Fibromyalgia Syndrome Today

Although living in the modern world does have its advantages, for every upside there is a downside. One of the side effects of our leisurely, sedentary lifestyle is a new crop of diseases and conditions that prey on our inactive bodies. Medical science is still finding ways to deal with these new conditions, which seem to defy how diseases traditionally work. One of the most crippling of these new conditions is fibromyalgia, a pain disorder that is affecting a growing number of individuals in the Western world. In this article, I will explore what we currently know about fibromyalgia syndrome and current treatment methods, as well as how sufferers can deal with their condition on their own.

The technical definition of fibromyalgia comes from the Latin words for fiber, muscle, and pain – it refers to unexplained pain in the muscle and connective tissue. Fibromyalgia syndrome expresses itself in chronic widespread pain and an increased sensitivity to touch. Sufferers often cannot partake in normal life activities due to the intense discomfort the disease causes them. There are some additional symptoms as well, including fatigue, joint stiffness and an inability to sleep. Many patients also experience a condition of mental dysfunction, referred to as “fibrofog,” which further disrupts their operations.

Fibromyalgia syndrome is currently quite controversial within the medical establishment. Many doctors believe that the disease is entirely psychosomatic, as physical examinations of a number of sufferers have revealed absolutely no physical markers of the disease. However, new research is pointing the way towards a diagnosis of abnormalities in the brain and central nervous system, which may lead to new methods of treatment. The causes of these abnormalities are still undetermined – there may be genetic factors at play as well as environmental ones.

Courses of treatment for fibromyalgia syndrome vary depending on the extent of the symptoms and the nature of the doctor. Many patients use prescription pain relievers to manage their condition, but a growing body of study is leading more and more doctors to use nutritional and physical therapies to get it under control. One of the most useful treatments in relieving fibromyalgia syndrome pain and the associated sleep loss that accompanies it is regular low-intensity exercise. In addition, massage and other physical therapies can assist in pain management.

Fibromyalgia is a deeply misunderstood disease, and hopefully we can find a cure as soon as possible.

For more information on fibromyalgia, please contact our Union City chiropractor office, our San Lorenzo chiropractor office, or our Fremont chiropractor office.

Union City Chiropractic Care and Children

We all experience pain and discomfort at one time or another. This pain and discomfort can be caused by many factors, including injury, arthritis, and poor joint use. Pain is not a walk in the park. When children suffer the pain, it can be unbearable, for both them and parents. If your child complains of pain or difficulty moving, your first thought may be to take them to their primary care physician. Yes, you can, but why not opt for natural relief? You can get it with Union City chiropractic care.

If you didn’t already know, chiropractic care is a natural form of medicine. Patients can opt to take over-the-counter pain relievers, but they are rarely needed when proper treatment is sought. Chiropractic care involves manual therapy, also known as hand therapy. A child suffering from neck pain may need neck realignment or regular therapeutic massages. A child suffering from constant and severe headaches may need a vertebrae alignment. These treatments sound complicated, but they are all done with precision force and with the hands.

One of the first questions parents ask is about safety. Many wonder if chiropractic care is safe for children. Yes. In fact, it is safer than most forms of traditional medicine. Your child’s primary care physician may prescribe pain reliever. Both prescribed and over-the-counter pain relievers are risky for children. There are many risks and typically some side effects. Chiropractors cannot prescribe medication. Most wouldn’t want to anyways. Instead, natural treatment is sought and through the hands. The treatment will depend on the diagnosis made, but remember it is usually a joint adjustment or a therapeutic massage. These are 100% all natural and not risky.

Another important point parents, like yourself, are urged to consider is long-term relief. Many mistakenly believe that chiropractic care is long-term. It can be, but not always. Parents and chiropractors develop long-term treatment plans together. If your child’s lower back problems were caused by improper posture, therapeutic massages or readjustment may be necessary, but continued treatment is usually rare. At our Union City chiropractic office, your child’s chiropractor will however discuss the importance of proper posture with you and your child and share helpful tips.

If your child needs long-term care, cost may be a concern. Although some classify chiropractic care as alternative medicine, many insurance companies extend coverage. Talk to your insurance provider and find a chiropractor that accepts it. If uninsured, inquire about payment plans.

As previously stated, a primary care physician may prescribe over-the-counter pain pills for the pain and offer a brace for support. These are only temporarily solutions to the problem. Many physicians only treat the symptoms, not the problem at hand. As previously stated, a child suffering from neck pain may need an adjustment or realignment. With chiropractic care, this is done with precise hand manipulation. A primary care physician is likely to write a prescription for pain pills, slap a brace on your child, and send them on their way.

As shown above, chiropractic care is safe for individuals of all ages, including children. Still, there are many ways that you can eliminate the need for chiropractic care. In fact, it might be a lot easier than you think. For starters, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) claims that poor quality backpacks and improper use can lead to lower back pain in children. So, if you are the parent of a school aged child, make sure your child’s bag is less than 10% of their weight, do not let it hang too far below the waistline, keep pointy objects away from your child’s back, and choose a backpack with wide and adjustable straps.

Another easy way to reduce pain and discomfort in children is encourage proper posture as a parent. This is particularly important today, as children spend many hours watching television, playing video games, and using a computer. Encourage your child to sit up straight. This simple step can later reduce the likelihood of back and neck pain.

Union City Chiropractors Share How to Avoid Needing a Chiropractor

Our chiropractors in Union City see many patients. We know first hand that chiropractic care has many benefits. It relives pain for either a longtime or permanently. Although you do not need a reason to seek chiropractic care, because this natural form of medicine is safe, most turn to our Union City chiropractors when in pain. If you are uninsured or have coverage that does not extend to chiropractic care, you want to limit your visits. How can you reduce the need for a chiropractor?

With good posture. Poor posture is the leading cause of back and neck pain. It is important to sit up straight, but vital when sitting at a desk or computer eight hours a day. If you have slouched for years, still visit a chiropractor. They can see if any damage has been done and fix it. Then, work on correcting your posture. Each time you find yourself slouching, sit up straight.

With good exercise habits. Those who want to lose weight, rely heavily on exercise to achieve their goal. Unfortunately, many make costly mistakes. These mistakes include overdoing it and poor exercise habits. Lifting weights is good for building muscle strength, but it is easy to damage the back, spine, and other joints. Hold all weight right and choose a low weight. Never overdo it. Stop exercising when tired.

With ideal weight. Not only should you exercise, but eat healthy too. When combined these should result in weight loss or the maintaining of a healthy body weight. Those who are overweight or obese are at an increased risk of back pain, neck pain, and knee pain. The body can carry around excess weight, but it isn’t healthy. Lose weight, maintain a healthy weight, and you eliminate the need for chiropractic care.

With good stretching habits. Everyone should stretch. It is important to stretch before any strenuous activity, but some can benefit from regular stretching. Those with rheumatoid arthritis can seek relief pain relief and reduce the risk of stiffness and deformities. Stretching can promote healthy joints and muscles, which should reduce the need for a chiropractor.

With good sleeping habits. A lot of focus is placed on our activities during the day, but how you sleep can also bring on pain and the need for a chiropractor. For starters, always sleep on a bed. It is easy to fall asleep on a couch or in a recliner when watching television, but prolonged sleep in this position can lead to pain. A good mattress is also important. Even if on a budget, a good, quality mattress is a wise investment.

With good lifting habits. We all lift things. Whether it be boxes when moving, grocery bags from shopping, or when shoveling snow, we all do it. Most people do not lift properly. Yes, it is easier to lift with your arms and elbows, but this places a strain on all joints. The spice, back, and neck are susceptible to pain. Instead, lift with your entire body. Bend your knees and keep your back straight. Never carry loads that are too heavy.

As you can see, there are many ways to reduce or eliminate the need for a chiropractor. What are you waiting for? Get started now. But, if you are getting a late start in life, see a chiropractor first. Ensure all joints and the spine are in tact and properly. Then, get started.

If you need to contact our chiropractors in Union City, please call 510-324-0100.

5 Reasons to Take Your Child to the Chiropractor

Are you a parent? No parent wants to see their children in pain, but it does happen from time to time. Children occasionally get headaches, suffer from allergies, get earaches, and have back pain. Basically, the list is endless. As a parent, you know that children are like magnets to injuries, pain, and illness. Although most are minor, care should be sought, but where should you turn? Instead of heading to your child’s primary care physician, head to a local children chiropractor. Why? Here are 5 reasons.

1 – It Is Safe

Chiropractic care is natural medicine. For that reason, it is safe. If your child experiences pain and discomfort, their primary care physician is likely to suggest over-the-counter pain relievers or prescribe prescription medication. This may work, but the pain usually returns. Why? They only mask the problem. Yes, some forms of pain and discomfort may disappear on their own with time and self-care, but there may be a more serious underlying issue. You will not know unless you turn to a chiropractor. Their job is to treat the pain by going directly to the source and fixing the problem.

Chiropractic care involves manual, hands on, therapy. Since medications are not prescribed and the hands provide treatment, it is safe for individuals of all ages, including children.

2 – Most Treatment is Covered by Health Insurance

It is no secret that raising kids is expensive. Add in the cost of medical care, and the overall cost soars. Luckily, many insurance providers extend coverage for chiropractic care. Some will offer discounts for opting for an in-network provider, but you can seek care anywhere your insurance is accepted.

If your family is not covered by medical insurance, there are still benefits to seeking care. Just look for a chiropractor with affordable rates or one who is willing to set up a flexible payment plan.

3 – They Treat a Wide Range of Problems

Many adults mistakenly believe that chiropractors only treat spinal, back, and neck problems. Yes, this is their specialty, but more is offered. For example, did you know that a chiropractor can treat and lessen the onset of earaches and ear infections? They can. Blocked draining pathways cause most ear infections. Chiropractic adjustments and therapeutic massages are used to open up those pathways and promote the proper flow of fluid. Basically, if your child is experiencing pain, no matter how often or severe, a chiropractor can provide relief and that relief is usually long-lasting.

4 – It Is Easy to Find a Chiropractor

If you are unfamiliar with chiropractic care, you may have not given any thought to the offices in your area. You may have driven past one each day on the way to work. Turn to your local phonebook, a standard internet search, online business directories, or your insurance company to find a local chiropractor. If you are in the SF Bay Area, give our chiropractors in Fremont or Union City a call and schedule an appointment for your child. It really is as easy as that!

5 – The Benefits

Last, but not least, there are many benefits to chiropractic care. As previously stated, medications are not prescribed. Treatment is natural and safe. It is also long-lasting, as chiropractors do not mask the pain, they treat it. As a parent, this should be very important. Successful chiropractic care can allow your child to return to their happy normal self. Reduced pain and increased mobility means more fun and less suffering.

TMJ Fremont

“TMJ,” Fremont Chiropractor Dr. Hans Freericks explains, “can absolutely be treated with chiropractic care.” If you are unfamiliar with TMJ or Temporal Mandibular Joint Dysfunction, here is a brief explanation. When the disk in your jaw gets displaced, it causes TMJ. This condition makes opening and closing your mouth difficult. If left untreated, this will lead to severe problems like headaches and pain in the ears.

You can tell if you have TMJ by a grinding or crunching sound when you open or close your mouth. Primarily, TMJ is caused by activities that strain the jaw. Regardless of the cause, though, people who suffer from the pain of this condition want a cure. So they ask how a chiropractor can fix TMJ and relieve me of this pain?

The short answer is yes … TMJ can be fixed as stated by Fremont Chiropractor, Dr. Freericks. In fact, in many cases, patients have observed that chiropractic treatment was more effective than allopathic treatment. A chiropractor will recommend certain pain relieving exercises which will relax the patient’s jaw muscles. The chiropractor will also focus the patient on exercise, nutrition and lifestyle improvements which will not only help you get rid of the pain, but will take care that the pain does not return.

Gonstead Chiropractic Technique Explained

Imagine the irony of attempting to correct problems of the musculoskeletal system without trying to identify the source of the problem. In many cases that is how injuries and pain are treated. Pain is treated with medicine that numb the body’s senses and surgery is performed before the root of the problem is identified.

On the other hand, chiropractors who practice using the Gonstead Technique address the whole problem, rather than only treating symptoms or making adjustments that only represent short-term solutions. The Gonstead Technique not only relies on the expert hands of trained chiropractors to help patients, but also helps the body heal without the use of expensive equipment, painful surgery or medications that may result in side-effects.

The practice of Gonstead Chiropractor was developed by Dr. Clarence S. Gonstead (1898-1978). According to a 2003 ranking by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the Gonstead Technique is the fifth most popular treatment among chiropractors, with just over half (57.2%) of chiropractors using the treatment.

Here is how the Gonstead Technique works. Chiropractors gather a clear understanding of spinal misalignments in each patient using a serious of tests and evaluations. Since the human body is unique and never exactly the same between two people, every patient will have a different set of misalignments. The chiropractor will determine which alignments to correct first and which to address later. They will deliver a very specific adjustment to correct the problem at its source. Correcting the wrong misalignment can cause the spine to compensate in other areas and create other problems.

A Gonstead Chiropractor will adjust the neck with the patient sitting upright as opposed to lying down. A Gonstead chiropractor will also use their hands to perform the adjustment as opposed to an instrument called an activator.

This technique is so and effective that the first Gonstead clinic in Wisconsin would see hundreds of patients a day. The reputation of this clinic spread world wide and today the clinic is over 22,000 square feet with a waiting room to seat 100 people. Not all chiropractors offer the Gonstead Technique because of the time needed to master — and subsequently demonstrate — competency in the method. Yet, as already noted, a study found that more than half of chiropractors believe in the Gonstead Technique.

The GCSS is also charged with validating the technique through continued research and data collection.

The Gonstead Method differs from other approaches by chiropractors because if offers a thorough analysis of a patient’s spine that encompasses five areas:

• Visualization, which cross reference all findings in a patient’s posture and movement which could indicate problems
• Instrumentation through the use of the Nervoscope, a device which detects uneven distributions of heat along the spine which alerts chiropractors to inflammation and nerve pressure
• Static Palpation, a feeling of the spine that detects problems
• Motion Palpation – This also involves feeling the spine as it moves in different directions
• X-Ray Analysis

For more information about the Gonstead Technique, talk to our Fremont chiropractors. Discover Chiropractic is located in Fremont, Ca and Union City, Ca.

What If Chiropractic Doesn’t Work?

If our chiropractors are unable to find and correct the cause of your particular health problem, we will refer you to other specialists who may be able to help. Your health is our primary goal at Discover Chiropractic.

Send your questions to Dr. Hans Freericks at drhans@drhans.net. You can also call our Fremont chiropractors at 510-797-4796.

Read what other patients have to say about Discover Chiropractic at this page of our site:

http://mydiscoverchiropractic.com/testimonials.

Will I Ever Be Normal Again?

Chiropractor patient results vary. At Discover Chiropractic in Fremont, CA, many patients report improved spinal curves and the total resumption of their normal lifestyles. Those who neglected or delayed seeking care often see slower progress. After the initial care plan is complete, patients discover that periodic chiropractic checkups can help avoid a relapse.

Dr. Hans Freericks of Discover Chiropractic can be contacted at 510-797-4796 if you have more questions.

What If My Health Insurance Doesn’t Cover Chiropractic?

Your health affects everything you do and everyone you know. It is your most valuable possession. Yet, each of us is free to place a different value on our health. It’s convenient when an insurance company or third party helps pay the bill for you to see a chiropractor. But be careful. Don’t allow the profit motive of a huge corporation make the decision for you. Find out how we make chiropractic care affordable for just about anyone at Discover Chiropractic.

Please contact Fremont chiropractor Dr. Hans Freericks at 510-797-4796 for more of your questions.

Is Your Headache An Early Warning Sign?

Headaches are so common that people often think that getting one is a normal part of life and give it little thought. Headaches do not always signal a deeper, underlying problem. But like a fever, they can also be a warning sign.

That’s why headaches may be an indicator that an individual needs to see a chiropractor and discover chiropractic care for themselves.

There are several triggers that can lead to headaches, which include:

• Chemical stressors (i.e., hormonal changes)
• Physical stressors (i.e., structural problems)
• Emotional stressors (anxiety)
• Reaction to medication even pain relievers
• Dehydration
• Alcohol

Specific chiropractic adjustments can help correct spinal joint dysfunction created by the various chemical, emotional and physical stresses in an individual’s life.

Furthermore, misalignment of spinal vertebra in the neck and upper back is frequently overlooked cause of headaches. For whatever reason, stress, anxiety, seating position, or other factors cause a person to tense up and put pressure on the spinal column. Over time, the spine compensates by moving certain vertebra and putting pressure on interior nerves and tissue. Nerves and blood vessels can be detrimentally impacted when bones of the spine lose their normal position or motion. When spinal nerves and related tissues are stretched or irritated, a throbbing headache, neck pain, tense muscles and other health problems can occur. While aspirin and other medicines may relieve the pain, they do not address the underlying problem.

Some medicines also have side effects that can cause serious health problems.

Chiropractic care is a natural, drug free solution to relieving headaches.

A thorough chiropractic examination can determine reduced range of motion, loss of normal spinal curves or mechanical restrictions. The chiropractor will determine which vertebra to adjust, how often and for how long. A chiropractic adjustment is a gentle guided push on the vertebra. It’s so gentle it can be performed on a new born baby. An adjustment can be made to the back, neck or any of the extremities. Patients usually feel relief within days, sometimes even immediately.

Along with correcting more serious problems, patients frequently report relief from headaches following treatment by a chiropractor. While some may realize immediate relief, others may take longer to see correction of their problem because of a spinal problem that has existed for many years without detection.

Regardless of what onsets headaches, they can disrupt the balance of an individual’s nervous system resulting in a tightening of muscles. This tightening puts stress on the spinal column, causing spinal misalignments known as subluxations. Untreated, subluxations can lead to irreversible spinal degeneration.

Chiropractic care correcs spinal misalignments without painful surgery or medications that may produce side-effects. The result is a more safe, effective approach to treating headaches and related physical problems.

Next Page »