The American Chiropractic Association is promoting a pain free nation.  It is addressing the problem of pain and the overuse of pain medicine.  This has become a serious problem in medicine.  No health care provider wants to see someone suffer with pain.  We are looking at the best ways to deal with this problem. 

I was upset with a situation.  A family member of mine was given a medicine to help with the pain in her hands from osteoarthritis.    The next time she went to the doctor she was told the medicine was moved to a class four controlled substance.  Originally, she was told that is was a non addicting medicine.  Hmmm


In my opinion,  if I was diagnosed with  non emergency spinal pain I would start with natural treatment first. Chiropractic , acupuncture, natural medicine, physical therapy, yoga and lifting light weights. are examples of natural treatment.   if that did not work I would go up the line in regards to treatment and risks.   If I was already taking pain medicine I would try conservative treatment to see if I could reduce the need for the pain medicine.  As always, check with your prescribing physician first before any changes with medicine.

Atlas Orthogonal is great technique for someone with spinal pain.  If you are hurting, and are scared of anyone touching your spine, this is a good option.  It is a very light force that does not involve and twisting or popping.


Kathryn Larson,  registered nurse and chiropractor

Have you seen the recent articles that diabetes is on the rise in America?  It really is shocking how many more people are getting diabetes.  Working as a nurse for thirty years in big hospitals I did not need articles to tell me diabetes is on the rise.  I could tell more and more hospital patients were diabetic.  Sometimes  everyone of the patients I was taking care of in the hospital were diabetic.  

I am worried.  What is happening in America?   Is it  just genetics?  Is it the environment such as food or inactivity?   Is it medicine?  It is really hard to get to the root cause. 

I don't have the answers.  I am going to critically think of everything in my environment to protect myself and my family.


Best Regards,
Kathryn Larson,   RN, D.C.

I get asked this question a lot.  There are some things that you can do to help your alignment hold.


My first suggestion is to watch how you hold your head.  You should avoid holding your head tilted to the opposite side I adjust you on.   I am moving the atlas down on the side that is high.  If you tilt you head so the atlas is high it is undoing the adjustment.  I usually explain this to you after the first adjustment.  Watch how you hold your cell phones.  If you are on your cell phone a lot I would recommend a head set.


Look at the ergonomics at your desk.   If you are on a computer all day a desk top computer is better than a lap top.  I know you will lose the convenience of a lap top but there really is no good way to have a lap top ergonomically correct.  Good chairs are important.   It is very good to stretch every fifty minutes when you are on a computer.  The Healthy Back Store has lots of gadgets to help you get your work environment better.


Foot orthotics also help hold the alignment.  They are fantastic.  I used to provide orthotics but since there are so many place that do it now I stopped providing the service.    I prefer a place that scans your feet because you get a better orthotic.  The Good Feet Store is one of the places that provides this service.

I like yoga as a form of exercises.  My patients seem to really reduce their need for chiropractic treatment when they start yoga.  I also recommend a few sessions with a physical therapist to help design a exercise program for you.


Good nutrition also helps.   You need the proper vitamins and minerals to help strengthen the ligaments and cartilages.  I will be recommending some supplements for patients I feel need extra help.

I have many more thoughts and will keep updating this blog to help inform you.

 

To good health,

Dr. Kathryn Larson, chiropractor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhFhr7neoFI



This is a nice testimony on a patient who had vertigo.  The chiropractor in the video is Dr. Matthew Sweat, the son of Dr. Roy Sweat.  Dr. Roy Sweat developed the AO technique.