Victoria clinic has the answer to Sciatica Pain

Sciatica is a pain that shoots along the sciatic nerve, radiating through the buttocks and down the back of the leg and a Victoria clinic has the answer to Sciatica Pain. Sciatica is caused by different types of pressure on the sciatic nerve in the lower back or buttocks. It can also be the result of damage to the nerve roots that feed into the sciatic nerve.

Victoria clinic has the answer to Sciatica Pain

Photo Credit: chirogeek.com

This may be the result of something as simple as bad posture, muscle strain or spasm, being overweight, or sleeping on a mattress that is too soft. More seriously, it can result from pressure exerted on the sciatic nerve or its nerve roots by a slipped disc in the back.

Pain from sciatica can change: it can be shooting or burning, sharp or dull, non-stop, or intermittent. Pain is usually only felt on one side of the body. Some people complain of intense and acute pain. Others experience a numb and weak feeling in the parts of their leg where it hurts. This may sometimes indicate more serious neurological problems. Sneezing, coughing, straining, bending, or lifting can make it worse.

Your chiropractor will check the spine for areas of tenderness, and test for sensation, coordination,  and muscle strength. Sciatica can be relieved by treating symptoms and any specific cause that exists, such as a slipped disc.  At Diversified Health Clinic,  the Kennedy Spinal Decompression table is the first choice in treating Sciatica pain.  Spinal Decompression provides relief to severe back and neck pain sufferers by gently reducing the pressure within spinal discs.

Moderate exercise will be recommended if pain is minimal, and when acute symptoms have lessened, rehab therapy  will be suggested to help strengthen abdominal and back muscles, which is important to prevent a return of  these symptoms. There are other things you can do in your day to day life to help your recovery; such as  sleeping on a firm mattress on your side or back with knees bent, and never sleep on your stomach.  Also sit in chairs that have firm back support and sit up straight against the back of the chair and adjust the height of chairs so your feet are flat on the floor and the knees are a little higher than the hips.

A Victoria clinic has the answer to Sciatica Pain; please call Dr. Krisjan Gustavson at Diversified Health Clinic for more information on Sciatica Pain.

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Myofascial Pain Syndrome II: chiropractor victoria bc

Myofascial Pain Syndrome II: chiropractor victoria bc

We devised a Recommended Action Plan for Laurie, including regular chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, acupuncture and some good lifestyle changes that Laurie needed to commit to, such as some simple exercises she could perform and a regular plan of walking for at least three times each week. We cautioned Laurie not to expect an instant cure, but instead to look for steady improvement if she followed our recommendations.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome II: chiropractor victoria bc

Photo Credit: vibrationtraining.net

After several weeks, and to her obvious amazement, Laurie said the pain was starting to disappear. It wasn’t totally gone, and she still had some bad days. But she also had some good days too, something she hadn’t seen for years! We slightly increased the time and the distance that Laurie should walk and told her to continue the simple exercises. We also reduced the care as scheduled to twice a week. Laurie agreed to this plan.

Laurie’s situation has improved markedly since then, and has gone to a monthly treatment to maintain her progress.

Laurie’s  personal relationships have greatly improved.  Her daughter is still a teenager, and teenagers can be quite a handful. But now that Laurie can respond to what her daughter needs (not always giving her what she wants, of course!), her relationship with her daughter has improved.

The pain has abated so much that Laurie has been able to return to work part-time, which has been good for her pocketbook and for her self-esteem. Laurie reports that she, her husband, and her daughter are all very grateful for the chiropractic care that she received in our clinic, and it has given her back her life, all because her friend referred her to Diversified Health.

We love helping our patients and their friends and relatives through their tough times and getting them feeling better!  Who do you know that may be living needlessly in pain with Myofascial Pain Syndrome II: chiropractor victoria bc.

Call us  at 250-382-0018 and we will assist you in putting together a custom maintenance plan.

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Myofascial Pain Syndrome | chiropractor victoria bc

Myofascial Pain Syndrome | chiropractor victoria bc   

When we first met her; Laurie came into Diversified Health very upset, fed up and feeling like nobody could help her, and  thinking that we probably couldn’t do anything much for her either. Her doctors had told her to learn to live with the constant pain she’d been experiencing for several years, and were apparently baffled by her condition.

Laurie told us that the pain had taken over her life. She could no longer work, and her marriage was not doing well. Her relationship with her teenage daughter was also very bad. Laurie said she knew adolescent girls were tough to cope with, but she also knew that they needed some attention, and Laurie was unable to interact with her daughter on most days because of the pain. She felt guilty and inadequate because she felt like a failure, both at work and in her family life.

A friend had suggested that the practitioner at Diversified Health would pay actual attention to her symptoms and would help her to attain some level of health and freedom from pain. She was hesitant because she’d never been to a chiropractor, and wasn’t quite sure what the experience would be like.

We took a complete medical history to determine if there were any obvious or subtler areas of trauma. The evidence suggested that Laurie was suffering from myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), a painful problem characterized by “trigger points” of pain, and a limited range of motion in the affected area. It’s also a condition that is exacerbated by stress. Ironically, in her worry and fear over finding a way to pain relief, Laurie was inadvertently worsening the condition.

Laurie could point out where the pain spots of her myofascial pain syndrome were located, and we were also able to readily identify the knobby points of muscle tissue in each place where she said she was hurting so badly. These trigger points don’t show up on imaging, but an experienced chiropractor will be able to find them by touch. Stay tuned for the next article where we discuss the Recommended Action Plan for Laurie in dealing with Myofascial Pain Syndrome | chiropractor victoria bc .

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De-stress Kids with Yoga | vancouver island health

De-stress Kids with Yoga | vancouver island health – Stress is a fact of life. Surprisingly, stress comes in the form of both good and bad. Stress is indeed a disease, causing problems for both the physical body and mental functions. There is however an important distinction: long-term stress (e.g. emotional, drug, and financial) can cause significant damage, but short-term bursts of focused stress (e.g. writing an exam or being in a job interview) can actually help you to function better and be healthier.

Today’s world is tough … not only for us but also for our children. The constant go-go environment refined by busy households, school pressures, video games, malls and competitive sports, are so stress-filled that it is bound to subject our children to the burdens of life at a young age. As parents, it’s easy for us to overlook these influences as stressful for our kids, but they often are.

Regardless of what type of pressures our children face – they need to be taught how to manage stress overall. Amongst many different ways to alleviate and control stress, one method in particular can make quite a difference … yoga, for kids.

De-stress Kids with Yoga | vancouver island healthPhoto Credit; kidsyogaguide.com

Yoga is used by millions of adults to increase flexibility, strengthen muscles, center thoughts, and to handle stress. Yoga followers seek refuge in allowing the mind to reconnect with their soul to create harmony within, while also being relaxed and soothed. There have been many times when I’ve left a yoga class feeling so relaxed that a groovy “yes” response would have been rendered to just about any question. Children can benefit from yoga in the same manner, as it can be used to counter the pressures they experience. When children learn techniques for self-health, relaxation, and inner fulfillment, they are given the skill to navigate life’s challenges with a little more ease. Yoga at an early age also encourages self-esteem and body awareness with a physical activity that’s non-competitive. This non-competitive approach encourages co-operation and compassion—instead of opposition— which is a valuable message to send to our children.

Whether your child is feeling stress from a normal everyday stressor or from something out of the ordinary, yoga can be just the right prescription to help him or her survive stress reactions. Kids not only learn how to experience their physicality with yoga, but they also learn to appreciate the value in proper breathing. Remember times when you were under pressure and the one thing people told you to do …“breathe”. Why? Because breathing deeply and regularly creates a calmer feeling within the body and a clearer feeling in the mind. As a result, this gives you a much better ability to handle stress.

Yoga for children is a natural way to exercise, relax, focus, and strengthen the body/mind/spirit connection. Yoga programs for kids have been available now for almost a decade and are specifically tailored to children’s age groups, which makes it fun! For example younger children are asked to assume poses from nature such as a snake, tree, or a dog. There are also programs in place for those children with special needs, which are geared towards teaching self awareness, self control, and concentration.

This weekend, why not “chill-lax” in the comfort of your own home by hosting a family yoga session using Yoga Pretzels Cards! These colorful cards are full of fun activities for kids and grownups to do together, and focus on teaching the basics of yoga while practicing bending, twisting, breathing, and relaxing. Truly a wonderful family activity to engage on a Friday night!

I encourage all parents to look for kids’ yoga in your area and enroll your children De-stress Kids with Yoga | vancouver island health – you just may be introducing them to one of life’s best survival skills.

Sources: Geeta Bagga
Benefits of Yoga for Kids
Yoga for Kids Guidelines and Poses

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Controlling your high blood pressure with a natural health practitioner

Controlling your high blood pressure with a natural health practitioner for some people is a full time job.  More research than ever is being produced that shows how the health of the spine and nervous system affects your overall health.  Diversified Health has 9 tips to help you control your high blood pressure.

1. Make sure your blood pressure is under 140/90mm Hg.  If your systolic pressure which is the top number is over 140, ask your practitioner what you can do to lower it.

2. Take your high blood pressure medicine, every day. If you have any questions, talk to your practitioner.

3. Aim for a healthy weight.  If you are overweight, carrying this extra weight increase your risk of high blood pressure.

4. Increase your physical activity.  Do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity such as walking at least 5 days a week. You can do 30 minutes in three 10 minute segments.

Controlling your high blood pressure with a natural health practitioner

Controlling your high blood pressure Photo Credit: cbc.ca

5. Choose foods low in slat and sodium.  Most Canadians should consume no more than 2.4 grams of sodium a day.  That’s about one teaspoon of table salt a day.  For someone with high blood pressure your practitioner may advise even less.

6. Read nutrition labels.  Almost all packaged foods contain high levels of sodium.

7. Use spices and herbs to replace salt and to keep your food seasoned and tasting great.

8.  Eat more fruits, vegetables, grains,  and low-fat dairy foods.

9. Make sure you incorporate a small amount of “down time” each and every day.

If you are not sure that you are controlling your high blood pressure, a natural health practitioner please ask your practitioner at Diversified Health to take your blood pressure on your next visit.

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Maintaining Liver Health | health care victoria

When you considers all of the incredible functions the liver performs in the body, you can begin to understand why maintaining liver health | health care victoria will have a positive effect on your overall health and vitality.

Here’s what your liver does…. and you thought you were busy!

*Metabolizes protein, fats and carbohydrates, thus providing nutrients and energy

* Creates bile, which breaks down fats

*Stores fuel for the body in the form of glycogen, which readily converts to glucose ( quick energy)

*Stores vitamins, minerals and sugar

*Filters the blood and helps remove harmful chemicals and bacteria

*Regulates the body’s ability to clot

*Helps assimilate and store fat-soluble vitamins such as A,E,D, & K

*Stores extra blood, which can be quickly released when needed

* Helps maintain electrolytes and water levels

*Creates immune substances such as gamma globulin’s

*Regulates levels of sexual hormones: manufactures estrogen and testosterone

Maintaning Liver Health | health care victoria

Maintaning Liver Health | health care victoria

Remember to follow these steps to help optimize you liver health.

Eat a whole natural diet consisting of a variety of high-quality fresh foods. Lower you fat intake and eat less refined cooked oils and fats.

Reset the digestive system whenever possible. This means not to eat too late at night or too early in the morning. Don’t eat when you’re not hungry and don’t over eat.

Make sure that you are hydrated and keep the liver moisturized and free flowing.

Keep the elimination channels open and free.  Exercise to eliminate toxins via the lungs and skin and try to keep your bowels moving regularly.

Massage the liver area at least once a day to help remove congestion and take antioxidants such as vitamins E and C, beta-carotene, zinc and selenium  to protect against toxins.

For more information on maintaining liver health, | health care victoria ask Dr. Krisjan Gustavson about our Detox Kits.

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Treating Lower Back Pain at a Victoria clinic

Diversified Health Clinic , a Victoria Clinic has been treating lower back pain for over 2 decades.  Most cases of  low back pain are cause by a muscle strain or sprain, or a specific condition, such as a herniated disc or degenerative disc disease.

Low back pain from a muscle strain is the most common and is usually caused by lifting a heavy object, lifting while twisting, or a sudden movement or fall.  While pain or discomfort can happen anywhere in your back, the most common area affected is your low back. This is because the low back supports most of your body’s weight.

Treating Lower Back Pain | Victoria clinic

Treating Lower Back Pain - Photo Credit: motorvehicleaccidentnews.com

There are many causes of low back pain.

  • Arthritis conditions such as osteoarthritis
  • Muscle spasm
  • Ruptured or herniated disk
  • Sciatica
  • Strain or tears to the muscles or ligaments supporting the back

When the muscles in the low back are strained or torn, the area around the muscles becomes inflamed.  This inflammation causes the muscles in the back to spasm and cause low back pain.

At Diversified Health treating low back pain consists of a combination of treatments, such as Chiropractic, Massage, Physiotherapy, Cryo therapy, Cold Laser Therapy, TENS therapy, Ultrasound, Back Project, Decompression Table, Neuromechanical Adjusting Tool as well as topical ointments such as Traumeel and nutritional supplements for help with inflammation.

With the first syptoms of low back pain, stop the activity for the first few days; this will help calm your symptoms and reduce any swelling in the area of the pain. You can also apply heat/ice to the painful area. Always use ice for the first 48-72 hours, then use heat.  You can also take something to help with the inflammation such as ibuprofen or nutritional supplements, and call your health care practitioner.

For more information on treating lower back pain,at a Victoria cliniccall 250-382-0018 and speak with Dr. Krisjan Gustavson.

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15 Warning Signs of an Unhealthy Spine |chiropractor victoria bc

As you go about your daily routine, keep in mind the 15 warning signs of an unhealthy spine.  If you have more than three of these symptoms, it’s time to see your chiropractor.

The 15 Warning Signs of an Unhealthy Spine:

15 warning signs of an unhealthy spine|chiropractor victoria bc

Photo Credit: postureperfect.net

1. The heels of your shoes wear out unevenly. This can be due to an uneven leg length or stress along the length of your spine.

2. You find it difficult to take a satisfying deep breath. Breathing, spinal health, and energy are all interrelated.

3. Your jaw “clicks”. This can be caused by neck or hip subluxation (bones out of alignment.)

4. You have to “crack” your neck, back or other joints such as your fingers. This can be caused by areas of your spine that are locked, jammed, or irritated.

5. You can’t tilt or turn your head or hips to either side equally or easily. Reduced or restricted ranges of motion are signs of a misaligned spine.

6. You are often fatigued and feel stressed. An unbalanced spine drains your energy.

7. You have poor concentration. Subluxation will affect brain health.

8. You have low resistance to disease. Subluxation affects your immune system which plays an important role in your resistance to disease and your ability to fight infection causing recurring colds, fever or ear infections etc.

9. Your foot flares out when walking. This test is easy as long as you don’t cheat! Merely look at your feet as you walk. Do they both point forward, or does one foot appear to flare outward or inward? Do both? Foot flare may be a sign of a problem in the lower spine or hips, or meningeal stress in the upper neck or base of the brain.

10. One leg appears shorter than the other. Keep your shoes on, and lie down. Have someone stand behind you, look down at your feet, and gently push your heels toward your head. Compare where the heels meet the shoes. One foot (it’s often the right) may appear anywhere from 1/8″ to 1″ shorter than the other.

11. You have poor posture. Stand on two bathroom scales. The weight distribution should be about the same over each foot. If it is not, that’s a good sign that your spine, hips are off-center.

12. You have headaches, backaches, sore or tender spots in muscles or joints.  These are common signs of subluxation (bones out of alignment.)

13. You have a constant stressful feeling and tension especially in muscles and joints.  Muscles and joints are affected by subluxation.

14. You feel stiffness in your back and neck. Stiffness may be a sign of subluxation damage.

15. You just don’t feel right, and you are in general poor health. Subluxation can affect your overall health.

At Diversified Health, we see dozens of patients a month that book an appointment because of the 15 warning signs of an unhealthy spine.|chiropractor victoria bc, many of them require only one or two treatments to get them back into alignment and back to feeling great!

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