Archive for October, 2010
Cameron Park Chiropractor Reveals Another Study on Failed Back Surgeries
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As your Cameron Park chiropractor I feel that it is my obligation to pass along the results of a recent study regarding failed back surgeries: Did you know that complicated spine surgeries that involve fusing two or more vertebrae are actually on the rise? You may find it surprising, or even shocking, to discover that experts estimate that nearly 600,000 Americans opt for back operations each year, and according to a study published in Spine several months ago, in just 15 years, there has been an eight-fold jump in vertebrae fusion operations. That statistic has most chiropractors, many public health experts, and even some surgeons concerned. In fact, Dr. Charles Burton, medical director for The Center for Restorative Spine Surgery in St. Paul, MN, said that spine surgery and fusion has gotten way beyond what is reasonable or necessary, and that there are some areas of the country where the rate of spine surgery is three or four times the national average. What’s worse, according to the study, in many cases surgery can even backfire, leaving patients in more pain!
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine reviewed records from 1,450 patients in the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation database who had diagnoses of disc degeneration, disc herniation or radiculopathy, a nerve condition that causes tingling and weakness of the limbs. Half of the patients had surgery to fuse two or more vertebrae in hopes of curing low back pain. The other half had no surgery, even though they had comparable diagnoses. After two years, just 26 percent of those who had surgery returned to work. That’s compared to 67 percent of patients who didn’t have surgery. In what might be the most troubling study finding, researchers determined that there was a 41 percent increase in the use of painkillers, specifically opiates, in those who had surgery.
Researchers reviewed records from 1,450 patients in the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation database who had diagnoses of disc degeneration, disc herniation or radiculopathy, a nerve condition that causes tingling and weakness of the limbs. Half of the patients had surgery to fuse two or more vertebrae in hopes of curing low back pain. The other half had no surgery, even though they had comparable diagnoses.
After two years, just 26 percent of those who had surgery returned to work. That’s compared to 67 percent of patients who didn’t have surgery. In what might be the most troubling study finding, researchers determined that there was a 41 percent increase in the use of painkillers, specifically opiates, in those who had surgery. The study’s lead author, Dr. Trang Nguyen, said that the study provides clear evidence that for many patients, fusion surgeries designed to alleviate pain from degenerating discs don’t work.
I have said it before (many times before), but it bears repeating: Before choosing surgery to get rid of your back pain, call your chiropractor for conservative chiropractic treatment first. Your chiropractor is a spine expert who is committed to helping back pain sufferers get out of pain through natural, non-invasive procedures. Call today. You have nothing to lose but your back pain!
2555 Greenwood Ln Cameron Park, CA, 95682 USA
dr.yongkim@gmail.com • 530-677-7333
Cameron Park Chiropractor Discusses a Surprising Benefit of Exercise
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As I’ve written time and time again in my blogs, as a Cameron Park chiropractor I can’t say enough about the health benefits of exercise. And, I have to admit that I’d thought I’d run out of new exercise incentives to pass along to you. But, here’s one that you may not be aware of…exercise can actually help you to get a good night’s sleep. That’s right! Sleep experts say that an aerobic exercise routine during the day can offer relief from insomnia.
A recent study at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois tracked 23 previously sedentary adults, primarily women 55 and older, who had difficulty falling or staying asleep. After 16 weeks on an aerobics training program that included exercising on a treadmill or stationery bicycle, average sleep quality improved. Not only that bu one expert on sleep and exercise believes that an hour of exercise can do more good than an extra hour of sleep.
So, the next time you’re tempted to “sit it out” instead of rising to the occasion and exercising, remember that keeping with a regular exercise routine during the day can help you to have “sweet dreams” at night!
After blogging for most of the year about the benefits of exercise and the national need for obesity prevention, as your Cameron Park Chiropractor I am pleased and gratified to inform you that this month obesity prevention is being “officially emphasized” by that National Chiropractic Association. Since 2004, October has been National Chiropractic Health Month (NCHM), a nationwide campaign sponsored by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). Why are both the ACA and NCHM calling attention to obesity prevention, and not the more “traditional” focus on back pain, for instance? Well, the fact is that the ACA recognizes chiropractic professionals as preventive care providers with expertise in optimizing health, as well as treating musculoskeletal problems that result from accident, injury, or the aging process. This year’s theme, “Why Weight? Get Healthy,” highlights doctor-of-chiropractic approved prevention and treatment options for patients dealing with obesity. And, if you don’t already know from reading my past blogs, obesity affects more than 60 percent of adults in the United States (according to the Center for Disease Control). Dr. Rick McMichael, president of the ACA said, “This is an important opportunity to educate the public on the general health benefits of chiropractic care, which include so much more than simply the expert hands-on care that DCs are so well known for.”
As I have been writing about (and hopefully you have been reading about), obesity frequently has detrimental effects on the musculoskeletal system. Excess weight causes back and neck strain, and can contribute to osteoarthritis, which often keeps obese people from physical activity. This official emphasis on preventative healthcare provides important recognition and confirmation that in addition to pain relief and prevention, doctors of chiropractic are trained nutrition specialists, as well, and can offer natural ways for patients to combat obesity.
Dr. Gerard Clum, president of Life Chiropractic College West and also a spokes person for the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, stresses that there are many strategies that are used to address obesity concerns. The most important and the most well established are basic changes in lifestyle related to food, physical activity and personal motivation. “Doctors of chiropractic represent an under-utilized resource for addressing this critical health and societal concern,” says Clum. “The hands-on nature of chiropractic care lends itself to opportunities for advice, counseling and encouragement to address this important health risk.”
The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating the public on the many benefits associated with chiropractic care) is joining the ACA in this year’s obesity prevention campaign by offering the following healthy living tips:
- Follow a balanced diet – emphasize vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans
- Eat less harmful food – reduce intake of sugar, soda, fats and processed foods
- Drink plenty of water – try for several glasses a day
- Exercise regularly – aim for 20 – 30 minutes, three to four times a week
- Stay positive – the right attitude will lead to greater success
Source:
Foundation for Chiropractic Progress
Walk a Mile in “My Shoes,” Says Cameron Park Chiropractor, and Get Healthy!
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As a Cameron Park chiropractor I am well-aware of the toll that lack of exercise and excess weight takes on the musculoskeletal system over time. I see adverse effects such as wear and tear on knee and hip joints and shifts in the skeletal frame, especially the back, and weak muscle structure in many of my patients. If you have been reading my blogs, then you already know that I am a tireless advocate for the extraordinary health benefits of good nutrition and exercise. I have noted in my years of practice that many good habits, such as healthy nutrition and daily exercise, start early in a person’s life. And, of course, the same is true for bad habits, such as eating processed food, junk food, and too much food in general, as well as not getting enough exercise. Many children today are developing bad habits quickly, and it seems to me that there is not enough adult encouragement to change them.
I don’t know about you, but as a kid I was not only encouraged to eat my vegetables, such eating was mandatory if I wanted to be excused from the table. And, as far as exercise went, I walked to school or road my bike whenever the weather permitted. And, I wasn’t the only one. Did you know that in 1969, nearly 50 percent of children walked or biked to school? And, that percentage increased greatly the closer the children lived to school. In fact, 87 percent of kids living within one mile walked or biked to school! But, not these days. According to Safe Routes to School (SRTS) (a network of nonprofits, government agencies, and schools supporting a movement to encourage kids to walk to school) fewer than 15 percent of children today walk or bike to school!
The ramifications of this shift are that kids today are less active, less independent, and less healthy. In addition, many children are overweight or obese. Could walking to school make such a difference? Yes, according to one recent study that found that children ages 10 to 13 who walked to school daily were 80 per cent less likely to be obese than those who rode to school.
Are children today lazier or just plain spoiled? Do they sleep in more than we did as kids and start out for school too late to walk? Not necessarily. The main reason cited for this lack of simple exercise was safety. Not all neighborhoods have designated bike routes or sidewalks. Walking to school can be dangerous where there are no sidewalks and, in addition, many parents encourage their children to ride their bikes on sidewalks because they feel they are safer than riding with traffic. Social environment was another factor cited as a major concern to parents. But, where these concerns do not exist, it is important for parents to encourage their children to walk to school or ride a bike. Healthy childhood habits more often than not turn into healthy adult habits that, in turn, are beneficial to the entire body, from healthy organ function to a strong musculoskeletal system. (But watch out for the size and weight of those backpacks!)
To read more about safe routes to school, go to: saferoutespartnership.org
