Ulcers are sores that resemble a crater that can form within the lining of the stomach (gastric ulcers), right below the level of the stomach and the beginning of the small intestine called the duodenum (duodenal ulcers), or they can form in the esophagus (esophageal ulcers) which are much less frequent.  These can range in size from ¼ inch to 2 inches in size, but more frequently range from ¼ inch to ¾ inch.  Ulcers within the stomach and duodenum are typically referred to as peptic ulcers as a general rule.  Since the stomach is a muscle that essentially mixes juices to breakdown food particles, sometimes those liquids like hydrochloric acid and pepsin have a tendency to leak out if there is damage to the stomach lining; hence causes peptic ulcers. 

Causes

In general, too much acid and pepsin may damage the lining of the stomach.  However, more commonly there is another causation factor that makes the stomach lining more susceptible to general gastric acid.  For example, a person undergoing physical, chemical, or emotional stress is much more likely to develop ulcers than someone who doesn’t exhibit those particular stressors.

Treatment

If left untreated, ulcers may turn into bleeding ulcers or perforated ulcers.  Bleeding ulcers form when the ulcer has literally eaten through the blood vessel and the blood has entered the digestive tract.  Perforated ulcers form when the ulcer has eaten a hole through the stomach or duodenum and bacteria and partially digested food has entered into that hole causing further inflammation.  Things an individual can do to treat or prevent ulcers from reoccurring include the following: find out food allergies, eat healthy, and try to avoid daily stressors, use over-the-counter benzocaine, and finally seek a doctor’s help.  Individuals suffering from reoccurring mouth ulcers will find that their typically allergic to something in their everyday diet.  By eliminating this cause the ulcers should decrease and/or diminish significantly.  To determine what foods cause allergic reactions, get a food allergy blood test from your doctor.  This will show not only food allergies but sensitivities and the severity of the allergy to those particular foods.  There are many alternative ways to cope with stress and include: reading self-help books, talking to a psychiatrist or counselor, yoga and meditation, proper diet and exercise, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, social outreach groups, positive reinforcement, and any activity that provides uplifting and positive thoughts.

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Nearly 80 percent of people in the United States will encounter neck pain at least once during their lifetime.  Some cases are severe because of a sustained injury and may take months to heal, while other cases are small and the pain will decrease on its own.  It’s common to see some people sustain neck pain for a long period of time if they have been rear-ended in a car accident.  Whiplash occurs when a sudden force is applied to the body, jolting the neck in the opposite direction.  Irritated neck muscles can also be caused by sitting at a desk for long periods of time.  People who have poor posture tend to encounter neck and back pain more than others. 

Treatment

If neck pain is severe, the individual should consult a chiropractic doctor.  If it is minor pain, he or she could try a therapeutic massage.  Chiropractic doctors use a technique called spinal manipulation for treatment.  Spinal manipulation, also known as chiropractic adjustment, involves the chiropractor moving the joint into the opposite direction.  This technique helps restore mobility within the spine and reduces pain or tenderness in the muscles.  A massage therapist can use natural techniques to eliminate pain and relieve tension in strained muscles.  Massages increase circulation and help relieve stress resulting is the decrease of pain.   

What is a Bulging Disc?

It takes a period of time to develop a bulging disc.  Bulging discs don’t always cause pain so they may only be found during routine testing or a diagnostic image test.  Generally, patients with a bulging disc experience less pain than those with a herniated disc, unless the bulging disc becomes herniated or extends beyond a nerve.  Bulging discs usually only because a problem if it causes pain or ruptures.  Though bulging discs are mostly common in the back, they sometimes appear in the neck area.  If pain occurs in the lower back, it may also happen in the legs. 

Chiropractic Care for Bulging Disc  

Some people may seek chiropractic care as treatment for their bulging disc.  Patients who aren’t experiencing extreme pain can seek a chiropractor’s care instead of undergoing surgery.  To treat a bulging disc, the chiropractor will perform a gentle spinal manipulation to realign the spine and reduce the amount of pressure on the spinal area.  Typically, this procedure will relieve pain for many patients.  If patient does not respond to chiropractic care after 12 treatment sessions, then he/she should seek alternative options.  Back surgery can relieve severe pain caused by dense muscles that can lead to herniated disc.

According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), it is estimated there are currently 265,000 to 300,000 massage therapists practicing in the United States.  Massage therapy was said to be a $6-11 billion dollar industry in 2005.  The US Dept of Labor states that massage therapy as a profession will grow by 20 percent from 2006 to 2006-this is faster than average.  This is great news for newly graduated massage therapists since 80 percent of all Americans will experience some sort of back pain within their lifetime; many of these will be chronic sufferers.  Massage therapists have many options when obtaining a school for certification.  More and more colleges and private universities and institutions are now offering certification in massage therapy with most programs being a minimum of 500-hours or more of instruction.  During school massage therapists take several classes in the following subject areas including: human anatomy and physiology, pathology, kinesiology, hydrotherapy, orthopedic testing and range of motion evaluation, and clinical application.  Most all massage programs offer a period of time when the therapist can be intern delivering treatments to the general public.  This is a win-win situation for both the therapist and the public because the therapist finally gets to put their technique to use and receive feedback in a clinical setting; and the individual gets a deep discounted massage in a safe school setting.    

Employment

Upon graduation the newly-trained therapist has many job opportunities within the U.S. and foreign countries including but not limited to: spas, health clubs and gyms, Chiropractic offices, physical therapy rehabilitation centers, acupuncture offices, hospitals, and sporting and social events within the community like marathons, triathlons, and even bachelorette parties.  So if you’re curious about becoming a massage therapist now is a better time than ever to become certified.   

What is a chiro?  Basically, this is a slang term used within the chiropractic community to describe a chiropractor.  A chiropractor must complete a bachelor’s degree as well as the doctor of chiropractic degree from an accredited institution to practice.  The chiro student takes over 7,500 hours of classroom courses as well as practical application in the following areas: clinical anatomy and physiology, neurology, histology, embryology, biochemistry, nutrition, NMS evaluation, clinical assessment and application, and adjusting courses.  He/she must also complete the boards given by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners satisfactorily to practice in the United States of America and many other countries.  Upon completion of these examinations, the newly graduated chiro must apply for licensure in the state in which he/she wants to practice in.

The Doors Are Open

 Now the doors are finally open and the chiro can do what they love-adjusting patients!  They have many opportunities for how they would like to practice.  They can be a sole proprietor, an associate, an independent contractor, an employee, engaged in profit sharing, or a tandem associate.  There are pros and cons to each decision since there are so many factors to consider like lease payments, equipment, staff, malpractice insurance, marketing, and obligations of owning one’s business.  A chiropractor may also choose to specialize in an area like pediatrics, geriatrics, pre and perinatal care, internal medicine, orthopedics, radiology, or sports medicine.  These can be either fellowship programs or be much longer board certification programs.  Being a chiro, or chiropractor is a very rewarding career profession to achieve.

History

The actual chiropractic profession began in 1895, but dates back further to ancient times when healers understood the importance of health and spinal condition.  The spinal manipulation treatment was misunderstood by many people until Daniel David Palmer developed the theory and philosophy of chiropractics.  The word chiropractic originates from two Greek words – chiro meaning hand, and practic meaning operation.  Palmer developed spinal manipulation and discovered that it corrected subluxations and decreased nerve tension which was the cause of pain.   

 Who needs Chiropractics?

A visit to the chiropractor can help restore energy flow to the body and realign the spine to eliminate back pain.  It is important to understand that chiropractors fix subluxations and vertebra misalignments, but they do not cure illnesses.  Once chiropractors fix the subluxation, the energy flow begins to increase which helps eliminate toxins and sickness in the body.  When energy flows through out the body, it eliminates stress, headaches and any other kind of illness.  Everyone needs chiropractic to perform at their highest peak.   

Have you ever been involved in a fall or accident that left you with relenting pain and discomfort?  One way to effectively treat these symptoms is spinal rehab.  Spinal rehab happens in many different ways from chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage therapy, physical therapy, exercise, and sometimes even surgical intervention as a final avenue. 

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care determines the cause of the problem instead of just covering up and masking the signs and symptoms.  Unlike medicine, chiropractic works to increase the body’s own ability to heal itself through increasing the functionality of the overall nervous system.  The nervous system controls and coordinates all the organs and parts of the human body to maintain homeostasis.  This allows the organism (human being) to relate better physically, emotionally, spiritually and fight off disease and illness. 

The Adjustment

A chiropractor will use static and kinetic palpation to efficiently find and assess for misalignment in the spine and dysfunction of the surrounding musculature.  He/she will then correct the subluxation (misalignment) through a specific thrust known as a chiropractic adjustment or manipulation of the spine.  This increases range of motion to the spine and/or extremity, decreases muscle tension, decreases inflammation and pain, and increases tissue healing and cellular repair.  Chiropractors will also work with the patient to correct their abnormal posture and provide home exercises to maintain posture throughout life.  Acupuncture, physiotherapy, and massage therapy are all great adjuncts to chiropractic care and wellness.  Spinal rehab doesn’t have to be painful or agonizing-Chiropractic can help change someone’s life today.

Are you suffering from back pain and discomfort?  Do you wish you had increased range of motion in your back and extremities?  Well, the answer is back rehab. 

Back Rehab options

Back rehab can come in the form of many different areas, including but not limited to chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, acupuncture, weight lifting and tailored exercises, physiotherapy, and massage therapy. 

Chiropractic care

A chiropractor’s job is to assess the spine through the use of static and kinetic palpation to find misalignment, or areas of subluxation, within the spine and/or extremities.  He/She then delivers a thrust in a specific line of drive to correct this subluxation.  This allows the taught muscles to relax and restore range of motion to the fullest potential. 

Subluxation

A subluxation may cause local inflammation and pain in the joint.  Subluxations to the spine cause an interruption of nerve flow to the overall nervous system.  The nervous system controls and coordinates every organ and body system in the human body to maintain homeostasis.  When this is disrupted, disease can enter the body in the form of many different illnesses.  Once the area(s) of concern are evaluated, the chiropractor will come up with a specific treatment plan tailored to the patient to be carried out depending on the severity of the injury at hand.  Sometimes, further diagnostic testing is needed to make the diagnosis, such as radiographic imaging and laboratory testing.  A medical referral is sometimes given in these instances, and co-management of the case may be available.  Back pain is a very treatable condition that doesn’t need to take over someone’s everyday life-back rehab is available.

Have you been involved in a car accident injury that left you with residual pain and limited use of your body?  You’re not alone.  Many people get into what they like to call “fender-benders,” where the cars are traveling at low-speeds.  However, once they leave the scene the passengers begin experiencing pain, headaches, inflammation, loss of motor control and range of motion. 

Whiplash

Whiplash is a very common complaint in Chiropractic offices, as well as emergency rooms.  Whiplash or WAD (Whiplash Associated Disorder) is due to extreme hyperflexion and hyperextension injury causing forceful tearing of the muscles and ligaments in the anterior and posterior cervical spine.  Common symptoms of whiplash include: severe headaches, restricted range of motion, extreme pain and inflammation, and even sometimes fractures called “tear-drop” fractures in the radiology community.  These fractures are extremely unstable and the patient must remain in a cervical collar with possible surgical intervention. 

Seek Proper evaluation

While not all auto accidents leave the driver(s) or passenger(s) debilitated, it is important to realize and seek out proper evaluation and treatment immediately following an accident to prevent further debilitation down the road. 

Seatbelts

Wearing seatbelts is still the best predictor of survival and decreases the severity of the patient’s injuries following an automobile accident.  Seatbelts restrain the individual from hitting the dashboard or even going through the windshield.  Commonly bruising will occur from the seatbelt, or even fractures called “chance fractures” will appear in the spine where the seatbelt restrained the individual.  This is still much better than the alternative of being paralyzed or killed.  If you or someone you know has been involved in an automobile accident, seek medical evaluation by a Chiropractor and follow an established treatment protocol. 

Have you ever been involved in a fall or accident that left you with relenting pain and discomfort?  One way to effectively treat these symptoms is spinal rehab.  Spinal rehab happens in many different ways, from chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage therapy, physical therapy, exercise, and sometimes even surgical intervention as a final avenue. 

Chiropractic care

Chiropractic care determines the cause of the problem instead of just covering up and masking the signs and symptoms.  Unlike medicine, Chiropractic works to increase the body’s own ability to heal itself through increasing the functionality of the overall nervous system.  The nervous system controls and coordinates all the organs and parts of the human body to maintain homeostasis.  This allows the organism (human being) to relate better physically, emotionally, spiritually and fight off disease and illness that runs ramped. 

Static and Kinetic palpation

A Chiropractor will use static and kinetic palpation to efficiently find and assess for misalignment in the spine and dysfunction of the surrounding musculature.  He/she will then correct the subluxation (misalignment) through a specific thrust known as a Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation of the spine.  This increases range of motion to the spine and/or extremity, decreases muscle tension, decreases inflammation and pain, and increases tissue healing and cellular repair. 

Posture Correcting

Chiropractors will also work with the patient to correct their abnormal posture and provide home exercises to maintain posture throughout life.  Acupuncture, physiotherapy, and massage therapy are all great adjuncts to Chiropractic care and wellness.  Spinal rehab doesn’t have to be painful or agonizing-Chiropractic can help change someone’s life today.