Finding the Cause of Migraine Headaches

 

It is estimated that over 38 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches, and over 4 million of those with migraines are diagnosed with chronic migraines.  This means that over 4 million people have a migraine headache for 15 or more days!  Migraines should be taken seriously as it is the 6th most disabling condition in the world.  Some patients experience migraines that can last up to 72 hours!  Many people experience nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, fatigue, sensitivity to light and noise, and a heightened sense of smell among many other symptoms.  Finding out your triggers is an important step I often tell patients when helping determine the root cause of the headaches.  Keeping a migraine log of onset of symptoms, foods eaten, migraine intensity, sleep patterns, etc can help prevent triggers from happening. I've seen even certain smells such as  perfumes or essential oils that can trigger a migraine attack.  In our office we also look at the structure of the neck and spine and how that can contribute to migraine headaches.  When interference (otherwise known as subluxations) are found to the nervous system, it can cause migraine headaches to occur.  Specific, neurological-based chiropractic adjustments remove interference to allow the nervous system to function properly.  This results in decreased migraine headaches or even total relief of migraines in some cases.  Find a chiropractic physician that takes x-rays to be as specific as possible, and preferably an upper cervical specialist chiropractor to get specialized care for your migraines.  While medications or botox injections can help in times of crisis, they simply cover symptoms of migraines without addressing the CAUSE of the migraine.  Look to the foundation of the body to determine if the structure is aligned so that it can function at its best!

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

Working from Home? Tips for Maintaining Spinal Health

 

Our office has seen a large increase in patients with back and neck pain, hip pain, and elbow/shoulder pain with the recent work/school from home orders.  Protecting your spine by maintaining proper positioning is essential to feeling our best and preventing pain.  It is estimated that over 42% of reported absenteeism from work is related to back pain.  As shown in the diagram above, when positioning is compromised, our shoulders round and the back hunches, our feet go behind our knees, the head moves forward creating a large amount of pressure and weight not supported by the neck, and our elbows drop to below our wrists. The loss of curvature of the neck and spine is what causes pain and discomfort. Our hips can become unbalanced then as well often causing sciatic nerve issues.  Here are a few tips for maintaining proper spinal health while working from home.

-start your day with a balanced breakfast

-take meditation breaks. turn off the screen, put down your phone, and take 12 deep breaths with your eyes closed.  its amazing what a short "brain break" can do for your mental and physical health!

-take stretch breaks often. preferably every 45 minutes to an hour. get up and move around, go for a short walk, or do stretches.

-drink plenty of water. you should be consuming at least half of your body weight (in ounces) every day.  Meaning for a 100lb individual, you should be drinking at least 50oz of water daily.

-keep shoulders relaxed, elbows close to your body, and bent at 90-120 degree angle. avoid reaching for the mouse or keyboard, have them as close to the body as possible.

-protect your lumbar spine when sitting by leaning slightly back, not forward, balanced hips (no sitting on one leg) and a cushioned seat. even place a small pillow in the low back to help support the lumbar spine.

-support the thighs by having them fully on the chair, knees bent with the feet on the floor slightly in front of the knees, never behind the knees.

-keep head level and do NOT look down at the screen!  keep the eyes at 20-30 degrees difference to the middle of the screen. This is by far the most important thing you can do to maintain spinal health!

-GET ADJUSTED! adults and children both should be receiving regular chiropractic checkups  to not only protect their spine but to boost immune system function!  Keeping your spine balanced prevents future issues and injuries. 

Want more tips, stretches, or exercises? Call today to schedule your appointment with either of our fantastic physicians! 704-394-8556

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

 

Complementary Therapies to Promote Cognitive Function in Geriatric Patients

 

Cognitive impairment, like many problems in older adults, is often “multifactorial.” This means that the difficulties with memory, thinking, or other brain processes are often due to more than one cause.  It is a common assumption that as we age, our cognitive health should "normally" decline.  However, things such as medication side effects, hormone imbalances, vitamin deficiencies, neuron damage from injuries, infection, toxins, or neurodegenerative conditions all have effects on cognition.  Therefore determining what a "normal" decline in cognition is can be extremely difficult.  Starting complementary care (complementary care is a term used to describe therapies that are used in addition to, or alongside, conventional care) has become common practice to ensure that we are taking the proper steps to ensure less cognitive decline in elderly patients.  Clinical trials conducted in early 2020 have shown that complementary therapies have reduced the risk of forgetfulness, depression, fall risk, dementia, and stress as well as an increase in everyday activities, cognitive recognition and function, and mindfulness in patients aged 55 years and older.  Complementary therapies included in the trials were chiropractic adjustments and other body-based methods, alternative medical systems, mind-body interventions, biological based treatments, and energy therapies.  Our nervous system controls or directs all of our bodily functions, including the mind-body connection!  In particular, specific, neurologically-based chiropractic care, ensures that our nervous system is operating free of interference and at its optimal state.  Chiropractic care is a non-invasive approach to health that has been proven to provide immense health benefits!  Our office can also help refer to other complementary care options such as massage, acupuncture, yoga, mental health counseling, hormone replacement therapies, and naturopathic medicine!

 

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

 

Ngyuen, S. A., & Lavretsky, H. (2020). Emerging Complementary and Integrative Therapies for Geriatric Mental Health.  Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry.  doi:10.1007/s40501-020-00229-5.

Non-surgical Approach for Disc Herniations

 A common cause for neck and back pain can be a disc herniation.  Other names for disc herniation can be ruptured, slipped, or bulging disc.  These all fall under the category of a herniation.  This happens when the gel-like substance of our spine breaks through the tire-like structure of our discs.  Our spinal discs act like a shock absorber to keep our spines moving safely and effectively daily.  Disc herniation are extremely painful and can also cause other symptoms such as numbness, tingling, weakness, inflammation, and even loss of muscle control because of the compression of the nerve root coming out of the spinal column.  Inflammation especially is important to pay note to because most of the inflammation is internal, and often gets overlooked by traditional treatments for a disc herniation.  A recent research study sought to understand how inflammation directly effects lumbar disc herniation and degeneration and treatment options.  Researchers found that inflammatory responses could trigger and be an indicator for lumbar disc herniation and even spontaneous regression of the herniated disc.  Our office offers several different non-surgical options for disc herniation including chiropractic adjustments, cervical decompression, lumbar decompression, and rehabilitation exercises.  Non-surgical treatments offer less risk and side effects and have better long-term outcomes than surgical treatment for herniated discs.  By removing the internal inflammation and correct neurological imbalances the body is allowed to heal the disc by increasing absorption (or better re absorption) of the disc into its proper place.  While the option for drugs or surgery will always be there, they should be utilized as a last resort instead of a first option when there are many non-surgical interventions that produce great results!

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

 

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.

Chronic Knee Pain??? Why You Should Get Your Spine Checked...

Have you ever had someone tell you that their knees are "bone-on-bone?"  While this is a common phrase used to describe knee issues, this isn't actually possible to not have ANY joint space left in the knee while still being able to physically walk.  However, loss of joint space or inflammation of the knee joint is a very common issue.  It is estimated that over 14 million people in the US have arthritis of the knee.  It appears that the age range most effected by painful knee arthritis is between 45 and 64 years of age.  Patients tend to lose their mobility and range of motion quickly during the different stages of osteoarthritis of the knees.  Did you know that when there is no direct injury to the knee, a common place to look for the cause of knee pain and inflammation is the spine?  Our spine is tied to every function of the body by creating our structural foundation.  Our posture, our mobility (range of motion), and our overall bodily functions from our spinal cord all are housed in our spines.  The health and care of our spine directly impacts the health and function of our entire bodies.  When subluxations (or interference) are found in the cervical neck and spine, it can lead to disorders of the knee.  When misalignment of the spine is left untreated, structural problems will follow, therefore leading to dysfunction of the knee.  For one thing, the nerves that detect sensations in the knee are all linked to the lower spine. That’s why sciatica pain can extend down the leg and even cause knee pain. Pain often radiates from the lower back when this is the case, but pain can also occur in the knee without pain in the lower back area.  A study conducted over 22 years followed patients and found that there was a direct correlation to knee arthritis to misalignment's of the spine!  The study also found that the worse the patients spine was, the higher level of arthritis in the knees.  While they may not have always had back pain, there was degeneration of the knees due to improper balance of the spine.  Seeking chiropractic care to determine the cause of the knee pain instead of chasing symptoms of knee pain may help to correct the knee pain by correcting issues of the spine! 

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

Shimizu, M., Kobayashi, T., Chiba, H., Senoo, I., Abe, S., Matsukura, K., & Ito, H. (2020). Examination of the changes in lower extremities related to progression of adult spinal deformity: A longitudinal study of over 22 years. Scientific Reports, 10(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68573-3. 

Slowing Degenerative Disc Disease

 

 

 

Degenerative disc disease of your neck and spine is not actually a disease.  It refers to the "aging" process of our discs and joints that may become swollen and break down, causing pain and soreness.  The rubbery discs between the vertebrae normally allow for flexing and bending of the neck and back, like shock absorbers. In time, they become worn, and they no longer offer as much protection as before.  While some experts would classify degenerative disc disease as a "normal" sign of aging, there are many things we can do to prevent and slow this process in our spine as we age.  Another term often used when describing degeneration of our spine is arthritis.  This simply is defined as swelling and pain of the discs of the spine and joints throughout the body.  This condition, however, can be quite painful and limit our daily physical movements.  Things to do to prevent or slow degeneration of the spine include eating a healthy diet, physical exercise, yoga, stretching, proper sleeping positions, adequate water intake, gut balance and of course chiropractic care.  Neurologically based chiropractic care has been proven to reduce swelling and inflammation of the joints and discs, while aiding in bone density buildup while reducing cartilage damage.  As seen in the above photo, numerous disc disease can be prevented and helped reversed while under expert chiropractic care.  At our office, we use both manual chiropractic adjustments as well as decompression to revive those shock absorbers (spinal discs) by allowing the disc to become rehydrated therefore decreasing or eliminating pain.  When the disc is fully hydrated, it can do its job to bend and flex the neck and spine properly without pain or soreness.  Don't let others tell you that neck or back pain is a "normal" sign of aging...it is your body's way of sending you a signal that something is not functioning properly!  Adjust the cause of the pain and the symptoms will ease!

 

 

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

Conesa-Buendia, F. M., Mediero, A., Fujikawa. R. Esbrit P., Mulero, F. Mahilo-Fernandez, I., & Mues. A. O. (2020). Beneficial effects of manually assisted chiropractic adjusting instrument in osteoarthritis. Scientific Reports, 10(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-020-70219-3.

 

Finding the Cause of Joint Issues...and Getting Relief!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When many people think of  chiropractic care, they often associate it only with neck or back pain.  However a skilled doctor of chiropractic can help with many issues of the joints such as carpal tunnel, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, trigger finger, ankle and foot issues as well as knee pain.  When our joints become stiff or painful to move, further injury can happen and cause hindrance to our day-to-day lives.  Specific adjustments to those joints may provide great relief, however it is also just as important to look to the spine for issues that may be contributing to joint disease or deterioration.  Take for instance adhesive capsulitis (or frozen shoulder).  This is characterized by stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint that restricts both passive and active ranges of motion.  It is often very painful, that can come on quickly and sometimes seems out of nowhere.  A recent study of a 69-year old woman with frozen shoulder after an arm fracture due to a fall sought chiropractic care to relieve her constant pain in her neck and shoulder.  Many subluxations were found in her neck and spine that were causing her shoulder to not heal correctly after her fall.  This resulted in extreme joint inflammation and pain.  With chiropractic adjustments, the shoulder began to heal and the patient reported significant decrease in pain in the neck and shoulder as well as improvements to her sleep, range of motion, higher energy levels, and an overall increased sense of well-being!  Similar improvements have been documented for grip strength, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel relief, and trigger finger all due to chiropractic adjustments!  These studies suggest that subluxations in the neck may be a contributing factor to joint mobility issues.  Find the cause of your joint issues, don't just live with pain!  Relief is possible if you search hard enough for the cause.   

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

 

Shaw, Y., BSc (Chiro).  Throp, I., BSc (chiro), & Cade, A., MHSc, DICCP, BSc (Chiro), BSc3. (2020). Improvement in Adhesive Capsulitis in a 69-Year-Old Female Undergoing Chiropractic Care for the Reduction of Vertebral Subluxation:A Case Study. A. Vertebral Subluxation Res, 126-130.