Dr Davis' Back & Wrist Pain Blog

Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease

San Francisco Financial District Chiropractor Comments:

Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease is not really a disease...but rather a term used to describe abnormal wear and tear of a spinal disc in the lumbar spine. At lease that's the way I see it.

Some experts use the term degenerative disc disease (DDD) to describe the normal aging process of the spinal discs. Sure...disc disease is common, but no need to re-define normal.

I consider normal to be the condition the spine would be in under optimal circumstances. When the spine is in it's normal alignment, the forces of gravity and motion do not create abnormal stresses on the joints...this only happens when the spine is out of alignment. Sure, most people are out of alignment...but it's not normal.

Anyway...the lumbar discs that are most susceptible to degenerative disc disease are L4-5 and L5-S1...the last two inter-vertebral discs in the spine.

Lumbar disc degeneration can lead to disk herniation and pinched nerves. When this occurs, the most common symptom is Sciatica, which means pain in the leg...and it can be excruciating.

There are many forms of treatment for lumbar disc degeneration. Everything from doing nothing...to lumbar fusion...it just depends what stage of degeneration you are at, and who your spine doctor is.

Dr. Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD, has written a very good article on the excellent www.spine-health.com website. Check it out...it's entitled Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease. Also...click on the interactive video on Degenerative Disc Disease on the right hand side of the page...it's very informative.

So...what about treatment for lumbar disc disease?

   

 

Study Shows Having A Big Belly May Be Deadly

San Francisco Vegan Chiropractor Comments:

I came across an "eye opening" article on the excellent www.revolutionhealth.com website, entitled:

Death Risk Climbs As Waist Circumference Grows

Here is an excerpt from the article:

Among men, the researchers found, those in the top fifth based on their waist circumference were about 22 percent more likely to die during the study period than men with trimmer waistlines, independent of BMI. A similar risk was seen among women.

In addition, people considered to be abdominally obese based on World Health Organization guidelines -- a waistline of 35 inches or more for women, or 40 inches or more for men -- were 20 percent more likely to die over the nine-year study than their peers with slimmer waists.

My comments: I don't think we really need to know exactly why this is true. After all....this is where your digestive system is located. If it's all clogged up with fat and cholesterol, the body slows down, accumulates poisons, and becomes fertile soil for disease.

We need to focus on how to help Americans prevent and reverse obesity with diet, exercise, and education...and it should start young...in school. Diseases of excess are mostly preventable...and reversible by changing lifestyle patterns. Plant based nutrition is a potential solution here.

One of the best sources of information on vegan nutrition and lifestyle is www.drmcdougall.com. Dr McDougall has one week and 21 day live in programs also. San Francisco Bay Area residents can check out www.sfvs.org.   Another great resource is Dr. Dean Ornish, MD...he is also from the SF Bay Area.

Chiropractic Care Just Makes Sense

San Francisco Financial District Chiropractor Comments:

So...you have neck pain. low back pain, wrist pain, a bad knee (that hurts), and headaches, stress...where do you go?

Hmmm...let me think...the emergency room?  Your Medical Doctor? An Orthopedic Doctor?  A Physical Therapist? An Acupuncturist? Heck...maybe you see all of them. Why not just take a couple of months off of work and really try to get to the bottom of this...what's going on here???

Or...maybe you just pick up the phone or drop by your chiropractors office...where they can treat all these problems at once...it's business as usual.

At least that's how it is at Executive Express Chiropractic at the Embarcadero Center in downtown San Francisco. It's rare that a patient only has one or two symptoms. Usually it's a laundry list, because the nerves that exit the spine control all bodily functions. So when the spine is out of alignment, it can cause problems all over. And most patients are all out of alignment.

The most common problems we treat at our Financial District Chiropractic Center are: low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, arm and hand pain, headaches, rib pain, upper back pain, and knee and foot pain. And sometimes patients come in with everything...and we treat it all at once...in less than 30 minutes.   

Got Wrist Pain? Live In San Francisco? Good Luck

San Francisco Chiropractor and Wrist Pain Doctor Comments:

Having trouble finding a doctor to help you with wrist pain? Well...your not alone. There's just not a whole lot of choices...even in downtown San Francisco.

And, if you do find a doctor that claims they can help you with your arm and hand pain...how are they going to do it...with wrist splints and Motrin? With surgery? With physical therapy?

Hey...sometimes you need all of these things...but sometimes you don't.

Will your hand and wrist pain doctor only examine your painful wrist...or will she check your entire upper extremity, including your shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers...on both sides?

What about your neck? After all...the nerves that innervate and control your hands originate from the cervical spine. In fact, it's quite possible to have severe pain in your hand/s, and the main problem is a herniated disc in the neck...and get this...you have NO neck pain.

I have been treating arm and hand pain at my Carpal Tunnel Injury Centers in the San Francisco Financial District for over 16 years. First is was Front Street Chiropractic...and now it's Executive Express Chiropractic at the Embarcadero Center.

For about 12 years in a row, I gave at least 3-4 seminars per month at my carpal tunnel center...and most of the time we had a waiting list. In addition, I helped companies such as Pacific Gas & Electric, The San Francisco Unified School District, The Dept. Of Transportation, The United Postal Workers Union, Bain & Company, Boston Consulting, and  many, many more...educate their employees on safety in the workplace, ergonomics...and repetitive stress injury prevention.

And during this journey I have successfully treated hundreds and hundreds of Bay Area patients with wrist and hand pain.

 

Is Milk Good Food?

San Francisco Vegan Chiropractor Comments:

I stopped drinking milk around 18 years ago...about the time I became interested in plant based nutrition. I had an instructor in chiropractic school that introduced me to Dr. John McDougall, MD...who is one of the worlds most respected experts on vegan nutrition.

I latched onto the vegan lifestyle...it just made sense. Along with adopting a plant based diet was the decision to do away with dairy products...including milk. After all...cows don't even drink their own milk after they are weaned. We are the only species on earth that drinks another species milk. Cows milk is for baby cows.

For more info, check out this excellent article by Dr. John McDougall, entitled:

Marketing Milk and Disease

Tell me what you think.

Dr. Eben Davis Tells It Like It Is

San Francisco's Executive Express Chiropractic Doctor Comments:

  People want to hear good things about their bad habits...it's human nature. We also latch on to things that have the potential to give us big returns...with minimum effort.

This is why fad diet books sell so well...you can eat pizza and cheeseburgers and lose weight...with no exercise. Or take these pills and the fat will melt off like butter

Or get rich quick schemes. You can attend this weekend seminar and learn how to make millions of dollars in your spare time in your underwear.

Well...I don't buy it. Anything worth having requires work, discipline...and maximum effort. Sure you can find ways to manage your time efficiently and manage your costs. But the bottom line is this ...the more you do...the more you gain.

Especially when it comes to your health. You can't neglect your health for your entire life, then expect to regain it in a few days or weeks...it takes time.

When I make treatment recommendations at my San Francisco Chiropractic Center...I base them on what I think the patient needs...not what I think they want to hear... that would be a cop out. Sure, some patients can't handle it and go find a chiropractor that will tell them what they want to hear...they are easy to find...and that's fine with me.

I would rather focus on helping the patients that want help...and are ready for major changes in their health...and are willing to do what it takes to get there.  There's nothing more important than your health...because without it, life cannot be expressed to it's fullest potential...and that's what it's all about.

If you would like to find out if you are a candidate for care at Executive Express Chiropractic at the Embarcadero Center in downtown San Francisco...call 415-392-2225, press #1. Ask for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Eben Davis.   

 

Rib Pain: Can Chiropractic Help?

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

Most people think chiropractors only work on the spine. But there are lots of other conditions a good chiropractor can help you with also...even rib pain. I see 5-6 new cases of rib pain per month at my San Francisco Chiropractic Center.

So...How do know if you have a rib that is out of alignment?

Well...usually you have some pain...either in the mid-back or the upper back. Or in the front of your chest on your sternum. And...it hurts when you take a deep breath. If the rib pain is really bad...it can hurt with normal breathing. In addition, you can have pain that radiates all the way from the back...around the rib...to the sternum.

You actually have nerves that run along the length of each rib called the intercostal nerve. When these nerves become irritated from a subluxated rib...it can cause all of the symptoms listed above. It can also be very difficult to sleep, as it is hard to sleep on your side.

The best thing to do if you think you have a rib out is to see a chiropractor right away and put some ice on the painful area to reduce inflammation. Sometimes the rib pain goes away quick...sometimes it takes a while, so hang in there.

If you would like to find out if you are a candidate for care at our Embarcadero Center Chiropractic Clinic...simply call 415-392-2225, and press #1. Ask for a complimentary consultation.

The International Year Of The Potato

San Francisco Vegan Chiropractor Comments:

When I tell patients and friends that potatoes are one of natures perfect foods...they think I am nuts. There are many very smart people that think they understand nutrition that wont eat them. In fact, there is a myth that potatoes make you fat. If potatoes make you fat...I should be enormous...because I eat them almost every day. It's HOGWASH.

What makes people fat is all the garbage they put on the potato. The cheese...the sour cream...the bacon...the butter...all that stuff...not the potato.

Potatoes are a complete food. There are cultures that consume only potatoes, or mostly potatoes. They fill you up and satisfy your hunger. Potatoes are loaded with fiber and nutrition, and almost no fat...and just the right amount of protein.

Anyway...2008 is The International Year Of The Potato, and Dr. John McDougall, MD has written a great article for us...check it out...and go buy some potatoes. Have a potato party to celebrate :)   

Global Warming and Nuclear Energy

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

I know this article is not related to back or wrist pain...or nutrition, but lately I have been wondering how this whole global warming story is going to play out. After all, everything is connected.

So, I decided to do a little reading on alternative sources of energy today. I studied hydrogen, solar, wind, and nuclear power sources. All of these sources emit zero greenhouse gases.

I was surprised to learn that France gets 76% of it's electricity from nuclear power. I guess they decided to do this back in the early 1970's after the Middle East "Oil Shock". They have 56 nuclear power plants...all  American Pressurized Water Reactors designed by Westinghouse.

This reminded me of Southwest Airlines...who currently operates 527 Boeing 737 Jets (only). The logic behind this is you can have mechanics and engineers that get really good at maintaining maximum performance from these aircraft (and nuclear power plants). When something new is learned it can quickly be integrated into the system. And...parts are always available, as well as manpower. 

Get this...a family of four, over a 20 year period...generates nuclear waste that can be stored in a vile the size of a cigarette lighter.

One pound of uranium is the power equivalent of a million gallons of gasoline. Man..this stuff is efficient.

Anyway...I know there are problems with where to store the waste and all that...but nuclear power just might be one of the answers to our global warming problem.

Check out the article I read entitled Why The French Like Nuclear Energy. 

Let me know what you think.   

Spinal Decompression Special Report

San Francisco Spinal Decompression Doctor Comments:

There is a lot of BUZZ out there about the Special Report on the DRX9000, entitled:

Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression To Treat Chronic Low Back Pain

The Special Report summarizes the findings from a pilot study on the effects of lumbar decompression therapy with the DRX9000.

The study was done in conjunction with the Mayo Clinic, John Hopkins University, and Duke University...and was supported through a grant by Axiom Worldwide...manufacturer of the DRX9000 and DRX9000c, lumbar and cervical decompression systems.

I recommend that anyone interested in nonsurgical spinal decompression treatment, read this report.

We have been using the DRX9000 and the DRX9000c at my SF Financial District Spinal Decompression Center for over 3 years now...and the results have been outstanding. But...up until now there has not been any research to substantiate the claims made by decompression doctors...and decompression patients. So this is really great to see.

You can get a copy of the DRX9000 Special Report right here.

If you would like to find out if you are a candidate for care at our San Francisco Spinal Decompression Clinic at the Embarcadero Center...simply call 415-392-2225, press #1 (24 hr live operator). Ask for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Eben Davis.

Read some Bay Area DRX9000 Success Stories