The Relationship Between Back Pain and PTSD Among American Soldiers

As we honor troops this week and reflect on the many who have served our country throughout history, true sacrifice and thankfulness is what comes to mind.  Not only do soldiers sacrifice the comforts of home and security of family while they are deployed, emotional and physical health are battles that continue to ensue, often long after a soldier's return.  New research has shown a startling link between back pain and PTSD in soldiers who've been to war.

PSTD and back pain

One specific study conducted by Department of Orthopaedics of the University of Utah, researched psychological distress and what relationship it has among spine patients at a VA hospital.  In this study of 149 individuals being treated for spine-related injuries in conjunction with the Distress and Risk Assessment Method (DRAM), 79.9% of patients were identified to have "some degree of psychological distress," while 20.1% were classified as normal.  Of those patients identified to have some degree of distress, 43.6% had levels of distress that were considered severe.  It was concluded that those with high levels of distress had greater levels of neck and back pain, used more narcotics for pain and antidepressants, and without surprise had a history with combat, more than those who did not have high levels of distress.

Dr. Eugene Carragee, a former Army reservist and orthopedic surgeon explained the harsh relationship between PTSD and pain, saying,

“Those who have psychological issues have less reserve to deal with chronic pain, and the flip side is those with chronic pain [lose] their psychological reserves” (Spine Journal).  

According to a study conducted by John Hopkins University school of medicine, "musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders are now the number one cause of medical evacuations from Iraq and Afghanistan, not combat injuries," (Chiropractic News & Research). 

Chiropractic Reduces Pain in Veterans of War

In a 2011 study, researchers looked at 171 veterans with back pain who served in the Iraq and Vietnam Wars. Of those who were treated with chiropractic care, over half had a significant reduction of symptoms while the average patient had a 37% reduction in pain.

In another study of 54 veteran patients who suffered from back pain, 43% had a significant reduction in neck pain after being treated with chiropractic care, while 67% had significant improvement in pain, cognitive behavioral symptoms and more.

We have solutions

Here at Davis Family Chiropractic, we remind our patients that pain is not a lifestyle.  If you or someone you know is dealing with similar symptoms, please contact our office to set up an appointment.  We feel strongly in helping you live your best, pain-free, natural life, and supporting your health needs.

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Fight the Flu and Common Cold With Chiropractic

It's that time of year when coughing, sneezing and the flu is swirling around us.  Chiropractic can help boost your immunity this season!

In 1918, the flu pandemic swept across the world infecting 100 million people and killing a high estimate of 50 million people.  During this time, preventative measures, treatment and cures for the influenza were unknown.  As the flu pandemic was spreading across the world, the practice of chiropractic was on the verge of extinction as the practice became the target of medical doctors with lenient slander laws.  Because many chiropractors had such a decline in business during this time, chiropractors began doing house calls, adjusting anyone who had the flu. 

The outcome for those infected with the flu who were adjusted by a chiropractor were astounding, thus they were nicknamed, "Flu Doctors":

In Davenport, Iowa, 50 medical doctors treated 4,953 cases, with 274 deaths. In the same city, 150 chiropractors including students and faculty of the Palmer School of Chiropractic treated 1,635 cases with only one death.

In the state of Iowa, medical doctors treated 93,590 patients, with 6,116 deaths – a loss of one patient out of every 15. In the same state, excluding Davenport, 4,735 patients were treated by chiropractors with a loss of only 6 cases – a loss of one patient out of every 789.
National figures show that 1,142 chiropractors treated 46,394 patients for influenza during 1918, with a loss of 54 patients – one out of every 886.

In the same epidemic, New York health authorities (who kept records of flu as a reportable disease) showed that under chiropractic care, only 25 patients died of influenza out of every 10,000 cases; and only 100 patients died of pneumonia out of every 10,000 cases. This comparison is made more striking when viewed in the following table:
Influenza
—————————————Cases               Deaths
Under medical care                10,000             950
Under chiropractic care         10,000             25
Pneumonia
—————————————Cases               Deaths
Under medical care                10,000             6,400
Under chiropractic care         10,000             100

The same epidemic reports show that chiropractors in Oklahoma treated 3,490 cases of influenza with only 7 deaths. But the best part of this is, in Oklahoma there is a clear record showing that chiropractors were called in 233 cases where medical doctors had cared for the patients, and finally gave them up as lost. The chiropractors saved all these lost cases but 25.

The results that chiropractic care had on patients with influenza is not surprising, as research has shown that there is a direct interaction between the nervous system and the immune system when chiropractic care is administered. 

How chiropractic revs up the immune system:

• Chiropractic adjustments ensure that the nerves from the brain down the spinal cord to the adrenal glands (which help manage the immune system) are not obstructed by vertebral subluxations which are misalignments in the spine that put pressure on the nerve system.

• Chiropractic adjustments decrease the stress hormone cortisol which increases our odds of becoming sick.

• Chiropractic adjustments to the upper neck have shown an increase to the white blood cell count up to 200%, which helps the body's immune system to be strong. 

Let us help you be well this season!  If people around you are getting ill, or if you usually come down with illness yourself this time of year get ahead of things and schedule a chiropractic wellness check-up.  Call (360) 823-2225 and ask for your wellness check-up today.

Best in health, naturally,
Dr. Marc

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References:
1. "Chiropractic: Maybe the Best Defense Against Influenza." ChiroUnity. 27 April 2009.
2.  Rhodes WR: “The Official History of Chiropractic in Texas.” Texas Chiropractic Association. Austin, TX. 1978. 
 

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5 Tips to Keep Your Spine Aligned While Driving

In 2005, the Census Bureau reported that Americans, on average, spent more than 100 hours commuting to work per year, with the average commute lasting 24.3 minutes.  According to the American Community Survey (ACS), the longest commutes happening within the country, were most prominent on the East coast:

The cities fortunate to have a shorter commute time average were: 

Corpus Christi, Texas (16.1 minutes)

Wichita, Kansas (16.3 minutes)

Tulsa, Oklahoma (17.1 minutes) 

Omaha, Nebraska (17.3 minutes)

As a chiropractor, these amount of time spent commuting concerns me, and this doesn't account for the time spent driving to the grocery store, taking children to school, extracurricular activities, vacations, etc.   Many of the patients I see have problems stemming to how they sit in their vehicle as they commute, and many are who work from their vehicle.  Here's a list of tips to help keep you comfortable and healthy during those accumulated hours spent in your vehicle.

5 Tips to Keep Your Spine Aligned While Driving

1) Seat position matters.  Position your seat so you can reach the pedals and steering wheel with ease.  Your back should not come away from the seat as you reach for the peddles are make other driving movements.  Lumbar support may be necessary if your car lacks sufficient lumbar support.
2) Adjust your headrest.  Your headrest should center the back of your head. 
3) Rest your hands properly.  The days of 10 and 2 are gone.  9 and 3 is key!  By placing your hands in the 9 and 3 position your shoulders are able to relax.  Be mindful to not rest your wrists at 12 o'clock or clench the steering wheel.  These movements can cause numbness.  Also, be mindful of how you reach for the stick-shift.  Adjusting seat placement and/or back position to meet comfort levels is necessary.
4) Smart Phone Neck.  Americans are enthralled with smart phones.  Consider the amount of time you spend looking at your phone and for how you tilt your head down as you read your email, messages etc.  Over time, tilting the head in a downward position can strain the ligaments in the neck.
5) Working in vehicle.  There is a large amount of the workforce that works from their vehicle--ie. plumbers, police officers, service technicians, etc.  When possible, take your work indoors--inside a coffee shop, the office or to the park, to free your back from the twists and turns that working inside a vehicle requires.

As an expert in ergonomics, I am happy to check patients sitting in their car.  Call to set up your time for me to do a quick seat/position check.

Unofficial Pole:  How long are you in your vehicle on an average day.  For me it's 35 minutes.

Best in health, naturally,
Dr. Marc

References:
Google Images
US Census Bureau

Other good links:
Seats to look for when buying a car

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Mattresses: They Can Make or Break You

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One of my primary focuses as a chiropractor, is preventing health problems before the onset of symptoms.  During appointments with patients, examining the spine for postural misalignments, is routine.  Such misalignments, also known as vertebral subluxation, may lead to a wide range of ailments, such as back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and headaches.  Studies have also suggested that vertebral subluxations may be related to ear infections, Parkinson's disease, high blood pressure, colic and other maladies.  In our office, I also emphasizes the power of prevention with my patients by teaching monthly wellness courses and educating patients about vertebral subluxation and how to treat them through chiropractic adjustments, as well as teaching about nutrition, stress reduction and exercise, as a means of preventative measures.

When it comes to rest, your mattress can have a large impact on the quality of your sleep.  If you suffer from disturbed sleep due to shoulder pain, low back pain or spine stiffness, here are a couple of studies to consider:

A 2002 study of 22 individuals between the ages of 25-75 took a look at individuals who had been dealing with ongoing disturbed sleep due to chronic pain of the shoulder, back or spine.  With the implementation of prescribed bedding reduced back pain by 57%, shoulder pain 61% and back stiffness 59%.  The subjects quality of sleep improving by 61%.  (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2002;25:88-92.)

A 2003 study researched mattress firmness and how subjects with back pain responded to either a firm or medium-firm mattress.  The study was conducted according to the European Committee for Standardization which places mattresses and their firmness on a scale beginning at 1.0, the firmest and ending at 10.0 the softest.  The study then took 313 adults who dealt with regular backache and/or stiffness while lying in bed and upon rising, and randomly assigned them to either a firm or medium-firm mattress for 90 days.  The study found that 95% of the subjects who used medium-firm mattresses had less pain in bed and upon rising than the patients who used a firm mattress. (Lancet 2003; 362:1599-604.)

Choosing a Mattress

There are many options for mattresses on the market.  Let's take a look at a handful of them:

Adjustable Beds 

These mattresses make a couple happy, as each sleeper can adjust the head and foot portions of the mattress.  This is definitely a selling point for someone whose spouse has a particular spinal issue.  However, be aware that sleeping with the spine on an angle can instigate vertebral subluxations.

Airbeds

Instead of being filled with springs or foam, the bed is filled with, you guessed it--air!  An airbed allows the consumer to adjust the firmness of the mattress.  This is the kind of mattress that I have and love.

Tempur-Pedic Mattresses

These mattresses are based on the material that was created for NASA's Ames Research Center in the 1970's to protect astronauts from gravitational forces experienced during lift-off.  The mattress' best selling points are it is made of open-celled, temperature sensitive and breathable material, which allows for body weight to be evenly distributed over the entire surface area.

If you are shopping for a new mattress, or will be in the near future, look at all of your options and don't be afraid to tell the sales associate your questions and concerns.  Your mattress and its quality effect both your sleep and your body!

Also, on occasion, local mattress stores offer patients of Davis Family Chiropractic discounts.  Inquire within our office to see about the latest offers.

Best in health, naturally,

Dr. Marc

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Dr. Mancini Discusses Underlying Pain and the Benefits of Chiropractic

Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, DC, President of Parker University and top Doctor in the field of chiropractic, recently discussed pain and chiropractic on the cable series, The Doctors.

What is important to know, he explains, is that pain often stems from another location than we think and for reasons we often fail to recognize.

FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO PAIN:

• Regular travel
• Improperly addressed and/or corrected pain resulting from accidents ie. a fall, auto accidents, sports injuries
• Unbalanced Diet--too much sugar contributing to inflammation
• Stress--built up tension causing a physiological effect on the muscles

If you have not yet been checked by a chiropractor, I urge you to visit one in your area. Silent problems are still problems. It so much easier and cost-effective to catch small problems BEFORE they become a CRISIS. For a limited time, our website has a promotion for a complete Chiropractic check up for you or your loved one. Go to www.davisfamilychiro.com today, print the coupon and then schedule your Chiropractic Check-up by calling (360) 823-2225.

Best in health, Naturally,
Dr. Marc

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