Welcome to Coldwater Chiropractic & Wellness Center

You have made a smart decision to seek a drug-free natural approach to correcting your spine and spine related problems. Doctors of Chiropractic are trained to find and correct Subluxations, which are the causes of your health problems. Subluxations are vertebrae that are out of place in the spine, these Subluxations may cause pain, numbness and tingling, reduced range of motion, arthritis, and many other conditions. Other health professions often treat Subluxations with drugs, such as muscle relaxants and anti-inflamatories, which can be costly with little or no benefit. Also, drugs can have immediate side effects including depression, nausea, headaches, weight gain, and many other short-term problems, as well as long term side effects that do not become evident until years later. Did you know over 230,000 people are hospitalized each year from the side effects of their medications? Traditional medicine treats only the symptoms of your condition rather than the primary cause. We believe that when only the symptoms are treated (rather than the cause) the problem will only root itself deeper, often causing more serious problems in the future.

You have chosen a healthy and affordable approach to correcting your spinal condition. Chiropractic has proven itself to be cost effective as well as medically effective! The average cost for chiropractic treatment is often less than that of traditional medical management of the same condition. The cost of one MRI (the usual test performed by MD’s on spine problems) is often greater than the total cost for complete Chiropractic care for the condition.

As you can see, Chiropractic is the right choice for your spine-related problems. Let’s discuss how. We will ask questions about falls and injuries that you may not have considered important. We will take a detailed history on your health. We will perform many orthopedic and neurological tests as well as a physical examination. We will usually take x-rays, especially if we feel your condition may be serious. X-rays give us a blueprint to correcting the cause of your condition. We believe that even thought two patients may have the same disorder, they may not need treatment in the same manner. We will approach each case with individualized treatment. Regardless of where your pain may be, you will find that we will spend a lot of time checking and rechecking your spine as your treatment plan progresses.

As Chiropractors, we are interested in restoring and maintaining your spinal cord and spinal nerves, allowing your brain to properly communicate with your body. We restore this communication through a process known as spinal Adjustments. Adjustments are the manipulations of vertebrae by Chiropractors that relieve nerve pressure. Adjustments are usually delivered where areas of nerve interference are found, near tiny holes in the spine called foramina. It is in the foramina where you develop a “pinched nerve.” This happens when vertebrae and the discs between them, are twisted out of normal position due to injury, strain, or poor posture producing an irritation on the nerve. This pinching effect can cause great damage because every cell of your body receives nerve impulses either directly or indirectly from your brain via your spinal cord and spinal nerves. It is estimated that each of your forty-six spinal nerves carry 300,000 tiny nerves that communicate with your organs, muscles, and skin thereby controlling all of your bodily functions. If the nerve flow is interfered with or lost, you may experience pain and/or loss of some of your bodily functions.

You have probably heard of how Chiropractic has helped others. That may be why you came to our office. But your question is “Can Chiropractic help me?” We have built our reputation on helping others. We would not have accepted your case unless we felt there was a good chance of helping you! If there were only a fifty-fifty chance of helping you, we would tell you that as well and leave the choice to you.

No doubt you may be wondering what the costs to you will be. This will vary depending on the severity of your condition and they type of care that is needed. You will find our charges to be very reasonable. Should you have any questions about our charges feel free to ask before treatment.

How long will it take to recover from my ailment? This answer also varies with the circumstances of your case. The answer lies with how long your condition has been developing, your age, lifestyle, commitment to treatment, and the kind of physical shape you maintain. You can be assured that we will proceed as quickly as we can to stabilize your condition. In the following pages you will find information and charts that plainly show the relationship of your spine to the various parts of your body. On the charts, located the organ that is giving you discomfort. Trace the nerve back from that organ to the spine. That is the lifeline of that organ. If no nerve impulses reach that organ, it becomes dysfunctional and will die. If only a limited amount of impulses reach that organ it will become sick. Now work it from the other way, take that vertebrae that is giving you the most discomfort and trace it back to the organs, these organs can be affected from a Subluxation at that vertebral level. Chiropractic adjustments will allow normal nerve impulses to be restored and therefore allowing the recuperative powers of your body to maintain and even increase your overall health.

Vertebral Subluxation Complex

I would like to talk about five very important components that make up the Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC). Yes, this is the Chiropractic way we refer to your condition. It is the Subluxation from which many people suffer their headaches, stiff necks, backaches, and many other conditions. Clinical scientists refer to the Vertebral Subluxation as a “complex”, an interrelated condition.

Spinal Kinesiopathology (improper joint motion): Physical injury, emotional stress, or chemical imbalance can cause the vertebrae of your spine to lose their proper motion and position. This prevents normal turning and bending. It sets in motion the other four components of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex
Neuropathophysiology (abnormal nerve function): Abnormal spinal function can cause rubbing, pinching, stretching or irritation of delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nervous system interference can cause numbness, burning or a tingling sensation and may affect the organs and systems controlled by these nerves.
Myopathology (abnormal muscle funntion): Muscles supporting the spine can weaken and atrophy or become tight and go into spasm. Scar tissue penetrates these muscles and changes their elasticity. Repeated adjustments help restore and retrain muscles to support the spine properly.
Histopathology (redness and swelling): A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supply results in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, and degenerate while other soft tissues may suffer irreversible damage.
Pathophysiology (osteoarthritis): Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This relentless degenerative process, long-term nerve irritation, and scar tissue can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.

These five components of Vertebral Subluxation Complex are well recognized in published literature in both the Chiropractic and Medical community. Chiropractors are the health care professionals trained to find, correct and help prevent Subluxations.

What happens when my spine “Pops?”

We hear this question every day! A common fallacy is that the sound comes from bones clicking against each other as they move. Some people use the word “crack”, as in “getting my back cracked”, to describe this sound. Unfortunately, this expression is bound to scare off more than a few people from receiving the Chiropractic care they may need.

Let’s take a look at what really causes the noise you often hear when you receive an adjustment. First, you should understand the structure of a joint. Where two bones come together, there is a smooth surface on each end, which fits very snugly together, allowing them to glide across each other. Inside the joint, between the two bones, there is a fluid that allows the joint to glide easily and freely. Surrounding the joint on the all sides are ligaments that hold the bones very tightly together, which keeps the lubricating fluid from escaping. These ligaments actually form a tight capsule that seals off the joint from the rest of the body.

All fluids in our bodies have gas dissolved in them; for instance, oxygen is dissolved in the blood. The lubrication fluid of the joints contains dissolved gases, primarily nitrogen. Whenever a stretch is applied to a joint the ligaments that make up the joint capsule are also stretched. This causes the space between the two bones to get wider. The pressure, which is normally exerted on the joint fluid, is rapidly decreased. When you look at a bottle of soda water under pressure it looks like regular water, but as soon as you open the cap and release the pressure, bubbles of gas start coming out of nowhere. This is because the gas was dissolved in the water and under pressure. In the same way, when the joint is stretched and the pressure is released, the inert gas dissolved in the joint fluid bubbles out of the joint fluid and makes a popping sound similar to the sound made when opening a bottle of champagne. This can happen in any joint of the body: spine, shoulders, knees, and your knuckles. After a joint has been “popped”, it takes about a half an hour for the gas bubble to become absorbed into the fluid again. That is why a joint will not pop two consecutive times in a row.

Sometimes an Adjustment will not cause a pop, which does not mean the adjustment wasn’t successful or that the doctor didn’t “get it.” Research has shown that a joint space must open up about 40 percent to create a popping sound. When there is no pop it simply means that the joint was not opened far enough to cause bubbles to pop in the joint fluid. But, it may have been opened enough to restore proper movement to the joint! When we adjust a joint, we are not necessarily trying to create a pop, but instead restore joint motion.

Can I adjust myself?

NO! It is impossible to know for certainty, which vertebrae are “out”. You just can’t do all the things necessary to find a Subluxation yourself.

Secondly, it is impossible to adjust yourself properly. I have seen people who “pop” their own necks or have someone “pop” their backs. This is a crude adjustment that can cause more harm than good. When a person adjusts his/her own neck or back, an unspecific movement is used that may give a temporary feeling of relief through the release of endorphins and enkaphlins. The unspecific rotation cause micro-tears in the ligaments and tendons. This eventually leads to instability of the support structures in that region.

People who pop their own backs and necks find the more they try to adjust, the more damage they do, so more adjustments will fell necessary to relieve their discomfort. When people persist in attempting to adjust themselves, they could be causing permanent damage to the structures in the self-adjusted area. Often times this damage becomes so severe it becomes much harder for the Chiropractor to reverse this process due to the eventual scar tissue formation.

Physiotherapy

It has been determined that physiotherapy would be beneficial in the correction of your health problems. Along with the spinal adjustment, physiotherapy can help speed your recovery by reducing pain and inflammation, increasing microscopic blood flow and inducing microscopic movement of tissue. This will help the adjustment hold its place and allow quicker correction of your spinal related condition. Physiotherapy will be used even after your pain and symptoms have resolved. This is to continually promote the subclinical repair that occurs for months and even years later. The following is a list and description of the therapies available to you!

Interferential

Interferential current therapy works on an “interference” basis by crossing two alternating currents in the body. This therapy works deep in the body’s tissues. It is very effective in pain reduction, reducing swelling (especially due to trauma), and promoting the healing process in bones and tussues. This terapy is especially effective on extreme conditions.

Moist Heat Packs

Moist heat will increase the temperature of the superficial layers of tissue where the application is applied. This rise in temperature will help to reduce muscle spasms and pain along with increasing blood flow to the area, allowing the area to receive more nutrients to help repair itself quicker. Moist heat will also increase the elasticity of the tissue and when used with exercise can help increase the range of motion.

Cold Packs

Cold packs are used primarily in acute conditions to decrease swelling, muscle spasms, and to provide temporary relief from pain. Cold packs are useful in the early stages of healing, usually the first three to five days.

Cox Distraction Technique

Cox distraction technique is used primarily to provide passive motion and traction to the spine. These functions have been shown to help restore motion in the spine and help restore healthy joint tissue. The increased joint motion helps to prevent degeneration and increase blood supply in the tissues. This technique helps to relieve nerve root pinching, disc problems and promotes management of scoliosis-type conditions. Cox distraction is generally most helpful in chronic degenerative conditions and may take several months for maximum rehabilitation to occur. Periodic treatment may be necessary to maintain and help prevent further degenerative changes.

YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN OUR OFFICE. If you have any questions about your care do not hesitate to ask any questions. If you prefer one therapy to another or one adjustment technique as compared to another please let us know. We want to do what works best for you!

The Return of your good spinal health takes time!

Our goal is good spinal health! The spine cannot be corrected with a “couple of adjustments”. It is possible to be pain-free in two or three adjustments, however, correction of Subluxations or misaligned vertebrae occurs over a period of time. The time for correction depends on many variables such as the severity of your injury; how long you have had your symptoms before treatment, as well as, what is causing your symptoms. Younger patients heal faster. The body’s ability to change slows as we age. Another critical variable is how dedicated you are to the resolution of your spinal condition.

A good example of your body’s ability to adapt to change is straightening of your teeth. With braces, your teeth positions change relatively slowly. With your spine too, change happens slowly with adjustments, exercises, therapeutic modalities and other supports. A Dentist may prescribe using a retainer for your teeth and we may prescribe a cervical pillow, back brace or support, a heel lift or a pair of orthotics. These products will help promote the changes we are attempting to make in your spine.

It is important for you to keep up with the series of adjustments even after your pain or symptoms are gone! This is because your body needs time to accommodate change. A new patient will be adjusted more often during the first stages of care. This is because your body is used to your current condition and will want to return to it initially.

As your body accepts the adjustments, you will begin to “hold” the adjustment. This is a positive sign that your are beginning on the road to good spinal health. As treatment progresses you may feel better – that is, your pain or symptoms may subside. Do not make the mistake of thinking you are cured. The relief of pain or symptoms does not necessarily mean the correction of your Subluxations or misaligned vertebrae has occurred. It is very important to maintain your regular adjustments. only reexamination will determine if correction has occurred.

Suggestions To Follow During Spinal Correction

Avoid rubbing, probing, or “poking” in the areas the doctor adjusts.
Avoid sudden twists or turns of movement beyond normal limits of motion, especially the neck.
Avoid extreme bending of your spine in any direction: avoid stretching, reaching or other overhead work. Be particularly careful when brushing or shampooing your hair.
Avoid bending or stooping sharply to pick up objects; rather, bend your knees to minimize the strain on your lower back.
When lifting, keep your back straight; bend your knees and let your legs bear the strain. Hold the object lifted as close to your body as possible.
When bathing, sit rather than recline in the tub. Lying back against the tub may cause a vertebra to slip out of its normal position. If you are tired and wish to relax, it’s better to lie in bed.
Participate in simple exercises to strengthen your body, but avoid jarring activities which place stress on your neck and spine.
Watch your posture at all times; stand tall, sleep tall and THINK tall!!

Rest, Relaxation and Sleep

Set aside a special time of each day for complete mental and physical relaxation. This is important in the restoration – as well as maintenance – of normal health.
When sitting, choose a chair that has adequate firmness to hold your weight comfortably, and then sit straight. Avoid too soft, overstuffed chairs. Recliner chairs are acceptable if they are constructed so that when you are reclining your back is in a normal, straight position.
Cross your legs only at the ankles, not the knees. Crossing your legs at the knees could aggravate an existing back condition as well as interfere with the circulation to the lower limbs.
Be sure to get plenty of sleep to allow your body to recuperate and repair.
Sleep on a firm mattress, preferably one which is neither too hard nor too soft, but just firm enough to hold your body level while at the same time soft enough so that your shoulders, buttocks, etc., will depress into the mattress.
Your pillow should be neither too high nor too low. The ideal pillow is one which supports your head so your neck vertebrae will be level with the rest of your spine. Avoid sleeping on two pillows; never lie on a couch with your head on the arm rest.
Sleep on your back or on your side with your legs flexed slightly, not drawn up tightly. Avoid sleeping on your stomach. Raise your head off the pillow when changing positions.
Rise from your bed by turning on your side and swing your legs off the bed, then push yourself into a sitting position with your arms, thus minimizing the amount of strain on your back.
Do not read or watch TV in bed, particularly with your head propped at a sharp or strained angle.
Do not sleep sitting in a chair or in cramped quarters. Lie down in bed when it is time to sleep.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY PHASE OF YOUR HEALTH CARE…. FEEL FREE TO ASK THE DOCTOR.