Five Star Review

The following testimonial is from a patient who has been suffering with back pain since she was in her teens.  She had forgotten what it was like to walk around without being uncomfortable.  Within two or three active release and chiropractic sessions, she was over 60% better than she has been in 20 years.  Read on:

My husband started seeing Dr. Liss two months ago, and one month ago I also started the treatment. It was our first experience with chiropractic. We are extremely happy with the results. I’ve been suffering from lower back pain for the last 20-25 years. As a child I did gymnastics and I got seriously injured. The few doctors that I saw weren’t able to help much. Starting the treatment with Dr. Liss made a huge difference. After a few sessions of adjusting different parts of the body, that constant pain started decreasing and, to my surprise and relief, I started walking differently. Basically, the injuries affected my walking a long time ago, and I had forgotten how it even feels to walk normally. Now, I don’t know how to describe it, but I walk “better”, it just feels more natural, more relaxed. I keep seeing Dr. Liss and with every visit the pain gets less and less. Both my husband and I would recommend Dr. Liss to anyone who is thinking of seeing a chiropractor.

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Back Surgery Fails 74% Of The Time

Chiropractors know that conservative approaches to back pain are usually far superior than aggressive treatments such as surgery. In a recent study performed at the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation database, 1,450 patient records were reviewed. These patients were suffering from low back conditions such as disc degeneration, disc herniation and herniated disc with radiculopathy (numbness and tingling).

The patients were split into two groups: those that had surgery and those that did not. A two year follow up was then reviewed. In the surgery group, 26% were able to return to work. I the non surgical group, 67% were able to return to work. One of the most significant findings about this study was that 41% of the patients in the surgery group were given dangerous opiate based pain killers for extended periods of time.

What the general population needs to realize about back pain is that conservative methods need to be attempted FIRST. This means that you don’t need to go straight to an orthopedic surgeon the minute you have a flare up in your low back. Surgeons want to perform surgery, it’s what they do. If you go to a surgeon, prepare for surgery. If you get surgery, chances are it won’t be effective.

If you are experiencing back pain, go directly to your local massage therapist, physical therapist, or your chiropractor. A combination of all of the above would be the most effective option.

Five Foods That Fight Back Pain.

As a chiropractor, I can help you with your back and neck pain, but only if you are willing to do your part.  Your part involves eating the right foods and following through on the prescribed exercise program that we tailor for you.  My part involves making sure that your spine is moving properly and that your muscles and soft tissues are free from scar tissue and tension.  Together, we can change the way your body functions for the better.

When I talk about the foods you eat, I’m primarily talking about foods that have a natural anti-inflammatory effect.  There are five foods that you must add to your diet:

1.  Blueberries

Blueberries are easy to implement into your diet.  They can be added to cereal or oatmeal in the morning, or eaten in a fruit bowl for desert.  Studies have shown that eating blueberries every day for six weeks increases cytokines, which are anti-inflammatory molecules.  This is because blueberries are an abundant source of anthocyanins.

2.  Broccoli

There is a phytonutrient in broccoli called sulphoraphane which is known to fight inflammation in joints.  A study even found that sulpharaphane helps prevent the activation of a certain enzyme in the body, which is the same way that arthritis medications work.

3.  Fish

99% of the people in the United States do not get enough Omega 3 fatty acids.  Although many of the fish that are known to have high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids also have potentially high levels of mercury, they are still recommended.  Omega 3′s play an important role in regulating inflammation in the cells of the body.  A safe way to get a high level of Omega 3′s into the diet is to supplement.  There are great supplements on the market that even combine Omega 3 with CoQ10.

4.  Green Tea

Although it’s difficult for most Americans to stop drinking their morning coffee, it’s not as difficult to substitute green tea for the afternoon cup of coffee.  Not only does green tea fight inflammation, it also contains caffeine.  It’s a healthy alternative to coffee.

5.  Nuts

Nuts are a natural inflammation fighter.  Like fish, nuts contain omega 3 fatty acids, as well as anti-oxidant vitamins and dietary fiber.  Try to eat as many raw uncooked nuts as you can.  Roasted almonds and other nuts have less nutrient value because the heat from cooking process kills them.

Why The Aging Population Are Hurting Their Shoulders

I recently had a patient come in who was six months post surgery for a repair of a torn rotator cuff.  She was in her late fifties and had decided to start playing tennis again.  This patient had been an avid tennis player in her twenties and thirties.  The first day back on the court ended after about twenty minutes.  She went to take a standard forehand and felt a sharp pain in the front of the shoulder.  It ended up being a classic supraspinatus tendon tear.  The supraspinatus muscle is one of four rotator cuff muscles and is the tendon that is most commonly torn.

We are seeing more and more shoulder injuries in the baby boomer generation.  Why?

To me the reason is pretty straight forward.  There has never been a time in our history when people have been so confined in terms of the way they move.  Sitting at a computer for long periods of time combined with many hours of driving, is putting a large majority of the population at risk for shoulder injuries.  The reason is because when you are sitting at a computer, the shoulders are in a bad position in terms of alignment.  They are rolled forward and out in front of the joint.  This position puts a strain on the rotator cuff muscles, and a strained muscle eventually turns into a tight and weak muscle.  Tight and weak muscles are prone to injury, especially when starting out a new sport.

What can be done about this?

I recommend doing a few things.

#1.  Make sure your workstation is ergonomically correct.  The monitor should be at eye level so that the shoulders don’t have roll forward with the head.

#2.  Make sure you exercise regularly and add some sort of strengthening routine for your rotator cuff.  There are plenty of resources on the internet to find the exercises that work for you.

#3.  Make sure you keep the muscles of the shoulder flexible and mobile.  The best way to do this is to seek the care of an Active Release Techniques provider.  This is what the professional athletes use to keep their muscles healthy and flexible.  You can find a provider near you by going to www.activerelease.com.