Jana’s Journal

10/6/10

Hi! How’s it going? I’ve been doing very well myself! Remember back in August when I talked about ‘the possibility of not having to take pain medication’ for my headaches? Well, I just want to update you all about my headaches (or should I say ‘lack of headaches’). Before coming to Barton Chiropractic, I was having headaches several times a week, which meant I was taking Ibuprofen several-times-a-week! Sure it made me feel better, but it’s definitely not normal to have to take medication throughout the week, every week, for my nagging headaches!

Since August, I have taken my ‘pain meds’ maybe three times! THREE! That’s it. Can you believe it? How awesome is that? I’m breathing better, standing taller, sleeping better (although my toddler does interfere occasionally with my beauty sleep), but all-in-all I FEEL BETTER! My headaches have diminished and it’s a fabulous feeling! So, if you are tired of the nagging headaches, why not contact Barton Chiropractic and see what they can do for you? Wishing you a headache-free day!

Sincerely, Jana 

Understanding Chiropractic as an Alternative to Traditional Medicine

Many people may already hear about Chiropractic but not all of us are familiar with this term though it already existed for more than 112 years. Chiropractic is a form of alternative health care or complementary and alternative medicine that focuses on the structure of our body specifically to our spine, nerves, muscles and all its related functions.

The primary concept of Chiropractic is that the misalignment of the spine (subluxations) is the cause of many disorders or illnesses in our body. Chiropractic’s most significant contribution to health care is probably the discovery of therapeutic effects of spinal manipulation that are proven to help those people with muscular, skeletal and nervous ailments.

Chiropractic came in a Greek words cheir and praxis which literally means hand and action or done by hand. Chiropractic treatment primarily involves the use of hands to manipulate and adjust the structure of our body and it does not make use of any surgery or operation in treating spinal and muscular related ailments. The principle behind Chiropractic as alternative medical system was discovered by Daniel David Palmer. Chiropractic health care originally evolved in Unites States and is now a licensed form of health care in all its states. The Chiropractic treatment is likewise being practice in Canada, UK and to more than 100 nations across the world.

Though Chiropractic is considered as alternative or non-traditional form of health care and is clearly separated from the American Medical Association, Chiropractic practice is individually regulated by the government across the United States. Licensed individuals who practice chiropractic medical system are referred to as Chiropractors, chiropractic physicians or doctors of chiropractic.

To be a qualified Chiropractor, you need to have at least three years of pre-professional study in college prior to four year resident study in an accredited college of Chiropractic. As of today, the United States has 17 accredited chiropractic colleges in the USA. The accreditation of chiropractic schools is given by the Council on Chiropractic Education that is certified by the U.S. Department of Education.

After completing the degree of Chiropractic, they need to take a state licensure board examination in order to practice Chiropractic. Furthermore, majority of states in the US require Chiropractors to have continuing education credits to maintain their Chiropractic licenses.

The Chiropractic is also covered by majority of health maintenance organizations, private health care insurances and even the compensation systems of state workers. And from 35,000 Chiropractors in the United States way back 1980s, statistics said that there is now approximately 70,000 Chiropractors in the United States, 5000 in Canada and 1300 in the United Kingdom.

The practice styles of Chiropractors nowadays are divided into several Chiropractic health care approaches like traditional straight, mixer, objective straight and reform; but all of them strictly adhere to the precise adjustment of musculoskeletal of the body system and are using non-invasive or non-surgery treatments.

And one more good thing about Chiropractic is that there are continuous research studies to strengthen and expand the scientific understanding of this form of alternative medical system. An example of agency that supports researches for the advancement of Chiropractic is the National Center For Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/understanding-chiropractic-as-an-alternative-to-traditional-medicine-115547.html

~Jana’s Journal~

8/18/10

Hi! I’m Jana, and welcome to my journal! I’m a NEW patient at Barton Chiropractic and I thought I’d share with you my experience, so far, over the past few weeks of care I’ve received from the amazing doctors here (Dr. Barton & Dr. Caponio)!

First off, I’m a mom of three of the most amazing kids! It’s just the four of us, so things can get a little crazy sometimes, and a bit stressful. I’ve had back and neck pain for many years…coming and going, some days better than others (sometimes I related that to stress too).

However, after having my third child, I noticed my back was hurting more than NOT hurting. I began having headaches about every other day. I always related my headaches to my allergies, and I’m sure sometimes they were related, but to have them THAT often just is not normal! Speaking of normal, after meeting with Dr. Barton, I finally realized my pain was indeed NOT NORMAL! Ha! I think I had an epiphany at that very moment!

Living day to day without headaches? I mean, Really? I honestly didn’t even realize that was a possibility to not have headaches weekly, or not have to take medicine to ‘mask’ the pain of my headaches, or my backaches for that matter. I remember a conversation with Dr. Barton’s son about ‘headaches’ and he said to me “Oh yeah, I had one of those once!” ONCE?! Huh? One time? And here I was having headaches ALL-THE-TIME! Nope, definitely NOT normal! It only seemed normal to me because I had become so used to having them. It was regular for me. I forgot what it felt like to REALLY feel normal!

I’m on my way though! I’ve been receiving treatment at Barton Chiropractic for about 2 ½ weeks now, and I can already feel a huge difference! I’ve had one headache since my first adjustment (and actually it was today—could be my lack of sleep being up with a toddler half the night!) I feel more open in my chest, which really has helped with my breathing. I was constantly feeling ‘heavy’ in my chest (also related this to my allergies). When I had my first adjustment, that feeling immediately went away! Relief! Yes! I have more rotation in my back to the point where I don’t feel stiff-as-a-board when I wake up in the morning! Do you ever have that feeling? It’s horrible. I’m only thirty-four. I should NOT feel like a stiff board when I wake up! All in all, my point is, it’s only been a few weeks, and I already feel a huge difference! I feel better! It’s nice to not wake up with a headache either!

This is just the beginning though, and I hope that you will check back on the blog, and on my journey to better health! I have so much more to share with you! Until next time, thanks for reading my journal!

Cheers!

Jana 

If youi have not yet seen this, you will not believe it. This is Jackie Evancho. She is 10 years old. This is her singing. Jackie Evancho 

80 Million women suffer low back pain during pregnancy

Of the estimated 211 million pregnancies that occur each year, about 46 million end in induced abortion leaving approx 175 million births per year in 1999 (Sharing responsibility: women, society and abortion worldwide. New York, NY, Alan Guttmacher Institute, 1999.)

Although pregnancy is common, and low back pain during pregnancy is a

common clinical problem, many women still suffer low back pain during pregnancy.

In 1977, Mantle et al4 interviewed 180 postpartum women concerning the incidence and severity of low back pain during their recent pregnancies. The authors found that 49% experienced backache, and that one-third of these women considered the backache severe. Four hundred twenty-two women (49%) stated that they had suffered from low back pain at least once during the present pregnancy. ( Berg et al: Low back pain in pregnancy. Obstetrics and Gynecology 71: 1, 1988.)

Pregnancy increases the hormonal influence on joints and tendons causing the ligaments to become pliable and the joints to become more moveable.  Together with an increased biomechanical strain on ligaments, muscles, and the skeleton. I was recently reminded what this is like after spending a few hours carrying 40 pound sacks of concrete. I was sore for two days. When you think about the fact that the average weight gain during pregnancy is 25 – 35lbs. No wonder 49% of pregnant women experience low back pain.

There is hope. Chiropractic. No other healthcare specialist is better trained to deal with the biomechanical changes that occur during pregnancy. That is why the doctors at Barton Chiropractic in Concord have been having such great results relieving low back pain in pregnant mothers. Since 1986 when I open Barton Chiropractic I have always enjoyed working with expecting mothers as well as newborns. Pregnancy should be the most wonderful time in a woman’s life. Don’t let back pain spoil this. Call 925 685-2002 now for your free consultation.

Chiropractic care during Pregnancy

 

Chiropractic care is health maintenance  without drugs or surgery. It involves the art and science of adjusting misaligned the spine to reduce spinal nerve stress and therefore promotes health throughout the body. The only side effect of chiropractic is a loss of pain. I say that because many people think chiropractors are for pain relief but honestly that is just a side effect of your body becoming healthy. Pain is just your body’s way of telling you something is wrong.

Is chiropractic care safe during pregnancy?

There are no known contraindications to chiropractic care throughout pregnancy. The doctors at Barton Chiropractic in Concord are trained to work with women who are pregnant. Investing in the fertility and pregnancy wellness of women who are pregnant or trying to conceive is a routine treatment for our doctors.

Barton Chiropractic takes a specific interest in prenatal and peri-natal care.  Dr. Gonzalez has also been certified as a Doula as well as a Chiropractor.

Our Chiropractors  have been trained to work with pregnant women and use tables that adjust for a pregnant woman’s body, and we utilize  techniques that avoid unneeded pressure on the abdomen.

Barton Chiropractic in Concord is  also able to  provide you with exercises and stretches that are safe to use during pregnancy and compliment any adjustments made to your spine.

Why should I have chiropractic care during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, there are several physiological and endocrinological changes that occur in preparation for creating the environment for the developing baby. The following changes could result in a misaligned spine or joint:

• Protruding abdomen and increased back curve

   

• Pelvic changes

   

• Postural adaptations

   

Establishing pelvic balance and alignment is another reason to obtain chiropractic care during pregnancy. When the pelvis is misaligned it may reduce the amount of room available for the developing baby. This restriction is called intrauterine constraint. A misaligned pelvis may also make it difficult for the baby to get into the best possible position for delivery.

The nervous system is the master communication system to all the body systems including the reproductive system. Keeping the spine aligned helps the entire body work more effectively.

What are the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy?

Chiropractic care during pregnancy may provide benefits for women who are pregnant. 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

   

What about chiropractic care and breech deliveries?

The late Larry Webster, D.C., Founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, developed a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment which enables chiropractors to establish balance in the pregnant woman’s pelvis and reduce undue stress to her uterus and supporting ligaments. This balanced state in the pelvis makes it easier for a breech baby to turn naturally. The technique is known as the Webster Technique.

It is considered normal by some for a baby to present breech until the third trimester. Most birth practitioners are not concerned with breech presentations until a patient is 37 weeks along. Approximately 4% of all pregnancies result in a breech presentation.

The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reported in the July/August 2002 issue an 82% success rate of babies turning vertex when doctors of chiropractic used the Webster Technique. Further, the results from the study suggest that it may be beneficial to perform the Webster Technique as soon as the 8th month of pregnancy when a woman has a breech presentation.

Currently, the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association recommends that women receive chiropractic care throughout pregnancy to establish pelvic balance and optimize the room a baby has for development throughout pregnancy. With a balanced pelvis, babies have a greater chance of moving into the correct position for birth, and the crisis and worry associated with breech and posterior presentations may be avoided altogether. Optimal baby positioning at the time of birth also eliminates the potential for dystocia (difficult labor) and therefore results in easier and safer deliveries for both the mother and baby.

Talk to Your Health Care Provider:

As more women are seeking the benefits of chiropractic care throughout pregnancy, more health care providers are seeking trained doctors of chiropractic in their communities to refer their pregnant patients to. Discuss these options with your health care provider. If they are not yet familiar with chiropractic care in pregnancy, ask them to find out more about its many benefits. Most importantly, seek options that support your body’s natural abilities to function and find a team of providers who are respectful of your choices.

Your Next Steps:

Contact Barton Chiropractic in Concord at 925 685-2002 or visit our website for more information about Back Pain and Pregnancy.

Thank you for your interest in our position. We have had over 180 applicants apply so far and we are currently reviewing these.

I I will try to let everyone know of our decision as soon as possible.

Thanks for your understanding. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me by email at doc@bartonchiro.com

God bless,

Dr. David A. Barton

Stress, sleep deprivation and fatigue have been no small component of Dr. Michael Benson’s life. As a fetal surgeon, Benson is often up for 24- to 36-hour stretches at a time looking after patients. He has little time to rest or eat regular, healthy meals. It’s no wonder he has suffered from migraines for years.

Benson is not alone. It’s estimated that 28 million Americans suffer from migraines. As anyone who experiences these intense headaches can tell you, they can be extremely debilitating. Acute pain, possible visual disturbances and nausea, as well as sensitivity to light, sounds and odors can render a person incapable of going about everyday responsibilities, much less performing complicated tasks like surgery.

In order to cope, Benson has used Ibuprofen and heat to manage the pain, but sometimes it doesn’t work. “I used to keep a preloaded syringe of Toradol [a strong, anti-inflammatory pain reliever] in my medicine chest,” he admits, “because once my headaches get really bad, I get nauseated and can’t take anything by mouth. It saved having to go to the ER.” Enter Barton Chiropractic in Concord.

Having trained as an M.D., Benson confessed that chiropractic treatment wasn’t in his knowledgebase or on his immediate list of pain-relieving measures. In fact, if he hadn’t been visiting his brother, a doctor of chiropractic, when a bad migraine hit, he may never have received chiropractic care. “The Ibuprofen didn’t work, so my brother offered to examine me and adjust my neck,” he says. “When you’re in pain, you’re willing to try anything.” Within 10 to 15 minutes of the adjustment, his migraine had disappeared.

It’s likely that Benson’s body reacts to stress by tensing muscles around the cervical joints in the neck, causing nerves in his neck to become impinged and triggering his migraines. Chiropractic adjustment alleviates this pain by relaxing muscles and promoting a full range of motion in the neck, allowing the headache to subside. And Benson’s positive experience isn’t uncommon. Recent studies at Duke University found that spinal manipulation was almost always immediately effective in relieving headaches originating in the neck and provided longer-lasting relief than commonly prescribed pain medications.

Benson’s migraines probably won’t go away completely without substantial lifestyle changes— changes that could be tough to implement with his profession. Once migraines are an established pattern, they are very difficult to get rid of, explains his brother. But he can work to minimize them with chiropractic care— a solution that doesn’t carry the potential side-effects of over-the-counter and prescription pain medication. Whenever a potentially incapacitating migraine hits and Benson gets an adjustment from his brother, “It always works,” he says.

So you thought your back pain would go away by itself…

A recent study involving sufferers of low back pain in the British Medical Journal (2/05/98), contradicted the previous claim in the BMJ that back pain resolved itself naturally. A follow up found that 91% of those in the survey were still experiencing back pain 12 months later.

Make no mistake; if you have low back pain, you have a problem.

Most low back pain is the result of an injury. Sometimes these injuries happened years ago. I often have patients tell me that they have had low back pain before, but it has “always gone away”. This is usually the worst type of problem. Our body uses pain to tell us that we have a problem. (I promise the problem is not a shortage of Motrin in your body!) In our infinite wisdom, we take the drugs, cover up the back pain without fixing the problem, and our back pain temporarily goes away. We think we are fine, until it happens again and it always does. This time the back pain is a little worst and takes longer to go away and we continue this insanity until the problem is severe.

What causes low back injuries resulting in low back pain?

There are many ways low back injuries occur. The more important question is what do I do now?

Few GP's will admit, as Dr Phil Hammond does in his book Trust Me I'm A Doctor that "they are not very good at treating back pain". Most GP's are reluctant to refer outside the NHS, even though chiropractors are specially trained to identify and advise on the specific cause of your spinal dysfunction (back pain). The bones of your spine protect the spinal cord as well as the nerve roots, sometimes they lose their normal motion or position (vertebral subluxation complex), and this can irritate the nerves that branch off the spinal cord to all the tissues of your body, resulting in back pain being experienced.

In order for the spine to be flexible, the vertebrae are joined together by soft tissue structures known as discs. Each disc is made up of two parts – a central soft core and outer rings of tough cartilage. The discs allow movement and also help to absorb shock. A slipped disc is the rather inaccurate term used to describe the condition, often in the lower back, where trauma or ‘wear and tear’ have caused damage to the outer rings of cartilage, so that the core is squeezed outwards. This can result in a bulge which can press on the spinal cord, the nerve root or the nerve itself. It can cause excruciating back pain, or referred elsewhere – for example in the lower leg or foot. Over my 22 years in practice, I have developed techniques that mobilize the spine to reduce any pressure around the spinal cord or nerves; offering patients not only back pain relief, but correction of the problem that is causing the back pain.

Do Medical Treatments and Surgery help?

The medical approach is at times necessary – even back surgery has a place. But according to some studies, most spinal surgery for acute lower back pain should be rarely performed. Many people who have had back surgery report a recurrence of their back pain within a year or two of the operation and may return to the operating table. In some cases the surgery makes no difference in their back pain whatsoever, and in some cases it does not give long-term relief.

The Chiropractic Approach:

Barton Chiropractic in Concord has helped thousands of people with low back pain, saving them from pain, disability, drugs and surgery. The approach at Barton Chiropractic in Concord is to make your spine and its nerves, discs ligaments and muscles healthier, stronger and more stable by correcting your vertebral subluxation. Anyone suffering from back pain should contact Barton Chiropractic in Concord to make sure they have no subluxations and have them corrected with a chiropractic adjustment if necessary. This may make the difference between a life of ease, health and comfort and a life of back pain, disease and disability.

What did the Government Studies reveal?

Major government studies from the US, Canada and UK have reaffirmed what chiropractic patients have been telling their friends with back pain for years: “Why don’t you see my chiropractor? You’ll get better much faster than from drugs or surgery- and it’s safer too.

In 1991 the Medical Research Council established chiropractic as one of the preferred and most effective methods of care for acute low back pain. "Chiropractic almost certainly confers worthwhile long term benefits in comparison with hospital outpatient management". "If all these patients were referred for chiropractic instead of hospital treatment, the annual cost would be a reduction of some 290,000 days in sickness absence during 2 years, saving about 13 million in output and 2.9 million in social security payments". British Medical Journal, June 2nd 1990 - www.chiropractic-uk.co.uk.

A panel of medical experts spent 2.5 years reviewing nearly 4,000 studies and reported that expensive tests (MRI, CAT scans) and therapies typically used to diagnose and treat acute lower back pain are largely useless. Instead the experts recommended the non-drug chiropractic approach.

The Manga Report commissioned by the government of Ontario in Canada, found that chiropractic care for patients with low back pain is superior to medical care in terms of safety, scientific evidence of effectiveness, cost and patient satisfaction.

Chiropractic is better for you!

Studies have shown chiropractic works better, is safer and less costly than standard medicine for lower back pain.Why are the results so overwhelmingly in favor of Barton Chiropractic in Concord? Because Drugs (painkillers, muscle relaxants, Valium…), physical therapy and surgery are not designed to correct vertebral subluxation only cover up your back pain and allow you to die more comfortably. Call us today at 925 685-2002 to make an appointment. We Can Help You!

I have learned from my earliest medical education that life begins at conception. That is what I was tought in school. on that basis, I submit that human life is present throught the entire sequence from conception to adulthood and any interuption at any point constitutes a termination of a human life.

http://www.justthefacts.org/clar.asp has some great photos and info.

Hatem M, Sandall J, Devane D, Soltani H, Gates S. Midwife-led versus other models of care for childbearing women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD004667. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004667.pub2.

Midwife-led care confers benefits for pregnant women and their babies and is recommended.

In many parts of the world, midwives are the primary providers of care for childbearing women. Elsewhere it may be medical doctors or family physicians who have the main responsibility for care, or the responsibility may be shared. The underpinning philosophy of midwife-led care is normality and being cared for by a known and trusted midwife during labour. There is an emphasis on the natural ability of women to experience birth with minimum intervention. Some models of midwife-led care provide a service through a team of midwives sharing a caseload, often called 'team' midwifery. Another model is 'caseload midwifery', where the aim is to offer greater continuity of caregiver throughout the episode of care. Caseload midwifery aims to ensure that the woman receives all her care from one midwife or her/his practice partner. By contrast, medical-led models of care are where an obstetrician or family physician is primarily responsible for care. In shared-care models, responsibility is shared between different healthcare professionals.

The review of midwife-led care covered midwives providing care antenatally, during labour and postnatally. This was compared with models of medical-led care and shared care, and identified 11 trials, involving 12,276 women. Midwife-led care was associated with several benefits for mothers and babies, and had no identified adverse effects. The main benefits were a reduced risk of losing a baby before 24 weeks. Also during labour, there was a reduced use of regional analgesia, with fewer episiotomies or instrumental births. Midwife-led care also increased the woman's chance of being cared for in labour by a midwife she had got to know. It also increased the chance of a spontaneous vaginal birth and initiation of breastfeeding. In addition, midwife-led care led to more women feeling they were in control during labour. There was no difference in risk of a mother losing her baby after 24 weeks. The review concluded that all women should be offered midwife-led models of care.

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