What Many People Don't Know About Chiropractic And What We Can Do For YOU... Especially if you have back pain!

Dr. Brad here. In just a moment I'm going to tell you some very interesting information about Chiropractic that most people do not know - but more importantly - what it can do for you and how it might even change your life.

This is really good stuff... especially if you have back pain now or have ever had back pain in the past.

But first, there is something else you should know about. I think you'll really like it.

Did you know the use if Aspirin dates all the way back to around 400 B.C.? It's true. The father of medicine, Hippocrates, who lived sometime between 460 B.C. and 377 B.C., left historical records that included the use of the bark of the willow tree to treat fever, headache and various pains.

It wasn't until 1829 that scientists started figuring out what was going on. That's when they discovered a compound called salicin in the willow plant was responsible for the pain relief.

In that same year, scientists were able to turn salicin into salicylic acid. The problem was that salycilic acid was very rough on the stomach and mouth... which limited its use. Then, in 1853, a German scientist named Charles Frederic Gerhardt buffered (neutralized) the harshness of the acid by coating salicylic acid with sodium and acetyl chloride. Although it worked, it was time consuming and Gerhardt stopped working on it because he didn't think it was worth it.

OOOOPS!

In 1897, a German pharmacist working for a German pharmaceutical company, Bayer, started looking for a solution for his father's rheumatism. His name was Felix Hoffmann and he "re-discovered" Gerhardt's work and in 1899 patented a "new" pain reliever under the name Aspirin.

As a quick and interesting aside: During the same month, Hoffmann synthesized heroin by accident. His discovery of heroin obviously didn't end up working out as well as aspirin! But, one of the truly remarkable things about all this is:

Scientists did not have a clue how aspirin worked until 1971! In that year, John Vane theorized how it worked for which he was awarded a Nobel prize in 1982.

Today, over 70 million pounds of aspirin are produced annually all over the world making it the world's most widely used drug... scientists still theorize about the exact mechanisms of aspirin.

So what's all this have to do with Chiropractic and your back pain?

Here's what: Believe it or not - Chiropractic and aspirin have many things in common.

First -- they can both be traced WAY back in history.

In fact, Hippocrates, who used a form of aspirin back in 400 B.C., also used a form of spinal manipulation... and so did ancient Egyptians and many other cultures.

But, it was not until 1895 that D.D. Palmer invented "Chiropractic". Chiropractic was new and different because Palmer theorized the nervous system controlled every function of the body and Chiropractic adjustments (specific spinal manipulations) removed interference to blocked or pinched nerves. This, in turn, not only relieved pain... it helped the entire body function better and heal from all sorts of illnesses and diseases.

Just like willow bark and eventually aspirin, spinal manipulation got results and became very popular... but the mechanisms were not understood.

But here's where Chiropractic & Aspirin differ - in a very big way…

Doctors and scientists had no clue how aspirin worked - but it was hailed by the medical community as a wonder drug and mass-produced.

Doctors and scientists were not sure how Chiropractic worked - so it was branded unscientific and quackery.

Seems a little unfair - don't you think?

Thank goodness in many areas, research has finally caught up with Chiropractic!

For example, Chiropractic's ability to help relieve back pain is well researched. It is a safe, effective and cost-effective way to relieve back pain.

How does Chiropractic work?... FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK:

Many times when you have back pain it is caused by a spinal joint sprain - or "subluxation". Ligaments hold two bones together to form a joint and a sprain occurs when a ligament is injured by over stretching it.

This can happen due to small micro traumas over several years or one acute event like a car accident, sports injury or slip and fall. When the ligament becomes stretched and injured joints do not function properly, delicate nerve fibers can be injured.

Over time, even if untreated, pain can go away even though the spinal joint is not functioning properly. This can lead to flare-ups in the future and degeneration as the joint moves improperly and wears out. This is why something small - like bending over to pick up a pencil - can cause severe back pain.

Chiropractic adjustments and treatments are designed to normalize spinal motion as much as possible. This allows the spinal joints to heal better.

Here's a simple way to look at it:

If you broke your arm and didn't get the bone set properly - it would heal out of place and crooked. The pain might go away in the short term - but there would most likely be big problems in the future. The best thing to do is put everything in place and let it heal properly.

Chiropractors are experts at getting your spinal bones and joints "in place" and working properly so they can heal correctly.

Chiropractors are also experts at keeping spines functioning properly to minimize future problems - much like periodic Dental check-ups and cleaning prevent tooth decay and loss down the road.

So, if you have back pain, you might want to try something that has a history starting in 400 B.C. with the father of medicine - Hippocrates - and has been practiced, improved and proven to help back pain.

If you do, just give us a call at 201-651-9100 and we will help you in any way that we can; conservatively and affordably!

Watching Your Back

How would you like to see your life change INSTANTLY? Every aspect can change if you change. Your future can change if you change how you THINK. Watch this 6 1/2 minute video. I think you'll like it. Show it to your friends and family. Share it. It works!

People ask me so many questions, but what I've found is that those questions can have so many different answers - depending on the person who's asking me and depending how they think and see their world. Whether it's about health, life, self-confidence, finances - what ever. It's about asking yourself the right questions, doing the RIGHT THINGS AT THE RIGHT TIME, and your personal rituals.

How Would You Handle This One?

The old saying in business is that "if one customer says something, then they're all thinking it". I take this wisdom seriously, which is why I wanted to help you understand a VERY common MYTH about Chiropractic. At least once each week, a new patient, business associate, friend or acquaintance will say to me, "I heard that once you go to a chiropractor you have to go for the rest of your life", or some version of that old myth. It really is a pervasive thought and one that probably hurts the lives of so many people. CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT - what a commitment!! And because human nature is to reflexively avoid any long term commitment, think about how many people that you know who have never gone to a chiropractor or never would step into our office because of the fear of being "roped in".Look at what's going on in commerce right now - how many cell phone companies, TV companies (cable, Direct TV, etc.), gyms and so on are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to sell you on "NO CONTRACTS". Why? Because in this economy they are doing everything possible to put you at ease, to remove OBSTACLES to you choosing to go with them. So, back to the point - virtually everyone you know has a spine, right? :) And hardly anyone you know takes care of their spine - which is why 80% of Americans will develop problems with their backs. Now the sad story is that most people wait so long that they eventually end up on dangerous Rx medication that have terrible side effects or WORSE - 300,00 people each year have surgery which has a 70 - 90% FAILURE RATE!! Why, because they're afraid to go to a chiropractor. So they suffer, lose months or years of quality of life, or even worse, end up being put on depression medications because pain is so chronic.

Now that you know this - Chiropractic Care (and, in our office, Physical Therapy, too) is NOT A LIFETIME COMMITMENT! It's simply a foolish thought - HOWEVER - you as a consumer must know more than that so that YOU can use Chiropractic the right way. Let me give you an analogy - Millions of people join a gym every year. Everyone knows how valuable fitness is. Now I don't know about you, but when I go to the gym I NEVER have to wait for a treadmill. Is that because my gym has thousands of treadmills to accommodate those millions of people??? No, it's because very few of those people who join COMMIT to working out year round. Most of them have a very small vision of what they want and after a few visits drop out of the gym. Others have a slightly larger vision of losing a few pounds or fitting into a smaller pant/dress size. And finally, there are those that realize that regular exercise has benefits that go FAR BEYOND a few extra pounds. They realize that regular exercise IMPROVES THE WAY THE BODY WORKS - resulting in less stress (emotional health), better sleep, regulates blood sugar (chemical health), increases energy, builds lean muscle mass leading to increased metabolism, lowers blood pressure, cleans the blood....and the list goes on, which leads to a longer, healthier life. So, all of these people are doing the same thing - exercise - but their goals and RESULTS are totally different. Do you see the difference? Chiropractic is exactly the same. What we deal with is the relationship between the spine and the central nervous system. For patients with the smallest vision of care, which is PAIN RELIEF, that can mean just a couple weeks before their symptoms improve and they STOP. For others, they want to correct the CAUSE of their problem, which we specialize in and is called CORRECTIVE CARE. They might be here for a couple of months. Finally, there are those who want to learn about maximizing their body's function to not only get better, but to prevent damage and disease from developing in the future. They continue with regular chiropractic care because they realize that, just like at the gym, when they stop going, the benefits begin to disappear. No one is wrong when they choose what kind of care they want. What we do works every time to get results. The results you get depend upon your goals.

To Conclude - the only person who is wrong is the person who has mistakenly been led to believe that once you go to a chiropractor you HAVE to go for the rest of your life. So "How Would You Handle This One"? Tell them that what we do in our clinic is a TOOL. You can use it any way you want. The next time it comes up - let them know they don't have to be afraid. Tell them that the longer the wait the more damage will develop and the longer it will take them to get better. Chiropractic is not a lifetime commitment - it just works best that way.

What You Tell Yourself Is What You Get!

I see it all the time - a new patient walks in the door with a BIG problem, but an even BIGGER chip on their shoulder. Instead of being excited about the prospect of getting well again and rebuilding their health they say "I don't have the time to get here" or "I've gone to other doctors before and it didn't help" or "I can't afford it". Or whatever. Now, truly there are those that cannot get here or cannot afford to pay for the care we provide, but those few people PALE in comparison to those who use it as an excuse so that THEY don't have to change their habits and take CONTROL over their own health.

On the other hand, I have patients who walk in and say , "No one has ever explained my problem this way before" or "I have been to other chiropractors, but have never seen this type of care" or even "Doc, I trust you. Just get me better. I don't care what it takes". These are the people who see the devastation that happens to one's life when they are in chronic pain. These people see the COST of not being well and are willing to do whatever it takes to get better AND have a great attitude about it. These are the patients who ALWAYS get better results and get better faster.

Is it possible that the biggest difference between them is what they tell themselves? Is it possible that someone's attitude and acceptance and devotion and refusal to accept excuses can make the difference between another miracle at Oakland Spine and a patient who sees few results and quits BEFORE their body ever had a chance to heal? ABSOLUTELY! I am a tremendous believer that my patients who believe in me and my team and the superior product we provide will beat the nay-sayers every time and twice on Sunday. Our attitude affects every part of our life, including our health. Attitude can make the difference between a great marriage and a bad one, a great job and one you hate, a great day and an excuse to have another miserable day.

CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY! CHOOSE TO BE HEALTHY! CHOOSE TO GET BETTER - and then, when others look at you and at how great you look, tell them you decided to have a great attitude and to take control over rebuilding your health.

Medical Breakthrough For Pain Relief

Pain Sufferers Find Relief at Oakland Spine and Rehab with the FDA Approved Lite-Cure Laser

Hello, I'm Dr. Brad Butler, DC. Are you in pain? Have you tried everything to alleviate your pain without success? Are you contemplating surgery? Have you had surgery and are still in pain? In many cases operations are necessary for proper health and recovery from injury. However, I have seen countless post-surgical patients who did not want or need surgery and are still in pain. Oakland Spine and Rehabilitation utilizes state-of-the-art technology for pain relief that is proven to be an effective alternative to surgery. We offer a complete spine care pain relief program that involves a combination of individualized physical therapy, Deep Tissue Laser Therapy, manipulation under anesthesia, corrective chiropractic care and more.

Advanced Pain Relief Tools and Accurate Evaluations

Are pain pills, injections and spinal surgery effective, long-term solutions for pain relief? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Patients who come to Oakland Spine and Rehabilitation Center receive access to the most advanced pain relieving options available. The same technology that has typically only been used by professional sports teams is now available to you!

THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO PAIN RELIEF!

At Oakland Spine and Rehabilitation Center we have the area's ONLY LiteCure (LCT-1000) Laser Treatment. Deep tissue laser therapy is an innovative, scientifically based therapeutic modality. This new technology is FDA approved and offers advanced pain relief and faster healing times through a process known as photobiostimulation. The LCT-1000 laser treatment delivers deep penetration photonic energy to bring about profound physiological changes*. ATP (adenosine-triphosphate) production is increased, inflammation and pain reduced and circulation increased at the site of the injury. These changes in cellular chemistry are triggered by the LCT-1000 – MAKING IT A TRUE HEALING MODALITY.

LCT-lOOO Deep Tissue Laser Therapy does not require the use of drugs or surgery and there are no known side effects or risks that may occur with other forms of pain treatment. In addition, it can often achieve results faster that other treatment modalities. During the treatment, the patient feels a deep, soothing warmth. This pleasant sensation reassures the patient that the laser is stimulating cellular activity. MANY PATIENTS EXPERIENCE RELIEF AFTER THE VERY FIRST TREATMENT!

What Conditions Can Be Treated at Oakland Spine and Rehab?

• Herniated, bulging or "slipped" discs
• Spinal Stenosis
• Neuropathic Pain in Arms, Hands, Legs and Feet
• Failed Back Surgeries
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Arthritic Joints
• Migraine Headaches
• Fibromyalgia
• Sciatica

What Patients Are Saying:

"I suffered from neck pain and migraines for years. I tried traditional treatments and tons of pain pills, but none of them worked. It got to the point that I was taking the pills and still getting the pain. I didn't know what else to do. Then I was referred to Dr. Butler. After his evaluation, he told me I would be a candidate for the LiteCure treatments. After the very first treatment I felt immediate relief from the pain. The best part is that it was the first thing I have done that has lasted. I can't believe how much better I am feeling" - Megan, Age 29

"I was diagnosed with neuropathy many years ago and had been getting worse over time. It got to the point where I couldn't even feel my feet. The other doctors I went to see had no solution except to put me on strong medications that didn't help my condition and had several undesirable side effects. I came to Oakland Spine and Rehab about two months ago. In addition to chiropractic care and physical therapy for my lower back I started treatments with the laser. The laser had a deep heat feel to it. I can say that for the first time in a long time I am starting to feel better. I can feel my feet again and my balance is improving. I would recommend this treatment for anyone who has neuropathy." - Bill, Age 74

Still Skeptical?

In a world of money back guarantees (that nobody uses because of the hassle) I am so confident you will see RELIEF at Oakland Spine and Rehabilitation Center that I am willing to take it a step further. Therefore, I will allow the first 25 callers to receive 2 treatments at our office ABSOLUTELY FREE and WITHOUT FURTHER OBLIGATION. There are NO strings attached so you have nothing to lose but your pain!!

It's Time to Take Control of Your Life and Enjoy Freedom From Pain

2 Free Lite-Cure Treatments
for the fist 25 callers who mention this blog
(no strings attached)

CALL TODAY (201) 651-9100

Oakland Spine and Rehabilitation Center
350 Ramapo Valley Road, Oakland, NJ
(in the Copper Tree Shopping Center next to Staples)
www.oaklandspineandrehab.com

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Depression: Coping With Anxiety Symptoms Through Lifestyle Changes. Experts stress you can do a lot to support your treatment for depression and anxiety. Try to eat well and get enough sleep. Don't rely on alcohol or illicit drugs. Physical activity is key, as there's good evidence it can help with mood and may help people bounce back from depression. Breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, and disciplines like yoga can help too. Most people already know this stuff. Telling people "eating well" or "exercising" is a good idea is often just preaching to the choir. The key is to figure out ways of integrating better habits into your life. Psychiatric Times, Dec. 2007

Health Alert: Top 10 Countries In Drug Expenditures Per Capita. (1) US $878 (2) Canada $691 (3) Greece $677 (4) France $588 (5) Belgium $566 (6) Spain $562 (7) Germany $542 (8) Italy $518 (9) Austria $500 (10) Switzerland $454 OECD Health Data, 2009

Exercise: The Best Way To Stretch. Always contract the muscle you want to stretch first (2-5 seconds), take a deep breath in-and-out (1-2 seconds) and then stretch (holding the stretch 15-30 seconds). Repeat this process 3-5 times.This mechanism allows the muscle to relax. Try it! Example: If stretching the hamstrings, you should contract the hamstrings first and then go into the stretch. Herman Kabat, MD, PhD

Chiropractic: Bad Posture Is Not Good. Having poor posture, slumping or slouching forces your back muscles to pull and hold your torso up, which can cause low back pain. Try this: Have a friend put their hand on your back and feel the difference of muscular tension with good posture vs. bad posture. Now imagine having that extra muscular tension all day long!

Wellness/Prevention: Get Your Sleep! You need sleep as much as you need food. Make sure you get enough sleep because without it, your body and your immune system will weaken. Mark Stibich, PhD.

Quote: "When the patient loves his disease, how unwilling he is to allow a remedy to be applied." ~ Pierre Corneille, Le Cid

BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!!

Oakland Spine and Rehabilitation, in conjunction with the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors, is sponsoring a statewide coat, hat, glove, and scarf drive this holiday season.

Please help us by donating your good condition winter coats, hats, gloves and scarves. Items may be dropped off at O.S.R. during our normal office hours. Your generous donations will be given to local charities.

Thank you so much for your help and caring. Have a wonderful holiday season!

Chiropractic Manipulation: A New Study Regarding Headaches

Headaches are a common complaint in patients presenting for professional care, including chiropractic management.  Patients with headaches seek chiropractic care because they find manipulation or adjustments applied to the cervical spine and upper back region are highly effective in reducing the intensity, frequency and duration of the headache pain.  This is because the cervical spine / neck, is often the origin of the headache as the three nerves in the upper neck (C1, 2 and 3) pass through the thick, overly taught neck muscles in route to the scalp / head.  When the muscles of the neck are in spasm, the nerves get “pinched” or squeezed by the overly tight muscles resulting in headache pain.  Each nerve runs to a different part of the head and therefore, pain may be described as “…radiating over the top of head (sometimes into the forehead and eyes),” or, into the head and over the ear, sometimes reaching the temple.  Also, an area located in the back and side of the head is the area where the C1 nerve innervates, so pain may also be reported in that location.  When more than one of the C1-3 nerves is pinched, the whole side to the top of the head may be involved.

In the October 2009 issue of The Spine Journal, Western States Chiropractic College, Center for Outcomes Studies, reported benefits are obtained with the utilization of spinal manipulation in the treatment of chronic cervicogenic headaches.  The word “chronic” means at least 3 months of headache pain has been present.  This new study compared 2 different doses of therapy using several outcome measures including the pain grade, the number of headaches in the last 4 weeks and the amount of medication utilized.  Data was collected every 4 weeks for a 24 week period and patients were treated 1-2 times/week and separated into either an 8 or a 16 treatment session with half the group receiving either spinal manipulative therapy or a minimal light massage (LM) control group.

The results of the study revealed the spinal manipulation group obtained better results than the control group at all time intervals.  There was a small benefit in the group that received the greater number of treatments with the mean number of cervicogenic headaches reduced by 50% in both pain intensity and headache frequency.

The importance of this study is significant as there are many side effects to medications frequently utilized in the treatment of headaches.  Many patients prefer not taking medications for this reason and spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) offers a perfect remedy for these patients.  Couple SMT with dietary management, lifestyle modifications, stress management, and a natural, vitamin/herbal anti-inflammatory (such as ginger, turmeric, boswellia) when needed, a natural, holistic approach to the management of chronic headaches is accomplished.

We are proud that chiropractic care has consistently scored the highest level of satisfaction when compared to other forms of health care provision and look forward in serving you and your family presently and in the future.

Oakland Spine & Rehabilitation Introduces New Therapist

Oakland Spine & Rehabilitation Center has added yet another expert to our staff. We welcome Cathy Kuschan, MPT to our physical therapy team. Cathy brings with her 25 years of incredible experience working with a variety of techniques and specializing in manual therapy. Cathy's expert presence allows us to live up to our motto of "No Waiting, No Kidding". For our patients who currently receive physical therapy, we can now care for you without waiting days for an appointment and you will receive the same amazing quality of care you have come to expect from us.

As always, if you, a family member, or a friend are in need of physical therapy for treatment of an injury or after surgery - Oakland Spine & Rehabilitation is here to help. We appreciate your referrals.

Weekly Health Update

Mental Attitude: Benefits of Laughter. Laughter increases secretion of catecholamines & endorphines, which increases oxygenation of the blood, relaxes arteries, increases heart rate, decreases blood pressure -- all have a positive effect on all cardiovascular & respiratory ailments, as well as an increased immune system response. American Journal of Medicine, 1995

Health Alert: Still Smoking? In 2007, 43 million or 19% of adults were smokers! CDC, 2008

Diet: Flavonoids Found In Tea Decrease Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke! The Zutphen study, which assessed 805 male subjects over a period of five years, found the incidence of fatal and nonfatal first myocardial infarction and mortality from stroke decreased significantly as intake of flavonoids, derived mainly from tea, increased. A follow-up to this study found a high intake of flavonoids significantly lowered the risk of stroke in study participants. Lancet, 1993 & Archives of Internal Medicine, 1996

Exercise: Exercise & Healing. Regular exercise may accelerate wound healing by 25%. Skin wounds healed 10 days faster on people who exercised. (29 days vs. 39 days). Ohio State University, 2006

Chiropractic: Chiropractic Is Effective For Treating Headaches! Cervical Spine manipulation was associated with significant improvement in headache outcomes in trials involving patients with neck pain and/or neck dysfunction and headache. Many times, a chiropractic adjustment can help with chronic or acute headaches. The adjustment releases short and tight muscles, allowing for optimum blood flow, which decreases the pain from headaches. Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center, Durham, NC, 2001

Wellness/Prevention: Women and Cancer. Women who adopted at least 6 of 9 recommendations below were 35% less likely to get cancer and 43% less likely to die from cancer than women who followed zero or one of the following recommendations. (1) Maximum body mass index of 25, limit adult weight gain to 11 pounds (2) eat 5 or more servings of fruit and veggies a day (3) eat 7 or more portions of complex carbohydrates a day (4) decrease your consumption of processed foods and refined sugars (5) limit alcohol consumption to 1 drink a day (6) limit your red meat intake to no more than 3 oz. per day (7) decrease fatty foods, particularly animal fats (8) limit intake of salted foods & use in cooking (9) eliminate tobacco use. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, July 2004