Dr Davis' Back & Wrist Pain Blog

Headache to start the New Year?

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

I suffered for many years with migraine headaches, so I know firsthand how bad they can get. In fact, headaches are the #1 reason (musculoskeletal) for visits to the doctor.

If you are prone to headaches, you probably already know that they are usually worse during times of stress...like coming back from vacation to a pile of work...or problems at home, with finances...or with the kids.

I found out the hard way that conventional medicine does not have very good answers for headaches. Painkillers, muscle relaxers, and rest...that's pretty much it.

Of course now I know different. I know from my experience as a chiropractic patient with headaches...and my 17 years as a chiropractor in downtown San Francisco...that most headaches are caused by problems with the cervical spine (neck).

Yes...pinched nerves and muscle tension in the neck (in my opinion and backed by research) is a primary cause of tension and migraine headaches...and chiropractic can help...BIG TIME. 

It can almost seem like a miracle for someone that has been suffering for years and years with migraine or tension headaches to have them melt away...sometimes overnight...but it happens...day in and day out, around the world in chiropractic offices.

So do yourself a favor if you are suffering with headaches...visit a chiropractor.

For a complimentary headache consultation at Executive Express Chiropractic  at the SF Embarcadero Center...call 415-392-2225, or request an appointment online.

Degenerative Disc Disease: Is it a normal part of aging?

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the spine is very common. In fact...some experts say it's a normal part of the aging process.

My opinion is this...disc degeneration occurs because of physical, chemical, and mental stresses (lifestyle choices) that the body is unable to adapt to...it's an adaptation...a response...just like any other degenerative condition.

When we put abnormal stresses on the spine from say years of poor posture, stress, lack of exercise, and a bad diet, or drugs and alcohol...it degenerates...and so does everything else in the body.

Sure, it's possible to be in perfect health, have a normal bodyweight, a great diet, exercise frequently, and have good posture...and still have disc degeneration. It's not only possible...but it's fairly common...WHY?

Well,  discs wear abnormally when the spine is out of alignment, just like a tire wears abnormally when the front end of you car is out of alignment. This is why it's SO important to make sure your spine is in it's proper position (hint: Chiropractic). This alone can cause DDD.

And even if you are a picture of health...you may have had an incident in your life (ever fall when you were a kid?) that caused a spinal bone to misalign, leading to abnormal wear and tear on a spinal disc...setting the stage for a serious spinal problem down the road...and you didn't even know it.

Poor lifestyle choices and an unhealthy internal context would just make the problem worse...kind of like throwing gasoline on a fire. Everything matters...what you eat...what you think...how you setup your workstation...the pillow you use...your exercise routine...your spinal hygiene...etc.

Sure, degenerative disc disease is common...but so are poor lifestyle choices. There is a direct correlation (in my opinion).

BOTTOM LINE: A healthy lifestyle and proper spinal alignment=A healthy spine.

For a complimentary consultation at Executive Express Chiropractic in downtown San Francisco...call 415-392-2225.

Holiday Stress and Back Pain? Consider Exercise & Chiropractic

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

These aren't exactly the best of times...as far as finances go and the state of our economy. The San Francisco Financial District is really feeling it. Many of my fellow merchants at the SF Embarcadero Center, tell me sales are off 50% or more...OUCH.

So, here come the holidays...already a stressful time of year for many. This stress can build up inside your body and manifest as back pain...or neck pain...or headaches...making things even worse. 

So...what can you do to prevent this from happening?

Well...#1 on your list should be exercise. Exercise helps rid your body of stress. And, it's easy to do. You can take a walk, run, ride a bike, go to the gym...or workout in your garage. Nothing beats exercise during times of stress.

If you are too sore to exercise, you can visit your chiropractor. It's probably a good idea to do this anyway...the last thing you want is to be in pain during the holidays. Chiropractic and exercise are a good one-two punch.

The chiropractic adjustments help to re-align the spine and remove pressure from the nervous system.

The exercise helps to strengthen and tone the muscles.

Both are stress relievers and do not take a whole lot of time or money to implement.

And stress related muscle tension builds up silently...so don't wait until you get symptoms...exercise now...and get a chiropractic adjustment...

Because you can't afford to be in pain!

For a complimentary consultation at Executive Express Chiropractic in downtown San Francisco please call 415-392-2225.

Degenerative Disc Disease Has A Cause

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)has a cause...just like any other degenerative disease. However, there are still a lot of doctors out there that consider disc degeneration a normal part of the aging process. Sure, there are lots of people with DDD, and it is common...but we don't need to re-define what should be considered normal...because there are ways to slow it down.

I have been practicing chiropractic in downtown San Francisco for almost 17 years. During this time I have seen thousand and thousands of spinal x-rays and MRI films. Yes, DDD is common...but it's a lot less common...and less severe in patients with healthy lifestyles and proper spinal alignment.

Yes spinal alignment (and posture) matter. When the spine is in alignment, the spinal discs wear in a more normal fashion....just like the tires wear normally when the front end of your car is in alignment.

The spine is composed of 24 movable segments called vertebrae. When a vertebrae moves out of position we call it a Subluxation...which is what chiropractors treat. Regular chiropractic care can help preserve the spinal discs and reduce the odds of disc disease and spinal degeneration.

The other cause if degenerative disc disease (DDD), just like any other degenerative disease is poor lifestyle habits...things like poor diet, smoking and alcohol, lack of exercise, mental stress, not enough sleep, bad mattresses, and on and on.

The spine and spinal discs are made up of living tissue just like the rest of the body...these cells reflect the quality of their context. If the context is not healthy, neither are the cells.

At Executive Express Chiropractic we incorporate plant based nutrition and lifestyle recommendations into our disc regeneration protocols with spinal decompression and chiropractic. As far as nutrition goes, www.drmcdougall.com is the best resource I know of.

And when it comes to chiropractic care and herniated disc treatment in the San Francisco Financial District...we are the industry leader. Come find out  for yourself why thousands of patients have trusted their spinal health with us.

For a complimentary consultation to find out if you are a candidate for care at Executive Express Chiropractic...please call 415-392-2225. We are located at the SF Embarcadero Center.

Things Will Get Better If You Focus On The Right Things: The Things You Can Control

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

                              Sure these are tough times...but it's easy to use them as excuse not to take action. If you are suffering with chronic back pain or chronic neck pain...the last thing you need is the added stress of worrying about something you have no control over...the economy.

In fact, I remember doing research on the relationship between stress and cancer...and there was a famous study that was done with mice on a spin wheel. The mice that had control over the spin wheel released hormones that were anabolic (pro growth) and healthy. The mice that were unable to control the spin wheel produced hormones that were catabolic (destructive to tissue) and very unhealthy...precursors to cancer.

Putting yourself into a situation (mentally) that you have no control over can cause serious harm...so why do it?

Put your mental attention and focus on the things you do have control over, such as what you eat, how often you exercise, what you read, how you prepare for your work, how you take care of your spine, what you put into your body, etc.

Not only does the mere act of doing this produce healthy chemicals...the actual lifestyle knobs you are adjusting produce healthy outcomes in and of themselves.

If you put your attention on making yourself more valuable to your employer you will make more money. If you just complain that you want to make more money, you will keep getting more of the same. It's just how it works. And because you have control over the process and effort you are making, you make healthy chemicals.

This is why complainers and people with negative attitudes always seem to be sick...it's a negative feedback loop. It's also why people with a really poor diet are often overweight and suffer chronic illnesses...it catches up to you.

So focus on the right things...the things you have control over...and let everything else happen as it will.

Dr. Eben Davis is clinic director at Executive Express Chiropracticin downtown San Francisco. He can be reached at drdavis@executiveexpresschiro.com.

Chronic Back Pain Getting In Your Head? Break The Cycle

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

When you have chronic back pain that you have to deal with day in and day out...it can take it's toll on you. You are in a constant state of stress. When you are under stress your body makes cortisol. Too much cortisol can interfere with your immune response and contribute to chronic inflammation...it's a vicious cycle.

Trying to bust-up this pain cycle can be very challenging...especially if you throw prescription drugs into the mix. 

So what can be done to break the chronic back pain cycle? 

Well, the approach we use at my San Francisco Chronic Back Pain Center...is to adjust all the variables that can be adjusted. I call these adjustable variables "knobs"...and they are adjustable by YOU.

For instance...we have a knob for what we eat, what we read, how much rest we get, what kind of pillow we use, if we drink or smoke, how much stress we expose ourselves to...who we hang out with, how much water we drink, if we take prescription drugs or not, if we exercise, how much we work, what kind of chair we use, how our work station is setup, if we have positive attitude or not, etc.

We also have a knob for what kind of treatments we choose for chronic back pain. Do we choose prescription drugs and medications because our insurance will pay for it? Or do we seek natural remedies like chiropractic, acupuncture, or nonsurgical spinal decompression?

Nobody decides how your knobs get adjusted but you. It's my belief that health is a spontaneous occurrence when the conditions are right (the knobs all well adjusted) . When you are eating right (plant foods), when your spine is aligned so the nervous system can communicate with all the body parts, when you are exercising on a regular basis and getting plenty of rest, etc...you give your body a really good chance to heal itself.

When something is not working for your back pain, try something else. Give the treatment a chance...go through the treatment protocol...but try other things if it does not help...things that are safe and do not involve drugs or surgery. Adjust the knobs...exercise, change your diet...get clean...relax...and let your back heal. Surgery should be a last resort.

You can't expect your back pain to heal if you keep doing the same things that are not working over and over. Make your own decisions...try the DRX9000 if nothing else is working...why not?  Because it's not covered by your insurance?  Please...nothing is more important than your health, and it deserves your full attention and resources.

The longer chronic pain persists...the harder it is to break it up. Sure, your insurance company will pay all your medical bills for pain pills and cortisone...but if it's not working STOP.  Breaking the pain cycle takes attention, focus, and desire...nothing worthwhile is easy.

I have had patients that were ready to jump of the Golden Gate Bridge get their life back by taking control of their health...adjusting their own knobs...making their own decisions. Are you ready?

If so, you may need to take massive action by adjusting a bunch of knobs all at once in the direction of health. It's easy to let chronic back pain get in your head, and make you think and feel like you can't do anything about it or nobody knows how to help you. So, take it into your own hands and see what happens.

For a complimentary chronic back pain consultation with Dr. Eben Davis of Executive Express Chiropracticat the San Francisco Embarcadero Center...please call 415-393-2225.

Back Pain, Stress, and The Stock Market

San Francisco Financial District Chiropractor Comments:

The financial markets have been brutal...the DOW was down 777 points today. This is one of the most stressful times in the history of the markets...and this kind of stress can be very detrimental to your health.

I am riding home on the ferry right now, and a lot of people are noticeably shaken. Life savings are being lost overnight...who knows where this will end. I don't think it's going to be any time soon...that's for sure.

For lots of us...the feeling of not having any control over the outcome is very frustrating...I know for me it is. But one thing I do have control over is how I respond to it and how I take care of my health. Nobody can mess with that. Even if I were to lose everything I would still have my health and my family...well, I don't know how happy my wife would be...

Anyway...if you are under a lot of stress...the last thing you need is an unhealthy internal environment from a poor diet, lack of exercise, or drugs and alcohol...or tobacco.

Chiropractic can help in times of stress. The stress response causes muscle tension which can pull the bones in your spine out of alignment. We call this a subluxation...it's what chiropractors treat. Subluxations untreated can lead to headaches, neck pain, low back pain and more.

So do the smart thing...get adjusted by a chiropractor when you feel stressed out...and take care of your body...because these tough times will pass...and you want to be there...still standing, ready to take advantage of new opportunities.

For a complimentary consultation at Executive Express Chiropractic at the SF Embarcadero Center...call 415-392-2225.   

Stress and Back Pain

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

The stock market dropped over 500 points today. Lehman Brothers goes bankrupt. AIG on the brink of failure...OUCH. Since we are located in the San Francisco Financial District, many of our chiropractic patients are involved in the markets.

Days like today are tough...especially if your livelihood is on the line. The stress can go right into your muscles and cause them to tighten-up like guitar strings. Many of these muscles attach to your spine.

Stress induced muscle tension can actually pull the spine out of alignment...what we call a subluxation.  Subluxations can pinch nerves, causing headaches, neck pain, back pain...and more...it's a chain reaction.

On days like today, it's probably a good idea to hit the gym, get a massage, take a run, or have a chiropractic adjustment. You don't really have much control over the stock market...but you do have control over how your body responds to stress.

If the stock market was always up there would never be any opportunity.

Take care of yourself, and live to fight another day.

To find out if you are a candidate for care at Executive Express Chiropractic at the SF Embarcadero Center...simply call 415-392-2225, press ext#1.

SF Embarcadero Center Chiropractor Comments on Skin Cancer Study

Study results show those with Benign Skin Cancers may be more prone to Serious Forms of Cancer

I just read an alarming article on the very informative www.revolutionhealth.com home page. The article is entitled Benign skin cancers may be "warning sign" study.

The study goes on to explain how people who have what is considered normally non-fatal skin cancer, have DOUBLE the risk of developing fatal skin cancer. So...non-melanoma skin cancer appears to be a major risk factor for other forms of cancer.

The study did not really get into why...other than to say...there appears to be a problem repairing sun damaged DNA...even more of a reason to be careful in the sun.

Here's what I think: Lifestyle habits play a big part also. Things like stress, lack of exercise, and poor diet...and spinal subluxations. Living a clean, healthy life...and eating a plant based diet, and regular chiropractic care, increases your resistance to sickness and disease...including cancer.

Dr. Eben Davis can be reached at Executive Express Chiropractic at the SF downtown Embarcadero Center...415-392-2225, ext #1.   

Study Shows Stress Makes Allergies Worse!

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

I just read an interesting article about a study that was done to determine if there was a relationship between stress and severe allergic reactions in patients with seasonal allergies. YES there is. The answer did not surprise me. I think stress compounds just about any problem...and is the actual cause of more health conditions than we think.

Anyway, check out the article...it's called Stress Makes Allergies Worse and last longer. I came across it at www.revolutionhealth.com, which is a pretty good source of information for research on health and wellness.

Regular chiropractic care can help reduce stress levels and help with allergies. If you would like a complimentary consultation at Executive Express Chiropractic at the Embarcadero Center in downtown SF...simply call 415-392-2225, press ext #1 (24 hr live operator).