SMART ADVICE TO HELP YOU SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHTWe’ve all had mornings where we wake up, and we’re just plain uncomfortable. If you’ve slept funny for one night, you might wake up with a crick in your neck, or an aching lower back. Being uncomfortable when you are trying to rest can cause sleep deprivation, which is very bad for your overall health. If you find yourself waking up in pain consistently, you may need to change something about the way you’re sleeping. There are options for you, like updating the kind of mattress you sleep on, your pillows, or finding a chiropractor. But it is incredibly important to avoid losing sleep on a regular basis because chronic sleep deprivation will cause problems in your daily life.
We knew that losing sleep can make you more irritable. What scientists are still learning about is this: Losing sleep reduces your pain tolerance, according to the New York Times, as well as your response to pain medications, according to a study by the National Institute of Health. These studies suggest that sleep-deprived people may have more pain for longer, and not be able to do as much about it with medication. Scientists theorize that loss of sleep affects the body by increasing inflammation throughout the body, which could have an impact on the treatment of patients with chronic pain. “These two vital functions, sleep, and pain, interact in complex ways that ultimately impact the biological and behavioral capacity of the individual,” the abstract of a 2005 study states. "Polysomnographic studies of patients experiencing acute pain during postoperative recovery show shortened and fragmented sleep with reduced amounts of slow wave and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and the recovery is accompanied by normalization of sleep.” One way to deal with chronic back pain from your sleep environment is to improve it by buying a mattress with the right amount of support, firmness, and durability. Experts generally recommend a medium-firm mattress for back pain. Sleeping on a bed that is too soft, or has lost its support from use, will increase your chances of being too uncomfortable to sleep well. Slipping a disk in your back or having your spine become misaligned is not comfortable in the least, and you should avoid it at all costs. You should also make sure you’re using the right kind of pillow for the way you sleep, and see if adding additional pillows for body support will help with the aches and pains. Another way to deal with the problems is to work with a chiropractor to figure out a better way to sleep and get the kinks worked out in your body when the pain meds just aren’t cutting it. A chiropractor can help you find the perfect solution for your body’s specific needs. They can teach you exercises to reduce pain in a certain area, or stretches to avoid having that pain in the first place.
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Why Do I Come to Work Everyday?I love everything about chiropractic. Its not only a form of natural health care, its an art. It takes dedication, skill, practice, passion, physical ability, personality, compassion and so much more. There are about 65 chiropractors in the Eau Claire WI area. Each one is different in most if not all the aspects I laid out above and very few have those characteristics mastered. For me, knowing that my profession requires a dedication to always improving, keeps me yearning for more. Every patient's body is different. With practice, acquired skill and some natural physical talent, a chiropractor should continue to refine their art of the chiropractic adjustment each day. I'm very blessed and thankful to have practiced in a variety of chiropractic clinics around the country. These experiences have refined and shaped the skills I possess today. This not only includes the chiropractic treatment process, but also the bedside manner, passion and commitment to be the best with each patient that comes into my office. This is my office and I stand behind the care I give to every person I see. What are the Benefits of Chiropractic?Chiropractic patients normally come to my office for a select few reasons. Its normally neck pain, low back pain, sciatica or a nasty muscle spasm that just refuses to go away. Yes, chiropractic adjustments are great for these ailments. However, potential patients usually don't realize all the other wonderful improvements they'll make along the way. Its incredible how many people suffer from headaches on a regular basis. Its also surprising that most people don't consider chiropractic as a potential treatment for their chronic headaches and migraines. Just a few weeks ago I was in a consultation with a new patient. She had come in due to low back pain and sciatica. She never wrote down or mentioned headaches mostly because she was in so much low back pain she had forgotten, but also because she didn't think it pertained to chiropractic. Boy was she wrong! She had been experiencing headaches every day for years. Four days after her first adjustment I asked how everything was going. She said the low back pain was beginning to subside and more notably, she hadn't had a headache since the first time she saw me. It was surprising to her and to me it was another inspiring reason to come to work each day. Its now been 3 weeks of regular chiropractic care without a headache and her low back pain/sciatica is down to 2 out of 10 on the pain scale. There are many other great benefits of chiropractic care that I see first hand each day. Torticollis, latching, digestive problems and bed wetting in infants and children. Range of motion, fatigue, sleep, joint pain, athletic performance and many other improvements are made consistently with patients of every age. Not only do patients get out of pain and dysfunction, but they get their lives back so they can live at their best without physical limitations they had before. Why do Chiropractic Patients come Back?Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but chiropractic can't fix you in one treatment. Pain is usually one of the last symptoms to show with disease and disfunction. Its also one of the first things to resolve. One treatment might get you out of pain momentarily, however, look deeper at why you were in pain in the first place. It could be due to a multitude of reasons. Many people sit at a desk or in a vehicle for long hours at work. Many people have had some sort of trauma whether a car accident, fight, slip on the ice or otherwise. Many people have imbalances in their musculature leading to poorer and poorer posture and spinal support. Whatever the reason, its likely been festering for some time and it'll take some time to treat and obtain lasting healing results.
Don't stop there! Once you're feeling better and quality of life has been improved, don't quit. You're ready to graduate to the next level of care. Just like a retainer after braces, chiropractic maintenance care keeps you living at that high level. If you're still working at a desk or in a car, you're continually doing the things that put you in a poor state of health in the first place. Not everyone can quit their desk job or suddenly take all the stress out of their lives. Thats where periodic chiropractic adjustments come in. They work to combat the negative effects of all those things every person does to their bodies each and every day. There are a number of different reasons why patients decide to seek out chiropractic care. Whether you are getting adjusted for headaches, low back pain, or anything in between, there are a number of ways that spinal adjustments can help your overall health. Taking care of your spine means taking care of your entire nervous system. When you take care of your nervous system, your entire body can benefit. This is why there are so many great benefits of chiropractic care that the average person doesn’t even know about. Here are some of the best benefits of chiropractic care that could help improve your life.
2. Improve Posture Over time, regular chiropractic adjustments can help align tilting and curves in your spine and help you improve your posture. This can be particularly beneficial when it comes to the curve in your neck. Many people develop neck issues younger than ever, due to their constant position sitting in front of a computer screen or hunched over a phone. With regularly chiropractic care you can improve this posture and stand taller and stronger. 3. Improve Your Mood When you get adjusted, you are balancing your body’s entire system. This includes your body’s chemistry. This means that those who are suffering from certain chemical imbalances often benefit from chiropractic care. Many people dealing with depression can see an improvement in their mood with regular chiropractic care. Many individuals with ADHD have also seen great benefits with regular adjustments. 4. Improve Your Immune System When you get adjusted, your chiropractor is removing subluxations that are preventing your nervous system from working properly. Your nervous system is in charge of sending and receiving information, including sending information to and from your immune system. Keeping your nervous system working properly keeps your immune system working properly, meaning your immune system will start working better and you will start recovering from illnesses faster. 5. A Greater Activity Level The more active and mobile you are, the easier time your body is going to have fighting off any germs that find their way into your body. With less pain and a better sense of well-being, which are two direct results of chiropractic care, the more active you can be. Exercise, general activity, and taking care of yourself is easier, more enjoyable, and a routine that you can keep up with all season long. Benefits of routine chiropractic care may include any of the following:
Thanks Mike Rhinesmith from DaVinci Massage for providing free massages today for the patients and public. If anyone is interested in having him come again to get their free 15 minute massage just let us know! Mike can be reached at 715-379-1922 or [email protected].
Elliott Hulse shows everyone how to balance your neck musculature to decrease neck pain and forward head carriage.Do you work at a desk all day, play video games, text on a cell phone or drive long hours? Do you notice your head sitting unnaturally forward compared to your shoulders? You might experience upper back pain and maybe even a bump at the base of your neck. This all could be due to a loss of cervical curve and an imbalance in the musculature of the neck. Treating the curvature in the neck is simple: contact your local chiropractor. Strengthening the muscles in the neck is also easy: see the video below to find out how. |
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Thomas R. Pellatt, DCChiropractor and Owner of ChiroElite Chiropractic + Rehab in Altoona, WI |