From Dr. Natalie Meiri’s Clinical Pearl Stories:

Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain and Menopause Symptoms

Author: Natalie Meiri, D.C.        Posted: 9/25/21

This was a 52 year old female patient with a chief complaint of neck pain. To be HIPAA compliant, I will call her Tina instead of her real name. Tina had just reached menopause.  This is when her neck pain came on.  She also had headaches, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia and increased anxiety or irritability.

Examination and x-rays

Positive tests were found for her spine during the exam. The x-rays taken in my office showed moderate osteoarthritis in her cervical (neck) spine.  This is the “wear and tear” type of arthritis when the bones rub against one another causing pain, stiffness, inflammation, disc degeneration and bone spurs (also known as osteophytes) which can “pinch” surrounding nerves.

She also had positive tests for a cervicogenic headache. A cervicogenic headache is a headache that occurs because of a physical condition and structures in the neck. By addressing the cervicogenic component of the cervicogenic/tension type to migraine “continuum of headaches” her headaches would be reduced in intensity.

Treatment: Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain and Menopause Symptoms

Firstly, Tina’s treatments included chiropractic adjustment/ manipulation to her cervical (neck) spine and associated regions.  Associated regions were thoracic (mid back), and lumbar (low back) spine. Secondly, soft tissue therapy (myofascial release, pressure point and various post isometric relaxation procedures) was rendered as necessary. Thirdly, modalities (cold/heat therapy and electric muscle stimulation) were administered. Finally, exercises for stretching, strengthening, and better posture were recommended.

Of course, because she had reached menopause, the headaches were also due to hormonal changes. She added soy products, fruits (i.e. berries), seeds (i.e. flaxseeds), and nuts to her diet. These foods have phytoestrogens or plant-based estrogens called isoflavones. These are plant chemicals capable of exerting estrogen like effects. Eating these foods in moderation along with some medicinal herbs helped to alleviate menopause symptoms for Tina. 

Additionally, I did several homeopathic consultations with Tina and prescribed a number of homeopathic medicines. Obviously, Tina was against drugs when possible and wanted to deal with this naturally.

Tina started feeling better gradually for her chief complaint of neck pain. Moreover, her  headaches disappeared.  Tina’s hot flashes and night sweats decreased.  To prevent osteoporosis due the estrogen loss in menopause, she took calcium supplements.  Tina also started a exercise regimen which included weight bearing aerobic activity.  Similarly, Tina started sleeping better due to everything she was doing.  Lastly, her irritability and anxiety went away so she was happier than she had been in a long time.

How do menopause symptoms occur?

After 12 months without menstruating, a woman is in menopause. The average age of menopause onset in the Unites States is 51.

Decreased circulating levels of estrogen with menopause appear to affect the central nervous system via the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a small but important area in the center of the brain between the pituitary gland and thalamus. It plays an important role in hormone production and helps to stimulate many important processes in the body. The hypothalamus controls body temperature, thirst, hunger, and other homeostatic systems.  It is also involved in sleep and emotional activity.

So 95% of perimenopausal and menopausal women experience “hot flashes”. These flushing and sweating episodes are sudden in onset and last several minutes.  A sensation of face and neck hotness extends to the front of the chest. The skin temperature may increase as much as 2-5° degrees more and may result in wetting of clothing through excess perspiration. Physiologic responses that also occur include an increase in heart rate perceived sometimes as palpitations.

Furthermore, there may be symptoms of headache, dizziness, and nausea during the episodes.  Many women have night sweats and also have difficulty falling asleep. And often awaken early without being able to fall back to sleep. Approximately 80% of women experience these episodes for more than 1 year with as many as 20% of women having symptoms for more than 5 years.

From Dr. Natalie Meiri’s Clinical Pearl Stories:

Neck Pain and Chiropractic Cervical Adjustments

Author: Natalie Meiri, D.C.     Posted: 9/19/21

This was a 25 year old male patient with a chief complaint of neck pain. To be HIPAA compliant, I will call him Lenny instead of his real name. Lenny had 3 car accidents by the time he was 23 years old which caused his chronic neck pain. Moreover, he experienced neck and mid back pain when he moved his shoulders and arms. 

Lenny was  a very active person and even had a business where he did manual labor. He also enjoyed various sports.  He wanted to live his life pain free without having to give up his activities. 

After the automobile accidents, Lenny got some treatment at another chiropractor before coming to see me. He stated “the benefits of chiropractic were great”, but that he didn’t feel he “was ever holding his adjustments”. Lenny felt the former chiropractor was “too aggressive and every visit was the same”.  He needed “something different, more gentle, and a chiropractor who does soft tissue techniques”. Lenny came to see me because at Meiri Chiropractic, we deliver by hand, low amplitude (displacement of the joint), low intensity (low force) adjustments along with various soft tissue manipulation techniques.

Lenny’s Examination, X-rays and Treatment

The x-rays taken in my office showed findings consistent with a sprain with myospasm (muscle contraction) in his cervical (neck) and thoracic (mid back) spine. Upon examination, I found positive tests for a cervical (neck) sprain with thoracic (midback) myalgia (muscle pain) diagnoses. 

Firstly, he received chiropractic adjustments/ manipulation to his cervical (neck) and thoracic (mid back) spine and the associated regions.  Associated regions (due to misalignments) adjusted were his shoulders and lumbar spine (low back). Secondly, various soft tissue manipulation (myofascial release, pressure point and various post isometric relaxation procedures) was rendered as necessary.  Thirdly, home exercises for stretching, strengthening, stabilization and posture correction were given.

Lenny’s Chiropractic Care Outcome

As Lenny started feeling better, recommendations were made on diet and lifestyle (i.e. ergonomic).  He started eating better which contributed to faster healing.  Lenny avoided sugar and processed or fast food. And included as much fresh food as possible.  He also joined a gym to work on strenthening with weight machines and did more cardio exercise.

Finally, I did several homeopathic consultations with Lenny and prescribed a number of homeopathic medicines.

Lenny responded well to his north palm beach chiropractic care!  Was he able to live completely pain-free?  No, because it’s impossible for anyone to be completely free of pain in life.  However, Lenny thought daily about improving his function and not the pain anymore. His chronic pain was gone! Similarly, Lenny looked forward to his north palm beach chiropractic gentle adjustments. He was able to continue his daily activities with more energy and improved performance.

Research

A review of scientific literature found evidence that patients with chronic neck pain enrolled in clinical trials reported significant improvement following chiropractic spinal manipulation. As part of the literature review, published in the March/April 2007 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, the researchers reviewed nine previously published trials and found “high-quality evidence” that patients with chronic neck pain showed significant pain-level improvements following spinal manipulation.

Meiri Chiropractic serving West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens and North Palm Beach offers the best chiropractic adjustments for your neck, back and extremities (arms and legs). Call us in West Palm Beach at 561-253-8984 to schedule an appointment or to find out more about Neck Pain and Chiropractic Cervical Adjustments.

Sleep is a complex interactive function coordinated by many parts of the brain. This interaction is dependent on changing levels of serotonin, catecholamines, acetylcholine, and a host of other neurotransmitters (chemical substances made by the nerve cells specifically to transmit a message). During sleep there are also fluctuations of hormonal levels that may play a role in the quality of sleep and wakefulness. Chiropractic adjustments, nutritional and lifestyle suggestions can help you recover from insomnia and develop healthier sleep.

A paper in the Journal of Sleep Medicine & Disorders examines a potential hypothesis as to why a chiropractic adjustment could help insomnia.  Leonard Vernon, D.C. points out the neuro-physiology behind such a theory in his paper, “the Chiropractic Subluxation and Insomnia: Could there be a connection?” Dr. Vernon examines a potential hypothesis as to why “traditional” misalignment (chiropractic subluxation) based chiropractic can help patients suffering from insomnia.

 If you’ve had neck or back pain you’ve likely considered seeing a chiropractor. Certainly chiropractors adjust the spine to improve pain and mobility, but the benefits may extend beyond the back and neck. Chiropractors try to improve the relationship between the spine and nervous system, which affects the function of all the organs and systems in your body. 

Difficulty falling asleep?

Perhaps you are anxious and can’t sleep? This is usually self-limiting (resolves without treatment).  But if you are taking alcohol, drinking caffeine or smoking prior to sleeping this may keep you awake.  Also, many medications may also cause insomnia such as over-the-counter (OTC) stimulants such as nasal sprays and prescription drugs. And over the counter sleep medications used for more than one week may exacerbate your insomnia.

If you cannot stop moving your legs or often have jerks, this could be restless legs syndrome or myoclonic jerks.  These prevent and interrupt sleep.  While both are benign, it can make you very tired and fatigued.  Restless Legs Syndrome is characterized by an irresistible urge to move the legs because of a “creeping” sensation inside the calves. Similarly, you may also have nocturnal myoclonus (sudden, brief involuntary twitching or jerking of a muscle). Patients with restless legs syndrome may have an underlying cause. Therefore, it is important to determine whether a deficiency of iron or folate exists or you are pregnant or have a peripheral neuropathy.

Awaken frequently during the night and have difficulty falling back to sleep? 

Persistent leg cramps may also be a cause of frequent awakenings and may be due to excessive exercise, inadequate hydration, or deficiencies in potassium or calcium.  Perhaps you are waking due to pain?  Any painful process may interrupt sleep.  Commonly, headaches and epigastric pain (i.e. peptic ulcers) can be a culprit.  Furthermore, painful conditions (headaches; hip, knee, shoulder, low back, and or neck pain) can cause problems falling asleep or staying asleep.

Are you a loud snorer and notice daytime tiredness and an early morning headache?  Then sleep apnea could be a problem. Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Risk factors include age, obesity and is more common in men. Symptoms include snoring loudly and feeling tired even after a full night’s sleep.

Sleep Hygiene Suggestions:

1. Go to bed at a consistent time. Amount of sleep (you should sleep 7-8 1/2 hours a night), jet lag, work habits may be contributing to your problem.
2. Sleep in a comfortable room that is cool and free of stimulation (noise, light, restless sleep partner).
3. Sleep on a comfortable bed (more firm is suggested).
4. Do not eat large amounts of food prior to sleeping. Your sleep problem can also be related to a diet related- food allergy
5. Avoid alcohol, smoking, and caffeine prior to sleeping.
6. Do not exercise heavily before sleeping.
7. Avoid daytime napping.
8. If focused on a bothersome mental concern, write it down and deal with it in the morning if possible.
9. If unable to sleep after 30 minutes, get up and have a light snack or listen to soothing music; then return to bed.
10. Avoid the use of OTC (over the counter) sleep medications.
11. Weight reduction may be helpful to those with sleep apnea.
12. Get adjusted by your North Palm Beach chiropractor!

According to The Association of Chiropractic Colleges, “Chiropractic is a health care discipline which emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs and surgery.  The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health.”  Chiropractors help shape the environment where your body’s natural healing, under the right conditions could take place. The proper alignment of your spine by way of the adjustment affects the central nervous system.  This can tremendously affect your overall well-being.

Meiri Chiropractic is a chiropractic clinic in West Palm Beach that offers holistic care.  Call us at 561-253-8984 to find out more about Sleeping Better: Chiropractic adjustments for insomnia.

Chiropractic adjustments as treatment for neck and back pain from arthritis is drug-free. It is certainly an effective way to treat your stiff and painful joints.  Moreover, most of what chiropractors do currently is gentler than “cracking backs or necks” into place. In fact, there are more than 100 techniques that chiropractors use to manually adjust the spine, joints and manipulate the muscles with varying degrees of force. Chiropractic adjustments restore joint mobility and function, resolves joint inflammation and reduces the pain.

Benefits of Chiropractic Adjustment

If you’ve had back pain or a stiff neck, whether from arthritis or an injury, you’ve likely considered seeing a chiropractor. Certainly chiropractors adjust the spine to improve pain and mobility, but the benefits may extend beyond the back and neck. Chiropractors try to improve the relationship between the spine and nervous system, which affects the function of all the organs and systems in your body.  For instance, it helps to minimize inflammation throughout the body and help to strengthen the immune system.

Chiropractic adjustments also help arthritic extremity (arms and legs) joints as well. If someone is having a problem in a knee joint that is causing them to walk awkwardly, it may lead to a secondary pain syndrome in the lower back. The real problem started in the knee which needs to be addressed by way of an adjustment.

Chiropractic Adjustments Offer an Alternative to Pain Medication

Adjustments can help keep painful joints more comfortable while also improving function and range of motion. Chiropractors use gentle manipulation to adjust your joints and muscles to return proper structure. With proper alignment, your body’s equilibrium is restored, which in turn helps increase the healing of your damaged joint tissues. In summary, the chiropractic adjustment works by restoring function which decreases the inflammation and the pain goes away. 

There are a lot of benefits to chiropractic adjustments. In order to see great results, though, you need to make sure you’re visiting the chiropractor on a regular basis.  Most definitely, improved posture is another benefit. Chiropractic adjustments, combined with at-home stretching and strengthening exercises, can be very helpful to those who suffer from degenerative scoliosis or other postural issues.  Degenerative scoliosis is a result of osteoarthritis (wear and tear arthritis) on the discs and joints of the spine.

Chiropractors are Portal of Entry Providers

Chiropractors are portal of entry providers in Florida and so are primary-care professionals which means you go directly to them.  During your first visit, the chiropractor should take a detailed medical history and perform a physical exam of every joint to determine what approaches are right for you. The doctor may also take an X-ray. Chiropractors also understand the importance of exercise and a healthy diet for your health. They will provide instructions on lifestyle changes and exercises that will help you maintain range of motion and reduce symptoms related to arthritis.

Research on How Chiropractic Adjustments Can Help With Arthritis

In the past, chiropractic got mixed reviews from physicians. Increasingly, studies in mainstream medical journals are demonstrating the benefits of chiropractic for back and joint pain. A 2017 review in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that spinal manipulation reduces lower back pain. And a 2013 study published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage found that patient education combined with 12 chiropractic treatments (twice a week for six weeks) were more effective for hip Osteoarthritis than a daily stretching program or patient education alone.

Dr. Natalie Meiri has treated patients for over 17 years with wear and tear osteoarthritis and inflammatory disease, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis.  Dr. Natalie Meiri also adjusts arthritic joints of the extremities (arms and legs).  Too many people suffer with conditions that can be treated using natural and noninvasive treatments.  Get fast pain relief and function better from the best chiropractic clinic in West Palm Beach.  Contact Dr. Natalie Meiri today at 561-253-8984 to make an appointment or to find out more about How Chiropractic Adjustments Can Help With Arthritis.

Chiropractic care has been proven to help people in all stages of life. Family chiropractic clinics like Meiri Chiropractic in West Palm Beach, Florida offer many benefits to patients of all ages, genders and backgrounds.

Some patients see a chiropractor for the health benefits or the treatment of injuries. Other people at a different stage in their life may get more positive results from being under the care of a family chiropractor.

A family chiropractor has many benefits for all ages! 

Family Chiropractor for Prenatal/ Pregnancy

Musculoskeletal concerns during pregnancy are due to mechanical changes from the growth and position of the baby and hormonal changes that result in less ligament stability. Firstly, hip and low back pain are common in pregnant women. Secondly, the pregnancy can cause myofascial problems in the neck, mid back and chest areas due to the shifting of her spine and the extra weight of the baby. Thirdly, knee and foot pain are common due to the change in weight bearing as well.

There is research to support the role of chiropractic treatment of the pregnant low back patient. Adjustments during pregnancy are safe and an excellent alternative to drugs for pain management. “Softer” approaches can also be utilized such as various soft tissue techniques and mobilization. A family chiropractor in West Palm Beach will gently adjust the pregnant woman’s spine, hips, knees and feet.

Of all the changes she will experience in this stage of life, consistent care from a family chiropractor in West Palm Beach is always a good choice. Stiffness and pain can be decreased through regular care. Than the pregnant woman can sleep better at night and feel more energized during the day. Her range of motion will increase to help with delivery of the baby as well. As eating right and exercising during pregnancy is important, so is chiropractic care. When you are pregnant, you need all the help you can get. After all, when the baby is born, mom will need to be in top physical shape to continue the next part of her joyful journey.

Family Chiropractor for Infants and kids

A Canadian study of pediatric visits to alternative care practitioners indicated that the majority of patients presented with non-musculoskeletal complaints such as respiratory and ears, nose and throat (ENT) related symptoms. Furthermore, studies from Denmark seem to indicate that chiropractic manipulation is effective at improving or resolving infantile colic. Infantile colic describes excessive crying of unknown cause in otherwise well infants. It appears Colic affects up to 20% of infants.

As your child grows, sports- related injuries are relatively common. Prevention is a major goal in working with children and adolescents. Similarly, when injured, the proper diagnosis, treatment, and rehab is the goal. Lastly, many children experience “growing pains” and posture related discomfort. And they find relief by seeing a family chiropractor in West Palm Beach.

With adolescents, back pain accounted for about 33% of visits to a family chiropractor in countries outside the United States. Neck and headache pain accounted for approximately 40% of visits.

Family Chiropractor for Younger Adults

Whether you sit at a desk all day at work, perform manual labor, chase after small children, or are an athlete, the repetitive tasks in our days can eventually lead to spinal misalignments and joint dysfunction throughout your body. Untreated, these can cause a ripple of destruction to your health. Pain, headaches, dizziness, low energy, difficulty sleeping, and weakened immune health are all possible symptoms.

Regardless of your activity level, you should check in with a family chiropractor regularly to address issues while they are small. Consistent care is better than allowing your pain to finally bring you into the family chiropractor clinic. Adults seek chiropractic clinics due to neck and back pain, arm and leg pain, disc problems, hormonal (menopause, premenstrual pains) issues, osteoarthritis, pinched nerve, headaches, sciatica, fibromyalgia, and immune disorders. Why not seek care while the problem is minor and small? Once you are in pain your body has already been struggling for awhile. Therefore, it takes longer and more adjustments to get it healthy again.

Family Chiropractor for Older Adults (Elders/Seniors)

Studies suggest that the older adult population (over 65) represents 12-17% of most chiropractic practices in the U.S.A. These patients also account for 1/3 of patients who purchase prescription medications. The majority of older adults have signs and symptoms that reflect the accumulation of life-long environmental impact combined with decreased function of most organ systems. Among these systems include the neuromusculoskeletal system in which Chiropractors are specialists in.

The ultimate goal with older adults are to prevent or delay functional decline and restore and/or maintain function to allow as much independent living as possible. It is clear the ability for the older adult to remain independent has a significant effect on his or her perceived quality of life. In conclusion, it is true and logical that normal aging does result in some decreases in function. However, all decreases in function are not age related and so require intervention. In fact, many neuromusculoskeletal conditions are treatable and preventable through chiropractic care.

At Meiri Chiropractic, we spend the time necessary to examine, diagnose and treat every neuromusculoskeletal condition and various ailments you or your loved ones have. We have been offering effective chiropractic care in Palm Beach County since 2006. Many of our patients reviews note our excellence. We are your best bet and are here for you. Call us today at 561-253-8984 to make an appointment or to find out more about the Family Chiropractor Has Many Benefits for All Ages.

References:

Thomas Souza,  (2001) Differential Diagnosis and Management for the Chiropractor

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Meiri Chiropractic

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