Steve Kerr was a fit 49-year-old former professional athlete who regularly golfed and surfed. Then his back started bothering him.

The Golden State Warriors had recently won the 2015 NBA championship when their coach found himself in excruciating pain. It became so bad that Mr. Kerr struggled to walk. He decided to undergo surgery to repair a ruptured disk. Now he regrets it.

“If you have a back problem, stay away from surgery,” Steve Kerr, now 51, said to reporters in April. “I can say that from the bottom of my heart. Rehab, rehab, rehab.”

-The Wall Street Journal May 13, 2017. http://ow.ly/i/uWvv7

Your Median Nerve begins in your neck and travels down your arm on its way to your hand. This nerve is responsible for sensation on the palm side of your first 3 ½ fingers and also controls some of the muscles that flex your fingers. The median nerve can sometimes become entrapped near your elbow as it travels through a muscle called the “pronator teres”. Compression of the median nerve by the pronator muscle is called “Pronator Syndrome.”

Pronator syndrome is often brought on by prolonged or repeated wrist and finger movements, i.e., gripping with the palm down. Carpenters, mechanics, assembly line workers, tennis players, rowers, and weight lifters are predisposed to this problem. The condition is more common in people with excessively developed forearm muscles and is also more common in your dominant arm. Pronator syndrome most often affects adults age 45-60 and females are affected about four times more frequently than males. People who suffer from diabetes, thyroid disease, and alcoholism have an increased risk for developing pronator syndrome.
Pronator syndrome produces symptoms very similar to a more common cause of median nerve compression called “carpal tunnel syndrome”.

Symptoms of pronator syndrome include numbness, tingling, or discomfort on the palm side of your thumb, index, middle finger, and half of your ring finger. The discomfort often begins near the elbow and radiates toward your hand. Your symptoms are likely aggravated by gripping activities, especially those that involve rotation of the forearm, like turning a doorknob or a screwdriver. Unlike carpal tunnel syndrome, pronator syndrome symptoms are not generally present at night. You may sometimes feel as though your hands are clumsy. In more severe cases, hand weakness can develop.

To help resolve your condition, you should avoid activities that involve repetitive hand and forearm movements. Perhaps the most important aspect of your treatment plan is to avoid repetitive forceful gripping. You may apply ice packs or ice massage directly over the pronator teres muscle for ten minutes at a time or as directed by our office. In some cases, an elbow splint may be used to limit forearm movements. If left untreated, pronator syndrome can result in permanent nerve damage. Fortunately, our office has several treatment options available to help resolve your symptoms. http://ow.ly/i/uGU2e

The bone on the outermost portion of your lower leg is called the “fibula.” Your fibula is joined to the larger “tibia” at the ankle and the knee. These connections allow for better function and dispersal of weight (1/6th of your body weight is supported by the fibula).

Proper function of your knee requires natural gliding movements of the tibia/ fibula joint. The diagnosis of “Fibular head dysfunction” means that this joint has been “sprained” or has become “stuck” in an abnormal position. Fibular head problems affect all age groups but are particularly common in young females.
Problems involving the fibular head are often the result of an injury to your leg, hamstring, or ankle. Sports and activities that require violent twisting motions with the knee bent are particularly suspect. Athletes who participate in football, soccer, rugby, wrestling, gymnastics, judo, broad jumping, dancing, long jumping, and skiing may be more likely to suffer this type of injury. Patients who sprain their ankle or slip and fall with their knee flexed under their body may suffer fibular head problems. Sometimes, symptoms begin without an identifiable injury.

Patients with fibular head problems generally complain of pain on the outside of their knee. Symptoms become more intense with weight bearing or when applying pressure over the irritated area. Sometimes, the condition affects both knees at the same time. In more severe cases, you may experience numbness or tingling on the outside of your leg. Be sure to tell your doctor if you notice numbness, tingling, or weakness in your leg or ankle.

In most cases, fibular head dysfunction is treatable with conservative care, like the type provided in our office. Initially, you may need to limit excessive twisting movements and hyperflexion, (i.e. heel to butt.) Taping or bracing may help patients who have suffered a sprain or have an “unstable” joint. http://ow.ly/i/uGX2E

Neck pain affects over half of the population at some point in their life. Neck pain is second only to lower back pain as a cause of lost workdays. One of the most common causes of neck pain comes from a restricted joint in your neck.

Your neck is made up of seven bones stacked on top of each other with a soft “disc” between each segment to allow for flexibility. Normally, each joint in your neck should move freely and independently.

To help visualize this, imagine a normal neck functioning like a big spring moving freely in every direction. A neck with a joint restriction is like having a section of that spring welded together. The spring may still move as a whole, but a portion of it is no longer functioning.

Joint restrictions can develop in many ways. Sometimes they are brought on by an accident or an injury. Other times, they develop from repetitive strains or poor posture. Restricted joints give rise to a self-perpetuating cycle of discomfort. Joint restriction causes swelling and inflammation, which triggers muscular guarding leading to more restriction. Since your spine functions as a unit, rather than as isolated pieces, a joint restriction in one area of your spine often causes “compensatory” problems in another.

Joint restrictions most commonly cause local tenderness and discomfort. You may notice that your range of motion is limited. Moving your head and neck may increase your discomfort. Pain from a restricted joint often trickles down to your shoulders and upper back. Headaches, light-headedness and/or jaw problems may result from joint restrictions in your upper neck.

Our office offers several tools to help ease your pain. To speed your recovery, you should avoid carrying heavy bags or purses on your shoulder, as this may aggravate your condition. Be sure to take frequent breaks from sedentary activity. http://ow.ly/i/uSbXs

2017 is shaping up as a great year to be a chiropractor. In February, the American College of Physicians published a Clinical Practice Guideline recommending spinal manipulation for acute, sub-acute, and chronic LBP. (1) Last month JAMA published a systematic review of 26 randomized clinical trials that highlighted the safety and effectiveness of spinal manipulation for low back pain. (2)

Now, The FDA has published a Blueprint for Healthcare Providers designed to decrease the utilization of Opioids and increase provider’s awareness of safer, effective conservative options for musculoskeletal pain. (3) Among the FDA recommendations:
“A number of nonpharmacologic therapies are available that can play an important role in managing pain, particularly musculoskeletal pain and chronic pain: (Specifically including) Complimentary therapies i.e. acupuncture and chiropractic.
HCPs should be knowledgeable about the range of available therapies, when they may be helpful, and when they should be used as part of a multidisciplinary approach to pain management.”

Two prominent medical journals have told the medical community what chiropractors and their patient have known for many years- Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation is safe and effective and should be the first choice for musculoskeletal pain. Now the FDA is advising all healthcare providers to learn more about these options and incorporate them into care plans.

References
1. Qaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, Forciea MA, for the Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians. Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. [Epub ahead of print 14 February 2017] 2. Paige NM, Miake-Lye IM, Booth MS, et al. Association of Spinal Manipulative Therapy With Clinical Benefit and Harm for Acute Low Back Pain; Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA. 2017;317(14):1451-1460.

3. FDA Education Blueprint for Health Care Providers Involved in the Management or Support of Patients with Pain. May 2017. Accessed from https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/NewsEvents/UCM557071.pdf on May 12, 2015 http://ow.ly/i/uS5KK

Some great information in this video and well presented. What is the single best thing YOU do for your health?

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The term “thoracic outlet” describes an area at the base of your neck, just above your collarbone. Some important nerves and vessels pass through this outlet on their way into your arm. Compression of these tissues causes a condition called “thoracic outlet syndrome” which results in pain, numbness or tingling in your arm.
Several different factors can cause Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, commonly referred to as TOS. Sometimes TOS is caused from tightness in the muscles of your neck and chest, other times the space between your first rib and collarbone is too small. People who have an extra rib (cervical rib) and people who have recently suffered a neck injury may have a greater chance of having this problem.

The condition is aggravated by poor posture and by occupations that promote “slouching,” i.e., computer users, assembly line workers, supermarket checkers and students. Swimmers, volleyball players, tennis players, baseball pitchers and occupations requiring prolonged overhead activity. i.e., electricians and painters are also prime candidates for TOS.

Symptoms of TOS include arm pain, numbness, tingling and possible weakness. Neck, arm and hand pain may begin slowly and are often aggravated by elevation of the arms or excessive head movement. Loss of grip strength is possible.
Conservative treatment, like the kind we provide, has been shown to be effective at treating TOS.

You should avoid carrying heavy loads, especially on your shoulder i.e., carpet rolls. Briefcases, laptop cases or heavy shoulder bags should be lightened. Bra straps may need additional padding or consideration of replacement with a sports bra. http://ow.ly/i/uGLXZ

An interesting discussion. I feel like the more this is looked into the more likely we are to find that this interpretation of the information is correct and that the big bad isn’t saturated fats but chronic inflammation.

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Your mattress and the position you sleep in may affect your condition.

✓ Choose a mattress that provides medium or firm support, such as a traditional coil spring or adjustable airbed. Avoid waterbeds, thick pillow tops and soft, sagging mattresses.

✓ Always sleep on your back with a pillow either underneath your knees or on your side with a pillow between your knees. Avoid sleeping on your stomach.

✓ Keep your neck and back covered while sleeping to avoid drafts that could cause potential muscle spasms. http://ow.ly/i/uGj1n

Happy Mother’s Day! http://ow.ly/i/uLX4V