60% of Veterans Report Chronic Pain and How Chiropractic Can Help

Chronic pain can make our lives difficult by interfering with our activities of daily living.  When patients turn to medication to manage chronic pain, it may relieve symptoms by masking the pain, however it does not address the cause of the pain.  Side effects of pain mediation include drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, depression, increased suicidal ideations, weakened immune system, addiction, and can have negative effects on how other systems in the body function.  Unfortunately one group of people often deal with chronic pain: our nations veterans.  In fact, 29%-44% of military members deployed to conflict zones in Iraq or Afghanistan reported chronic pain.  According to the Veteran Health Administration, 48%-60% of their primary care patients suffer from chronic pain.
Veterans returning from duty are at an increased risk for depression and suicide and these issues are also linked highly to chronic pain.  Opioid addiction and overdose numbers have continued to rise in veterans since 2010 each year.  As a result of this increased need, non-pharmacological treatments for chronic pain is a necessity to help our veterans after they have sacrificed so much for our country.  Among these treatments are chiropractic adjustments!  Research of active duty members found that those soldiers who sought chiropractic care more often reported that when they did feel their pain, it was mild and less frequent in occurrence.   Chiropractic care offers safe, gentle, specific adjustments to the neck, spine, and extremities to align the body so that it may function at its best ability.  When it comes to those who sacrifice so much by serving in the military, it should be our service to them to ensure that they are well taken care of!  Our veterans deserve more than just masking their symptoms, they deserve full relief of the cause of their pain!


Yours in Health,

Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson, DC

Owner/Doctor

MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHIROPRACTIC

10917 Black Dog Ln., Suite 101 

Charlotte, NC 28214

Tel (704) 394-8556

Fax (704) 395-8556

mtnislandchiro.com

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." JV


Emary, P. C., Brown, A. L., Cameron, D. F., & Pessoa, A. F. (2019). Chiropractic integration within a community health centre:a cost description and partial analysis of cost-utility from the perspective of the institution. J Can Chiropr Assoc 2019, 63(2), 64-79.

Everybody Poops! But not often enough...

Bowel movements shouldn't be complicated-they are a standard process for the human body!  Our bodies are designed beautifully and intricately; all processes interact with one another and have very specific functions.  However, sometimes our bodies "wires" get crossed in our nervous system, which leads to a lack of optimal functioning.  Current research is highlighting the importance of the "gut-brain relationship."  Meaning, the health of your gut is in direct correlation to your brain health.  Diseases are being traced back to our digestive tract and it appears that as we clean up our gut health, issues begin to fade or even become non-existent.
The number one most common thing in all patients that I see on a daily basis is constipation.  Even when patients state that they "go regularly," it is apparent on x-ray analysis that the intestines are backed up with feces, and they don't even know it!  Bowel movements should happen at least once per day, with the stool consistently being soft yet formed with easy elimination (no straining).  Approximately 8-9% of the over 2 billion people that suffer from constipation have functional constipation.  This  means that there are no specific factors found from a medical standpoint as to why they are constipated.  Other causes of constipation include medication side effects, not enough water intake, low activity level, chronic stress, low fiber in your diet, and neurological interference.  When subluxations are present in the neck and spine, the signals sent down the nervous system to the gut are interfered with, and dysfunction results.  Gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments to the cervical spine, thoracic spine, and specific adjustments to the sacrum all remove interference to those nerves that send the signals that regulate bowel movements. 
Chiropractic care can help relieve constipation in people of all ages.  Often times in infants, it only takes one adjustment to the pelvis for them to have a bowel movement and often it is instantaneous! Chiropractic adjustments are safe and effective for everyone!

Yours in Health,

Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson, DC

Owner/Doctor

MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHIROPRACTIC

10917 Black Dog Ln., Suite 101 

Charlotte, NC 28214

Tel (704) 394-8556

Fax (704) 395-8556

mtnislandchiro.com

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." JV

More Chiropractic Care Means Less Opioid Use

Opioid medications act on our bodies opioid receptors to produce a pain-relieving effect. While there are times when opioid medications are necessary, a crisis has emerged in our country for opioid abuse.  Most physicians try to only prescribe opioid medications for moderate to severe pain, however it is estimated that over 191 million prescriptions are written per year, meaning that approximately 58.7 per 100 people are receiving opioid mediation!  When our bodies are in pain, it is common to seek the most effective and immediate relief to be able to keep functioning for our daily lives.  While opioid medications can provide immediate relief, drugs all come with side effects, as well as a highly addictive tendency associated with these types of medications.  With such enormous risks that are associated with these drugs, are there other alternative healthcare options?
A 2019 case study followed patients with chronic neck and back pain to determine if their prescription needs for opioid medications could decrease with chiropractic care.  The results? An astounding reduction of 85% reduction in pharmaceutical costs for these patients!  Those seeking chiropractic care first before medications had a 64% chance of not needing opioid prescription at all!  Gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments gets to the root cause of the pain instead of masking its symptoms.  Chiropractic care is safe, effective, with no side effects or addictive outcomes.  Looking for answers for your chronic pain?  We can help!

Yours in Health,

Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson, DC

Owner/Doctor

MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHIROPRACTIC

10917 Black Dog Ln., Suite 101 

Charlotte, NC 28214

Tel (704) 394-8556

Fax (704) 395-8556

mtnislandchiro.com

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." JV

 Corcoran,K.L.,Bastian,L.A.,Gunderson,C.G.,Steffens,C.,Brackett,A.,&Lisi,A.J.(2019).AssociationBetweenChiropracticUseandOpioidReceiptAmongPatientswithSpinalPain:ASystematicReviewandMeta-analysis.PainMedicine.doi:10.1093/pm/pnz219

Immediate Improvements in Sleep with Chiropractic Care

Sleep is vital to our overall health.  During sleep, our bodies are at work recovering from the day and restoring function to all systems.  Poor quality sleep or interrupted sleep cycles can result in numerous dysfunction throughout the body.  In infants and children, poor quality sleep can lead to social, emotional, physical, and cognitive developmental issues.  In adults, poor sleep can lead to a weakened immune system, mood issues, high blood pressure, weight gain, increased risk of heart disease, low sex drive, memory issues, and over time increases your risk for diabetes.  In my office, the number one thing patients state improves after their first adjustment is sleep quality.  Especially in pediatric populations, by adjusting the spine sleep is immediately improved.
A 2019 case report following a 7-month old infant who was only sleeping for 2-3 hour increments at night.  Her parents sought out chiropractic care to see if it could improve her sleep schedule.  Gentle, specific adjustments improved the baby's sleep to 8-9 hour increments and mom reported improvement in the baby's mood and energy during the day after just the second visit! With short-term continued care, the sleep disorder was completely resolved and the child also became a better eater and bowel movements were more regular as well.
Adults also see quick improvements in their sleep cycles immediately after starting chiropractic care.  According to the CDC, over 50 million people suffer with sleep disturbances, and the drug Ambien alone was prescribed 38 million times over the last 4 years.  Chiropractic care offers a drug-free approach for sleep issues.  By removing interference to the nervous system, the body is allowed to heal properly and restore itself during the sleep cycle.  No side effects, no drowsiness, no invasive procedures needed to improve your quality of sleep when you try chiropractic care!

Yours in Health,

Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson, DC

Owner/Doctor

MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHIROPRACTIC

10917 Black Dog Ln., Suite 101 

Charlotte, NC 28214

Tel (704) 394-8556

Fax (704) 395-8556

mtnislandchiro.com

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." JV


Porter, M., & Alcantara, J., (2019). Resolution of Sleep Disorder in an infant undergoing Chiropractic Care: Case Report & Review of the Literature. J. Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, 87-90.

Can Chiropractic Care Help High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure is a condition in which the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems.  Some of these health problems include stroke, heart disease, heart failure, sexual dysfunction, vision loss, heart attack, and kidney disease.  It is estimated that 1 out of every 3 adults in America have high blood pressure!  With staggering numbers of upwards of 75 million people who suffer from high blood pressure, often times these patients are put on anti-hyptertensive medications such as lisinopril, HCTZ, diltiazem, lorsartan, and benazepril.  Monitoring blood pressure is vital for our health.   It can tell us how our circulatory system is functioning.  Once issues are identified, it is common for physicians to prescribe these medications to attempt to regulate these issues with our blood pressure.  However, research shows that 70% of patients need at least 2, if not more blood pressure medications to regulate their blood pressure.  More medications mean more side effects.  What if there is another way to help our body regulate itself without medications and their side effects?
An 8-week study of blood pressure patients followed 50 people to determine if there was a difference in blood pressure numbers after specific chiropractic care was utilized.  The patients were put into 2 groups.  One group was given "sham adjustments" meaning not distinguishable from real adjustments, and the other were given specific upper cervical adjustments to the atlas bone in the neck.  Results showed that the "real" adjustment group saw a drop in their blood pressure without the use of medication.  By restoring the alignment of the spine by removing subluxations in the neck, the body is allowed to function properly and regulatory functions are free from interference.  By visiting a chiropractor, and specifically an upper cervical chiropractor, lowering blood pressure is just one of the many benefits of chiropractic care!

Yours in Health,

Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson, DC

Owner/Doctor

MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHIROPRACTIC

10917 Black Dog Ln., Suite 101 

Charlotte, NC 28214

Tel (704) 394-8556

Fax (704) 395-8556

mtnislandchiro.com

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." JV

Bakris, G., Dickholtz, M., Meyer, P., M., Kravitz, G., Avery, E., Miller, M., ...Bell, B. (2007). Atlas vertebra realignment and achievement of arterial pressure goal in hypertensive patients:A pilot study. Journal of Human Hypertension, 21(5), 347-352. doi:10.1038/sj.jhh.1002133

Chiropractic Care for Disc Herniations...Less Risk and More Effective than Surgery!

  One significant cause for back and neck pain can be a herniated disc.  Between your vertebrae are flat, round cushioning pads called discs.  These discs act similarly to a shock absorption system found in your shoes.  Each disc has a gel-like center called the nucleus pulposus that is encapsulated by a tough, fibrous outer layer called the annulus.  A herniated disc (also known as a slipped or ruptured disc) can happen when pressure from the vertebrae above or below force a part or the entire nucleus through a weakened or torn part of the annulus. The herniated nucleus pulposus can press on the nerves near the disc.  Pain, numbness or tingling are often the effects felt from the pressure on the nerves coming out of the vertebrae and spine.  Herniated discs also cause surrounding inflammation in other areas of the neck and spine.  Current research is highlighting the role of this inflammation and the most effective way to remove that inflammation so that the disc is allowed to heal.  Invasive surgical procedures not only run a large risk they often have low success rates to remove pain from the area and lead to more surgeries for the same issue.
Chiropractic care can stretch the spine and isolate the herniated area with non-invasive adjustments of the neck and spine.  By moving vertebrae, the herniated disc is then moved away from the nerve, reducing pressure off of the nerve root which relieves pain.  Also, chiropractic adjustments allow the nervous system to release an anti-inflammatory substance, which removes inflammation and further relieves pain.
Even surgeons are recommending less invasive, gentle approaches for herniated disc treatment.  It is being discovered that chiropractic care is bringing better long-term results for discs with little to no complications or side-effects.  Improving structure of the spine reduces inflammation which allows the body to heal.  While options for drugs and surgery will always be there, they should be utilized only in emergency situations or as a last resort.  We see incredible results in patients with herniated discs every single day in our office!

Yours in Health,

Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson, DC

Owner/Doctor

MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHIROPRACTIC

10917 Black Dog Ln., Suite 101 

Charlotte, NC 28214

Tel (704) 394-8556

Fax (704) 395-8556

mtnislandchiro.com

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." JV


Cunha, C., Silva, A., J., Pereira, P., Vaz, R., Goncalves, R. M., & Barosa, M.A. (2018). The inflammatory response in the regression of lumbar disc herniation.  Arthritis Research and Therapy, 1-9.
 

Relief from Torticollis (Neck Pain) in All Ages

Anatomy of the Sternocleidomastoid and Trapezius involved in Torticollis

Have you ever woken up and not been able to turn your neck to one side?  Having significant pain in one side of the neck can be caused by a condition caused torticollis.  Torticollis results from a fixed posture or position of the head and neck.  Tilting, rotation and flexion of the head and neck is impaired.  Spasms of the sternocleidomastoid, trapezius and other neck muscles are typically involved and is more prominent on one side than the others.  This can cause someone to tip their head to side or to have great pain when turning the head to one side or the other.  We can also see torticollis in infants particularly right after birth.  Often times infants will have difficulty breastfeeding (especially on one side over the other), irritability, sleeping difficulties, and can lead to cranial distortion.  Having interventions such as forceps or vacuum during delivery increases an infants likelihood of developing torticollis and flat head as they grow and develop.
Chiropractic care utilizes cervical and spinal adjustments by addressing subluxations in the patients' spine, which are commonly associated with the condition. A subluxation is a partial dislocation of one of the vertebrae in the spine.  The dislocation of the vertebrae can interfere with nerve signaling throughout the body, which can interfere with healthy development — even outside the musculoskeletal system. 
By supporting more efficient, effective communication between the nervous system and the rest of the body, chiropractic care can prevent problems that might otherwise arise from irritation to the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles. Relief from torticollis is often found in just a few visits.  In infant and pediatric patients, torticollis can even be relieved in just one visit!  Next time you wake up with a stiff neck, look to a chiropractic professional to help relieve your pain quickly with gentle, specific chiropractic care!

Yours in Health,

Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson, DC

Owner/Doctor

MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHIROPRACTIC

10917 Black Dog Ln., Suite 101 

Charlotte, NC 28214

Tel (704) 394-8556

Fax (704) 395-8556

mtnislandchiro.com

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." JV