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 From Dr. Natalie Meiri’s Clinical Pearl Stories:

Low Back and Hip Pain From Prolonged Sitting and the Relief of Chiropractic Care

Author: Natalie Meiri, D.C.        Posted: 11/27/20

 

This was a 39 year old male patient with a chief complaint of low back pain. To be HIPAA compliant, I will call him Justin instead of his real name. Justin had an information technology job for over 10 years so always sat in front of a computer. While sitting at a computer all day can obviously cause various neuromusculoskeletal problems, he felt it even more after COVID-19 started.  This was due to having to work at home.  At the office he took regular breaks throughout the day with different tasks.  However, at home every meeting was via the internet which kept him continuously sitting.  He tried taking some over the counter NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), but continued to have low back pain so he came to see me.

 

On his intake he indicated pain in his lumbar (low back) spine without any referral into his legs.  Upon examination, there was no pain with lumbar range of motion (measurement of the amount of movement around a specific joint or body part) except with flexion (to bend forward).  This was almost impossible due to pain.   However, all his left hip ranges of motion reproduced pain in his low back.  Above all, an orthopedic test for the left hip also reproduced the same pain in his low back.  It was also apparent that his problem was also in his left hip with his chiropractic alignment assessment.  Findings on his x-rays were mild degenerative joint disease/osteoarthritis (wear and tear type arthritis) of both his low back and hips. 

 

 

Low Back and Hip Pain From Prolonged Sitting and the Relief of Chiropractic Care: Justin’s Treatment

 

Justin’s chiropractic treatment consisted of chiropractic manipulation/ adjustments of the lumbar spine, left hip and associated regions.  Associated regions that were adjusted were his cervical (neck) and thoracic (mid back) spine which were misaligned (subluxations or intersegmental dysfunctions) due to the condition he had. The realignment of the neck and mid back was helpful for his low back/hip condition because the upper half of the body can contribute strongly to the musculoskeletal problems in the lower half of the body and vice versa.  Additionally, soft tissue therapy (myofascial release, pressure point, and various post isometric relaxation to patient tolerance) and modalities (cold/heat therapy and electric muscle stimulation) were administered. Finally, he was given therapeutic exercises to continue his treatment at home. 

 

Low Back and Hip Pain From Prolonged Sitting and the Relief of Chiropractic Care: Ergonomics and Posture

 

To avoid repetitive injury again, recommendations were made on the importance of good posture and ergonomics at his home work station.  Firstly, Justin’s undesirable posture was corrected such as his “head forward” posture at his desk. Justin’s head, neck, and/or shoulders were bent forward excessively when working at his computer, placing the upper half of the body in a round-shouldered, slumped position.  When he worked at his desk, it was important to place the computer monitor at eye level. 

 

 

Secondly, his chair and desk were a problem. The chair needed an addition of a lumbar pillow or roll to maintain the normal lumbar lordosis (curve).  The lack of an armrest for adequate elbow support created a drag on his shoulders. And the low desk top increased flexion (bending) of his spine.  He got a different chair with armrests and also elevated his desk which created more adequate knee room. Justin’s feet now rested solidly on the floor or on some type of footrest and not dangling. While flexibility and comfort were important, his seating provided support of the normal spinal curves. In particular, the cervical and lumbar lordosis were supported with a minimum of muscular energy on his part.

 

Thirdly, he was to arrange his work station to be able to change positions as needed for specific tasks and as needed to provide adequate circulation and nutrition to his body structures. Twisting movements were to be avoided especially when leaning forward. A headset was beneficial since he spent a significant amount of time talking or listening on the telephone. Lastly, frequent breaks were recommended to stand momentarily, walk a few feet, or change the activity. 

 

Justin recovered quickly…

And he made the recommended necessary ergonomic corrections.  Consequently, he didn’t re-injure himself at his home work station. 

 

At Meiri Chiropractic in North Palm Beach, we offer low back and hip pain relief.  We are a low back and hip pain chiropractor located in West Palm Beach, but also serve Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Juno Beach, and North Palm Beach.  We also examine, diagnose and treat many other conditions, injuries and ailments .  Call us in West Palm Beach today to learn about low back and hip pain from prolonged sitting and the relief of chiropractic care or to make an appointment.

 

Meiri Chiropractic

5601 Corporate Way, Ste 102

West Palm Beach, FL 33407

tel: 561-253-8984

 

 

Whether you’re a high school all-star, professional in the big leagues or even a little league player, sports injuries occur when engaging in sports or exercise. Over training, lack of conditioning, and improper form or technique can lead to this. Also, failing to warm up increases the risk of sports injuries. Staying fit by eating right and exercising is very beneficial for your health and overall well-being. Bruises, strains, sprains, tears, and broken bones can result. Soft tissues like muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia (band or sheet of connective tissue), and bursae (fluid-filled sac) may be affected. Therefore, you certainly don’t want an injury to set you back! Here are 5 common sports injuries a chiropractor can help with to learn about.

 

1. Contusion

Contusion is the medical term for a bruise. You may think of a bruise as a black-and-blue spot. So when small blood vessels get torn and leak blood under the skin, you get a bruise/contusion. A contusion is the result of a direct blow or an impact, such as a fall. For instance, it can happen in kickboxing class to your hand due to improper glove/equipment.  The contusion may even be on your face. TMJ (temporomandibular) pain maybe a result of injury to the jaw or face (for example, a fall or hit that affects the chin).

 

2. Ankle Sprain

You may simply step on an uneven surface or land on the outside heel while running/jumping and get an ankle sprain.  Moreover, if you keep getting subsequent sprains, ligament laxity (looseness of a limb or muscle) plays an important role.

The vast majority of ankle sprains are due to plantar flexion (movement in which the ankle and foot bends forward or downward) and inversion (bending the ankle and foot inward toward the mid-line of the body).  Furthermore, these sprains involve the lateral (outer side) ligaments (fibrous connective tissue that connects bones to other bones). In a sequence of injury: the anterior talofibular (ankle bone and long, thin and side bone of the lower leg) ligament, calcaneofibular (heel bone and long, thin and side bone of the lower leg) ligament, and the posterior talofibular (rear ankle bone and long, thin and side bone of the lower leg) ligament which are the lateral (outer side) ligaments. The more rare eversion turning (movement where ankle/foot bends inside-out) sprain damages the medial (toward middle) ligament complex referred to as the deltoid ligament.

3) Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (Shin Splints)

The pain of shin splints along the tibia (shinbone) is most likely caused by overuse.  Hyperpronation of the foot (when the ankle bone turns inward and the rest of the foot turns outward) and tight heel cords, especially in joggers and runners, have been implicated. Several theories have been proposed, but nothing definite has been proven.  The American Medical Association limited the definition to musculotendinous (muscle-tendon) inflammations, and excluded stress fractures (tiny cracks in a bone).  Shin Splints are also common in dancers and military recruits.

 

 

4) Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) /Golfers Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)

“Tennis elbow” is due to repetitive movements requiring forceful wrist extension (straightening arm so that the elbow joint is open), radial deviation (movement of bending the wrist to the thumb), and supination (movement where palm or forearm faces up). Other sports and occupational activities are also possible causes besides from tennis such as meat cutters, plumbers, and weavers. With tennis, novice players with poor backhand technique account for most cases. With professional players, forehand and serving may be the cause. The more frequently an individual plays, the higher the risk of developing tennis elbow.

With golfer’s elbow, you may feel medial (inside) elbow pain following a repetitive activity such as hammering or use of a screwdriver. In athletes, the inciting activity usually involves wrist flexion (bending) and pronation (palm or forearm faces down) such as in serving and overhead strokes. Golfing or throwing may also cause symptoms. You may also complain of pain or weakness on gripping.

 

5) Hamstring strain

Perhaps you were sprinting or jumping and you over contracted the hamstrings while in a position of stretch.  You may be an athlete who feels a sudden pull or pop at the back of the thigh following a forceful knee extension maneuver. The hamstrings are a group of three muscles that run along the back of your thigh. They allow you to bend your leg at the knee. Tendons and aponeurosis (a sheet of pearly white fibrous tissue) connect the muscles with the structures (i.e. bones ) to be moved. Tearing of the hamstrings occurs most often at the junction of the muscle and aponeurosis . Avulsion of the ischial tuberosity (sitting bone) apophysis (natural protuberance from a bone for the attachment of muscles) is possible in younger athletes.

 

5 common sports injuries a chiropractor can help – Recovering from a Sports injury

While ice and rest from the inciting activity are a start.  And you may try a drug for fast pain relief for the moment. This is not a long term solution.  A sports injury chiropractor serving West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Juno Beach and North Palm Beach can help you with the 5 common sports injuries a chiropractor can help with to get you back to your sport.  Even better, prevent future injuries and achieve peak performance by ensuring proper alignment on a regular basis with chiropractic. Contact Meiri Chiropractic today on the 5 common sports injuries a chiropractor can help with and/or other ailments you may have.

 

 

Meiri Chiropractic

5601 Corporate Way, Ste 102

West Palm Beach, FL 33407

561-253-8984

 

    

Many chiropractic doctors offer natural adjunctive therapies and supplementation proven to effectively augment chiropractic treatment. Read on to learn how homeopathy is a natural alternative treatment used by chiropractors.

Homeopathy is a system of medicine that has been used by millions of people worldwide for over 200 years.  It is prescribed and recommended by health care providers in over 65 countries.  Furthermore, homeopathic medicines are used in extremely dilute concentrations that are nontoxic. And when administered according to homeopathic principles, are safe in infants, pregnant women, children, and adults.  While homeopathy is not a substitute for allopathic (conventional) medicine, it is effective and beneficial for a wide variety of acute and chronic problems such as: allergies, coughs, colds, influenzas, stress, digestive problems, migraine headaches, insomnia, arthritis pain, muscle pain, sports injury pain, chronic fatigue, premenstrual syndrome, and menopausal trouble.  Indeed, Homeopathy helps patients reduce healing time and minimize their pain naturally. 

 

 

Homeopathy is a natural alternative treatment used by chiropractors….Why a natural alternative?

Patients have asked for years about natural, reliable treatments without the unwanted side effects.  Conventional drugs are made from synthetic substances which can cause toxic side effects.  Homeopathic medicines are composed of natural herbal, mineral and animal substances.  Above all, non-invasive and non-toxic, it works by stimulating a natural healing reaction in a person. The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) regulates the remedies/medicines and pharmacies.

What does research and experience tell us?

For two centuries, homeopathy has been systematically proven by scientists.  Moreover, this is by doctors’ observations of thousands of successfully treated cases.  Today, an increasing number of scientific studies are being conducted on homeopathy.  And there are 1000s of preclinical and clinical positive outcome studies. 

 

Celebrities that use homeopathy are numerous. For example, Cindy Crawford (super model) and Roger Daltrey (The Who) first discovered homeopathy because of an illness their child had.  And they found that homeopathy worked where conventional medicine had not. Next, Robin McGraw, (wife of “Dr. Phil” McGraw) used it for hot flashes of menopause.  Additionally, “Cher” (singer/actress) used it for recurrent pneumonia and chronic fatigue. Finally, Tina Turner writes in her autobiography, “Life in the fast lane wore me down, changes in my diet and homeopathy saved me.”

Some of the more well-known supporters of homeopathy are the royals.  For example, the former Queen Elizabeth of England and HRH Prince Charles and more recently Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

 

Sports stars/athletes who use homeopathy include: Jose Maria Olazabal– (pro golfer), for rheumatoid polyarthritis (arthritis in multiple joints);  James Ellingon, the British Olympic sprinter, used homeopathy for muscle and joint pain before his competitions; the soccer star David Bekham used homeopathy for his broken foot before competing in the World Cup; Paul O’Neill, former right fielder for the Yankees; Arnie Kander, strength and conditioning coach of the NBA Detroit Pistons.

 

From Dr. Natalie Meiri’s Clinical Pearl Stories:

A Chiropractor Can Treat a Dancer’s Injuries and Improve Their Performance

Author: Natalie Meiri, D.C.    Posted: 10/25/20

This was a 25 year old patient with multiple chief complaints due to ballet and contemporary dancing.  To be HIPAA compliant, I will call her Alice instead of her real name.  Alice had “stiffness” in her low back, both hips, both knees, and both ankles with numbness/tingling into both feet/toes.  Alice had been a professional dancer for 4 years and knew the stiffness was from ballet and contemporary dancing.  Even though it had been a year since the strenuous dancing, she felt the same “stiffness”.  So she came to see me and found out how A Chiropractor Can Treat a Dancer’s Injuries and Improve Their Performance.

 

She noted on her intake that she needed a “realignment” since she felt “out of alignment”. Furthermore, she checked off in her intake form: her condition interfered with her sleep, work, recreation, daily routine and was painful to sit, stand, walk, bend or lie down.  She also noted her pain “comes and goes”. There had been no falls or trauma to cause her condition.  Alice was very fit and lean having been a dancer, ate a balanced, nutritious diet, but needed to do the other activities (good night’s sleep, exercise)  to keep healthy.  She also wanted to take dance classes again, which she was unable to do currently due to her condition.

 

Alice’s Examination and X-rays

Upon examination, she had positive tests for the low back, both hips, both knees, and both ankles.  After that, I took some x-rays of her low back. Findings on her low back x-rays were decreased lumbar lordosis (normal inward curve of the low back was straight) consistent with lumbar myospasm (muscle spasm).  Alice had myalgia and myositis (muscle pain and inflammation) in her low back.  In addition, she had the decreased lordosis (loss of normal curve) probably acquired during her dancing years. Her hips, knees and ankles were given the diagnosis of segmental dysfunction (chiropractic misalignments/ subluxations) at those specific joints. 

 

Even though Alice did not have any falls (trauma) during her professional dancing years, she did have repetitive stress injuries.  These stress injuries occurred from repeating the same movements over and over again.  Moreover, a lot of these dance positions created poor posture for the spine contributing to the decreased lordosis in Alice’s spine. For instance, Alice spent many hours in the ballet pointe position in which the body is balanced on the extreme tip of the toes.

 

Alice’s Treatment

Alice’s chiropractic treatment consisted of chiropractic adjustments of the lumbar spine, both hips, knees, and ankles.  I also adjusted  her cervical (neck) and thoracic (mid back) spine.  This was to improve her overall posture/ alignment, nervous system function and optimize her dance performance. Additionally, soft tissue therapy (i.e., myofascial release, pressure point and post-isometric relaxation) and modalities (cold/heat therapy and electric muscle stimulation) were administered. Finally, Alice was given therapeutic exercises to continue her treatment at home. 

 

Alice was already at a dance class after her first visit! Gradually her stiffness, pain and numbness/tingling subsided.  She also gained the normal lordosis back in her low back along the way.  She continued treatment for several months.  Then Alice returned once a month on a regular basis to prevent future injuries and help her dance performance.

 

Many professional dancers are seeing their chiropractors on a regular basis. Your properly aligned spine and extremities (arms and legs) can boost your dance performance and also prevent future injuries.  Meiri Chiropractic in West Palm Beach offers comprehensive alternative treatment options for recreational and professional dancers. And while a chiropractor can treat a dancer’s injuries and improve their performance, it is imperative that you work with an experienced chiropractor.  Contact us today to learn more or to schedule your appointment.

 

 

Meiri Chiropractic

5601 Corporate Way, Ste. 102

West Palm Beach, FL 33407

561-253-8984

 

From Dr. Natalie Meiri’s Clinical Pearl Stories:

A Chiropractor Can Treat Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthritis

Author: Natalie Meiri, D.C.  Posted: 10/17/20

This was a 59 year old patient who enjoyed sewing and “machine quilting”. To be HIPAA compliant, I will call her Milly instead of her real name. Milly was a patient who was treating with me for her neck and back problems for many years.  Then one day, she told me her thumbs were hurting constantly. Her pain ranged from moderate to severe and was becoming disabling. Her hands felt stiff and weak.  Furthermore, she was loosing dexterity in her hands. Gripping and pinching activities aggravated her condition and she would even drop objects.  Milly wasn’t able to sew or “machine quilt” due to her thumb(s) condition.  That’s when I told her that A Chiropractor Can Treat Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthritis!

 

Her thumbs had been hurting for over 10 years on and off, but now it was consistent, severe pain. She didn’t know how it started and couldn’t remember any injuries to her thumbs. Therefore, she had seen an orthopedic hand surgery specialist who told her it was “bone on bone” arthritis.  He diagnosed it as osteoarthritis at her trapeziometacarpal joints (joint at the base of thumb close to wrist) — also known as the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint seen on her x-rays on both hands.  Moreover, he said she would need surgery if conservative treatments failed. 

 

Milly didn’t want surgery if at all possible, but was in severe pain.  Therefore, she got a cortisone (steroid) injection and was given a hand splint to wear. This gave her some relief for a few months. But then due to the pain, she got another cortisone injection. Yet again a few months later, the same pain was back. She came to see me after the second injection, since she knew continuous and repeated steroid injections have been shown to weaken the joint capsule and the surrounding area.

 

 

Milly’s examination

Upon examination, she had limitation of range of motion, muscular weakness and positive tests for thumb carpometacarpal arthritis of both hands. Milly’s x-rays of her hands showed  carpometacarpal joint space loss and degenerative arthritic findings worse in her right than her left hand. The carpometacarpal joint of the thumb is formed by the trapezium bone of the wrist and the first metacarpal bone (metacarpals are long bones within the hand that are connected to the carpals, or wrist bones, and to the phalanges, or finger bones) of the thumb.

 

More precisely, Milly had osteoarthritis of her carpometacarpal joints of her thumbs. Osteoarthritis is a “wear and tear” arthritis with inflammation of bones in a joint due to a reduction of cartilage. The “bone on bone” reference made by her orthopedist refers to the increased severity of osteoarthritis in a joint. In a healthy joint, cartilage aids in the movement of the joint between the two bones. “Bone on bone” refers to this lack of cartilage because of advanced osteoarthritis.

 

Milly’s chiropractic treatment

The goal of Milly’s treatment was firstly to relieve pain. Secondly, conserve and restore the mobility of the carpometacarpal joints of her thumbs.  Finally, to preserve and strengthen surrounding musculature. 

 

Treatment consisted of:

-Chiropractic manipulation or mobilization of the carpometacarpal joints of her thumbs, and associated regions consisting of her hands and wrists.                             

-Soft tissue manipulation (myofascial release, pressure points, postisometric relaxation) to the muscles and soft tissues (i.e., tendons, ligaments) involved.

-Home exercises for self stretching and strengthening muscles.

-Nutritional support for osteoarthritis were recommended  (i.e., glucosamine sulfate, boswellia, horsetail, SAM (S-adenosylmethionine), Vitamin E, Niacinamide, Vitamin C) along with the homeopathic consultations in which specific remedies for Milly’s condition were prescribed.

Milly gradually got pain relief and improved function in her thumbs so she could resume sewing and “machine quilting”.  It took almost a year of treatment before Milly was completely pain free and had full mobility of her thumbs. 

A Chiropractor Can Treat Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthritis

Thumb carpometacarpal arthritis is found primarily in postmenopausal females over 50 years old, due to hormonal and structural factors. However, since I treated Milly, I have also treated a number of patients that were men with similar problems in their hands from osteoarthritis.  Sometimes the patient’s cause for the thumb/hand pain was due to certain hereditary conditions (joint ligament laxity and malformed joints), injuries (sprains), diseases that change the normal structure and function of cartilage (i.e., rheumatoid arthritis), and jobs that put high stress on the thumb joint.

 

Meiri Chiropractic in West Palm Beach offers a range of treatments to bring pain relief for a variety of conditions. A West Palm Beach chiropractor can treat thumb carpometacarpal arthritis naturally.   Contact us to learn more or to make an appointment with a chiropractor serving West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens and North Palm Beach today.

A Chiropractor Can Provide Care for Fibromyalgia Naturally 

Author: Natalie Meiri, D.C.     Posted: 10/11/20

 

If you have fibromyalgia you feel achy, fatigued, and stiff in multiple muscle groups. You may have other associated symptoms as well.  Read below to learn about this systemic disorder and how a chiropractor can provide care for fibromyalgia naturally.

 

Fibromyalgia affects two – four percent of people, women more often than men. It is a type of rheumatism (condition with pain in muscles, joints, or fibrous tissue). Although it most often starts in middle adulthood, it can occur in the teen years and in older ages. You are at higher risk for fibromyalgia if you have a rheumatic disease (health problem that affects the joints, muscles and bones). These include systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.

 

The American College of Rheumatology has set criteria for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia.  You must have pain in 11 of 18 tender sites, with 9 being on both sides of the body, and with pain for at least 3 months. These tender sites include: suboccipital (below lower back of skull) muscles, lower cervical spine (neck), trapezius (pair of triangular muscles extending over back and neck), supraspinatus (smallest of rotator cuff muscles runs from shoulder blade to upper arm), second rib, lateral epicondyle (bony bump on the outside of the elbow), gluteals (muscles in buttocks), greater trochanter of femur (bony projection at top of the thigh bone), and medial (inside) fat pad (mass of fatty tissue that lies below the kneecap) of the knee.

 

Fibromyalgia is a Syndrome

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome (condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms) of chronic pain of musculoskeletal origin, but uncertain cause. Recent research says it is a neurologic health problem that causes widespread pain and tenderness (sensitivity to touch). Many fibromyalgia patients report that certain weather conditions seem to aggravate their symptoms, but scientists have not found out why. 

 

Several theories have been proposed focusing on lowered pain-threshold levels and decreased serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter. It acts as one of the body’s chemical messengers used by the nervous system to transmit messages from one area of the brain to another. So brain cells related to mood, sleep, memory and some social behavior could be affected by this. Additionally, it is believed that stage 4 sleep (deep sleep that lasts for about 30 minutes) is interrupted in fibromyalgia patients.  This could be due to intrusions of alpha rhythms (pattern of slow brain waves in normal awake persons at rest with closed eyes) during stage 4 sleep. Consequently, fibromyalgia is accompanied by severe fatigue, sleep (waking up unrefreshed), memory/thinking clearly and mood issues.

 

Moreover, some patients also may have:

• Depression and anxiety
• Persistent early morning stiffness
• Paresthesia (pins and needles feeling)
• Digestive problems: irritable bowel syndrome (commonly called IBS) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (often referred to as GERD)
• Irritable or overactive bladder
• Pelvic pain
• Temporomandibular disorder – often called TMJ (a set of symptoms including face/jaw pain, jaw clicking, and ringing in the ears)

Diagnosis and causes

There are no lab or imaging (i.e.,x-rays, MRI) tests for diagnosis of fibromyalgia.  It is diagnosed by the tender sites and the associated symptoms experienced by the patient.  Also, there should be no other health problems that would explain the pain and other symptoms. Therefore, lab tests or x-rays may be done to rule out any other cause for your symptoms.

There is most often some triggering factor that sets off fibromyalgia. It may be spine problems, arthritis, injury, or other type of physical stress. Emotional stress also may trigger this illness. The cause may be different in different people. Nevertheless, the result is a change in the way the body communicates with the spinal cord and brain.  Fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune or inflammation based illness, but current research suggests the central nervous system is involved (brain and spinal cord). Seeing a chiropractor can provide care for fibromyalgia naturally by getting your nervous system working at its best through adjustments.

Where can I find a good chiropractor for fibromyalgia in West Palm Beach?

 

While there is no cure, there are treatments for management of symptoms.  A chiropractor can provide care for fibromyalgia naturally at Meiri Chiropractic.  Firstly, this involves spinal adjustments or extremity manipulation and may include mobilization.  Secondly, muscle stretching and soft tissue therapy, along with exercise, the use of modalities (i.e. heat therapy, electric muscle stimulation) and rehabilitation/home exercises. Finally, homeopathic consultations/ prescriptions along with recommendations on vitamin/herbal supplementation will be provided as necessary.  These treatments along with regular mild to moderate exercise, stress reduction/ relaxation techniques and enough sleep can give you relief.

 

Jan Chambers, President of the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association (2015), states, “…I started seeing a chiropractor who provided a thorough examination, ordered x-rays and then …created a very rigorous program to address the problems in my neck and lower back. Years later, I still do therapy at home, but it is the chiropractic care that was my lifesaver. I feel like chiropractic care literally saved my life.” (1)

 

A chiropractor can provide care for fibromyalgia naturally!  Contact Dr Natalie Meiri, a chiropractor serving West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, and North Palm Beach today at 561-253-8984.

 

1.) https://www.fmcpaware.org/fibromyalgia/about-fm.html

 

Meiri Chiropractic

5601 Corporate Way, Ste 102

West Palm Beach, FL 33407

561-253-8984

 

From Dr. Natalie Meiri’s Clinical Pearl Stories: Chiropractic Care for Growing Pains and Sports Injuries in a Child :

This was a 12 year old patient with sports related injuries and “growing pains”.  To be HIPAA compliant, I will call her Jill instead of her real name.  Jill was very happy, outgoing, and enjoyed sports. She had joined a volleyball team at school a year ago and played almost everyday.  Her chief complaints were headaches, stomachaches, and leg pains.  She often missed school or left classes early because of the headaches and stomachaches.  Also, Jill and her mother were exhausted from Jill crying and waking up at night with leg pains.  Her mother finally brought her to see me Chiropractic Care for Growing Pains and Sports Injuries in a Child .

 

Jill’s Acute Sports Injury

 

Jill presented to my office in an arm sling.  She had hurt her arm playing volleyball the day before.  Her mom had taken her to an urgent care clinic where the sling was put on her arm.  Jill was perspiring from the pain. There was a lot of spasm in her shoulder and arm, but it wasn’t fractured.  Since it was too spasmed to adjust, I did  soft tissue manipulation on her shoulder/arm muscles, mild mobilization (nonthrust manipulation) at the joints and gave her some homeopathic medicines. Her mother told me “she played volleyball the very next day, the next day and the next day!”  When Jill returned for her visit to treat her chronic pains, her arm was pain free.

Jill’s Chronic Pains

 

Jill described her headaches as “in the middle of her forehead, above her eyes”.  Her stomachaches were nearly everyday in the late afternoon. Her leg pains started in the late afternoon and at night were severe enough to awaken her.  Jill had been to her pediatrician and her blood tests were normal.  The pediatrician had told her mother, Jill’s “growing pains would just go away eventually”.

 

Upon examination, there were positive tests for her cervical (neck) spine and ankle joints. She also had some tenderness and palpatory findings (examine by touching) in the muscles around the neck and back portion of both lower legs.  The x-ray of  her cervical (neck) spine taken in my office, showed a loss of her normal cervical lordosis (neck curve). This x-ray finding was consistent with cervical myospasm (muscle spasm). Jill couldn’t remember how she hurt her neck, but her mother attributed it to her many sports activities.  So Jill had a sports injury related problem also in her neck along with “growing pains”.

 

Although the exact cause of growing pains is unknown, it is an actual diagnosis.  Growing pains are characterized by bilateral pain (pain on both sides) usually in the lower legs occurring severely enough at night to awaken the child, with associated headaches and stomachaches.

 

Growing pains usually occur between the ages of 6 and 19 years.  Moreover, the pains are more pronounced during the ages of 3 – 9 and then again at adolescence (process of developing from child to an adult) as in Jill’s case. 

 

 

Are you experiencing pain due to poor posture or repetitive motion injury?  Chiropractors can help posture problems and repetitive motion injuries for you and your family.  The position in which we hold our bodies is our posture. If we don’t have good posture while standing, sitting, or lying down, it will eventually lead to pain and dysfunction. A repetitive motion injury is a term used to describe damage and pain caused by repetitive movement and overuse. The following are 2 conditions due to incorrect posture and/or repetitive motion injury.

 

1.) Postural Syndrome

 

Postural syndrome causes constant aching pain in the cervical (neck) and thoracic (mid back) regions. Often, the pain is relieved by activity and made worse by working at a desk.  Because of working at a desk with a hunched forward head posture, an imbalance between the anterior (front) and posterior (back) muscles of the neck and upper mid back occurs.

 

The muscles such as the pectoralis (chest/ breast muscle) and upper trapezius (pair of triangular muscles extending over back and neck) become chronically shortened and tight in adapting to the position. As a consequence, your midscapular (between shoulder blades) muscles weaken due to the constant strain of holding this position. This includes your middle and lower trapezius and rhomboids (upper back muscles connecting between your spine and two shoulder blades). Your deep neck flexors (front neck muscles close to the spine that bend neck forward) also weaken due to this constant strain.  If left uncorrected, this causes an imbalance in your normal neck curve causing an abnormal lordosis (abnormal curve inward) in the upper neck and/or a kyphosis (roundneck) in the lower neck.

 

Furthermore, incorrect neck posture causes elevated, rounded shoulders.  And not being able to move your shoulders smoothly will eventually cause pain and dysfunction in your shoulders as well. All of this leads to the posture in your thoracic spine (mid back) becoming a hyperkyphosis (hunchback). So the combination of tight and weak muscles create changes in biomechanics (movements) in your joints leading to further osteoarthritis (wear and tear arthritis).

 

 

2.) T-4 Syndrome

With T-4 Syndrome you may have upper back stiffness and achiness with associated signs of extremity (upper arm) numbness and/or paresthesia (abnormal sensation such as tingling, burning) in a “stocking and glove” distribution. There may also be associated headaches with T-4 Syndrome.

 

The exact cause of T-4 Syndrome is unknown. You may have an occurrence during the night or upon rising and prolonged sitting. Repetitive motions such as sustained reaching and pulling activities, shoveling, and overhead cleaning have all been reported as a cause. However, there is a theory relating the sympathetic nervous system and the T2 – T7 nerves in the thoracic (mid back) spine. The sympathetic nervous system regulates the body’s involuntary processes related to the flight-or-fight response, such as increasing the heart rate, and releasing adrenaline.  The sympathetic nervous system may provide a pathway for referral from the thoracic spine (mid back) to the head and arms in T-4 Syndrome.

 

 

Meiri Chiropractic’s treatments:

 

Read below the treatments available for both conditions provided by the chiropractor at Meiri Chiropractic serving West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens and North Palm Beach :

 

                    -Chiropractic manipulation or mobilization of the cervical                              

                     (neck) and thoracic (mid back) spinal joints

                    -Soft tissue manipulation to the muscles involved

                    -Exercises focusing on stretching tight muscles and strengthening weak muscles

                    -Recommendation on redesign of work environment and ergonomics 

                    -Postural advice/ recommendation of frequent breaks with stretching

 

It is common to have a postural problem for individuals who work at desks. Prolonged sitting at a desk combined with the repetitive activity of typing or using the mouse for your computer causes postural problems and/or repetitive motion injuries. This sedentary lifestyle which eliminates a variety of movements cause pain and dysfunction. Kids and teenagers can also develop a slumped posture due to heavy back packs, hunching over homework or smart phones.   

 

Chiropractors can help posture problems and repetitive motion injuries for you and your family. Contact Meiri Chiropractic at 561-253-8984 for the best care in West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, and North Palm Beach today.

 

 

                                       From Dr. Natalie Meiri’s Clinical Pearl Stories:                                 Chiropractic Treatment for Knee Pain and Knee Problems

This was a 53 year old patient who had a chief complaint of right knee pain.  To be HIPAA compliant, I will call him Ted instead of his real name.  Ted was an avid runner for over 10 years and liked running races.  He also enjoyed bicycling, yoga and spinning class (indoor cycling). Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to do these activities without a lot of pain in his right knee. He wanted to get back to doing his activities without pain.  So I provided him with  Chiropractic Treatment for Knee Pain and Knee Problems.

Ted presented to my office 3 years after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy to his right knee. A meniscectomy is an arthroscopic procedure that removes the meniscus or trims the damaged meniscus tissue (also called a debridement).  The knee meniscus is the rubbery knee cartilage that cushions the tibia (shinbone) from the femur (thighbone).

Ted didn’t know exactly how he hurt his knee 3 years ago. It seemed to come on after twisting his knee while lifting a heavy box.  Perhaps it was from repetitive running and “old age”. Furthermore, he stated “it never felt better from the surgery and only has gotten worse”. Since the surgery, he has tried dietary and herbal supplementation, acupuncture, physical therapy and yoga. He came to see me since “everything else he had tried didn’t work”. Chiropractic was his last resort!

Ted’s Knee Pain and Problems

Firstly, Ted had pain, swelling and trouble bending his right knee most of the time. Secondly, he also experienced episodes of knee locking wherein he experienced significant pain and was unable to move the leg for a few seconds until his knee was forcefully extended. Lastly, he described a “burning sensation” at the inside of his knee.

His knee x-ray showed osteoarthritis, a degenerative “wear-and-tear” type of arthritis in his knee.  His original M.R.I. report from 3 years ago noted a partial meniscal tear. I didn’t need any further imaging at this time. I would order another M.R.I. if there was no improvement in 12 visits.

Upon examination, I found Ted had a saphenous nerve entrapment in his right leg besides from the partial meniscal tear and osteoarthritis.  So Ted’s knee pain came from 3 different problems. Nerve entrapment is a medical syndrome that develops when nerves become compressed (or entrapped) and restricted. This occurs due to a variety of causes, from trauma or injury to repeated or overuse activity.  Nerve entrapment to the saphenous nerve can occur at the inside of the knee at the adductor canal.  The adductor canal is a fibromuscular band canal that the saphenous nerve passes above the knee. This was causing Ted’s pain and burning sensation to the inside of his right knee (saphenous nerve distribution). Occasionally, nerve conduction studies are performed to assess the degree of nerve compression and nerve damage. This was not necessary in Ted’s case since he started getting some relief with treatment within 12 visits.

Ted’s Chiropractic Treatment for Knee Pain and Knee Problems

Ted’s treatments included chiropractic adjustments/ manipulation to his right knee and any associated foot, ankle, hip, pelvic or lumbar (low back) fixations (chiropractic misalignments).  Additionally, soft tissue therapy (myofascial release, pressure point and various relaxation procedures) and modalities (cold/heat therapy and electric muscle stimulation) were administered. Finally, he was given homeopathic medicines and therapeutic exercises to continue his treatment at home.

Ted gradually got pain relief and improved function in his activities.  It took nearly a year of treatment before Ted was performing his activities pain free. Ted’s knee stopped locking and the burning sensation subsided.  He also was able to perform better in yoga class with improved range of motion. Chiropractic proved to be a highly effective last resort!

Meiri Chiropractic serving West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, and North Palm Beach offers chiropractic treatment for knee pain and knee problems. Dr. Natalie Meiri will examine, diagnose and come up with a treatment plan to get you back to your activities. Call 561-253-8984 today to schedule an appointment.

This post is From Dr. Natalie Meiri’s Clinical Pearl Stories: Chiropractic Treatment for Chronic Headaches. This was a 48 year old female patient with a chief complaint of chronic headaches. To be HIPAA compliant, I will call her Kate instead of her real name. Kate had migraine headaches since she was a teenager. She described it as a one sided (unilateral) throbbing headache. She would get sensory disturbances called an aura prior to her headaches which is suggestive of classic migraines.  The auras were usually “blurriness and vision changes” in her eye. She used to only get migraine headaches once or twice a month or less which was manageable. 

However, she had headaches almost everyday in the afternoon now for a year since she experienced stress and grief from a family member’s death. Her headaches lasted for several hours, causing her to seek a dark, quiet environment. These were more of a tension headache since it was (suboccipital/ bilateral) at the back of her head on both sides or around both her eyes (supraorbital/ bilateral). Kate also got the classic migraine type of headache once or twice a month. 

In the past, she was active with chores around the house cleaning and cooking after work.  She also enjoyed gardening, dinner with friends, or church activities during her leisure time after work. Currently, she just went home from work and went to sleep due to her headaches.  Her condition seemed to be getting progressively worse and was disabling. 

 

 

Moreover, migraine headaches with aura, ran in her family. Kate had a history of high blood pressure managed by her primary care doctor and several people in her family had died of a brain aneurysm. A brain aneurysm is weakness in a blood vessel in the brain that balloons and fills with blood, and can leak or rupture, causing life-threatening bleeding. Also, a key symptom of a ruptured aneurysm is a sudden, severe headache. 

Upon examination she had tender trigger points and tight muscles in the neck. And her neck x-ray taken in my office showed degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis).  In addition, I ordered a brain CT scan with contrast (injection of contrast material into a blood vessel for evaluation) to rule out any more serious conditions that could be causing her headaches such as tumors or a TIA (transient ischemic attack or stroke that lasts only a few minutes). After all, the headaches were severe and she had a family history of brain aneurysm.  CT scanning provides more detailed information about brain tissue and brain structures than standard X-rays. Fortunately, her CT scan report came back “normal” or negative.

It was once believed that tension-type headaches were due to muscle tension. It is now recognized that although there are often tender trigger points in the neck and suboccipital area, there is no higher incidence of muscle spasm when compared with other headache types. A growing group of researchers believe that chronic tension-like headaches may represent part of a headache continuum. These patients often begin with migraine attacks that gradually transform into more frequent, less severe, tension-type headaches like Kate’s headaches. Kate however, also had her more severe migraine with aura as well about twice a month.

 

Kate’s treatment for chronic headaches

Once believed to be purely vascular, migraine headaches are believed to be neurogenic (caused by nervous system). Furthermore, in women, there is also a hormonal relationship. So to treat Kate’s headache continuum of tension to classic migraine, I utilized a spectrum of therapies. Firstly, she received chiropractic adjustments/ manipulation to her neck and spine along with soft tissue work (myofascial release, pressure point and various relaxation procedures) and exercises to continue at home.  Secondly, recommendations were made on diet and nutrition that triggered her headaches.  Other possible triggers for her headaches such as sleeping issues and environmental pollutants were also eliminated.  Thirdly, I did several homeopathic consultations with Kate and prescribed a number of homeopathic medicines. Kate was against drugs when possible.  Similarly, Kate knew about the rebound headaches that can occur if you take aspirin for longer than 3 days.

Kate responded well to her chiropractic treatment for chronic headaches plan of 1-2 times a week for 3 months. Kate’s headaches decreased in frequency and intensity gradually.  Finally, she was able to do the necessary chores and social activities again without going home to bed after work.    

Meiri Chiropractic serving West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens and North Palm Beach offers chiropractic treatment for chronic headaches. Your chiropractor will examine, diagnose and determine your best course of chiropractic treatment for chronic headaches . Call us in West Palm Beach at 561-253-8984 to schedule an appointment at our chiropractic clinic and start getting the relief you need.

 

Meiri Chiropractic

5601 Corporate Way, Ste. 102

West Palm Beach, FL 33407

561-253-8984