out trying to become addicted to prescription pain pills, it’s a habit that’s all too easy to start and all too hard to quit.  Statistics show that twenty percent of the population in the US reports abusing prescription drugs at least once in their lives. Just as with CIPA, it is possible that there is an inherited predilection toward addiction.

Andrew Saxon, MD professor of psychiatry at the University of Washington stated that, "It's clear that some people have a genetic predisposition to addiction. There's something different in their brains to begin with and prolonged drug abuse likely creates further chemical changes.” http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/features/prescription-drug-abuse-who-gets-addicted-and-why

With more powerful and longer lasting pain killers flooding the market, it’s the availability of these substances that produce the kind of pain that chiropractic treatment alone can’t cure.  While not everyone who uses analgesics will wind up sliding down the slippery slope to addiction, the best long term solution to pain is to heed the warning and seek medical treatment that can put out the fire and keep your house in good order.

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. If you or anyone you know suffers from herniated discs, degenerative discs or spinal stenosis, visit http://chiropractor-orange-park-fl.com/ & http://chiropractic-jacksonville-fl.com

The Road to Olympic Gold is Paved with Chiropractic Care

By Dr. Dave Edenfield

If you watched any of the 2014 Winter Olympics you no doubt marveled at the athletic prowess of the US Olympic Team.  Whether your favorite winter sport is skiing, skating, hockey or any of the other events, you can’t help but be impressed at the level of physical fitness exhibited by this country’s athletes.  While we may have come in second place to Russia this year when it came to the sheer number of medals won by American athletes in the winter games, one place that we come in first is in the medical care given to our athletes.  This includes chiropractic care.

While the public knows about all the hard work it takes to win a gold medal, what most people do not realize is how hard the members of the medical staff work to make sure that all our athletes are maximizing their potential.  The US Olympic Team travels with a number of sports medicine specialists, including chiropractors who aren’t only there to assist athletes when they sustain injuries, but they are also there to help them prepare for competition.

Michael Reed, medical director for the US Olympic Committee summed it up best by stating that, “Chiropractors have really come a long way in terms of the Olympic Games. And the demands of athletes are one of the main reasons why.”

You read that right, Olympic athletes demand chiropractic care.  This is nothing new.  During the 2008 Summer Games, the US beach volleyball team requested that their chiropractor, Dr. Ernest Ferrel, accompany them to all their matches.  When you consider the demands that athletes place on their bodies, it should come as no surprise that they require a medical professional that is trained in everything from physical therapy, to nutrition and stretching.  Chiropractic is like one-stop shopping for nearly every sports medicine need.

Another chiropractor chosen to assist athletes during the 2010 Winter Olympics, Dr. Blasé Toto, stated,

“These athletes are used to receiving chiropractic care at their home training centers because they know that it helps them to perform at their top level. Since we’ll all be there for about a month, the athletes will need someone to continue their regular chiropractic routine.” In addition to maintenance and performance care, Dr. Toto was also available for acute-injury treatment for the duration of the Winter Games.

The reason that top athletes require so much maintenance has to do with the fact that they are required to push their body to extremes in order to compete.  Everything from circulation, to respiration, to nervous system response needs to be functioning at levels well above that of mere mortals.  The best way to think about Olympic athletes is to liken them to Formula 1 racecars, whose need for exotic fuel and constant fine tuning is absolutely critical to winning a race.  If one component on a Formula 1 car fails during a race, the results can be catastrophic.  So it is with the world’s most demanding physical competitors.

Just as athletes take years to prepare for competition, the selection process for the Olympic Team medical staff is equally challenging.  To make the cut for inclusion on the USOC medical staff, chiropractors are required to volunteer for a two week rotation at an Olympic Training Center.  While there they will treat any athletes in either a rehabilitation and/or long-term care capacity.  Their performance as care givers will be evaluated just as is those of the athletes in their care. Completing this voluntary program does not assure a chiropractor of making the team.  Some, like Dr. Toto, worked as a volunteer for years before being invited to the games.

“It had been a goal of mine for a long time, but I didn’t think it would ever happen because it had been 14 years since I’d first worked with the USOC,” Dr. Toto said. “I’m humbled and grateful and excited. I’ve never served in the military, so this is my opportunity to serve my country by caring for the best athletes it has to offer.”

Not Just for Star Athletes

Fortunately, even weekend warriors can take advantage of sports-related chiropractic care.  Whether you are a runner, skier, golfer, tennis player, cyclist, or just like to play the occasional pickup softball or basketball game, your neighborhood chiropractor can help you get the most out of the effort while creating the least strain to your body.  Remember, not only top athletes run the risk of injury while pursuing their avocation.  In fact, the average Joe and Jane is much more susceptible to sports injuries than top athletes, mainly due to the fact that their bodies are not accustomed to supporting the high strain that competition demands.  Most amateur athletes also do not know how to prepare for event like Olympians.  In fact, there are as many different stretching routines as there are sporting events, since various sports stress different parts of the human frame. (Your chiropractor can help you tailor a stretching routine to suit your sport.)

While you may not be preparing for a shot at a medal, remember that the way you maintain your body will have a direct bearing on how it performs day in and day out.  Particularly if you tend to lead a more active lifestyle, having a chiropractor on your team is as important to your well-being as that of every Olympic athlete who knows that the road to the gold is paved with chiropractic care.

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

I Have to Hand it to You

By Dr. Steven Warfield

Believe it or not the hand is one of the most sophisticated parts of the human body.  It is also the most complicated, each hand having 27 bones.  (The foot only has 26.)  14 of which are the phalanges of the fingers, 5 metacarpals and 8 carpal bones.  The metacarpals are the bones that connect the fingers with the wrist.  Add to this the web of muscles, ligaments and tendons used to articulate the hand, fingers and wrist and you have an exceptional work of biomechanics.  You also have an exceptional number of ways in which to experience discomfort and dysfunction.   

Many of the maladies that occur in the hand and wrist are due to repetitive motion injuries.  This is not unusual, especially if you spend most of your day working on a computer.  Another common source of hand strain has to do with people who are engaged in sports that require repetitive use of the upper body, such as weight lifting, golf and tennis.

Below I have detailed a few of the more common medical conditions that can occur in the hand and wrist along with their treatments. 

Trigger Finger

While it sounds like a condition that only cowboys and Jesse James would contract, trigger finger can afflict most anyone.  The condition is associated with the locking of a thumb or finger in either a bent or straight position.  Caused by a thickening of the sheath that surrounds the tendon, the condition tends to afflict those whose work or hobby rely on repetitive gripping motions.  Farmers, Musicians and industrial workers often encounter the condition since they use repetitive thumb and finger movements often.  Trigger finger is more common in women than men and tends to happen most often in people who are 40 to 60 years old. It is also more common with people who have either arthritis or diabetes. 

Sometimes painful, sometimes merely annoying, the condition can be treated by immobilizing the finger by using a splint.  If the symptoms persist, the addition of anti-inflammatory compounds such as ibuprofen or naproxen may be added to the treatment regimen.  Some doctors may also recommend steroid injections.  Typically it takes from six to eight weeks to treat the condition.  But some will recover within a few weeks by resting the finger and using anti-inflammatory drugs.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

This condition may start with a dull throbbing in the wrist that could soon expand to include pain in the fingers and/or arm.  The symptoms can include everything from numbness to tingling in the fingers to a weakening of the hand itself.  Too much time spent at the computer keyboard is one cause of this condition, as well as any activity that requires repetitive flexing of the tendons in the hand or wrist, along with prolonged gripping activities such as working a computer mouse.

Typical treatment for carpal tunnel includes manipulation of the wrist and elbow as well as adjustment of the upper spine.  Other treatment modalities such as ultrasound and wrist supports designed to keep the wrist in the proper alignment can be employed by your chiropractor.  Resting the affected area as well as applying cold packs may also be necessary.

Treatment time for the condition varies from patient to patient depending upon its severity along with possible contributing factors such as a pinched nerve.  While both men and women are equally susceptible to this malady, middle age is the most common time in life for carpal tunnel syndrome to occur.

Tendonitis of the Wrist

The first signs of this problem are usually associated with pain and swelling a half inch from the base of the thumb.  Sufferers of this malady will find it exceedingly difficult to grasp objects or any other movement that requires the use of the thumb or the wrist.  While typically caused by the swelling of the sheath surrounding the tendons connecting the wrist and thumb, if left untreated, the pain may spread to the thumb or the forearm.

Common to baseball and tennis players, more than four million Americans are treated for tendonitis annually.  After diagnosing the condition, the chiropractor will treat the cause of the tendonitis, as opposed to treating the symptoms.  Treatment may include a combination of manipulation, ultrasound, immobilization, ice, electrical muscle stimulation and/or massage.  With proper treatment it isn’t unusual to see a reduction in pain and inflammation within three to six weeks.  Once healed, your chiropractor may also recommend stretching exercises to help keep the condition from repeating.

Other conditions of the hand include such things as arthritis, Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, mallet finger and gamekeeper’s thumb, all of which can cause discomfort and dysfunction in the hand or wrist. Should you or someone you know exhibit symptoms or show signs that their hand or wrist are bothering them, the most important thing is to seek treatment before complications set in.   Because as sophisticated as our hands might be, the one thing they can’t do is heal these conditions all by themselves.

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://endyourpain.org 

or http://chiropractic-jacksonville-fl.com

Chiropractic and Future Moms

by Dr. Dave Edenfield

As many new mothers can attest, the muscle strains of pregnancy are very real and can be more  than just a nuisance. The average weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds, combined with the increased stress  the curvature of her lower back is increased, placing extra stress on the spinal disks. In compensation, the normal curvature of the upper spine increases, as well. Pregnancy hormones help loosen the ligaments attached to the pelvic bones. But even these natural changes designed to accommodate the growing baby can result in postural imbalances, that run the risk of creating stability issues. placed on the body by the baby, may result in severe discomfort. Studies have found that about half of all expectant mothers will develop low-back pain at some point during their pregnancies. This is especially true during late pregnancy, when the baby's head presses down on a woman's back, legs, and buttocks, irritating her sciatic nerve. And for those who already suffer from low-back pain, the problem can become even worse. During pregnancy, a woman's center of gravity almost immediately begins to shift forward to the front of her pelvis. The displaced weight increases the stress on her joints. As the baby grows in size, the woman's weight is projected even farther forward and

What Can You Do?  Exercise

•               If you weren't active before your pregnancy, check with your doctor before starting or      continuing any exercise.

•              Walking, swimming, and stationary cycling are relatively safe cardiovascular exercises for  pregnant women because they do not require jerking or bouncing movements. Jogging can be  safe for women who were avid runners before becoming pregnant-if done carefully and under a  doctor's supervision.

•              Be sure to exercise in an area with secure footing to minimize the likelihood of falls.

•              Stop your exercise routine immediately if you notice any unusual symptoms, such as vaginal  bleeding, dizziness, nausea, weakness, blurred vision, increased swelling, or heart palpitations.

Health and Safety

•              Wear flat, sensible shoes. High or chunky heels can exacerbate postural imbalances and make you less steady on your feet, especially as your pregnancy progresses.

•              When picking up children, bend from the knees, not the waist. And never turn your head when you lift. Avoid picking up heavy objects, if possible.

•              Get plenty of rest. Pamper yourself and ask for help if you need it. Take a nap if you're tired, or lie down and elevate your feet for a few moments when you need a break.

Pregnancy Ergonomics: Your Bed and Desk

•              Sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees to take pressure off your lower back. Full-length "body pillows" or "pregnancy wedges" may be helpful. Lying on your left side allows unobstructed blood flow and helps your kidneys flush waste from your body.

•              If you have to sit at a computer for long hours, make your workstation ergonomically correct. Position the computer monitor so the top of the screen is at or below your eye level, and place your feet on a small footrest to take pressure off your legs and feet. Take periodic breaks every 30 minutes with a quick walk around the office.

How Can Your Doctor of Chiropractic Help?

Before you become pregnant, your doctor of chiropractic can detect any imbalances in the pelvis or elsewhere in your body that could contribute to pregnancy discomfort or possible neuromusculoskeletal problems after childbirth. Many pregnant women have found that chiropractic adjustments provide relief from the increased low-back pain brought on by pregnancy. A recent study showed that pregnant women went from a low back pain rating of 8 on a 10 scale to a 3 on a 10 scale while under Chiropractic care. Chiropractic manipulation is safe for the pregnant woman and her baby and can be especially attractive to those who are trying to avoid medications in treating their back pain.

Chiropractic care can also help after childbirth. In the eight weeks following labor and delivery, the ligaments that loosened during pregnancy begin to tighten up again. Ideally, joint problems brought on during pregnancy from improper lifting or reaching should be treated before the ligaments return to their pre-pregnancy state-to prevent muscle tension, headaches, rib discomfort, and shoulder problems. 

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

References

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^[i] J Chiropr Med. 2013 Jun;12(2):74-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2013.06.003.

^[ii] J Chiropr Med. 2007 Spring; 6(2): 70–74.

^[iii] Can Fam Physician. 2013 Aug;59(8):841-2.

^[iv] Chiropr Man Therap. 2012 Oct 9;20(1):32. doi: 10.1186/2045-709X-20-32.

  

The Facts About VAX-D

By Dr. Steven Warfield

As I pointed out in my last blog Above the Curve, 50% of adults experience a back or neck injury during their lifetime.  The bad news is that depending upon the nature and severity of the injury, many times this has meant surgery followed by a long, slow, painful recovery.  The good news is that modern advances in medical technology have produced a non-surgical alternative to going under the knife for many people.  Some would call this a miracle.  We refer to it by its trade name: VAX-D.

More precisely called vertebral axial decompression therapy, VAX-D is a computer controlled machine that works by slowly lengthening and decompressing the spine creating a negative pressure within the discs.  This reversal of pressure creates an intradiscal vacuum that not only takes pressure off pinched nerves, but helps to reposition bulging discs and pull extruded disc material back into place.  Imagine you are holding an Oreo cookie. The cookie parts are the vertebra of the spine. The cream center is the disc. If you squeeze the cookie we get the cream pushing out. That is similar to a disc bulge. Now imagine if the cream were really sticky and couldn’t pull away from the cookie parts. If we gently pulled the cookie parts away from each other the cream  would get pulled back toward the center of the cookie. This is similar to what VAX-D does.

Developed by Dr. Allen E Dyer MD in 1989, VAX-D treats herniated and degenerated disks by lowering spinal pressure. This lowered pressure actually creates a partial vacuum that allows the disc to retract.  Many times even severe protrusions can be retracted to their proper position using this treatment.

The equipment itself consists of a split table upon which the patient lies face down. (Anyone who has ever had a massage will relate to this.)  The patient is placed in a pelvic harness and extending his or her hands forward both hands grasp two patient-operated handgrips.  To start the treatment, the table separates in two, stretching the patient’s lower back.  If the patient should start to feel any discomfort, releasing the handgrips stops the treatment immediately.  This way the patient is always in control of the procedure. 

How Effective is VAX-D?

VAX-D is classified as a Class II Medical device that has been approved by the FDA.  A study conducted in 1994 by the Division of Neurosurgery, Health Sciences Center, San Antonio Texas and another study conducted in 1996 by the University of Illinois in Chicago concluded that between 70-75% of patients with herniated discs, degenerated discs or facet syndrome experienced significant reduction in pain.  It is important to note that the patients who volunteered for these studies had unresolved chronic back pain despite previous treatment that included bed rest, pain medications, physical therapy, and/or previous back surgery.

What Makes VAX-D Different?

VAX-D is not traction.  While traction has been used for decades to treat herniated discs, it is uncomfortable.  Conventional traction uses two harnesses, one for the chest and another for the pelvis.  Using your body’s own weight to decompress the spine can cause the muscles to tighten in an effort to resist the stretch.  This can produce additional discomfort.  VAX-D on the other hand totally eliminates the chest harness and uses intermittent stretching that gradually increases force which means your body’s own muscles do not tense up and fight the treatment.  And unlike traction, only VAX-D can create a vacuum effect which relieves disc pressure without pain or risk of injury to the patient.

Typical VAX-D treatments last from anywhere from 20-45 minutes.  The recommended treatment regimen is 24 sessions followed by a maintenance program.  While there is no guarantee that VAX-D will work for you, it has proven effective more than 70% of the time when treating acute or chronic lower back pain, leg pain and numbness, sciatica, and even for those with back pain where other treatments including surgery have proven ineffective.

Is VAX-D Right for You?

Vax-D is used by Chiropractors, Osteopaths and Medical doctors. Contact Dr. Dave Edenfield or myself to determine if VAX-D is right for you.  Basically you have nothing to lose but your pain.

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://endyourpain.org 

or http://chiropractic-jacksonville-fl.com