Battle Ground Back and Neck Pain

What Matters in Life

I want you to know that we try to make a difference at this office.  We help all kinds of people, not just people with back problems.  Here’s a story I want to share with you today.  Share this story with someone today and you’ll know how I felt when I read it and shared it with you.  

Some people understand life better.

And they call some of these people “retarded…”

At the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash.

At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win.  All, that is, except one little frail ten year old blonde haired boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry because he had fallen.  The other eight contestants heard the boy cry.

They all slowed down and looked back.  Then they all turned around and went back –every one of them.  One girl with Downs’s Syndrome bent down and kissed him on the cheek and said, “This will make it better Ben, this will make it better okay?”

Then all nine of the Special Olympic contestants linked there little arms together and walked together to the finish line.  

Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering from this special crowd went on for several minutes.

People who were there are still telling the story…and here’s my question for you.  Why are they still telling that story?  Because deep down inside ourselves we know this one thing:  What matters in this life is more then winning for ourselves.

What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.

We are here to help you win.  It’s people like you that make my job my passion.  Have a great day.  I wish you all the best.

Have a Splitting Headache?

If you have a headache, you’re not alone.  Nine out of then Americans suffer from headaches.  Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea.  What do you do when you suffer form a pounding headache?

Do you grit your teeth and carry on?  Lie down?  Pop a pill and hope that the pain goes away?  There is a better alternative.

New research shows that an adjustment, just like the one you have the ability to receive in our office- is an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in your neck.

A report released by researchers at the Duke University found that an adjustment resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than a commonly prescribed medication.

But to get to the bottom of the problem, you first need to find out what is causing your pain.

Headaches have many causes, or “triggers.”  These may include foods, environmental stimuli (noises, lights, stress, etc.) and/or behaviors (insomnia, excess exercise, blood sugar changes, etc.)

Ninety-five percent of headaches are primary headaches, such as tension, migraine, or cluster headaches.  These types of headaches are not caused by disease.  The headache itself is the primary concern.

“The greatest majority of primary headaches are associated with muscle tension in the neck.”  What Can You Do?  If you spend a large amount of time in one fixed position, such as in front of a computer, on a sewing machine, typing or reading, take a break and stretch every 30 minutes to one hour.

The stretches should take your head and neck through a comfortable range of motion.

Low-impact exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches.  However, if you are prone to dull, throbbing headaches, avoid heavy exercise.  Engage in such activities as walking, and low-impact aerobics.

Avoid teeth clenching.  The upper teeth should never touch the lowers, except when swallowing.  Last but not least, drink at least eight-8-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches and try to avoid caffeine.

Foods such as chocolate, coffee, sodas and cocoa contain high levels of the stimulant.

Are You one of the People that Accept Increasing Age= Problems?

If you believe that, then read this.

There is a really bad attitude out there that has people just accepting that with age, comes pain, dysfunction and lack of real progress.  I hear it all of the time…things like “At my age, I am just lucky if I maintain some of my strength.” Or “I am not looking to improve much at my age, I just want to keep my strength up so I can live ou thte rest of my life more comfortably!”

Those are real quotes— from real people.

Age does not mean that you cannot progress. Age does not mean that you are finished. Age does not mean that you can’t enjoy life to its’ fullest.

I work with a lot of people in my office on a daily basis.  I work on babies, all the way up to ninety four year olds (that’s the oldest patient I’ve ever seen up to now.)  Some of my greatest success stories have been with my “older” patients.

Age is a frame of mind.  It really is.  You can always improve your health and always get in better physical condition—no matter how old you are.  Now I’m not crazy either.  Age certainly can slow down progress, but it does not mean it cannot happen.

With a well thought out health program, good nutrition, and proper rest, progress can always be made.

Further, just because you have reached your 60th or 70th birthday does not mean you can expect the rest of your life to be painful in some way.  Too many people assume that pain is a birthright and that is something they must live with.  It is NOT!  Pain and dysfunction can be dealt with—no matter your age.

Change your attitude.  Look around and realize that there are plenty of people older than you athat are working hard, with intensity and are in great condition.  Why can’t you be one of those poeple?  Find help.  If you have conditions that you feel are “age-related” tell one of the staff so we can help you reach your health care goals and live pain free!

Find your motivation.  I recently worked with a 70 year old baseball player.  This guy is a pitcher and plays at a high level.  He still throws in the high 70’s and can play with people half his age.  What keeps him young and in great condition?  His mental outlook. He never once used age as an excuse.  Find your motivation and use it to fuel your own fire.

Ten Cannots

Category: Life

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table.  A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.  “How much is an ice cream sundae?” he asked.

“Fifty cents,” replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.  “Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?” he inquired.  By now, more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.

“Thirty-five cents,” she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.  “I’ll have the plain ice cream.” he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away.  The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.  When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table.  There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies.  You see, he couldn’t have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

Ten Cannots

1) You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
2) You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
3) You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
4) You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
5) You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
6) You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
7) You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
9) You cannot build charcter and courage by taking away men’s initiative and independence.
10) You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.