All posts by Dr. Brad
Self Diagnosis Of TMJ Jaw Pain
“The Top 14 Signs That You Need To See A Chiropractor For Your Jaw Pain”
The temporomandibular joint is the joint that attaches your jaw to your head. You have two, situated on either side of your head right in front of your ear.
The TMJ ( temporomandibular joint ) is often the source of a multitude of uncomfortable symptoms if the joint becomes misaligned.
Often times patients seek their family doctor or dentist when they have jaw pain.
The family doctor is most likely to prescribe a pain-killer or anti-inflammatory drug or a combination of both.
The dentist may do the same but may also check the patient’s ‘bite’ for alignment problems which would have a direct effect on the jaw.
Many times, a dentist who is up to date on TMJ syndrome will recommend chiropractic care for the patient.
Why? … because chiropractors are experts at re-aligning the joints of the spine & extremities, which includes the temporomandibular joint.
The TMJ is very delicate, sensitive & susceptible to injury.
Direct blows to the jaw, falls on the chin, extensive dental work, chewing hard food & candy, birth trauma & poorly aligned teeth are some of the things that can contribute to TMJ syndrome.
Here are the top 14 signs that you need to seek chiropractic care for TMJ syndrome:
- Jaw pain.
- Headaches including migraines.
- Painful teeth & gums in the absence of tooth decay & gum disease.
- Locking of the jaw.
- Clicking of the jaw.
- Poorly aligned teeth.
- A tendency to grind the teeth.
- Ear pain.
- Recurring ear infections.
- Facial pain.
- Difficulty chewing harder foods.
- Inability to open the mouth fully.
- Neck pain.
- Ringing in the ears.
If you are suffering from one or more of these symptoms, give us a call.
Consultations are free & we will tell you what we can do to help.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Treating Strains And Sprains
“What To Do If You Have Suffered A Strain Or Sprain In Burlington?”
This time of year people are generally more active in their yards or playing sports & the chances of spraining or straining an elbow, wrist, knee or ankle ( for example )
dramatically increase. Here are some helpful tips if you have suffered a strain or sprain injury:
remember the acronym RICE –
R for rest, I for ice, C for compression & E for elevation.
In other words, rest the injured area, wrap it in ice for 10 – 12 minutes twice an hour & elevate the inured body part if you can so as to not let the swelling pool.
Next, get to your family chiropractor right away to have the injury assessed.
Often times there will also be structural misalignment of the injured joint & this must also be corrected for the joint to heal quickly & properly. Life Chiropractic Centre also offers COLD LASER THERAPY ( low level laser therapy ) which is excellent to help these types of injuries heal quickly & properly.
For more information on COLD LASER THERAPY, please search for the posting included on this web-site.
Or you can call 905 335 (LIFE ) 5433 to schedule an appointment for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTAION.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Ear Pain Relief
“Ear Pain Relief For Children And Adults Through Chiropractic Treatment Administered At Our Burlington Clinic”
Ear problems can be excruciating painful, especially in children.
Ear infections are one of the most common problems seen by pediatricians & surprisingly, a lot of parents are seeking chiropractic care to help with their kids ear infections also.
With over 10 million new cases every year in N.A., ear infections (otitis media) are the most common illness affecting infants & young children, & the number one reason for visits to a pediatrician.
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These account for more than 35% of all pediatric visits as almost half of all children will have at least one middle ear infection during their first year, and by age 3 over two-thirds of all children will have had at least one middle ear infection.
Symptoms include ear pain, fever, irritability and possible dizziness in older children.
Parents should also keep an eye out for other less noticeable signs such as poor appetite, reduced activity levels, crying, shaking of the head & pulling on the ear. Occasionally, the pressure in the middle ear will build to a point where the eardrum ruptures,resulting in pus & blood drainage from the ear.
Even though this sounds awful, the child will generally feel better afterwards.
The tear in the eardrum will allow the fluid to drain & the hole usually heals within a few days. Ear infections can be either viral or bacterial in origin and can frequently result from other illnesses.
For many kids, it can become a chronic problem requiring treatment year after year putting the child at risk of permanent hearing damage & associated speech &/or developmental problems.
Frequent ear infections are the second most common reason for surgery in kids under the age of 2. In severe cases when fluids from an ear infection have not cleared for several months and the ability to hear has been affected, specialists often times prescribe ear tubes.
The surgery involves making a small opening in the ear drum to put a tube inside.
The tube relieves the pressure in the ear & prevents repeated fluid build-up.
In most cases, the ear drum pushes the tube out after a few months & the hole in the eardrum closes.
In 20-30% of cases, this procedure has to be repeated. And, this surgery requires a general anesthetic which is never a minor thing in a small child.
If the problem persists even after tubes ( 1 or more trials ), then often time another surgery is recommended which is removal of the adenoids.
Standard treatment for most cases of otitis media however is with anti-biotics.
These may be effective in providing symptomatic relief only if the culprit is a bacterial infection as anti-biotics do nothing to fight off viruses.
But many research studies caution that ant-biotics are not much more effective that the body’s own immune system.
Repeated doses of anti-biotics can lead to drug resistant bacteria that are unaffected by the drugs while leaving the child screaming in pain.
Research over the last 8 years has shown that anti-biotics make very little difference in the recovery from an ear infection.
Yet, anti-biotics are regularly prescribed for children with ear infections.
From the perspective of the whole person, giving drugs to block and suppress an illness can push the illness deeper into the body.
One reason for recurrent infections may likely be the medications the child was given to treat the first infection.
These include decongestants, aspirin, tylenol and other drugs.
Anti-inflammatory drugs block the formation of some chemicals that promote inflammation but they also block chemicals that naturally prevent inflammation as well as trigger the release of substances that make inflammation worse.
Ear infections are rarely an emergency and usually do get better without anti-biotic treatment.
Again; fever, listlessness & stiffness in the neck ( in older children ) are signs that every parent should watch for.
Causes of ear infections can be a complex, multifaceted problem.
Otitis media ( inflammation of the middle ear ) is commonly referred to as ear infection, even though many times there may be no actual infection.
The Four Main Causes Of Ear Injections Are Mechanical Obstruction, Nutritional Deficiency, Allergy And Infection
Mechanical obstruction: biomechanical obstruction of the Eustachian tube ( a tube which drains the middle ear into the throat ) can contribute to ear problems.
This blockage can arise from problems of the structural problems around the ear and Eustachian tube which include the bones of the jaw, skull & neck. The head is made up of many bones that are supposed to move gently in concert with one another.
The movement of these bones allows for the proper movement of the fluids in the head, including the fluids connecting between the sinuses, Eustachian tubes & ears.
Many things can change the proper movement of the bones in the head including falls, recurrent infections, and the trauma of birth especially if the vacuum assist &/or forceps were used for delivery.
Misalignment (subluxation) of the first vertebra in the neck ( the atlas ), & misalignment of the TMJ ( jaw joint ) can also result from falls, infections & birth trauma.
These too can impair the movement of fluid in the middle ear.
Since an ear infection contains the fluid that accumulates behind the ear drum, gentle movement of the bones of the head, neck or jaw will stimulate drainage of the fluid & prevent or cure such an infection.
Nutritional deficiency: it is important to consider nutrition in the treatment & prevention of ear infections.
An organic, unprocessed ,whole foods diet low in sugar is essential for establishing good health & strong immunity.
Depending upon the type, dietary fats can either enhance or impair immune function.
Bad fats (hydrogenated oils found in deep fried foods, baked goods & margarine, and saturated fats found in meat & dairy) can predispose a child (anyone for that matter) to recurrent infections & inflammatory conditions.
The good fats (essential fatty acids found in flax oil, borage seed oil, fish oil & evening primrose oil) are essential to normal immune & nerve system function.
Fatty acid deficiency also contributes to ADD & ADHD and other learning disorders.
This should be started ideally while the mother is pregnant & during breast feeding.
One to two teaspoons per day of flax oil may be all the child needs but this will depend on age.
Deficiency of certain vitamins & minerals can weaken a child’s immunity.
As with adults, many children do not get enough of these to keep their immune systems strong.
A good multi-vitamin & mineral supplement is always a good idea.
Vitamin C is very important for immune function & 250 to 500 mg per day is recommended depending on age.
Vitamin A deficiency in animal studies has been shown to lead to ear infections & zinc is also important for proper immune function.
Echinacea has also been shown to help prevent ear infections ( child size dosages).
Supplementing the diet with intestinal bacteria is important for healthy immunity, especially if the child has had anti-biotics.
L.acidophulus for kids over 7 & B.bifidus for kids under 7.
Breastfeeding is also essential to a child’s immunity.
Breast milk contains all the immune protecting complexes a child would need.
And, the sucking action helps the Eustachian tubes to open & close which makes a difference in the frequency that a child is likely to get ear infections.
The child should not lie down on his/her back to drink a bottle or feed.
This is more likely to push fluids into the Eustachian tube & cause ear problems.
Allergy: Dr M.Schmidt in Childhood Ear Infections presents over 16 scientific studies that show that often times chronic ear infections are due to food or airborne allergies or hypersensitivity reactions.
These can cause significant pressure changes in the middle ear as well as obstruction of the Eustachian tube.
The most common allergens shown to cause ear infections are cow’s milk, dairy products, wheat,eggs, chocolate, citrus, corn, soy, peanuts, shellfish, sugar & yeast.
Dairy is the number one contributor to childhood ear problems .
And giving a candy sucker to comfort a sick kid who has an ear infection is like adding fuel to the fire.
Infection: if immune function is weak for any reason, bacteria or viruses from the nose or throat can find their way into the middle ear & contribute to an infection.
When these germs multiply, pus builds up behind the eardrum increasing the pressure which leads to swelling & pain.
Often times a common cold with a runny nose &/or cough precedes the ear infection.
The Chiropractic Approach: before yet another round of ‘maybe they will work, or maybe they won’t ‘ antibiotics or the drastic step of surgery, more & more parents are considering chiropractic to help their kids with ear infections.
Dr Joan Fallon, a fellow chiropractor published a research paper showing that nearly 80% of children treated with chiropractic adjustments were free & clear of ear infections for at least the 6 month period after their initial visits.
She explains … “ Chiropractic mobilizes drainage of the ear in children and if they can continue to drain without a buildup of fluid and subsequent infection, they build up their own antibodies (immunity) and recover more quickly.”
Another study reported in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic, describes a child with longstanding health problems ( ear infections, sinus infections, headaches & neck pain ) related to the loss of the normal curve in the neck.
Following introduction of chiropractic care to restore this neck curve, her illnesses resolved.
“Numerous case studies & some clinical studies are revealing that there is a relationship between abnormalities in the spine, the nerve system & the various problems related to ear infections” says Dr C. Fedorchuck, lead author of the paper. “These types of structural problems where the child does not have a normal curve in the neck can cause a host of problems like those found in this young girl. Nerves supplying muscles in the neck and head are affected, as are the lymphatics and the tubes draining the middle ear. By removing the structural imbalance chiropractic helps these fluids drain, and improves nerve supply & range of motion.”
I can concur with these research findings.
After 25 years of family practice, the biggest benefit I see in kids who get regular chiropractic care (and adults for that matter) is better immunity.
And when kids have better immunity, they are not only more resistant to ear infections but they will not be one of those kids who ‘catches everything that is going around.’
We will also counsel our patients on positive lifestyle changes if need be ( diet, nutritionals & exercise ) as sometimes these need to be addressed as well.
If your child/children are struggling with ear infections & you’ve had enough with the anti-biotics, and you do not want them to have ear tubes, give chiropractic a try.
In most cases, you will be pleasantly surprised. Remember, there is never any charge to come in and talk to us & we are here to help in any way that we can.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Health And Microwaves
“Microwave Use And Your Health Tip From Our Burlington Clinic”
To MICROWAVE or not to microwave?
Do your own easy experiment at home to answer this question for yourself.
By 2 identical, small potted plants or flowers.
Water them at the same time & with the same amount of water.
Make sure they get the same sunlight , temperature etc.
In other words, make sure the growing conditions are identical, except for the water.
One plant water only with purified water; spring water or reverse osmosis water for example.
The other, use the same water as above except microwave it for 1 minute, let it cool and then water the plant. Do this for 2 or 3 months and observe any differences between the 2 plants.
Then you can decide if microwaving your food is a good idea or not.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Fruits And Vegetables
“When To Eat Your Fruits And Vegetables”
Most everyone knows that fruit & vegetables are an integral part of a healthy diet.
But, if you make the effort to eat them you need to know how & when to realize the full nutritional benefit.
First of all, fruit should only be eaten by itself on its own between meals & on an empty stomach.
Combining fruit with anything else will only set up a fermenting furnace in your stomach causing gas, bloating & poor absorption of nutrients.
This includes cereal & yogurt.
In fact, some researchers tell us that mixing fruit with yogurt will destroy the beneficial bacteria that are found in yogurt.
Your vegetables should be lightly steamed or grilled.
They do not need to be covered with oil or butter, just lightly seasoned with your favourite salad spices.
Remember that sea salt is far healthier for you than table salt.
Salad – before or after your meal?
Typically, in north America we have our salad before our meal.
Europeans on the other hand have their salad afterwards.
Why?
Because the digestive aid provided by lettuce is best on top of your food, not in front of it or on the bottom of it.
I agree that salad is best consumed after a meal.
And, don’t calorie it up with dressing.
This negates the whole point of salad!
Lightly dressed, use lemon juice as an alternative & season with your favourite salad spices.
Click Here For A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Chiropractic Disconnection
“As A Burlington Chiropractor, I Believe Many People Suffer From What I Call A Chiropractic Disconnection … Here’s What I Mean By This”
This is a concept that many patients & sadly enough ( in my opinion ) that some chiropractors too have a hard time grasping.
And it all stems from the ‘quick fix’ mentality that has evolved its way into our society over the last 200 yrs that under the guidance of the medical profession & all the drug companies.
This has led us down a pathway where people are not taking responsibility for their own health.
Not only this, but the gift of the human experience that has been bestowed upon their spirit & the magnificent human body that accompanies this experience has been dismissed by many and taken for granted.
People continually ignore their health & continually pollute their bodies with legal drugs, illegal drugs, smoke, alcohol, fast foods, processed foods etc. & then all they do is complain when things start to break down & their health starts failing them.
Usually by this point it is too late & they find themselves looking for a miracle cure & this is what the medical profession & the drug companies like to promise.
Now, don’t get me wrong.
Doctors & drugs do have their place but I think that we could minimize visits to the doctor & cut back on how many medications we take if we learn how to take good care of our ‘house’ in the first place.
In other words, becoming good stewards of our body. And how we do this is to stay connected which I will clarify a little later on.
But first, we need to understand the 2 predominant models of health care that are available for us to choose from. One is a mechanistic model & the other is the vitalistic model. The mechanistic model is the more popular one in our society today & is the one that is supported by the medical profession & the pharmaceutical companies.
The mechanistic model says that the human body is just that. A bunch of mechanical parts that sometimes can be replaced and does not recognize that the body is a self-regulating & self-healing organism. Drugs & surgery are the treatments of choice in the mechanistic model.
The vitalistic model on the other hand does recognize the body as a self-regulating & self-healing organism, & that there is a power inside the human body & its purpose is to regulate, heal & give it life. And we cannot deny that there is a power within all of us. When we cut our finger, does it eventually heal? Yes it does. But what if we cut the finger of a cadaver ( dead person)? Will the cadaver’ s finger heal?
Everyone knows that it will not. But why?
Why will a living finger heal from a cut but a dead finger will not?
Well, one is living & one is not.
The living tissue has the capacity to heal.
Now what is the difference between a living person & a cadaver?
Well, one of the criteria that need to be met when one is officially declared to be dead is that their brain no longer registers any electrical activity.
Electrical activity is equivalent to power.
You need power to run your blender, correct? Where does the power come from? An outlet in the wall. What comes out of the outlet? Electricity. Electricity is a form of power.
The Human Brain Generates The Power Or Electricity That Is Required To Run The Body
So how does this power get from the brain to the rest of your body, like the finger in our example?
Well, all of the billions of nerve fibres ( neurons ) that originate in your brain form into a cord that travels all the way down the inside of your spine and is secured at your coccyx ( tailbone ).
This is called the spinal cord.
Branching off of the spinal cord are what are called nerve roots. These come out in between the vertebrae & you have 33 pairs. Nerve roots are a smaller bundle of neurons (millions instead of billions) that divide into millions of nerves that travel to ‘every organ,tissue & cell’ in your body.
Why?
To supply every organ,tissue & cell in your body with power.
Power to do what?
The power that is required to function, regulate & heal. Understand that the nerves from the neck supply the power to your arms all the way down to your fingers. In a living person, the cut finger will heal because there is power in the arm.
But, in our cadaver there is no power so that is why there is no healing.
Now, this is so important to understand.
Power is not an ‘all or none’ thing.
When the power is turned completely off, there is death or paralysis depending upon where the spinal cord was injured.
But what if there was just an irritation or slight compression on the spinal cord or a nerve root?
What scientific research has shown us is that poor spinal posture can result in a tensile stress on the spinal cord.
This means the spinal cord will stretch ( up to 6 cm ) & the more that it stretches, the less it will be able to transmit the power.
Another study demonstrated that when a vertebra is misaligned and irritating a nerve root, the nerve root can lose up to 60% of its capacity to transmit the power.
When an organ, tissue or cell is receiving less than optimal nerve supply due to spinal cord stress (poor posture) &/or misalignment of the spinal vertebrae, it is obviously not fully connected to main power supply ( your brain ).
In other words, it is partially disconnected.
Do you think that this is good for your health & well-being or bad for your health & well-being?
When there is disconnection, that specific organ, tissue or cell will start to dysfunction.
When something starts to dysfunction in most cases there will be a symptom.
Now, What Have We Been Educated To Do When We Get Symptoms?
Powders, pills, medications, lotions & potions.
Do you really think that these will improve the connection?
Not a chance!
Just because the symptoms may be temporarily relieved, that does not mean the cause of the problem has been corrected.
And the fact is my friends, that powders,pills,prescriptions,lotions & potions will cause more disconnection.
The more disconnection you have in your body, the less vital you become.[ FYI; Oxford definition of vital means to be ‘full of life & energy.’ ] So this is what chiropractic is really all about. Making sure that your spinal cord & all 33 pairs of nerves are working optimally.
And the only way they can work optimally is when you have good posture & all the spinal vertebrae are positioned properly so they do not irritate the nerve roots.
This is what we do.
Then and only then can every organ, tissue & cell in your body receive a full supply of power & be fully connected, healthy & vital.
If we all had chiropractic care on a regular basis, there would be less sick people, less pain & suffering,fewer people on drugs, fewer people having surgery & less people living in nursing homes.
Chiropractors are not doctors of mechanism.
We are doctors of vitalism & if this is important to you, then I invite you to join our family practice.
Just call to make an appointment.
There is never any charge to talk to me & feel free to bring in your family & friends.
Vitalism is everyone’s birth right.
Stay connected my friends!
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
How To Start Exercising
“So You Want To Start Exercising And You Don’t Know Where Or How To Begin?”
Here are some helpful tips for you to get you started on the right path.
You do not need an expensive gym membership &/or expensive fashionable work-out gear either.
The only thing you would really need is a good pair of walking or running shoes and some loose,comfortable clothing because walking is the safest place to start exercising.
3 times per week for ½ hour & then gradually increase your time so you are eventually walking 1 hr at a time.
Next, you will want to increase your pace. You can easily monitor this by using a pedometer & counting the number of steps. Find your comfortable base-line & then increase by 100 steps per hour each week until you reach a pace that is brisk, almost a speed walk.
Once you have achieved this level, then start to incorporate some arm movement.
Swing your arms as you stride and you can carry a 2 or 3 pound arm weight in each hand & either swing, or do some bicep curls or side arm raises or combine all, again coordinating with your stride.
It is best to walk on grass or natural surface such as a trail or the track around a high-school football field.
This is much easier on the joints of your lower back & legs than pavement or concrete.
Once the cold & snow arrive, either invest in a treadmill or get a gym membership for a few months.
Common Cold Facts
“Our Burlington Clinic Provides Some Interesting Facts About
the Common Cold”
Did you know that it is perfectly normal & healthy to have 2 colds per year?
Our bodies will cleanse itself as it prepares for the warm weather germs in the spring and again in the fall as it prepares for the cold weather germs.
This is normal and there is nothing you can do about it.
Just accept the fact that this means you are healthy.
Cold remedies just do not work so don’t waste your dollars.
There is tons of research out there that proves this time and time again.
The reality is this … a cold takes a couple days to ramp up, is with you for 3-4 days and another couple days to wind down. Nothing will expedite this process.
Now, if you have frequent colds or are the type to catch everything that is going around, then you have a problem.
The problem usually is an immune system that is too weak to keep you otherwise healthy.
Chiropractic is an excellent way to supercharge your immune system.
No invasive drugs or chemicals.
All natural.
Give it a try.
You will be pleasantly surprised.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Getting A Flatter Tummy
“What You Really Need To Know If You Want To Flatten That Tummy”
A lot of people think sit-ups are the key to keeping a flat tummy & a slim & trim waist line.
Only partially true. Think about this … it would take 250,000 sit-ups to lose 1lb off your waist-line !!
So there has got to be an easier way & there is.
There are 2 things you need to address to keep a firm tummy.
1—diet. Stay away from any foods that are creamy, contain flour of any kind & all dairy products.
If these are part of your regular diet you are just fighting a losing battle.
2 – exercise. Yes, sit-ups are a must but be sure that you do them properly & you know how to exercise the lower abdominals, upper abdominals & the side abdominals.
But even more important is the cardio.
Make sure you do it.
Bike riding &/or brisk walking will go a long way to firming up that tummy more than you know.
3 times per week for 45 to 60 min.
Not only will you look better but you will feel better mentally & physically.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Watch Your Pasta Intake
“Pasta Health Advise From Our Burlington Clinic Experts”
Many people think that eating pasta frequently is good for you, but you should consider the following.
White and whole wheat pasta both contain gluten; a protein that is not all that friendly to the human body.
Also, these have a high glycemic index which means that they are easily converted into sugar.
Sugar then causes your pancreas to secrete insulin and too much insulin in the body can cause a multitude of health problems.
So here are a couple of healthy pasta-eating tips…
Cook your pasta al dente – the harder it is, the lower the glycemic index.
Foods that have a low glycemic index are healthier foods & better for you.
Choose gluten-free pasta or rice pasta.
These are much healthier for you.
Pasta is best when eaten as a lunch dish or before athletic activity.
This way you will burn off the calories that it provides.
Having a large amount of pasta for your dinner-time meal will just cause weight gain, bold sugar issues & stress on your heart.
Think light & eat right – smaller portions more frequently throughout the day will work much better for you.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad