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Happier people are healthier people who miss fewer work days, are more active and more productive. Make the choice today to be happier and to put that happiness out into your world.

You’ll likely be shocked with the way that choice improves your day.

Happiness returns exponentially. http://ow.ly/i/vWNFS

Your spine consists of 24 individual vertebrae stacked on top of each other. Flexible cushions called “discs” live between each set of vertebrae. A disc is made up of two basic components. The inner disc, called the “nucleus”, is like a ball of jelly about the size of a marble. This jelly is held in place by the outer part of the disc called the “annulus”, which is wrapped around the inner nucleus much like a ribbon wrapping around your finger. The term lumbar disc lesion means that your disc has been damaged.

Disc lesions start when the outer fibers of the disc become strained or frayed. If enough fibers become frayed, this can create a weakness and when the disc is compressed, the outer fibers may “bulge” or “protrude” like a weak spot on an inner tube. If more fibers are damaged, the nucleus of the disc may “herniate” outward. Since the spinal cord and nerve roots live directly behind the disc, bulges that are accompanied by inflammation will likely create lower back pain that radiates into the buttock or the entire lower extremity. This condition is called sciatica. If the disc bulge is significant enough to create a mechanical compression of your nerve, you may also experience loss of your reflexes and weakness. Be sure to let our office know if you notice progressive weakness or numbness, any numbness around your groin, any loss of bowel or bladder control or fever.

Surprisingly, disc bulges are present without any symptoms in about 1/3 of the adult population. Another one third of adults will experience pain from a lumbar disc at some point in their lifetime. The condition is more common in men. Most lumbar disc problems occur at one of the two lowest discs- L5 or L4. Smokers and people who are generally inactive have a higher risk of lumbar disc problems. Certain occupations may place you at a greater risk, especially if you spend extended periods of time sitting or driving. People who are tall or overweight have increased risk of disc problems. The condition is uncommon in children and is most common between the ages of 40 and 60.

Researches have shown that disc bulges and sciatica may be successfully managed with conservative care like the type we will provide. http://ow.ly/i/uGmaY

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#FathersDay at the #USOpen …. I’ll be on the couch if you need me. http://ow.ly/i/vOdCP

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Your hip socket or “acetabulum” is covered by smooth, glassy cartilage extending all the way to its outer rim. The term “Femoroacetabular impingement” (FAI) means that this rim of cartilage is being pinched when you move your hip into certain positions. Repetitive pinching results in irritation, tearing, or even detachment of this cartilage from your hip socket.

FAI occurs because of a mismatch between the head of your femur and the socket of your hip. The mismatch may be from an abnormally shaped hip bone (cam deformity), or having too much cartilage on the rim of your hip socket (pincer deformity). Most frequently, FAI results from a combination of both (combined or mixed deformity).
FAI is most common in young active people. Although the deformity may be present on both sides, symptoms are usually one-sided. The condition is equally common among men and women. Symptoms of FAI include a constant dull pain with periods of sharp pain, made worse by activity. Walking, pivoting, prolonged sitting, stair climbing, and impact activities like running or jumping can aggravate your symptoms. Snapping, locking, and clicking are common.

Our office will help direct a rehab program to maximize your chance of recovery. You should attempt to stay active, but avoid activities that aggravate symptoms. You may consider temporarily switching to low-impact activities, like stationary biking or water-walking. You should avoid motions that combine flexion and internal rotation, like- getting out of a car with one leg at a time, swimming the breaststroke, or performing squats. Patients with FAI should avoid excessive stretching, as this could aggravate the condition, but will likely benefit from strengthening exercises in the type of treatment provided in this office. http://ow.ly/i/uUeNI

Moving day at the #USOpen . Who is going to make their move today? http://ow.ly/i/vOdqZ

Very interesting article outlining why your Chiropractor is an excellent choice as part of your primary care team. In our office we aim to be your go to provider for pain and dysfunction. If more people are aware of our ability to diagnose, treat and refer when needed then we can take a big chunk of the overuse problem out of MD’s offices. MD’s are the place to be for your cough, cold and illness but Chiropractors are an excellent option for pain presentations.

Mechanical back pain accounts for over 15 million office visits a year ( http://ow.ly/83dD30cEs1x ). If only a fraction of those presented instead to their Chiropractor then you’d see a great decrease in wait times for GP visits, less burnout of GP’s & better results in numerous areas of care (work days lost, patient satisfaction, healthcare dollars spent on back pain, opioid addictions).

You have many options when dealing with back pain; Chiropractic is a primary one.

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