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	<title>Blog of  - Chiropractor in </title>
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	<description> of  discusses the latest articles on chiropractic, back pain, neck pain, headache, and auto injuries.</description>
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<item>  <title>Pain Relief and Healing - Two Separate Concepts...</title>  <link>http://www.thesierchiropractic.com/blog/subblog.php?blogpage=328</link>  <pubDate>Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:50:10 CDT</pubDate>  <description><![CDATA[<p>
	As a chiropractor practicing in Virginia Beach for nearly 30 years, I have found this subject confusing to many people.&nbsp; It is important to understand that <strong><em>pain relief</em></strong> and <strong><em>healing</em></strong> are two very different concepts.&nbsp; The removal of discomfort should never imply that the body is beginning to repair tissue damage.&nbsp; Often it is quite the opposite, and medications given to eliminate pain can sometimes hinder the body&rsquo;s attempt to heal.&nbsp; It is also a mistake to believe there can be recovery without pain or discomfort.&nbsp; Even in the final stages of healing, an individual can experience various uncomfortable symptoms.</p>
<p>
	Although it is true that time heals all wounds, all wounds do not heal optimally.&nbsp; The ultimate goal in healing is to return the patient to his/her health status before the trauma or injury occurred as quickly as possible.&nbsp; Ask any doctor and they will confirm that an acute situation with a quick healing prognosis often becomes a chronic situation due to patient disregard for rest, adequate nutrition, rehabilitation or the lack of following instructions.</p>
<p>
	<strong>THE THREE STAGES OF HEALING:</strong></p>
<p>
	The body is an amazing machine.&nbsp; Whether it has a broken bone or an ankle sprain, it begins to heal itself from the moment the injury occurs.&nbsp; There are three basic phases of wound healing:</p>
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	&nbsp;</p>
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	<li>
		<strong>Inflammation Phase:&nbsp; </strong>this is the body&rsquo;s initial response to injury and is necessary for normal healing to occur, usually lasting 3 - 7 days.&nbsp; Most people assume that the body&rsquo;s natural inflammatory response to injury is harmful.&nbsp; A more accurate view is that it is actually a protective and necessary response required to set in motion a chain of events required for the body to heal itself.&nbsp; Complete elimination of inflammation (e.g., with massive doses of corticosteroid drugs) can result in delayed or even absent healing.&nbsp; The <strong><em>true</em></strong> harm comes when inflammation becomes excessive and uncontrolled.</li>
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	&nbsp;</p>
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		<strong>Repair Phase:&nbsp; </strong>characterized by cell growth, production of extracellular matrix (collagen and proteoglycans) and new blood cells.&nbsp; This phase starts approximately 2 days after the injury occurs and lasts 6-8 weeks.</li>
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	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	<li>
		<strong>Remodeling Phase:</strong>&nbsp; characterized by strengthened and improved tissue due to aligning of collagen fibers.&nbsp; This phase starts approximately 2 weeks after the injury and can take as long as one to two years.</li>
</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; FACTORS THAT SLOW HEALING:</strong></p>
<p>
	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Age&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Type of injury</p>
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	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Severity of injury&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Prior Health History</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lack of Rest&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Medications</p>
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	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mobility (local and whole body)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Blood supply</p>
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	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Nutritional Status&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Psychological Influences</p>
<p>
	If you&rsquo;ve been injured recently, or have a persistent back problem, call us today at 757-486-3222 to see if chiropractic can help you.&nbsp; Or visit us on the web at: &nbsp;<a href="http://www.thesierchiropractic.com"><strong>www.thesierchiropractic.com</strong></a>&nbsp; where we have lots of information and tips on how to get well and stay well.&nbsp; We are conveniently located just off I-264 near Lynnhaven Parkway in the heart of Virginia Beach.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
]]></description></item><item>  <title>What is the cause of your back pain?...</title>  <link>http://www.thesierchiropractic.com/blog/subblog.php?blogpage=248</link>  <pubDate>Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:45:24 CDT</pubDate>  <description><![CDATA[<p>
	<span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif">&quot;Mechanical low back pain&quot; has become a catch-all phrase for a number of different problems affecting the many joints, discs, ligaments and muscles of the spine.&nbsp; Many health care professionals prefer to use terms which more specifically describe the actual injury sustained by the patient.&nbsp; This is determined through a comprehensive examination of the patient in which the various joints, muscles and nerves of the spine are tested in a systematic fashion, leading to a proper diagnosis.&nbsp; The following are more specific diagnostic terms describing the various &ldquo;mechanical&rdquo; problems people can experience.</span></span></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif"><span xml:lang="EN-US">The term </span><strong><em><span xml:lang="EN-US">sprain</span></em></strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"> describes an injury to spinal ligaments due to some form of trauma &ndash; a fall, a&nbsp;twist or other type of&nbsp;accident</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">.&nbsp;&nbsp; Since ligaments help stabilize the small gliding and tilting motions of spinal joints, an injured ligament will allow excessive&nbsp;joint movement, resulting in nerve root compression and pain. </span></span></span></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif"><span xml:lang="EN-US">Similar to a ligament sprain, a </span><strong><em><span xml:lang="EN-US">strain</span></em></strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"> always occurs due to a trauma, but in this case the injury involves a muscle.&nbsp; Healthy muscles do not tear unless subjected to a significant force so it is not possible to wake up in the morning with a true muscle strain, a torn muscle, if the person did not experience some kind of accident or trauma.&nbsp; The person with a muscle strain injury will have sustained some kind of traumatic event and felt pain immediately.&nbsp; Sprains and strains will vary in severity based on the extent to which the ligaments or muscle fibers are torn.&nbsp; It must be noted, strain injuries to the lower back muscles are rare.</span></span></span></p>
<p>
	<span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif"><span xml:lang="EN-US">A </span><strong><em><span xml:lang="EN-US">subluxation</span></em></strong><span xml:lang="EN-US"> refers to a joint injury where a spinal joint becomes &ldquo;stuck&rdquo; and unable to move fully through its sliding and tilting motions.&nbsp; Subluxations may occur with or without trauma.&nbsp; When muscles become weak, or we have poor postural habits, joints will not move correctly which can irritate the ligamentous joint capsules at each spinal level and the nerves that exit the spine at those same levels.&nbsp; Though these abnormal movements are not easily noticed on a normal spinal x-ray, they clearly demonstrate that small amounts of incorrect spinal motion can lead to significant pain.&nbsp; Subluxations can occur at any level of the spine. </span></span></span></p>
<p align="center">
	<span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif"><span xml:lang="EN-US">If you ever wake up and &nbsp;find yourself in this situation</span><span xml:lang="EN-US">, feel free to contact </span><span xml:lang="EN-US">our office</span><span xml:lang="EN-US"> at (757) 486-3222.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="center">
	<span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif">visit us on the web at: &nbsp;<a href="http://www.thesierchiropractic.com">www.thesierchiropractic.com</a></span></span></p>
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