Living with arthritis pain can affect every part of your life.

It keeps you from enjoying the good things in life- time with grandkids, playing golf, even working in the yard.

It would be nice to get out of bed- just one morning- without pain.

Every time you try and push through the pain…like standing or walking for a long period of time…you pay for it for the next 2-3 days with even more pain.

Do you have any of these Arthritic problems?

- Osteoarthritis

- Rheumatoid arthritis

- Bursitis/tendonitis

- Degenerative joint disease

- Lumbar disc problems

- Aching pain in the arms or legs

Pain Pills Are Not The Answer

Do you remember the Vioxx scandal?

It was a medication designed to relieve arthritis pain…but like all drugs, it had side effects.

After  years of use worldwide, the makers withdrew it from the market because of the overwhelming evidence it caused heart attacks and strokes.

There’s a time to use pain medications, BUT not before seeking a natural way to correct the CAUSE of the problem! Ask yourself…after taking all these pain medications…maybe for years…are you any better off?

Pain Is Not Just ‘Old Age’

Have you had one doctor after another telling you this is just the natural process of the body getting older- that you should expect to have arthritis?  Sure, if you don’t take care of your damaged joints now, as you get older they will be worse (which is why you shouldn’t wait any longer to see if we can help you.)

However, old age is not the cause of your arthritis.  I’ll venture to say all 360 joints in your body are the same age, yet arthritis and joint degeneration has not affected every one of them- only your previously injured joints that never healed properly.

We’ve seen thousands of people come in suffering with arthritis and leave the office pain free.  We’ve made it our mission in practice to help those suffering with chronic pain like you.

We can find the problem and then correct it.  Think of how you could feel in just a few short weeks.  See and feel your life change for the better.  Start your body on the way to pain-free, normal living.  Feel tight joints rest, relax, free up.  Feel muscles tied in knots become more supple.  Feel strength in your muscles increase.

As you begin to see motion returning to your joints, you’re preventing and reducing chances of disability and a crippling future.  You’re playing golf again- hitting longer drives, smoother putts, and lower scores…without pain.

Arthritis can be successfully treated.  Healthy, pain-free living should be yours.

We look forward to helping you get rid of your pain so you can start living a healthier, more joyful life.

Life’s too short to live in pain like this.  Call today 562-902-9292 and soon we’ll be giving you the green light to have fun again.

Do you feel like every drop of energy is drained from your body and most days you just hurt all over?

Does going to the bathroom feel like a ten-mile hike?

Even after numerous tests with your doctor, do they say “we can’t find anything wrong?”

You are not alone.  Six million Americans suffer from the effects of fibromyalgia.  But the sad fact is most of them have been told they’re crazy, lazy, or just depressed.

Do You Have Any of the Following Symptoms?

- Aching all over

- Disturbed sleep

- Tender points in the neck, spine, shoulders and hips

- Recurring headaches

- Fatigue & Stiffness

You’ve Been Everywhere, Tried Everything, And You’re Still Suffering

Maybe your doctor doesn’t even think fibromyalgia is a real disease, but you know it is.  You suffer with it every day.

One fibromyalgia patient said it like this…

“I am so tired of the guilt of not being able to keep my house the way I like or fix dinner for my husband all the time.  With the girls and the meds and pain I can barely just get that done, let alone clean and cook dinner most days.”

Another said…

“For people who take good health for granted, it’s hard to imagine a condition that makes simple tasks great tests of will and determination.”

Fibromyalgia is often called the invisible disease.  You look fine on the surface, but underneath you’re often exhausted and in excruciating pain.

Here at Whittier Spine Center, we help fibromyalgia patients feel better and live healthier, more joyful lives.

The more patients we help get better, the more we realize that

No Woman Should Have To Suffer The Way You Do.

It’s our mission in practice to help those suffering with chronic pain like you.

Numerous studies have shown the benefits of manual therapy in fibromyalgia patients.

For many women, there is hope.  You just need the right plan.  

Imagine how great you could feel without your constant fatigue and nagging pains.  Imagine waking up each morning, jumping out of bed, and enjoying the day…no more waking up and feeling like you got hit by a truck.

Imagine not having to take handfuls of pain pills that haven’t helped and can have side effects.

Imagine what it would be like to finally have hope again.

To finally tell you what’s wrong and what you can do to help yourself feel better.

By working together, we can customize a treatment plan just for you.  And best of all, there will be no harmful drugs, no uncertain procedures, and no intimidation.

Call Whittier Spine Center today, at 562-902-9292.

Neuropathy affects every part of your life- walking, sitting, and even sleeping.

Maybe you’ve had multiple tests, only to find out no one has any idea what you have.  Maybe you’ve even been put on a drug with heavy side effects.

Do you have any of the following symptoms…

Pins and needles feeling, Numbness in the hands or feet, Tingling or burning sensations, Weakness in the arms or legs, Sharp shooting or burning pains

If so you may have a condition called peripheral neuropathy.

We help people with neuropathy and nerve problems live pain free.

This painful condition interferes with your body’s ability to transmit messages to your muscles, skin, joints, or internal organs.  If ignored or mistreated, neuropathy can lead to irreversible health conditions.

Why not get help by those trained to correct the major cause of peripheral neuropathy?

National data lists arm and leg neuropathy as the second most common nerve problem treated in physical medicine.  Often neuropathy is caused by a degenerating spine pressing on the nerve roots.  This can happen in any of the vertebral joints from the neck all the way down to the tail bone.

By using a multifaceted approach, we’re able to release the pressure that has built up on the nerve.  This allows the nerve to heal and the symptoms to go away.  You could soon be enjoying life…without those aggravating nerve problems.  Don’t live in pain when we may have the solution you’ve been looking for all along!

The immune system.  It’s a glorious thing that we all have, our own self-defense system.  We get sick when we are exposed to pathogens like bacteria and viruses- especially if they’re allowed to multiply uncontrollably inside them.  Luckily, our immune system detects and destroys any foreign substances that find their way inside the body, thanks to the brain and nervous system.  The immune system can be weakened however, and people who are diseased or very young or old are more likely to harbor infections.

Many studies have found that once someone has been exposed to a certain pathogen, it will be prepared to respond better to that same substance if it encounters it again.  This is what lead to the development of vaccinations.  A vaccination shot is actually a small dose of the actual pathogen, or parts of its structure in order for our immune system to react to it.  Researchers believe that if you get a small enough dose, you won’t get sick but your body will be more prepared to protect you if its exposed to the same bug again.  However, what the researchers failed to think about was the negative side-effects of vaccinations.

1.  You can actually get sick from the vaccinations, even as serious as allergic reactions, fevers, seizures, and even death.

2.  Other childhood diseases have seemed to increase since vaccination programs began, including autism, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

3.  We don’t even know if they’re effective.  Death rates from many of the diseases vaccinations were developed for were already declining greatly before they became available.

Chiropractic, or manual therapy is an all-natural health care solution that bases its entire philosophy on helping to improve the body’s innate ability to heal itself.  Removing irritation and interference in the nervous system caused by vertebral subluxations, allowing for proper regulation and control of all systems in the body.

The debate goes on but make sure to research the benefits versus the risks when it comes to vaccinations, get as much information as possible and talk to your doctor so you can make the best decision possible for yourself and your child!

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) gets its name from the location where the nerve irritation most often occurs- in the carpal tunnel of the wrist.  It’s a painful condition and is the most common nerve entrapment syndrome.  Many times people complain about the pain in their thumb and index finger, but sometimes it can also effect the entire hand, wrist and even the forearm.

Normal daily activities like typing, sewing, or knitting can eventually lead to this condition due to the repetitive contraction of small muscles in the hand.  Some people go to their doctors and choose surgery to help correct the problem, however the success rate for total correction of CTS has been estimated to be as low as 60%.  Surgery can be expensive and it can also cause side-effects like other nerve damage and delayed wound healing.

Manual Therapy Can Help!

Here at Whittier Spine Center, we believe in finding the cause of your pain and treating that, rather than just covering it up with drugs or surgery.  Abnormal neurological patterns in the neck can cause shooting pain in different muscles, including the ones that lead into the wrist and hand.  It’s critical to be aware of the mechanics of your neck and upper back and vertebral subluxations in these areas could be a big reason you could be experiencing CTS.

We also know how the alignment of the bones in your wrist and elbow could be contributing to this.  Pain and inflammation from joints not being properly aligned can lead to spasm of the muscles in the area of the subluxation and surrounding soft tissues irritation.

Make sure you consider the ergonomics of your workstation, take regular breaks and stretch tight muscles when your job or hobbies involve repetitive tasks, and turn to the pros when CTS symptoms start to show up.  The sooner you address the problem, the sooner you can resolve it!  We will perform special tests to discover the actual cause of your pain, and manual therapy done as soon as possible can decrease the chances of it becoming a very painful, chronic problem.

Sleep apnea.  It’s a condition which will literally keep you awake at night.  It affects about 18 million people in North America and obese people are at greater risk to develop this condition.

There are two types of sleep apnea, obstructive and central.  Obstructive is the most common form and it occurs when your airway is blocked because soft tissue at the back of the throat collapses during sleep.  When this happens, the brain alerts you by waking you up.  Some people may even wake several hundred times throughout a single sleep cycle.  Central sleep apnea, on the other hand happens when the brain doesn’t send signals to the muscles to breathe but the airway isn’t actually blocked.  This condition indicates a problem in the respiratory system.

Did you know that without enough restful sleep you increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and hypertension?

The risk factors associated with your chances of developing this condition are obesity, over 40 years of age, a large neck size, nasal obstructions, gastrointestinal reflux, or family history of sleep apnea.  Men are also more likely to develop it than women.

Here are some signs you may have this condition:

- Snore loudly

- Gasp for breath while sleeping

- Awake frequently

- Suffer morning headaches

- Sleepy during the day

- Concentration and memory problems

- Feel depressed

You may be able to treat mild sleep apnea with a few lifestyle changes.  Avoid consuming alcohol, smoking, taking sleeping pills and sleeping on your back.  Losing weight may also help.

If you frequently awake during sleep, speak with your doctor.  Even if you are not diagnosed with sleep apnea, you want to address your insomnia as it can have a profound impact on your health now and in the future.

While it’s one of the greatest things to ever happen to you, your body goes through some difficult changes–like back pain, shoulder stiffness, sciatica and pelvic problems just to name a few.

If not addressed, these conditions can have a negative impact on your lifestyle and can make your delivery much more difficult.

Chiropractic care has a long, proven track record in helping pregnant women during this constantly changing, yet delicate time. Here’s what one study had to say about chiropractic and pregnancy…

“84% of patients receiving spinal manipulative therapy [chiropractic care] reported relief of back pain during pregnancy. There was significantly less likelihood of back labor when spinal manipulative therapy was administered during pregnancy.” — JMPT 1991

This confirms that not only is chiropractic care the best, natural drug-free solution to your back pain, but it will make your back labor much less painful.

Add to this what childcare experts and authors Dr. William and Martha Sears state in their highly praised The Pregnancy Book, ” chiropractic care in pregnancy can help to…

“avoid or relieve back pain and also prepare your back and pelvic structures for the stresses of labor and birth.”

Furthermore, it’s vital to both mother and baby that the pelvis be in proper balance and alignment during pregnancy. If the pelvis is out of place, it can cause “intrauterine constraint”, restricting the room available for the growing baby.

A bad pelvic alignment can also make it difficult for the baby to get into the best position for delivery.  One such position is called “breech” presentation where the baby is not positioned headfirst- making the delivery difficult and even dangerous for mother and child. But scientific studies have proven a special chiropractic technique has extraordinary success with helping breech babies.

One study (J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2002 ) confirmed that this unique approach helps the mother’s body turn the baby. Of 112 cases studied, 102 of them turned correctly after this gentle procedure was performed…

That’s A Success Rate of 92% in Helping Turn Breech Presentations

 In fact, many medical and healthcare associations recommend chiropractic care for pregnant mothers. The American Pregnancy Association said the following about chiropractic…

“Potential benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy include:

• Maintaining a healthier pregnancy
• Controlling symptoms of nausea
• Reducing the time of labor and delivery
• Relieving back, neck or joint pain
• Prevent a potential cesarean section

As you can see, chiropractic care during pregnancy is well established and a safe method of care!

Living with headaches is tough.

Day after day of being miserable, irritable, and looking a lot older than you really are.  The frustration of knowing that your friends and family don’t understand what you’re going through.

Add this to doctors’ visits, MRI’s and CT scans- which only come back with “normal” results.

And that’s not all…trying one medication after another, feeling like you’re on a merry-go-round of drugs.

All this is enough to make anyone want to scream!

IF YOU DO NOTHING ELSE, READ THIS:

1.  Approximately 22 million women are affected by migraines in the United States.

2.  Medical science has discovered that most headaches are caused by damaged structures around the neck, like joints, ligaments, muscles, and cervical discs, all of which have complex nerve endings.

3.  Research has proven certain natural treatments have great success with headaches- even better than massage and medication- with no side effects.

Imagine being able to live life like a normal person again, pain free and without headaches- being able to play with your kids, enjoy time with friends, and not have to worry that your headache will hit you at just the wrong time.

Could This Drugless Treatment Be Your Headache Solution Too?

Numerous studies have shown the benefits of specific manual therapy with headache patients.

The Boline Study

This study compared two groups of headache patients, half went for specific manual therapy, the other half took amitriptyline, a medication often prescribed for the treatment of severe tension headache pain.  After six weeks researchers found that the non drug group of patients experienced almost no side effects.  And only the non drug patients continued to report fewer headaches when treatment ended.

The Duke Study

Medical experts concluded that spinal manipulations resulted in almost immediate improvement for headaches.  Patients also had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of headaches than a commonly prescribed medication.

Recurring Headaches Are Not Normal

No question…if you are having headaches then something is wrong.  Pain is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong.  Finding the problem and fixing it has got to be top priority!  How many years can your body handle taking one pill after another?  That’s no way to live, not when there could be an easy solution to your problem.  Many of the pain medications available are quite addicting and can have drastic side effects.

If you’ve ever dealt with the pain of a migraine headache, then you know how debilitating it can be.  Your life is forced to stop and you can’t continue on with a normal day. Have you even missed a day of work or school because you were in so much agony, the only thing you could do was pop some pain medication and stay in bed with a warm cloth over your forehead?  It can last for hours, even days, can come and go, or even develop into a chronic condition.

Sadly, many people are far too familiar with this pain, suffering so terribly from chronic migraines that they may not even be able to hold down a full-time job.  Not surprisingly, migraine sufferers endure depression and anxiety at twice the rate of the general population.

Migraines occur in phases, unlike other headaches with the painful phase almost always combined with other bodily symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound.

While researchers haven’t been able to pinpoint all the causes of migraines, they have been able to link them to many lifestyle, nutritional, and biochemical factors including stress, lack of sleep, changes in weather, chemicals, medications, alcohol, certain foods, liver problems, rapid change in hormone levels, and medical conditions like depression and hyptertension.

While the traditional medical treatment for migraines are prescription and over-the-counter drugs, these aren’t enough for all patients and can cause uncomfortable side effects.  So what else can you do to combat the pain of migraine headaches?  We suggest the following:

Dietary Changes

Meat, cheese, caffeine, nuts, wheat products, and citrus fruits have been found to trigger migraines.  Eliminate these foods from your diet and it may help.  Migraine patients may not have enough magnesium in their bodies so try increasing your intake of this mineral since it can help decrease the damage caused by stress, which as we mentioned before can be a trigger.  You can also increase your intake of antioxidants, which stop the development of free radicals caused by oxidative stress.

Behavior Therapy

Psychological counseling may teach patients strategies to help cope with their headaches as well as how to identify possible triggers and signs of an oncoming migraine.  Behavior therapy can also teach relaxation techniques and exercises for stretching the neck.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic adjustments have long been a tool for helping reduce and even eliminate migraine headaches.  Some patients acheive significant migraine relief with just a single adjustment, but most require several sessions to get the maximum benefit.  If you or a loved one suffer from migraine headaches, speak with your chiropractor about treatment options.

While pain medications can help mask the pain, they do not aid in preventative treatment, so try these options and let us know how if you have any success with these alternatives.  We think you will!

According to statistics, one in four women over the age of 50 is at risk for osteoporosis, and 80% of all fractures occurring in people over the age of 60 are osteoporosis-related.

Fractures caused by this disease are associated with considerable suffering and illness.  Hip fractures related to osteoporosis result in death in up to 30% of all cases!  One study of elderly women reported that the majority would choose death over having a hip fracture and being admitted to a nursing home!

Here are the Major Risk Factors for Osteoporosis:

- Age 65+

- Family history of osteoporotic fracture (especially if mother had hip fracture)

- Medical conditions that inhibit absorption of nutrients

- Early menopause (before age 45)

- Long-term (more than 3 consecutive months) use of glucocorticoid therapy

- Osteopenia apparent on x-ray

- Hypogonadism (low testosterone in men, loss of menstrual periods in younger women)

- Primary hyperparathyroidism

The best treatment for osteoporosis is prevention- beginning from childhood.  For those who have already developed the disease, medications for improving the absorption of calcium into the body and increasing dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D3  can help reduce the risk of fractures.

Tell your chiropractor if you think you may have osteoporosis.  Staying physically active can help both prevent and treat the disease.  So in order to keep active, a healthy musculoskeletal system is critical.  Alignment, posture and coordination all  play a roll in this.  With chiropractic adjustments being a positive influence on the nervous system, the assistance they provide in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis can truly make a difference!