Spinal Disc Pain: Not Always as Bad as You Think! Part 2 What causes Back Pain? In part 1 of this blog we talked about how one major type of back pain is called discogenic pain, or pain that comes from our spinal discs. We also mentioned the two major...
Spinal Disc Pain: Not Always as Bad as You Think! Part 1 What causes Back Pain? If you have back pain, it is important to know where that pain is coming from. This will ensure that you get the right treatment, and learn how to avoid having a similar issue...
People want to feel good enough that they can participate in life whenever they want, the way they want. Regrettably, many people feel limited because of pain which may be caused by a sedantary lifestyle, age, or stress. Luckily there is a way to turn your life around. Today we’ll...
In recent years, the intent behind surgery has taken a drastic change by providers as research illuminates the outcomes. For example, up to 1 in 5 back surgeries fail to correct the intended problem. A phrase “When in doubt, take it out”—once quite popular regarding surgery—has swiftly begun to take...
People from all sides of the issue—from patients to insurance companies and government agencies to providers—have acknowledged openly the opioid epidemic. It has swept the nation leaving a large, regrettable footprint on the health of people all over. This is why more and more medical professionals are turning to conservative...
I recently had the opportunity to shadow a great spine surgeon. It was a wonderful experience, and quite eye-opening in a number of ways. First, I was sadly surprised with how many people sought out surgical options when clearly I could probably help them. On the other hand, however, I...
Pinched nerves are a typical part of low back pain, and one common treatment sought out for this is a spinal injection. Some people do find relief at varying degrees from this. It is important, however, to understand that research is beginning to show that this is not always the...
All joints live on a spectrum with High Stability on one end and High Mobility on the other, you can’t have both! The shoulder is arguably the most mobile joint in our bodies, which also means it is the least stable. But what does this mean for the shoulder? This...
“Whiplash” is typically used to describe a neck injury received in a car accident, but in reality it’s a very common injury not exclusive to high-speed collisions. You see, whiplash injuries are actually just a strain/sprain injury of the neck. Strains occur when tendons, which connect a muscle to bone,...
Our bodies are built to last, but they still have a threshold for how much damage or stress it can put up with. In a car accident, this threshold is practically guaranteed to be passed. And while you may think that this only occurs with high-speed collisions, but you’d be...
It's common for me to hear people say that “If you have Low Back Pain, work on your core.” While this adage holds truth, most people saying so are not completely correct. Or, at least, what they believe ‘working your core’ is and the best way to do so are...
Movement is crucial to the health of joints. If joints aren’t moving right, it may speed up the degenerative process, cause pain, or both. This can limit your quality of life as common everyday activities become increasingly more difficult. It may also put you at risk of injuries in the...
Stretching is an important part of keeping healthy. Doing so helps ensure joint move like they should and don’t become painful as you age. It is also a great opportunity for meditation and mental health. There are, however, better and worse way to stretch, and it can even depend on...
We were all told as kids to sit up straight at one point or another. While some parents probably thought of posture as more about manners, plenty others likely understood inherently a little about the importance of good posture on health, even if the didn’t fully comprehend just how crucial...
Even though technology continues to allow us to store more data on smaller devices, the bags we carry around all day don’t seem to get much lighter. This is especially true for students, where backpacks can be over-weighted with textbooks, technology, and school supplies. Throw on top of that the...
It's a position so fantastically both new and prominent it has gained it’s own name: “Tech Neck.” You may have seen it around, especially with younger fellows: Head forward and bent down, rounded shoulders and back, focused on some device held in their lap, or sometimes only inches from their...
If you’ve been following us all month, you’ve been tracking your headaches for 3 weeks now with Migraine Buddy or another diary method. Have you begun to notice any trends? Hopefully that answer is yes, but if not, hopefully today’s blog will help you be able to make some better...
Most people with headaches that I encounter have “tried everything,” and I don’t use quotes to mock. These people have searched high and low on blogs, webMD, asked doctors and friends looking for ways to stop their headaches. I really feel for them and want to help them--I am a...
Do you experience daily (or almost daily) headaches? And if you do, have you reached the point where you’ve given up and feel as though you just “have to live with them”? If that’s the case, there is hope. There are a multitude of different things that can cause your...
Many of the patients I see suffer from headaches. The fact is, research shows that half of people suffer from some kind of headache every year, and nearly all will experience a headache at some time in their life. Sadly, many people even suffer from chronic headaches that affect them...
I recently had a patient ask me if it was possible to be "too flexible." The short answer to that is “not really.” You see, our bodies are designed to move (it’s the whole reason we have the bones and muscles which make up most of our bodies!!), and so...
Have you ever and a “crick” in you neck? You know, that pain which hurts real sharp when you turn your head too far one way? The pain you probably had after a poor nights sleep on a bad pillow or couch? If so, then you were likely experiencing an...
If you’ve got back pain, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve got some kind of a disc issue going on. Sadly, many people believe that if they have a disc problem, they will need surgery. Some (though luckily few) doctor’s even try to take advantage of that fear. But there’s...
Given how much we use our arms and hands everyday, it’s understandable how frustrating pain in those areas can become. Many people suffer from symptoms of shooting pain, numbness, and tingling, eventually seeking the help of a surgeon to solve their arm problem. In many cases, however, this arm problem...
As a doctor, there are often difficult concepts I try to relay to patients with the use of analogy so they can understand better what is going on with their bodies and why I prescribe the treatment I do. One analogy I share illustrates the relationship between torque and neck...
In the office, I often get people coming in which mention they have Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD). They say it almost as if they have some kind of, well, disease. Well, the thing you should know is that thinking of DJD as a disease the same way you think of...
The advent of social media has done exactly as it says: allowed us to better connect with others through many different online mediums. It’s a wonderful thing to be able to be closer to those you care about. It doesn’t come without drawbacks, though. As we spend hours each day...
Many of us today take NSAIDS for pain. NSAID stands for “Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug.” The goal of these drugs is to do just what the name says: reduce inflammation. But did you know that in reality, inflammation is a good thing? Inflammation is an important part of the healing process....
“Herniated Disc,” “Slipped Disc,” “Disc Bulge”… it goes by many names. It’s the reason you remember (every once in a while) to “bend with your knees” instead of your back. But research shows that there’s so much more you can do to prevent Disc Herniations, and it all has to...
It’s common knowledge that you should stretch before and after a workout, but too few put that knowledge into practice. We get it. It’s boring, and when you’re on a time crunch, it takes valuable time out of your workout. Thankfully, there’s a way to better incorporate your stretching into...
It’s commonplace nowadays to go to a game and see the athletes covered in colerful tape on their arms and legs. You may have asked yourself what it is and does. This tape, called kinesiotape, was originally designed by a Chiropractor 40 years ago. This stretchy tape works by stimulating...
You’ll never get anywhere in life if you aren’t moving. Physical activity is crucial to your health, with things such as cardiovascular disease and depression being linked to a lack of it. Not only that, but these connections are something that starts early in your childhood. Forming good habits now...
Here at Better Chiropractic, we’re all about empowering our patients to take care of their own health. We do this by teaching them how to Live Better through stretches and exercise. One concept we teach regularly to our patients is the importance and benefit of foam rolling—more appropriately called Self-Myofascial...
Today our country is facing a drug epidemic beyond anything we’ve seen before—and the drugs in this case aren’t only legal, but prescribed by doctors. Yes, the opioid epidemic has affected over an estimated 2 million people, with abuse leading to nearly 50,000 deaths each year. Research shows that roughly...
So many people suffer from headaches in our society today; estimates suggest as many as 50% of people will experience them in a given year. Now, while an occasional headache may not be such a horrible thing, plenty of those with headaches have dealt with them for a very long...
Today the medical community has begun its own war on drugs—they have begun a long-overdue battle against the opioid epidemic. By their own nature, opioids are incredibly addictive due to the euphoric sensation it produces in our brain, as well as the effect it has of relieving our pain. This...
Crossfit is an awesome way to get fit that is sweeping the nation. The group setting that promotes motivation and healthy competition and the high intensity interval training get get your body amazing results. However, the biggest problem we see with Crossfit is injuries. So often when people get...
Tom Brady said “As long as I see the Chiropractor, I feel like I’m one step ahead of the Game.” A 1920 article touted a picture with headline reading “Chiropractic Helps Babe Ruth and Other Yankees Keep in Perfect Physical Condition.” When it comes to being the best of the...
When we think of a team we think of a tight-knit group of individuals working together towards a common goal. These individuals communicate with each other and share strengths to create synergy, or a power greater than the sum of their parts, which lets them do more than they ever...
The Holidays can be overwhelming both mentally and physically What with all the long distance travel in cramped spaces for hours at a time and associated awkward positions, lifting heavy suitcases filled with packages without remembering to bend at the knees and hips, and so on. This can often lead...
Our bodies are a beautiful work of art, meant to be able to manage itself through a process known as homeostasis. However, the heightened stress so often experienced during the holidays can poorly influence the nervous system that controls this important process, resulting in our bodies feeling worn down and...
Sugar cookies, hot cocoa, and everything pumpkin spice, the three most important food groups of the holiday season…and delightful path towards increased fatigue, inflammation, and even a few extra pounds you’ll need to work off while completing your resolution to be more active next year. It’s happened to many of...
With 2019 upon us, many people are beginning to consider their resolutions for the New Year. Most resolutions revolve around our health. This can sometimes result in stress as we assess our lives and worry about whether we’ll be able to commit and follow through on those resolutions. So while...
Bottom Line: Sick of spending money on medications that don’t fix your problems? Well, new research has shown that utilizing chiropractic care can decrease the money you spend on medications by up to 85%! We both know that a dollar saved is a dollar earned. Why it Matters: See people dance...
Bottom Line: Ah, the joys of budgeting, 10% for saving, 15% for rent/mortgage, and…20% for health care?. Wait a second! Yup, you read that correctly. That is the national average for how much we are spending on our healthcare. Want to know a secret that may help you save some...
At Feel, Live, and Perform Better Chiropractic we pride ourselves on our advanced training and ability to provide the athlete within all of us the best care available for most athletic injuries. Dr. Bates understands his scope of practice and what he can treat and cannot treat. If he is not able...
This information is taken out of one of my newsletters that I send out to Medical Doctors to inform them on how my services can benefit their patient base. If you don’t know about Kinesiology Taping this should answer a lot of questions for you. If you still have questions...
We have recently added a new technique called the Graston Technique® to the health care services we offer our patients. This remarkable procedure allows us to detect and treat areas of “scar tissue” or adhesions in muscles, tendons and ligaments that can lead to pain and dysfuncon.In the healing process...
As a Chiropractic Sports Physician the discussion of what you should eat before you compete has come up several times. With each conversation my attempt to answer that question has been somewhat ambiguous. I prefer to be as clear and direct as possible when advising patients in regards to their...
1. Wellness or maintenance care. Too many Chiropractors put their financial wealth before their patients health. Although regular chiropractic care is a great way to prevent future problems and improve performance it is not mandatory to do so. Just like going to the dentist regularly is a good idea to...
DIAGNOSIS:Chiropractors are specially trained to diagnose the specific problems that are responsible for your pain. By reviewing your health history, the history of your condition and a thorough orthopedic and neurological examination, chiropractors can diagnose the root cause of your pain. Special studies, x-rays and other testing are ordered when...
Back pain is a common occurrence during pregnancy. Unlike many other common side effects of pregnancy you don’t have to grin and bear it.Normal weight gain, especially in the later phases of pregnancy puts pressure on your spinal curve, particularly the lower back which can pinch the joints of your...
I often get asked, “When should you use ice and when should you use heat?”. You should use ice only for the first 48 hours after being injured. Ice for 15-20 minutes and after a couple of hours you can ice again. Make sure not to ice for more than...
Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) undergo a rigorous and demanding professional education equivalent to any other primary care provider (ie. Family Practitioner, General Practitioner). Their curriculum places special emphasis on anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, biomechanics, x-ray, spinal adjusting techniques, and related subjects. To obtain a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, they must...
