All posts by Dr. Brad
Neck Injuries Burlington
“Important Information On Neck Injuries From Our Burlington Clinic”
If you know or suspect you have suffered an injury to your neck, it is very important that you read this article so that you clearly understand the potential consequences of a neck injury.
Too many times with neck injuries, people are told that nothing is wrong and the pain and stiffness will eventually go away on its own. Well, even if it does go away on its own – this does not mean that the injury to the neck has been resolved.
The other thing is that often neck injuries are not treated properly from the onset which can lead to a multitude of health problems for the patient; some of which can have a lasting and debilitating (partially or fully) effect.
You see, the neck is the most susceptible part of the spine when it comes to trauma or injury.
Most people know that neck injuries can result in partial or full paralysis and even death.
But there can be a lot of serious damage to ones neck with far less serious traumas or injuries. Understand that one’s head (skull) weighs about 12 pounds on average and sits atop seven vertebrae called the cervical spine.
These seven vertebrae are what make up the neck part of your spine and are the smallest vertebrae when comparing in size to the 12 thoracic vertebrae (mid-back) and the five lumbar vertebrae (lower back).
So, already the neck is compromised because of the weight on the top end and the fact that this weight sits upon the slightest part of the spine.
Most every type of neck injury will involve some type of violent movement and motion of the head, and because of its weight this can move the neck into positions that are abnormal and/or extreme. This is when neck injuries will definitely occur.
So How Do Neck Injuries Typically Occur?
The most common way is from suffering a whiplash injury either from a fall, a car accident, or a sports injury.
To understand more about the dangers of whiplash, I encourage you to read the post found on this website that discusses whiplash injuries exclusively.
But many other less apparent things can cause neck injuries which are more dangerous in my view, because they may seem so inconsequential to most people.
Here are some of the ways that people sustain neck injuries without realizing it:
Sleeping posture: It is very important that you sleep either on your side or your back. The spine is not designed to lie on its front for extended periods. In other words, stomach sleeping is not advisable whether you are an adult, or child, or infant. Because you cannot bury your face into a pillow or mattress and breathe, you have to turn your head to either side so you can breathe and this will certainly kink and injure the neck. Stomach sleeping is also not good for your lower back and can cause low-back pain and stiffness upon awakening.
Pillows: It is very important to use a contour pillow to help maintain the very important posture (curve) in your neck while you sleep. Not a mountain of pillows, just one pillow of the right firmness for you specifically, is all you need. Your chiropractor will help you find the exact right pillow. And with the right pillow, you will be able to stay off of your stomach and sleep comfortably on your side or your back and this may also help remedy snoring and/or sleep apnea.
Mattress: Again, very important. Too hard or too soft or not firm enough or not soft enough – none of these will allow you to sleep comfortably. When you toss and turn all night this can result in a sprain and strain injury to your neck. Couches are not meant to be slept on for extended periods (ie, used as beds) and with the right mattress you should be able to sleep for 6-8 hours and get up feeling refreshed and not sore or stiff. If you are getting up with headaches and/or neck stiffness, this is a sign that you are injuring your neck during sleep from either using the wrong pillow, mattress, sleeping posture or a combination of any of these. Again, your chiropractor will help you determine what kind of mattress is best for you.
Your job: Depending upon what you do, you could be injuring your neck through repetitive strain type injuries. Some examples are; work where you are looking up constantly and/or with arms extended above the head. This is common to many construction workers or people who work with trees. Working in awkward positions where the head and neck are kinked due to the nature of the work space are never good for one’s neck. Construction workers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, mechanics, heating and air technicians, computer repair and service technicians; often injure their necks due to the physical demands that are constantly put on their necks. Sitting at a desk working at a computer is one the most common ways for people to injure their neck in today’s day and age. Extended hours at the computer, an improper chair, poor ergonomics regarding work station design and poor vision can all contribute to a repetitive strain injury of the neck.
Children: Believe it or not, your first neck injury will usually happen during the process of your own birth. Remember that the head and neck are used as an instrument to pull the rest of the body down and out of the birth canal. This can cause a neck injury even when the birth process is uncomplicated but surely will if there are complications. Breech births, base-posterior (upside down) births, vacuum-assisted births, and forceps-assisted births will all put the newborn’s neck at risk. For these reasons, I stress that all new parents have their babies checked for possible neck injuries as soon as possible afterwards. If there is a problem, it can easily be corrected and prevent future problems from occurring. Maintaining good spinal health is so important right from the onset.
So What Actually Happens When One Suffers
A Neck Injury?
Several things can happen but the most dangerous is misalignment of one or more of the vertebrae in the neck.
These are termed subluxations and can cause pressure on the spinal cord, pressure on the nerve roots, poor alignment of the spine in the neck, spinal arthritis and degenerative joint disease.
None of these are good for you and will cause you far more serious problems than a sore and stiff neck.
Neck injuries can also result in sprains and strains of the surrounding soft-tissues; these being the muscles, ligaments and tendons that support the head and hold the spinal vertebrae together.
If sprains and strains are not treated properly, scar tissue will form and these tissues will never feel or function the same way again.
Most people equate neck injuries with a sore and stiff neck with or without headaches.
Some people hope that it will go away on its own.
Other people will attempt to mask the symptoms or treat the injury with painkillers, muscle-relaxants or anti-inflammatory drugs.
These are by far your worst choices because nothing ever completely goes away on its own, and the side-effects from drugs and medications are often worse than the symptoms they are attempting to mask.
Massage and physical therapies are better choices but your best recommended treatment by far is chiropractic care.
Chiropractic will restore proper form and function of the spinal vertebrae in the neck.
This will reduce spinal cord pressure, nerve root pressure, and promote healing of the spinal joints and discs; as well as the surrounding muscles, ligaments and tendons.
No other form of treatment can or will do this for you and this is what you absolutely need if you have suffered a neck injury whether acute or chronic.
So if you have suffered a neck injury(s) and you are still suffering, please call our office right away to make an appointment for a free initial consultation.
You will have an opportunity to discuss with me all of your concerns and I will tell you in more detail how chiropractic can help. There is no need to suffer – please call us today!
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Chiropractic And Gardening
“How Burlington Chiropractic Care And Help You Survive The Gardening Season This Spring”
Gardening season is now upon us & this can be a source of pleasure for some but not for others.
If you do not approach your yard & garden maintenance activities with some logic & common sense, you could suffer.
And typically what will suffer is your lower back.
So, here are a few helpful tips….
Stretch your back before & after doing your gardening & yardwork.
Ease into it. Remember that these activities are stressful on the back.
Do not do it all at once—pace yourself.
Pick 2 or 3 things that you need to do & rotate through them every 30 min. to change up the stresses on your back.
Sit when you can; either on a pillow or a small stool.
Do not stand stooped forward or to either side for extended periods ( such as hoeing or raking ), this is very bad for the back.
Keep your garden tools sharp to minimize the effort you need to put forth to cut or dig.
If back pain persists &/or you develop leg pains, call a chiropractor right away.
These are signs that there is a structural issue with your spine & we will be able to help.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Cold Laser For Cold Sores
“If You’re A Burlington Cold Sore Sufferer, Find Out How We Get Rid Of Cold Sores With Cold Laser Therapy”
Not everyone has heard of cold laser therapy whether its for treating cold sores or other ailments.
Cold Laser Therapy is basically a low-level laser beam of ‘intense light energy’ that is beamed into the infected or injured part of the body.
In the case of cold sores, the laser is concentrated on the infected area where the Herpes Simplex virus resides.
The virus itself remains dormant in the skin or nerve tissue, and cold sores can occur by overexposure to sunlight, illnesses involving fevers, physical and emotional stress, certain foods, and drugs.
Sometimes, there is no apparent trigger mechanism.
The cold sores may appear anywhere on the skin or mucous membranes but are most frequent about the mouth, on the lips, around the nostrils (nose) or sometimes around the eyes/ears.
Localized and recurring infections ordinarily occur more frequently in childhood, but may be delayed until adult life.
The blisters begin with a short initial period of tingling, discomfort or itching. Then tiny bumps form and these then expand, erupt and blossom into the full-blown blister. This is when it is most unsightly and you feel most self-conscious.
These appearances begin to dry within a few days and this usually happens seven to ten days after the first tingling, pain or itching and total healing is complete by 21 days.
Healing may be slower in areas of the body that are moist and cold sores that occur at the same site over and over may cause scarring.
The typical and most common treatments are creams, lotions and other remedies that are applied onto the cold sore it-self.
These can be obtained by prescription or as over-the-counter medication BUT their effectiveness is questionable.
At best, these types of remedies may shorten the total time period that the blister is present and whether they actually kill the underlying virus is uncertain.
The Key To Successful Treatment Of Cold Sores Is To Kill The Underlying Virus
If your cold sores keep returning, then the virus is still alive.
This is where Cold Laser therapy can make a big difference.
The intense light energy works on various levels.
Not only does it penetrate into the skin to kill off the deep-seeded virus, but it will actually heal the cold sore faster.
This will reduce further outbreaks and prevent weak tissue and scar tissue formation if your cold sores tend to affect the same areas on a recurring basis.
The bottom line is that by killing the virus that causes the cold sores in the first place, you end up with faster healing and less cold sores in the future.
Patients Have Reported That Their Cold Sores Never Returned.
Once they’re gone, most people choose to have maintenance treatments every few months to ensure they NEVER come back.
How many treatments does it take?
It depends on where they are, how many sores you usually get and how long you’ve had them.
This can only be determined by examination, but on average 8-12 treatments will be the range most cases will require.
Most people notice at least 90% improvement and some have reported that their cold sores never came back.
Chiropractic For Golfers
“Burlington Golfers’ Secret To Improving Your Golf Game”
Want to take a couple of strokes off your golf game this year?
Spring is upon us & the golf season is again in full swing.
Have you ever asked yourself why most players on the PGA tour & the LPGA tour get regular chiropractic adjustments?
By keeping your lower spine aligned & your pelvis balanced & symmetrical will allow you to swing the club smoothly.
You will then swing with less effort & more power due to improved spinal flexibility. You will have a better follow-through as your hips will rotate better.
Your stamina & durability will improve allowing you to finish stronger.
And of course by taking good care of your spine on a regular basis will help ward off those nagging aches & pains that can catch up to you during the season.
If chiropractic is good enough for the pro’s, it is good enough for you too.
We’d love to help improve your game!
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Tip
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) – Here Is Some Good Advise From Our Burlington Clinic Experts
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, or CTS, typically causes pain,burning, numbness & tingling in the wrists, hands & fingers.
It is important to understand that CTS has 2 origins.
One is from a pinched nerve in the lower part of the neck.
Because these nerves go right down to your finger tips, they will result in CTS symptoms when they are pinched.
Anyone who works with their hands or sits at a computer or desk for extended periods is very prone to getting pinched nerves in the neck.
Chiropractic care is very effective in relieving these pinched nerves.
The 2nd origin is if 1 or more of the small bones in your wrist is misaligned.
This will irritate the nerves in the carpal tunnel resulting in those uncomfortable symptoms.
Again, anyone who works with their hands or spends a lot of time on the computer will be prone to structural problems in the wrist.
What you can do at home is freeze solid a styrofoam cup full of water.
Peel about ¼” off the rim all the way around so this much ice is sticking out.
Place your sore wrist on a towel on a table, sit on a chair & with your other hand rub the ice on the top & bottom of your wrist – 5 min each side.
Or have someone do it for you.
Place the cup back in the freezer & you can keep using it this way.
This will help reduce the painful inflammation but it is always a good idea to have your wrist examined by a chiropractor for any structural issues.
Spring Allergy Relief
“For Burlington Area Allergy Relief This Spring, Here Is Something To Consider”
Many people think that along with spring-time comes allergy season.
And with all the drug commercials advertising allergy remedies, it would not take one long to be convinced that they have allergies.
But ask yourself this question … if there really is an allergy season, how come everybody doesn’t suffer from allergies?
What is the difference between those who do & those who don’t?
Want to know? … the answer is their immune system.
Some work better than others.
Why?
It all depends on your spinal alignment.
If your alignment is poor, so will be your immune system.
If your alignment is good, so will be your immune system.
So, if you truly want to combat those allergies this year without taking toxic medications, try chiropractic care.
You will be pleasantly surprised.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Keeping Kids Healthly
“Here’s Why Our Burlington Clinic Has Super Healthy Kids”
Did you know that poor health almost always follows poor posture?
And did you know that poor posture most often is due to poor spinal hygiene (poor spinal alignment)?
Did you know that posture is the most over-looked aspect of a childs’ health even though it is the most important?
Have your kids stand comfortably in bare feet with their back towards you.
Put your hands on their hips – are they level? Put your hands on their shoulders – are they level?
Have them turn 90 degrees so now you are looking at them from the side ( it doesn’t matter which ).
Look at their head – is it sitting on top of & in line with their shoulders, or is it sticking way out in front of their shoulders? [if it is, this is called forward head carriage & is caused by computer use & playing hand-held video games ]
If your child’s hips &/or hips are not level, or if they have forward head carriage, run – don’t walk – to your chiropractor.
Their health is at risk!
Burlington Chiropractic Care will help you & your children maintain good & healthy posture.
Then & only then will you be truly healthy.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Whiplash Treatment
We Provide Whiplash Diagnosis And Whiplash Treatments To Our Burlington Patients
The term WHIPLASH is used to describe a type of neck injury that results when one is involved in a car accident.
But, you can also suffer a whiplash injury from other mishaps such as a bad fall, or a sudden blow to the neck area as one would suffer in a sports-related injury.
Look at the rising number of concussions these days that happen in football, soccer and ice hockey.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/19.04.2011.whiplash.brad-1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/whiplash.jpg width=500 height=300 /]
A concussion is when your brain gets bruised from a violent hit to the head or neck.
If the hit is violent enough to bruise your brain which is protected by the strongest piece of bone in your body (skull), do not think that you can escape having a whiplash type injury to your neck. It is virtually impossible.
The quick snapping of the head and neck during a whiplash injury will stretch and often times tear the supporting muscles, ligaments and tendons – the soft tissues that support the neck and the vertebrae that form the neck.
The sudden jolt will also result in significant misalignments of the spinal vertebrae in the neck.
These are termed subluxations.
Subluxations will irritate the nerve roots that reach out to other parts of the body.
This may cause immediate pain and stiffness or it may take hours, days or even weeks before the symptoms appear.
This is one of the hidden dangers of a whiplash injury aside from the fact that many people think that if they did not suffer any broken bones or lose any blood, that they are OK. Not to mention that emergency room physicians will most likely tell you that you’re OK and that any pain or stiffness will go away on its own or with the help of pain-killers, muscle-relaxers or anti-inflammatory drugs.
Wrong, wrong and wrong!
If you have suffered any type of injury to the head or neck, you NEED to have an examination by a spinal specialist –a chiropractor- to determine the presence of any injury ( or not ) , and; the extent thereof.
This is what we do.
This is our expertise and if you have suffered an injury we will help you to recover from your injuries before permanent damage results.
What do I mean by permanent damage from Whiplash?
…. scar tissue formation in your muscles, ligaments and tendons that support the vertebrae in the neck, and post-traumatic osteoarthritic degeneration of the cervical spine (neck). [ you can learn all about osteoarthritis elsewhere on this web-site and I strongly encourage you to do so.]
If you end up with any of this type of permanent damage in your neck, you will suffer for the rest of your life from things such as headaches, neck stiffness, neck pain and upper back and shoulder pain just to mention a few.
Do not let this happen to you.
You have a choice.
Do the right thing right away so that you do not suffer!
And the right thing is chiropractic care.
Healthy Shoulders
“How Our Burlington Clientele Can Keep Strong And Healthy Shoulders
Do your shoulders click or pop when you move them around?
Do you avoid lying on one shoulder when sleeping because it is too painful &/or causes your arm to fall asleep?
If you answered yes to either question or both, listen up ….
If the vertebrae in your neck are not aligned properly (pinching the nerves in your neck), this can cause shoulder pain &/or arm numbness.
And your shoulder is a complex mechanism of joints, muscles & ligaments & if these are not balanced & aligned properly, this will definitely cause popping or grinding in the shoulder, & pain & numbness in the arm.
Solution?
You have 3 choices …1) ignore, 2) medicate or 3) fix.
If you choose to ignore or medicate, good luck! These are the 2 worst choices out of the 3.
If you want to fix the problem responsibly, chiropractic is your best choice.
Our specialty is to keep all of your joints aligned properly so that they do not wear out, become arthritic (click & pop), pinch your nerves & cause you grief.
It’s your house, it’s your choice … do what is right to take ‘the weight off your shoulders’.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Motor Vehicle Accident Claim Processing
“Motor Vehicle Accident Claim Processing Burlington, Ontario”
If you have had a Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) and are seeking treatment for your injuries, we can help. We will be your guide, and the liaison for your care with the auto insurance company.
“What am I entitled to?”
Anyone who has valid auto insurance who has been in an MVA is automatically approved for $2200-$3500 worth of care within the Minor Injury Guideline (MIG). If the doctor determines your injuries are beyond what the MIG can provide, we will apply for more; which the insurance company has the right to approve or decline. Regardless, you are automatically approved for the amount of care the MIG can provide, so don’t deny yourself the care you need for fear the insurance company will not pay for it.
“When will I know whether or not I’m approved?”
The insurance company has ten days to reply to your request for benefits. During that time we can supply treatment to you at no cost. Upon receipt of their decision, we will determine with you how to proceed with your claim.
“What do you need from me?”
There are several documents that your insurance company requires in order to process your claim:
1) OCF-1: Application for Accident Benefits
2) OCF-2: Employer’s Confirmation Form
3) OCF-3: Disability Certificate
4) OCF-5: Permission to Disclose Health Information
5) An examination by the doctor to reveal the extent of your injuries will help us determine whether to submit an OCF-23 (to use the MIG) or an OCF-18 (to go beyond the MIG). This document is completed by the doctor, but will require your signature consenting to the recommended care.
“How will my accident claim affect my extended health benefits?”
We ask if you have extended health benefits through your employer, that you bring your claims prior to the accident up to date, as the insurance companies dictate we must use your existing benefits before they will pay the remainder of the claim. Any paperwork we need from you will have to be submitted to us upon beginning the claim. Once your extended health benefits have been exhausted, we will require a statement to that effect from benefits provider to send to your auto insurance company in order for your auto insurance to pay the remainder.