Month: March 2021

Chiropractic and Cancer: Chiropractic Can Decrease Pain and Improve the Quality of Your Life

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From Dr. Natalie Meiri’s Clinical Pearl Stories:

Chiropractic and Cancer: Chiropractic Can Decrease Pain and Improve the Quality of Your Life

Author: Natalie Meiri, D.C.    Posted: 3/27/21

This was a 89 year old patient who presented to my office with low back pain, right shoulder pain, and pain in both legs and feet. To be HIPAA compliant, I will call him Amos instead of his real name.   Amos had metastatic cancer in his lung. When Amos’ wife called for the appointment, I advised her, “Chiropractic does not treat or cure cancer.  Chiropractors do treat patients who have cancer, seeking care mainly for neuromusculoskeletal complaints”. Amos was under the care of his oncologist (medical doctor who treats cancer) and was taking 20 different drugs prescribed by his various doctors.  He was also going through chemo and radiation therapy for his cancer for a few years.

Amos’ Medical History

Amos’ pain in his legs and feet started with his low back problem over 10 years ago. With some treatment in the past, it had “come and gone” over the years.  He had a left total hip replacement since then. Furthermore, undergoing the rigorous cancer treatments, battling the psychological effects of his cancer diagnosis and the metabolic effects of the therapeutic approaches had exacerbated his low back, bilateral (both) leg and foot pain.  His right shoulder was in a sling and special “medical wrap” due to the “intramuscular edema” as reported on his MRI of his right shoulder. Moreover, the radiologist stated the edema was from the radiation therapy for his right lung cancer. Amos was depressed due to his pain, fatigue and his inability to do activities he did prior to his cancer. 

 

After the radiation and chemotherapy he stated, his last “scans for the cancer were good”.  Currently, improving the quality of  his life was important as well.  Amos wanted pain relief, more mobility and energy. With chiropractic care, he hoped for better sleep and to go back to the gym daily again. 

Dr. Natalie Meiri treating a patient

Amos’ Exam and Imaging

Upon examination Amos had positive tests for both knees, ankles, right hip, mid and low back.  X-rays taken in my office showed osteopenia (condition of bone loss) and osteoarthritis (wear and tear arthritis) in his lumbar spine (low back).  Amos had spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal) with pain in both legs and feet.  Any  contraindications were considered and weeded out very carefully due to his cancer diagnosis for his chiropractic treatment plan. A contraindication is a condition that serves as a reason to not render a certain medical treatment due to the harm it would cause the patient. 

The range of contraindications noted were: the medication used, cancer/metastasis location, possible bone density or ligamentous integrity alterations due to the cancer, post-chemotherapy osteoporosis, muscle weakness/atrophy.

 

Amos’ Chiropractic Treatment: Low Force Techniques Were Considered to be Safer

Firstly, Amos’ chiropractic treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis and lower extremity (both legs and feet) pain consisted of chiropractic manipulation/ adjustments of the lumbar spine, knees, ankles and associated regions utilizing low force techniques.  Associated regions that were adjusted were his thoracic spine and right hip, which were misaligned (subluxations or intersegmental dysfunctions) due to the conditions he had. Secondly, soft tissue therapy (myofascial release, pressure point and various post isometric relaxation techniques) and modalities (cold/heat therapy and electric muscle stimulation) were administered. Thirdly, he was given therapeutic exercises to continue his treatment at home.  Lastly, Amos had a homeopathic consultation for his depression, fatigue and to expedite healing of his neuromusculoskeletal conditions.  His right shoulder couldn’t be adjusted due to the enormous amount of edema and the proximity of the cancer metastasis. 

 

 

Amos started feeling better right away with care at my north palm beach office. In spite of all the pain medications/drugs, it was the chiropractic treatments that gave Amos relief for his neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Chiropractic adjustments normalize function, restore joint mobility, resolves joint inflammation and reduces the patient’s pain. 

Within 6 weeks of treating regularly, Amos got pain relief, his sleep pattern improved, had higher energy levels, and more mobility.  He felt psychologically better and stated he even felt a “sense of well-being and immune system improvement”.

Do you know someone like Amos who is in need of chiropractic treatment? Chiropractic and Cancer: Chiropractic Can Decrease Pain and Improve the Quality of Your Life!   Contact Dr. Natalie Meiri of Meiri Chiropractic today serving West Palm Beach, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, and Palm Beach Gardens and get the relief you need. We also offer chiropractic care for many other ailments. Call 561-253-8984 to learn more or to schedule an appointment.

 

Chiropractor for Asthma: Chiropractic Does Help Asthma

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Chiropractor for Asthma: Chiropractic Does Help Asthma

Author: Natalie Meiri, D.C.   Posted: 3/20/21

 

Chiropractic does not treat asthma directly. Yet many asthmatic patients receiving regular chiropractic care have found it beneficial. Read below about the chiropractor for asthma: chiropractic does help asthma.

 

The presentation of asthma is variable depending on the type. In a child with an allergic form of asthma, there will be recurrent episodes of wheezing, coughing, difficulty or labored breathing, and a feeling of chest tightness. These attacks may be related to exposure to an environmental allergen or may be aggravated by stress or exercise. The attacks may be occurring in the early morning. In an adult, it is common to have similar symptoms. However, the adult asthmatic will not be aware of allergies. There is often a history of a prolonged respiratory infection, exposure to occupational toxins, and/or a history of smoking.

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 13 people have asthma. More than 25 million Americans have asthma.  This is 7.7 percent of adults and 8.4 percent of children.  Asthma is a leading chronic disease in children.  There is no cure for asthma, but it can be managed with proper prevention of asthma attacks and treatment.  Asthma may be rising due to rising levels of environmental pollution, food additives, genetics, toxins and allergens.

 

Chiropractor for Asthma:

Does Chiropractic Help Asthma?

Asthma is a multi-factorial dysfunction of the respiratory system. Nutritional, environmental, genetic, and emotional factors all play an important part in the etiology (cause) of this condition. Asthma is a lung disease that causes obstruction of the airways.  During an asthma attack, spasms in the muscles surrounding the bronchi (small airways in the lungs) constrict, impeding the outward passage of air. Additionally, bronchoconstriction, mucus (phlegm) production, mucosal edema (swelling), and underlying inflammation join together to cause wheezing with associated dyspnea (difficult or labored breathing).

These spasms are a result of inflammation and hypersensitivity of the airways to certain stimuli such as:

  •     Environmental allergen/pollution

              (mold, fumes, tobacco smoke, dust mites, animal dander)

  •     Food additives, chemicals, drugs
  •     Extreme cold/dry/humid air
  •     Emotional stress
  •     Exercise
  •     Respiratory infection such as bronchitis

Many studies have been done regarding chiropractic manipulation administered to the upper thoracic spine (mid back) for asthma treatment. Objective measurements were collected using a peak flow meter and subjective data using an asthma specific questionnaire etc. Some studies and literature reviews seem to provide mixed results which show the effectiveness of chiropractic, but suggest the need for further research.

 

Nevertheless, there are numerous anecdotal (personal account) reports of success with chiropractic management. In a study published in the Clinical Chiropractic Journal in 2012, a prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use amongst adult asthmatics which ranges from 4% to 79% was reported. Moreover, in children, it ranged from 33% to 89% which showed the effectiveness. Finally, of the various practitioner-based CAM therapies, chiropractic stood as the most popular for both children and adults.

Chiropractic Co-management of

Medically Treated Asthma

Conventional medical treatment of asthma includes avoidance of known allergens or other triggering substances, desensitization shots, and drugs.  Asthma can be life threatening sometimes, in which case, drugs are simply necessary. Nevertheless, patients are turning to chiropractic and CAM therapies since all conventional drugs carry the risk of side effects.  Also, for long term management of asthma, many patients found a combination of conventional and chiropractic more effective. Drugs are for symptom relief and only mask the problem.

 

In treating asthmatic patients, the objective of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy is to increase the motion of the thoracic cage (mid back), mobilize the ribs, enhance arterial supply and lymphatic return, and to affect nervous system activity. This is all to reduce the symptomatology of the patient.

 

Meiri Chiropractic is your chiropractor for asthma: chiropractic does help asthma

Meiri Chiropractic offers spinal manipulation to the lower cervical spine (neck), upper thoracic spine (mid back), and costovertebral joints (ribs). Furthermore, trigger-point therapy and post-isometric relaxation techniques (soft tissue technique) utilized for the hypertonic/spasmed musculature have been beneficial for our asthma patients. We also offer constitutional homeopathic treatment in conjunction with chiropractic. All asthmatics have gone through periods when symptoms were minimal, even though no obvious environmental changes had occurred. These treatments may make the periods of freedom from asthma more frequent and longer lasting. 

 

Asthma is  generally a deep-seated chronic illness, but that doesn’t mean the symptoms have to dominate your life.  Even though you can expect to need standard drugs at times, with regular chiropractic care overall improvement is possible.

Call Meiri Chiropractic today for your chiropractor for asthma: chiropractic does help asthma!

 

Meiri Chiropractic

561-253-8984

 

A Chiropractor Can Help Patients with Osteoporosis Naturally

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From Dr. Natalie Meiri’s Clinical Pearl Stories:

A Chiropractor Can Help Patients with Osteoporosis Naturally 

Author: Natalie Meiri, D.C.     Posted: 03/11/21

This was a 69 year old patient who presented to my office with mid and low back pain. To be HIPAA compliant, I will call her Betty instead of her real name.  Her chief complaint was her low back which she injured recently while lifting a heavy box. Betty also had a history of osteoporosis which affected her mid back with a kyphosis (forward curve of upper back).  The osteoporosis had started years ago and seemed to be getting worse.  Betty’s doctor had prescribed a drug and hormone therapy for her osteoporosis in the past. Betty’s mother had osteoporosis and also had a kyphosis. Betty wondered if I could help her with the chronic pain she experienced in her mid back?  Additionally, she felt she would have more energy if she could “stand straighter” with better posture.  Betty wondered if a chiropractor can help patients with osteoporosis naturally?

 

Betty’s Exam, X-rays, and Diagnosis

Betty’s exam findings showed she had sprained her lumbar spine (low back) while lifting the heavy box.  Her x-rays taken in my office showed healed compression fractures in her thoracic spine (mid back). Furthermore, Betty’s x-rays showed osteoarthritis (wear and tear arthritis) throughout her spine. 

 

 Betty’s Treatment

“Softer” approaches involving “no rotation” chiropractic manipulative treatments such as flexion-distraction, blocking, and specific low-force prone (patient face down) drop-table adjusting were utilized.  Other therapies, such as soft tissue techniques, therapeutic exercise, electric muscle stimulation, ice/ heat therapies and homeopathic consultations, also provided some relief for Betty’s pain. Starting at 2 times a week, then 1 time a week, Betty’s treatment frequency decreased to every 3 weeks.

Foremost, the goal was to address Betty’s neuromusculoskeletal complaints of pain and dysfunction as noted above. Next, a lifestyle habit of maintaining an adequate amount of calcium and vitamin D with a nutritionally supportive regimen was important.  Moreover, recommendations were made for avoidance of known contributors to osteoporosis acceleration including smoking, alcohol, caffeine, carbonated drinks, etc.

The exercise prescription for Betty or any osteoporotic patient should meet two goals. First, to stimulate bone production and prevent loss. Second, to strengthen muscles to provide support and to provide proprioceptive (body’s ability to sense its location, movements, and actions) training to prevent falls. In order to have a bone mass response, the exercise must provide mechanical loading either through pull of muscle on bone or with weight bearing. Therefore, strengthening and resistance exercise was added a few times a week along with walking.

Betty gradually recovered from her acute low back and chronic mid back pain complicated by the healed compression fracture.  Her posture and energy level improved as well. She continues with chiropractic care on an as needed basis.

 

A Chiropractor Can Help Patients with Osteoporosis Naturally 

 

The decreased bone mass or increased porosity that occurs with osteoporosis weakens the structural support of the spinal column. In severe cases of osteoporosis as Betty’s, everyday normal activities may cause a spinal compression fracture. This type of vertebral fracture causes loss of height and a “humped” spine even after it is healed, especially in elderly women. This disorder (called kyphosis) is an exaggeration of your spine that causes the shoulders to slump forward and the top of your back to look  humped.  Pain may subside as the compression fracture is healing. However, many continue to feel some pain even after the compression fracture has healed. Over time, individuals may begin to show a loss of height, stooped over posture, and back pain.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation reports about 54 million Americans have osteoporosis and low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis. Studies suggest that approximately one in two women and up to one in four men age 50 and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic disorder of bone, affecting approximately 100 million people worldwide. The disease affects men by age 75 years, even though osteoporosis is often focused on as a women’s health issue.

High-force chiropractic manual techniques may be contraindicated for osteoporosis, but other chiropractic techniques are safe for patients such as Betty. Practice-based studies on chiropractic summarize that geriatric patients receiving chiropractic care in addition to traditional medical services had fewer hospitalizations and used fewer medications than patients receiving allopathic/conventional medical care only.

 

Are you suffering from back pain and osteoporosis and looking for natural healing solutions?

Osteoporosis can cause unnecessary pain to your spine. A chiropractor will help you maintain your posture, give you adequate exercises, and important education for better health. A chiropractor can help patients with osteoporosis naturally!

Get in touch with us at Meiri Chiropractic to schedule an appointment  today.

 

Meiri  Chiropractic

561-253-8984

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