Headaches are one of the most common complaints I see in my office. This is because of the simple fact that the neck joints easily become pushed out of place during our day to day activities which results in a variety of different types of headaches.

I want to tell you about a case of migraine headaches I recently treated. The patient came in to see me because the medications she had been on had essentially stopped working. She was having 1-2 headaches a week that had the migraine “aura” followed shortly by a pounding headache that usually took between 24-36 hours to fully go away. She spent much of this time in bed with no lights on and as little sound as possible since these aggravated her symptoms.

Upon initial examination two vertebra in her neck were moderately displaced. One at the top of her neck, mildly reproduced the “aura” symptom when pressed upon. The muscles in her neck were very tight and tender to the touch. I initially recommended a treatment plan of 2 adjustments per week for 3 weeks and then 1 adjustment a week for 3 weeks.

Two weeks into treatment she came in for her 5th visit and reported that she had not had a headache since her last visit. She did report some mild neck pain. Over the next 2 weeks this too disappeared and the headaches had not returned. This person has since not had any headaches and returns every 3-4 weeks to make sure the neck vertebra are still aligned properly, since over time the spine does end up with joints out of place.

This case demonstrates very well how adjusting subluxations (joints out of place) reduces pressure on the nerves exiting the neck and spine and allows the body to heal itself. That is all that occurred in this case. The vertebrae in her neck were out of place and pressing on the nerves exiting the neck. Correcting this problem allowed the body to heal itself and headaches subsequently stopped. No drugs. No surgery. No nothing that was not completely natural.

If you struggle with headaches or have any other chronic pain please call me today at 715-246-7500 for my 4 Corners office of 715-265-7500 for my Glenwood City office. Consultations are always FREE and I’m confident we can help you.

Did you like this post? Please like our page on Facebook and share with family and friends.

The brain controls every system in your body from your thyroid to your ability to fall asleep. As such its a pretty important organ and the body treats it as such with a protective layer of solid bone (skull)to protect the brain and 24 movable hard bony segments (vertebrae) to protect the spinal cord.

Problems in any body system can result when the movable vertebrae are out of position and put pressure on nerves exiting the spinal cord. We call this a vertebral subluxation and they can cause anything from simple pain to dysfunction of an organ.

Much like teeth, if we do not take care of spine regularly we end up with trouble. The most common symptom, and typically the first to appear is pain. This is the result of nerve irritation from the vertebral subluxation. Most people see the dentist every 6 months. But how often should you see your chiropractor?

That can be answered by asking yourself these 3 questions…

Question #1- What is your age and general level of health?

The older you are the greater the likelihood of minor degenerative changes (arthritis) that require more frequent care to prevent further deterioration. If your overall level of health is better you do not need as much chiropractic care as someone in generally poorer health due to the body being able to heal better and form healthier tissues.

Question #2- Do you have a history of major injuries, especially auto accidents?

Major injuries place tremendous stress on the body. Even after the initial injuries heal areas affected by the injury may be slow to heal, heal with reduced range of motion or areas that were previously weakened may not heal entirely. If you have a past major accident you are a candidate for more frequent chiropractic visits to maintain overall health.

Question #3- How much wear and tear do you put on your body in a typical week?

Regardless of the answer to the previous 2 questions, if you put more stress on your body you need more chiropractic care than someone who puts minimal stress on their body. The more intense the pressure you put on your spine the higher the likelihood of spinal subluxations that need to be corrected being present.

If after answering the questions above you feel there is a high probability your spine is compromised call our office today at 715-246-7500 (4 Corners) or 715-265-7500 (Glenwood City) to schedule a FREE consultation. We will evaluate your case and determine if in fact you need chiropractic care and create a treatment plan based on your health needs.

Healing is a natural process our bodies undergo to correct injury or disease. It happens without any effort on our part. It is a normal part of being human and one of our greatest gifts in life. In this powerful article we will be examining 3 fundamental truths of healing from the chiropractic perspective.

Before we get going lets do a brief anatomy lesson. When a human is conceived and and egg and sperm cell fuse they begin to divide. When the growing human is about the size of a blackberry the first organ appears, the brain. Shortly after the spinal cord forms. The nervous system is the FIRST thing that appears in a new human. After this the rest of the organs form. This is important because it is this system that will oversee and run the functioning of the body.

Also, the nervous system is well protected. The brain is encased in bone and the spinal cord with the spinal vertebrae. While the skull is immobile the vertebrae are a different story. They can bend, twist, tip and otherwise move which CAN and WILL lead to pressure on the nervous system. When a vertebra is out of place we call it a subluxation. When there is pressure on the nerves exiting the spine the area served by that nerve will not be receiving 100% of the brains power and disease will eventually follow.

With this basic understanding of how important the nervous system is lets look at the 3 fundamental truths of healing from a chiropractic perspective.

Truth #1- The body has an innate ability to heal itself

To illustrate this imagine you cut your finger. You disinfect it and put a bandage on it and several days later the cut is healed. Did the bandage and disinfectant cure the cut? Of course not! The body naturally started to heal on its own the second the cut occurred!

Truth #2- Removing Obstacles to Healing Allows the Body to Heal

This one may seem obvious but is often overlooked in modern medicine. Interestingly this is the main method by which chiropractic works. Chiropractic addresses areas of the spine where the vertebra are not in the proper place and thus putting pressure on nerves. This prevents the area of the body served by that nerve, be it the heart, hand or anywhere else from receiving the full power of the message from the brain. Remove the problem and the symptoms go away naturally as the body heals! This is the reason chiropractic is so effective for so many different and seemingly unrelated conditions.

Truth #3- No Treatment Cures Anything. The Body Naturally Heals Itself

Treatment of any kind only aims to restore normal function of the body. Removing a subluxation of the spine simply allows the full power from the brain to reach its intended point. Imagine a dimmer switch on a light bulb. If you set the switch at 70% power and call this normal, imagine the sudden increase in light when the switch is set to 100%. This is the difference in function of the body when you remove a vertebral subluxation!

I hope you found this article valuable and of course interesting! Please share it with someone in need!

If you have been watching the news lately you may have heard of the epidemic of low testosterone. ABC news estimated that as many as 1 in 10 men aged 30-70 has low T. The symptoms of low T can be low sex drive, general lack of energy, brain fog, depression and the dreaded erectile dysfunction.

Testosterone production is heavily influenced by diet and if you are a man reading this article I would add the following foods to my diet TODAY. These are foods that have been shown in research to naturally raise testosterone levels even in unhealthy subjects and that I personally eat almost every day.

Food #1: Eggs- forget everything you’ve heard about dietary cholesterol being bad for your heart. in 2015 the US dietary guidelines not only removed the restriction on dietary cholesterol but also basically said low fat diets are not ideal as well. Cholesterol is a precursor for testosterone as well as many other important molecules in the body and eggs have plenty. They are also a great source of B-Vitamins, Vitamin D and a whole bunch of other nutrients.

Food #2: Butter- the body also needs ample fat to produce enough testosterone. Grass fed butter is an excellent source of fats and also supplies some cholesterol.

Food #3: Pastured Meats- meat is the easiest source of the complete amino acid profile. These play a role in numerous functions throughout the body and if you are protein deficient your body simply cannot produce all the testosterone it needs for muscle growth, injury recovery and other healing processes.

Food #4: Spinach- this is the king of the leafy green vegetables. In addition to its wide variety of nutrients needed for testosterone production spinach is a great source of magnesium and contains naturally occurring nitrates that improve circulation and relax the blood vessels.

Food #5: Potatoes- Potatoes are an excellent source of easily digestible carbohydrates. The body needs all the macro nutrient groups (protein, fat, carbohydrate) to produce testosterone. A low carb diet will reduce testosterone production.

Food #6: Pomegranate- this somewhat exotic fruit is jam packed with T supporting nutrients. Pomegranate is one of the most nutrient dense fruits and has been shown to boost both testosterone and nitric oxide production.

Food #7: Celery- Celery, like spinach, is loaded with naturally occurring nitrates and other nutrients that boost testosterone production.

Food #8: Black Berries: Black berries are one of natures great detoxification foods. They sweep unwanted toxins out of the colon which helps the natural efficiency of the body. Their deep purple color is also given by rich anti-oxidant supplies that aid in testosterone production.

If you take nothing else away from this article know that for optimal T production you need to eat A)enough fat B)enough cholesterol and C) a good mix of protein and carbohydrates. Without the raw materials for testosterone production there is simply no way to produce enough to avoid the symptoms of low testosterone, which frankly are about as bad as it gets for men.

Please share this article with someone in need. You can also like and share it on Facebook.

If you have been paying any attention to the prevailing medical attitudes towards cholesterol you are no doubt very familiar with popular belief that eating foods with lots of cholesterol is horrible for you heart and overall health.

Nothing however could be further from the truth. In face, low fat diets in general have been shown to be very detrimental to overall health. Some doctors are even saying that the low fat guide lines should never have been created in the first place! Cholesterol is actually a healing molecule with strong anti-oxidant properties. It is used in many places in the body and is the backbone of stress and sex hormones and vitamin D.

As the prevailing wisdom slowly shifts and accepts that low fat (and low cholesterol) diets are detrimental lets take a look at 3 of the biggest myths about cholesterol.

Myth #1: Eating foods high in cholesterol increases blood cholesterol levels.

The truth is that what you eat does little to effect your blood levels of cholesterol. You liver tightly regulates cholesterol levels so if you eat plenty one day the liver responds by not producing as much. Your body actually prefers to be spoon-fed cholesterol than to have to produce it in the liver. It is actually unchecked inflammation caused by excess blood sugars that causes cholesterol to increase in the blood as a reaction to the systemic damage done by high blood sugar levels maintained over time.

Myth #2: Eating cholesterol will increase my risk of heart attack or stroke.

Blaming cholesterol for a heart attack or stroke is like blaming the band aid for the cut on your finger. When damage to the blood vessels occurs due to excess inflammation cholesterol is sent there to help repair the cells involved. When the inflammation is constant the cholesterol cannot be used and piles up creating the plaques often associated with heart attack and strokes. The problem is not that cholesterol is in the blood but that it cannot be fully used due to rampant inflammation.

Myth #3: Foods containing cholesterol are unhealthy anyways.

Cholesterol is naturally found in animal products like eggs, meat, cheese and dairy. While its true that highly processed foods are unhealthy (because of preservatives, nitrates and other chemicals added to the meat) whole foods are the exact opposite! Eggs in particular are like natures multivitamin. Meat contains many vitamins and minerals and butter contains healthy fats. The take home message here is “eat real foods and be healthy.”

I hope you found this article interesting. There is so much exciting research going on regarding cholesterol and its benefits. If you liked this article like and share on Facebook. Also, don’t forget to sign up for my email list and like our Facebook page!

For more information about our office visit www.arvoldchiro.com

Chronic pain can have many causes from repetitive stress injuries to slip and fall type injuries. But one of the lesser known causes of chronic pain is lack of quality sleep. In some cases its the chronic pain that prevents sleep and starts a vicious cycle of sleepless nights and pain-filled days.

The reason that sleep is so important is because it is when your body regenerates itself. Muscle and connective tissue heal, hormones replenish, cellular structures are repaired. So if you are not regularly entering deep, healing sleep the odds your aches and pains from the previous day will be gone by morning are significantly less.

I frequently see cases where shooting pain, numbness or burning pain come on during the night and wake people from sleep. Another common type of case is when someone wakes from sleep with a pounding headache that continues throughout the day leaving the person exhausted and stressed from the pain. Yet another presentation I frequently see is not being able to sleep at all because of deep, achy pain in the spine and neck following a long day at work.

All of these problems have one thing in common. The root of the pain is in the spine and muscles. I can’t tell you how many people have experienced much needed relief after several chiropractic adjustments in not only pain but in ability to sleep a full night and wake up feeling more refreshed.

Make no mistake. Chronic pain prevents deep, regenerative sleep and without sleep the chronic pain gets worse and resists treatment more strongly than in someone who is sleeping well. If pain is keeping you up at night, you owe it to yourself to address any issues in the spine and muscles. Most people see improved pain and sleep quality in only a handful of chiropractic visits. To schedule your appointment call 715-246-7500 for the 4 Corners office or 715-265-7500 for the Glenwood City office. We can also be contacted via the Arvold Chiropractic Facebook page messenger. Lets get you feeling better!

Did you find this post useful? Like it and share on Facebook.

As a chiropractor I see lots of, you guessed it, neck and shoulder problems. And while many of these problems result from acute injuries or repetitive stress injuries from a clear cause such as lifting heavy objects frequently many problems seem to come back again and again with no clear cause.

It is when there is no clear cause that muscle imbalance or weakness must be considered and addressed. Often without realizing it we use certain postures over and over again that place repetitive stresses on certain spinal muscles resulting in them being stronger than other areas of the spine. When this happens the spine becomes unbalanced from the strong muscle groups being relied upon more than the weaker areas.

It is this imbalance that leads to much of the chronic neck and shoulder issues I see that are not quickly resolved with chiropractic care. The purpose of this article is to teach you my 3 favorite exercises to quickly re-balance the spine and strengthen weaker areas of the spine.

The Jefferson Curl- this exercise is performed by locking out the knees and slowly leaning over like your were going to do a basic hamstring stretch. The difference is that you start by tucking the chin, then curling the upper and middle back and finally unloading the lumbar spine (lower back) before holding the stretch. Many good instructional videos of this stretch can be found on YouTube. This exercise not only helps you identify the areas of the spine that are weak but strengthens them quickly. I like to have people do 5-10 reps a day depending on how compromised the spine is.

Head Roll- this classic physical therapy exercise is done by starting with the head in its natural position. You then tip it to the right, roll the head to the center and then continuing to roll the head across the body until it is in the same position on the left shoulder before completing the exercise by returning to neutral. The key is to have total control as you perform the exercise and not to just roll the head back and forth. 3-5 minutes of this exercise a day usually suffice to strengthen the neck and upper back muscles over the course of several weeks.

Pectoralis Stretch- this exercise is done by placing the hand on either a pole, door frame or other sturdy frame with the arm extended. Then rotate away creating a stretch in the chest muscles and sometime the upper bicep area if you are really tight. Hold the stretch for 45 seconds and switch arms. Do 4-5 reps a day for several weeks.

These 3 exercises work together to strengthen back muscles, release strain on tight muscles that typically cause headaches, neck and upper back pain and help identify areas that need chiropractic care. Any area that is especially weak feeling, does not get better after 1-2 weeks of doing these exercises or has a history of previous injury likely would benefit from chiropractic in addition to these exercises.

To schedule an appointment for chiropractic care my office can be reached at 715-265-7500 for Glenwood City or 715-246-7500 for the 4 Corners. We can also be reached via Facebook at the Arvold Chiropractic page.

Did you like this article? Please like our Facebook page, share this post and let others know about it!

I’ll admit it. Before I injured my back at 19 years old I had no idea what a chiropractor was. I had never been adjusted and had never had any serious back related issues. So when I sprained my lower back which then lead to shooting paid down my leg that didn’t stop for over 5 days my mom suggested I try her chiropractor.

The chiro-what? I remember saying. I had injured myself carrying a bag full of corn down from a loft 5 days earlier. I had it slung over my shoulder and as I was coming down a narrow stair case I slipped on some loose pieces of corn on the steps. Instead of dropping the bad and cleaning up corn for the next hour I held on to it as I caught myself on the railing. Bad idea.

I felt what I can only describe as an electric twang go shooting down my right leg. My low back stiffened up so badly I could barely bend over and I was basically dragging my right leg behind me. If I moved to quickly I got an electric shock of pain down my right leg. This was bad.

At my first visit to the chiropractor he had me do a range of motion test. He also tested a few muscles to see just how bad my leg was. In the end he determined that I had a subluxation (vertebra out of place) in my low back that was pressing on the nerves exiting my spine in that area that was causing the shooting, electric pain.

After my first adjustment I felt better. The problem was certainly not gone but was much improved. I ended up going back 8 times over 4 weeks and by my last visit the problem was completely resolved. I still went about once every month or 2 to make sure I wasn’t a mess but those 8 visits essentially fixed me up! I was amazed that I could go from barely able to walk to 100% in just a few weeks.

It was this experience that lead me to want to be a chiropractor, which I now am, and help people experience a pain free and healthier life. My goal is to help people get out of pain and get on with their lives. If you are having back pain, headaches or other problems call my office at 715-246-7500 for the 4 Corners office or 715-265-7500 for my Glenwood City office. I can’t wait to meet you and help you feel better.

Did you like this post? Follow my Facebook page (Arvold Chiropractic) and don’t forget to sign up for our email list to get health news, recipes, detox advice and clinic info at www.arvoldchiro.com. As a special thank you when you sign up I’ll email you my wheat/gluten free recipe book! It has many of my favorite healthy, wheat free recipes.

Have you ever been in an auto accident? Be it a minor fender bender or a major accident injuries from auto accidents are unlike normal injuries. The forces involved are tremendous and can severely injure the spine and neck.

Many people report feeling dazed after an auto accident, which is largely from the sheer force of the crash. Even a minor accident, say in the 10-15mph range still involves 1/2 – 2 tons of metal, plastic and people colliding at speed. The most typical injuries diagnosed after such an accident are sprain/strain injuries to the ligaments and tendons.

So what should you do if you are involved in an auto accident?

The most important thing is to make sure there are no life threatening, emergency situations present. After any auto accident it is a good idea to have an x-ray evaluation to check for broken bones and if any symptoms like dizziness, shakiness or weakness are present be evaluated for a concussion.

Have your spine evaluated by your chiropractor. The most common injuries seen from auto accidents are sprain/strain injuries. That is the nature of the beast with car accidents as the body is typically thrown around or whip-lashed which causes these injuries.

Follow through with any treatments protocols given to you. This means listening to any work restraints as a result of the accident, following the entire treatment plan from you chiropractor (you will feel better before you are fully healed), and doing any physical therapy exercises you are give. Following your treatment plan can be the difference between a speedy, complete recovery or lingering problems for years.

Prompt treatment after an auto accident is very important for full recovery. If you have been in an auto accident you can contact our Glenwood City office at 715-265-7500 or our 4 Corners office at 715-246-7500. We treat auto accidents on a regular basis and are ready to help you.

As a chiropractor I often have people come in and tell me something like “I usually just adjust myself but this time I can’t get it.” I usually ask them to give a demonstration of their technique which usually scares me.

The reason it scares me? Well when you pop your neck (if you do, please stop) you stretch the joint involved to it’s physiologic limit. At this point it pops, which is actually just nitrogen gas escaping the joint. Yes, it feels better temporarily but the actual problem is not fixed.

Over time this repetitive stretching of the joint ligaments will lead to a decreased ability to stabilize the neck or back which in the long run leads to chronic neck or back pain due to instability. I’m talking about years and years before this happens so it’s not like your going to be in dire straights tomorrow but then again smokers don’t get lung cancer from the 20th cigarette either.

If you have a joint in your neck that feels like it needs to crack its a sign from your body that something is wrong in that area. It may be a minor problem that just needs rest or it could be a chronic misalignment of a joint that needs chiropractic care. What it doesn’t need is a forced “pop” by stretching the joints too far. So if you are experiencing this feeling on a regular basis call us and get it fixed. Our 4 Corners office number is 715-246-7500 and the Glenwood City office is 715-265-7500 or you can contact us via Facebook.

Tweets by @ArvoldChiro
Categories
- Adventure (2)
- Headaches (11)
- Health Information (62)
- Optimal Health (61)
- Pain (23)
- Recipes (12)

Arvold Chiropractic Blog

How Stress Breaks Down Health

Is it a Pinched Nerve? 3 Telltale Signs to Look For

The BIGGEST Mistake People Make With Chiropractic

Categories