Dr Davis' Back & Wrist Pain Blog

Why Executive Express Chiropractic?

We have been providing chiropractic in the San Francisco Financial District for over 20 years now. A little over 3 years ago we opened Executive Express Chiropractic at the Embarcadero Center.

We told the architect to build us a space using eco-friendly materials because we did not want to expose our doctors, staff, and patients to the many toxins that are inherent in most carpets, paints, and building materials. We also decided that we would be paperless and use electronic medical records, further reducing our carbon foot print to help protect the environment (you can check-out our design palate here).

Now here's the tricky part...we told our architect that we wanted our space to be designed to minimize wait time (no-waiting if possible), but still be able to handle lots of patients during busy times. We also knew we would need more staff than a normal clinic to be able to pull this off...so the space would need work areas for extra staff.

Well...Mission Accomplished. Executive Express Chiropractic in San Francisco has become the go-to "Corporate Health Pit Stop" for Embarcadero Center Tenants, local urbanites, travelers, and corporate folks.

By eliminating the wait time, we make it easy for patients to be seen right away, get treatment, and get back to their business, without getting trapped in the waiting room or in a treatment room praying a doctor shows up. Just about all the time spent at our chiropractic clinic is for treatment.

What this means is that patients with chronic conditions (including neck pain, shoulder pain, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, TMJ, sciatica) can just stop by and get treatment at their convenience and know they will not have to wait. And that's the other thing...You Don't Need An Appointment to be seen. That's right...you can just walk in any time during open hours and be seen right away (M-F 9-6, Sat 9-1). Awesome Huh?

Our previous 17 years serving San Francisco taught us that our patients just don't have time to wait. Many would rather live in pain than sit in a waiting room. In the corporate jungle...time is money. And...you never really know when you may need a chiropractic adjustment...and when you do, who wants to schedule half a day for it and deal with the appointment making process? Just come on down!

Anyway, these are just some of the many things that make Executive Express Chiropractic unique, and we haven't even talked about our doctors and staff yet...which is the most important part.

Our team has made a commitment to be the Best Chiropractors in San Francisco. Our doctors are certified in advanced treatment methods to help you get better. We offer DRX9000 Spinal Decompression, LiteCure Deep Tissue Laser Therapy, Graston Technique, Active Release Technique (ART), Kinesio Tape, and much much more. But most importantly...you will always be welcome at our little oasis with a warm smile and a healing hand...appointment or not.

If you wish to be seen by one of our San Francisco Chiropractors, simply come on down during open hours (M-F 9-6, Sat 9-1). Or, you can schedule an appointment using our secure online intake form. And one more thing...Prepare to be impressed!

Serving zip code 94111 and surrounding downtown areas since 1992

Most Insurance Accepted. Validated Parking

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One Embarcadero Center, Lobby Level, San Francisco

Executive Express Chiropractic on facebook

 

DRX9000 Spinal Decompression Review: San Francisco

Our "Patient of the Week" is Elizabeth Hartmann. Elizabeth presented to our chiropractic and spinal decompression center in San Francisco with severe low back pain from a lumbar herniated disc. Nothing seemed to help and she was unable to exercise and was in constant pain. We were able to successfully treat the herniated disc with the DRX9000 spinal decompression system and all is well. Check-out Elizabeth's video review of her experience at our clinic on the DRX9000.

 

DRX9000 Review

To schedule an appointment to see if you are a candidate for DRX9000 spinal decompression therapy in San Francisco, call 415-392-2225. Mention this blog post for a complimentary consultation.

How Many Adjustments Do I Need For Neck Pain?

We have been providing neck pain treatment in San Francisco for over 20 years now. During this time we have learned much. The most important thing we have discovered is that everybody is different and needs to be treated as such.

For instance...you may have two 35 year old men present with neck pain from sitting at a desk too long...one of them gets better after a few chiropractic adjustments, the other takes 10. That's just the way it is.

Sure, we make treatment recommendations based on a patients age, exam findings, and cases we have treated that are similar, but still, as we get into the treatment each case responds differently.

Chronic neck pain...which is neck pain that has persisted for 90 or more days complicates things further. Now we are talking about pain that is deep rooted. The nervous system has been re-wired because of the chronic neck pain and other parts of the spine and body are compensating.

Typically, chronic neck pain can take several weeks to many months to fully resolve. Chronic neck pain is usually the result of repetitive stress or injuries that have not healed properly, such as a sports injury or whiplash. Headaches can develope as well as shoulder and arm pain...even low back pain as the body adapts to the neck pain and abnormal motion and function.

So...how many adjustments you need for your neck pain will vary on all the above.

The good news is that chiropractors deal with all these scenarios on a daily basis...it's what we do. And after 20 years we have seen a lot...enough to know what to do and what not do do. When it comes to neck pain it's best to get chiropractic adjustments right when you feel the pain. The last thing you want is for your neck pain to become chronic.

My recommendation...see a chiropractor ASAP after any kind of injury to the neck, such as a whiplash from an auto accident...or a sports injury...or if you sleep funny or work too hard. And get checked for misalignment's to your neck periodically...say once per month.

If you take care of your spine it will take care of you...and nobody needs a pain in the neck!

Dr. Eben Davis is clinic director of Executive Express Chiropractic in downtown San Francisco.

For an appointment with one of our San Francisco Neck Pain Doctors call 415-392-2225

Serving zip code 94111 and surrounding areas since 1992.

 

San Francisco Chiropractor Review: Neck and Shoulder Pain

The Executive Express Chiropractic "Patient of the Week" is Alma Co. Alma presented to our clinic with chronic neck and shoulder pain, which was making life difficult at work and at home. Our San Francisco Chiropractors have treated Alma with chiropractic adjustments to the neck and shoulders, massage therapy, traction, stretches, and lots of TLC. Alma reports things are returning to normal...thankfully!

Chiropractor Review Neck and Shoulder Pain San Francisco

To schedule a complimentary consultation for neck and shoulder pain treatment in San Francisco, call 415-392-2225.

We serve zip code 94111 and surrounding areas

Whiplash: What Causes The Neck and Back Pain?

We have been providing whiplash treatment in San Francisco for over 20 years now.

Whiplash commonly occurs as a result of a motor vehicle collision when, typically, there is hyper-motion in one direction followed by motion in the opposite direction in a “crack the whip” like manner.

The direction of the strike typically dictates the direction of movement of the head so in a rear end collision, the strike is from behind, whipping the head forwards and then backwards. In a side-on collision, a side-to-side motion results. Pain can occur anywhere around the neck, upper back, arms, chest and/or head, depending on the tissues that are injured. Soft tissues including the muscles, their tendon insertions, ligaments that securely tie bone to bone, the shock absorbing disk in the front of the vertebral column, and/or the nerves that pass through the holes of the spine that innervate the arms and hands can be affected by these injuries.

There can be jaw pain, difficulty in swallowing, balance / dizziness problems, fatigue, as well as concussion or mild traumatic brain injury which can lead to poor concentration, sleep interference, and memory loss. Low back pain and/or trunk pain can occur from the seat-belt and/or airbag deployment.

The injuries associated with whiplash can lead to disruption of normal daily activity, depression and anxiety. There can be immediate symptoms or a delay in the onset and pain with its associated disability can last for days, weeks, months, or longer, depending on each case.

Last month, we discussed the grades 1, 2, and 3 or, mild, moderate, severe sprains (ligament injuries) and strains (muscle injuries). Previously, we discussed methods of prognosing the lasting effects of the injury in a reported classification system called “whiplash associated disorders” or WAD I, II, III. & IV. Here, the differentiating feature is pain with no objective exam findings (WAD I), the presence of objective loss of motion but negative neurological findings (WADII) or, the presence of measurable neurological dysfunction (WAD III). Studies have shown that the likelihood of prolonged injury increases with each WAD grade.

A side-to-side or front-to-back mechanism of injury can result in damage to the ligaments in the back of the spine called the supra- and inter- spinous ligaments, the disk and/or nerve root that exits the spine allowing the arm and hand to sense and be strong (when it’s not pinched or damaged like in a WAD III) and/or, the bone which can compress when the force is hard enough (WAD IV).  A concussion can occur when the brain bounces against the inside of the skull.

We realize you have a choice in where you choose your health-care services.  If you, a friend or family member requires care for whiplash, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

To schedule an appointment with a whiplash specialist in San Francisco call 415-392-2225

Serving Zip Code 94111 and surrounding areas since 1992

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Surgery or Chiropractic?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a very common problem. The American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) reported that in 2007, there were 330,000 carpal tunnel release surgeries performed. The main reason to have the surgery is to “open up” the tunnel. That is, the transverse carpal ligament or “floor” of the tunnel is released so the contents inside the tunnel are able to move more freely, reducing the pressure inside the tunnel. Essentially, this is the goal of any treatment (surgical or not): improving the depth of the tunnel, thus reducing the pressure from inside the tunnel allowing the tendons to slide better as the muscles on the palm-side forearm contract to move the nine tendons that pass through the tunnel and attach to the fingers and thumb. However, there are non-surgical methods (such as chiropractic) for reducing the pressure within the tunnel that should be first attempted as surgery is always reported to be the “…last resort” for good reason. There can be surgical complications, the effects may be only partial, and there is an average of 30% grip strength loss following the transverse ligament surgical release. Also, a primary crush site of the nerve roots in the neck should be rules out before surgery. So, the question is, how can chiropractic approaches reduce the pressure inside the carpal tunnel without somehow changing the length of the transverse carpal ligament?

            The roof of the tunnel is made up of two rows of four bones for a total of eight carpal bones that arch over the nine tendons that pass through the tunnel. The height of the tunnel is dependant on the position of those eight bones, especially three of the eight bones that make up the proximal row at the top of the cave. These are technically the lunate (located at the peak of the roof which tends to drop down lowering the roof of the tunnel), the scaphoid (located on the thumb side of the roof), and the triquetrum (located on the pinky side of the roof). The latter two bones tend to shift up and out and when the middle bone drops down, the tunnel flattens making the space tighter or smaller. This is how chiropractic adjustments of the wrist help. There are specific techniques we use to reposition the lunate and outer two bones that shift up and out. In addition, we can either tape or use an elastic wristband to hold the tunnel “open” after the adjustment.

Note: Not all chiropractors are carpal tunnel experts. Please make sure to do your homework and find out if the chiropractor is proficient in neck, arm, and wrist adjustments.

            The use of a night splint to keep the wrist in a straight or slightly “cocked-up” position is also highly beneficial as the pressure inside the tunnel goes up as much as 6-8x when CTS is present when the wrist bends to the end points of upward or downward bending. Also, we will treat all the possible points of possible compression including the neck, shoulder, elbow, forearm and wrist which ALWAYS gets better results than treating only the carpal tunnel. 

            We realize you have a choice in who you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.  If you, a friend or family member require care for CTS, we would be honored to render our services.

To schedule an appointment with a carpal tunnel doctor in San Francisco...please call 415-392-2225. Mention this blog post for a complimentary consultation.

Related Articles:

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San Francisco Chiropractor Review: Neck and Upper Back Pain

The Executive Express Chiropractic Patient of the Week is Jessica McNamara. Jessica met us through a Living Social promotion and presented with chronic neck and upper back pain. Jessica's neck and back pain were making her work and home life miserable. Our San Francisco Chiropractors have treated Jessica with adjustments, massage, laser, exercises, and TLC. Check-out her video review of our services.

Chiropractor Review San Francisco. Neck and Upper Back Pain

To schedule an appointment with one of our San Francisco Chiropractors for neck and back pain treatment...call 415-392-2225. We serve zip code 94111 and surrounding areas

What Causes Fibromyalgia Signs and Symptoms?

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition that impacts every aspect of life for those who harbor it. The diagnosis is often made on individuals with chronic widespread bodily pain in the absence of any specific condition and when no specific cause such as tissue inflammation or damage can be identified. Hence, the cause of FM remains illusive and confusing, resulting in beliefs that range from it being purely a psychological condition to an entirely physical condition, while others simply do not feel it’s a “real” condition at all. This begs the question: What causes fibromyalgia?

            Thankfully, there is currently enough research published to confidently say that FM is at least partly (possibly mostly) due to a disorder of “central pain processing” (that is, how the brain “feels” pain), where a higher than normal pain response occurs to a normal, not-too-painful stimulus (technically called “hyperalgesia”), as well as a pain response that occurs to a non-painful or, shouldn’t hurt at all, stimulus (technically called “allodynia”). There are several other conditions that include central or brain processing problems that include both genetic as well as environmental factors. Some of these include irritable bowel syndrome, TMJ or jaw dysfunction, chronic low back pain, and others. This central or brain problem may be caused by chemical changes in the brain which have been clearly identified in FM sufferers. Some of these include a deficiency (too little) of serotonin and noradrenergic substances, as well as too much or, an excess amount of glutamate and substance P (chemicals that help transmit movement information from our feet and arms to the brain). In some cases, there are also psychological and behavioral issues that play a role in the cause of FM. Another study reported the cause of FM as being a “neurologic disease.” They found that interactions of environmental stressors (financial, marital, etc.) PLUS “neuroendocrine dysfunction” (that is, hormonal and neurotransmitter issues) in people who are genetically predisposed to be the cause of FM.

            So, it appears the cause of FM is not one thing but rather, the presence of environmental issues like stress AND chemical imbalances in our endocrine (hormone) and nervous (brain) systems that team up to clobber those of us who may be genetically geared towards having FM. This explanation of causation is important as there are both outside/environmental and inside/chemical issues that MUST be addressed in the treatment or management program of FM. This is why a “multidisciplinary approach” or a “team” of health care providers works so well in the management process. Because there are biological, psychological, and social issues that require management, the team may consist of primary care (by a medical doctor who is willing to work in a team approach and “believes” FM is real), counseling, and chiropractic. Chiropractic is an integral, important service to include as the primary complaint of FM is “widespread musculoskeletal pain” and NO OTHER profession focuses more on that system than chiropractic. Patients with FM frequently report that a regimented treatment plan that includes regular chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapies, often different forms of physical therapy modalities such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound, pulsed magnetic field, laser and/or light therapy, as well as nutritional counseling and exercise guidance are HUGE in the management process – ALL of which can be quarterbacked by your chiropractor. We pride ourselves in managing complex problems such as FM and are proud to be part of the team!

            If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services!

To schedule an appointment for treatment for fibromyalgia in San Francisco call 415-392-2225. We serve zip code 94111 in the SF Financial District. We validate parking at the Embarcadero Center. Open Saturdays 9-1pm.

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