Your Body is Your Best Doctor!

Everything in the body is controlled by the brain, including things like the immune system and hormones.  The brain talks with the rest of the body through nerve fibers. The brain and nerves together make up the nervous system.

Most nerves travel from the brain down through the spine, or back bone.  The weakest part of the spine is the neck (also known as the cervical spine), especially at the very top where it joins the head.

Inside the spine all the nerves are grouped together to form the spinal cord.  The most important part of the spinal cord is also at the top where over ten billion nerves come together in an area the size of your thumb!

The Problem

The top bone in the neck can slightly dislocate from the head, creating a misalignment.  A misalignment that causes interference to the nerves is called a Vertebral Subluxation.

In order to reduce some of the interference to nerves the body will change its posture to protect the nerves in the neck. Many symptoms are related to this change in posture rather than the original problem: the Vertebral Subluxation.

Symptoms of the Vertebral Subluxation can be almost anything.  Low back pain, pain between the shoulders, neck pain, and headaches are among the most common, but any breakdown in health may be a result of the Vertebral Subluxation.

Treating symptoms or just loosening up the spine, does not fix the original problem and the symptoms will just come back or show up somewhere else.

The Solution

The solution is to find the original problem and fix it only!  Once the blockage at the top of the neck is removed there is no longer any reason for the body to compensate with bad posture and so it begins to grow back into its normal shape.  The combination of these two things permits your body to heal properly.

All chiropractors adjust the neck.  Only Blair Upper-Cervical chiropractors take into account the fact that no two bodies are the same, and the inside is as different as the outside.  Specialized x-rays allow for the design of a very light adjustment tailored especially for each individual body and condition that will slide the bone back into place without twisting or “popping” the neck.

Most people report that the first adjustment was so gentle they couldn’t tell that something had actually happened until their symptoms started to change and go away.

Because of the precision of the analysis and adjustment, most people require about 90 percent fewer adjustments than with most other chiropractic techniques.

The Results

Does this really work?  In Dr. Elder’s practice alone, he has seen the health of hundreds of patients improve after a Blair Upper-Cervical adjustment.  Although he does not specifically treat the following health conditions or symptoms, his patients report improvement or complete freedom from:

• High blood pressure

• Diabetes Mellitus

• Mutliple Sclerosis

• Scoliosis

• Migraine Headaches

• Tension Headaches

• Cluster Headaches

• TMJ Syndrome

• Neck pain

• Upper back pain

• Lower back pain

• Numbness and Tingling

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Whiplash

• Heart Palpitations

• Chronic ear infections

• Colic

• Blurry vision

• Sciatica

• Muscle weakness

• Indigestion

• Stiffness

• Hip pain

• Ringing in the ears

• Dizziness

• Pinched nerves

• Arthritis

• Asthma

• Facial pain

• Sleeping disorders

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Fibromyalgia

• Slipped discs

• …and more!

Your body has wonderful healing abilities.  Dr. Elder is committed to a chiropractic technique that gives your body the opportunity to restore itself naturally.

Posted in Chiropractic Clinic and tagged arthritis, fatigue, headaches, healing, health, high blood pressure, muscle weakness, pain, recovery, TMJ Syndrome, whiplash

My big pain in the neck

Warning: This is long, and yet this is my story extremely abbreviated.

If you have pain anywhere in your body and you don’t know what to do, you may relate, and it may be worth reading until the very end.

When I was 6 years old, I remember crying because the bottom of my back hurt so bad I had to stop what I was doing. Today I am 46. I can still remember the sharp pains where my hips attached to the spine radiating out from the middle.

In elementary school,

I almost always missed most of December and all the fun Christmas preparations and parties. Why? Pneumonia, Bronchitis, Sinus infections, high fevers, you name it. When other people got a cold, I would come down with severe, stubborn infections. I remember spending days and nights in my parents’ bed. My mom didn’t want me to be left unattended due to the high fevers.

In 4th grade, we had music right after lunch. Every week half way through class my head would start to pound so horrendously that I could not hold the tears back. I would be sent home.

February 5th grade: The left side of my upper back (all around my shoulder blade) locked up and swelled up. It felt like a knife stabbing me at every breath. Any movement was unbearable. Three weeks of school was lost while I mostly laid flat on my back between doctor’s appointments. My most vivid memory from this period wasgetting a shot directly into the center of the worst muscle spasm. The tears flew uncontrollably out of my eyes. This was done with the intention of pain relief, but the traumatic experience changed nothing. It seemed like this episode connected my headaches to my lower back pain. Everything between my face, forehead, across the top of my head, the back of my head, neck, shoulder blades and into my lower spine never stopped from that day.

People say they get headaches or backpain.

Not me. I had a headache. An 18-year headache.

It would vary in intensity but never go away. The best it ever got was always annoying and exhausting. At worst I could not get out of bed or sit or be in the light. I could not finish speaking sentences because of the intense pain. During this time and onward I would have recurring nightmares at night that there was a tumor inside my upper spine that was killing me. During the day I just felt like there was pressure on the nerves in my upper neck. Whenever I would express this to doctors they would just say “that can’t happen.”

I could continue sharing these vivid memories and all the details. For weeks my neck locked up so I could not turn my head at all. You could not see where my neck stopped and shoulders started because it was so inflamed. For a couple of years I could not hold a pen or sign my name with my dominant hand due to severe tennis elbow. (If only I could have played tennis.) I could describe in detail the discouragement during the six months I could not taste any of my food.  It was a sinus infection that the doctors and antibiotics were not able to tame. Or all the terrible memories of 10 months straight with severe hives. Swollen itchy bumps covered my body from the bottoms of my feet to the inside of my mouth and even my eyelids. On several occasions, I had to go to the emergency room. I carried medication in my purse in case the swelling would be in a place that would keep me from breathing.

Do I need to say I was desperate? Depressed?

My parents, myself and later my husband all were trying everything.

I have been through tests, specialists and treatment methods both traditional and alternative. I even went to a Chiropractor and decided never to do that again as I had never been worse than right after my chiropractic manipulation.

After all those years of trying everything, it would be easy to give up.
I am glad I didn’t give up.

At age 22 I moved with my husband from Norway to California. My husband had been seeing Dr. Muncy, a Blair upper cervical chiropractor since he was 10 years old. He wanted me to see him and thought he could probably help me.
He knew about my terrible previous experience with a Chiropractor, but I trusted him. Besides I had heard how much help my mother- in- law had been helped with her severe headaches. After trying everything for so long the decision to go to another expert was tricky. I desperately wanted help. I also didn’t want to waste my money, time and get my hopes up once again for something that didn’t help.

Here’s what happened when I went in for my upper cervical appointment:

The Dr. wanted to run some tests before I told him what was going on because he wanted to keep it objective. The tests didn’t hurt. After 5 minutes he gently touched the place in my upper neck that I was having nightmares about. He said: “You have a bone out of alignment right here and it is putting pressure on the nerves that lead to the rest of the body”

Finally a Doctor who saw the origin of the pain problem.

He took some X-Rays and made a precision adjustment based on what he saw. Then he adjusted 3 bones in my neck and explained how extremely rare it would be to have 3 misalignments. I was told I must have had a trauma to my neck when I was little. This is consistent with what I know. It also explains why my health problems started when I was just a little girl. The adjustments didn’t hurt at all, unlike my previous experience. Inside me, I felt like something relaxed a little. I slept through the whole night for the first time in my life.

A healing process had begun.

My symptoms didn’t go away overnight, but clearly, I was getting gradually better instead of gradually worse.

I was actually improving, not just managing my pain. A few years after this first adjustment I had an A-Ha moment in the car driving home from the gym and grocery store: “I have no pain! My muscles don’t ache. MY HEAD DOESN’T HURT.” This day was the end of my 18year headache. I wish I could say I have never had them since. Unfortunately, I still get headaches when my neck slips back out of alignment, but they go away or get a lot better when I get put back in alignment.

Moving Forward:

It turned out that the injuries in my neck were substantial enough and had been going on long enough that I have some permanent damage.  I will require lifetime maintenance Chiropractic care. The good news about this is that because of this husband, Gordon decided to devote his life to taking care of me and others like me. He continues after almost 20 years as an Upper Cervical Chiropractor to study hard so he can always improve and help even the most stubborn health problems. It is our purpose in life to help as many people as possible have as much healing as possible, first in California and now in Lubbock, TX. We moved to Lubbock because this is where Dr. Blair made the discoveries that led to my health. This is where we feel we can make the most impact to do the same. I feel deeply on my own body the difference between pain and desperation that chokes off all hope versus life flowing healing powers that live in my own body.

If you have been reading all this, there is a good chance you have questions. Maybe questions about me or possibly you have questions about the Blair Upper Cervical technique that got me started on the way to health. Do you have questions about your own situation? It will make me happy to discuss this with you. Feel free to call me or E-mail from anywhere, or make an appointment if you live in Lubbock. If you do not live in Lubbock, I will be happy to help you find the closes upper cervical doctor to where you live. I was able to find help and you can too!

Posted in Chiropractic Clinic, Conditions, Kids, Upper Cervical Doctor and tagged Blair Chiropractic Clinic, blair upper cervical, bronchitis, children, depressed, exhausted, headaches, healing process, hip pain, hives, inflammation, low back pain, Lubbock, misalignment, neck pain, nerve pressure, out of alignment, pneumonia, shoulder pain, sinus infections, tendinitis, tennis elbow

The Lubbock Legacy Continues

In the beginnning...

 

Dr.William G. Blair adjusted his first patient in Lubbock,Christmas 1949.

He decided to become a Chiropractor after suffering from severe asthma and getting near immediate relief after his first Upper Cervical adjustment.  A perfectionist, he worked tirelessly to improve imaging and adjusting techniques in order to help more people. They started flocking into his office in more numbers than he could imagine. The Blair Chiropractic Clinic was built in 1955 in its current location on Ave Q.  Dr. Blair  treated thousands of patients before his lungs forced him to retire in 1984. Dr. Blair also developed a curriculum to teach other DCs how to practice his specialized technique and handpicked Dr. R. Weldon Muncy in California to carry the torch as head instructor for the Blair technique. Today there are Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractors as far away as Australia and Europe with a concentration in California.

Continuing to carry the torch...

 

Dr. E.A. Addington considers himself Dr. Blair’s last student.

With his analytical mind and attention to detail he has continued to provide excellent quality care to the people of Lubbock and surrounding areas. He was awarded the distinction of Blair Chiropractor of the Year by the Blair Chiropractic Society in 2014. Due to a genetic condition and  several bad accidents, his health has been failing and he has been unable to accept new patients the last 6 years.However, Dr. Addington has sacrificed greatly  to continue the legacy of  caring for people despite severe pain and reliance on a walker.

This takes us up to present day: November 1st marks the date Dr. Gordon Elder moved into town from California as the third Director of the Blair Chiropractic Clinic.

To infinity and beyond...

 

Dr. Gordon D. Elder was introduced to Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic as a child

His mother brought him to Dr. R. Weldon Muncy for chronic sinus infections that cleared up when he was in alignment. His mother had been suffering from debilitating headaches24-7 that improved under Dr. Muncy’s care.The Blair Technique once again changed Dr. Elder’s  life after he fell in love and married his Norwegian wife, Ruth. Ruth was almost crippled by pain and chronic illness growing up. She was unable to participate in many normal  activities. This all started to change after she trusted her husband’s advice and sought Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic care. For the first time in her life she began to sleep through the night and started a long healing process. (Now 24 years later she is a personal trainer and exercise instructor! A bit of a transformation !?)

Gordon was unhappy with his college major and as soon as he decided to become a Chiropractor his calling was found. During his time at Cleveland Chiropractic College he excelled academically. Simultaneously he attended continuing education seminars in the Blair method as well as extensive one-on-one mentoring by Dr. Muncy who had been handpicked by Dr. Blair to continue as the head teacher for the Blair technique. Dr. Elder is Certified as an Advanced Instructor in the Blair Technique.

Dr. Elder has practiced the Blair Upper Cervical technique exclusively since he graduated in Dec.99. It is with great humility and dedication that Dr. Elder and Ruth decided to transfer their patients to other Doctors in California and relocate along with their children to Lubbock to continue providing specific Blair Upper Cervical care to West Texas.

What does this mean for you?

 We would love to meet you and hear your story.

First: Come in for a  screening!

This is a quick appointment designed to see if you have a bone out of alignement in the spine causing nerve impingement.  It is for you to decide if you want to give us a try .It would be an honor and privilege to partner with you in your quest for good health.

If you decide this type of treatment seems tight for you we will provide receipts with all the codes insurance companies need including Medicare.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Second: Tell a Friend!

We rely on people who understand the power of specific Chiropractic Care to spread the word that we once again accept new patients across all age groups here in Lubbock ,South Plains and all of West Texas.

For questions or to make an appointment, please  give our office a call. We’d love to talk to you.

Posted in Chiropractic Clinic, Upper Cervical Doctor and tagged asthma, blair upper cervical, Chiropractc adjustment, Chiropractic, Dr. Addington, free screening, headaches, healing process, health insurance, hisotry, legacy, Lubbock, medicare, pain, relief, sinus infections, West Texas

Who Should See a Blair Chiropractor?

Most people go to a chiropractor for relief from headaches, neck pain or low back pain.  Interestingly we do not treat these conditions directly.  Instead, we address what is called the vertebral subluxation complex, or subluxation for short.  Medically the word subluxation means a slight dislocation, chiropractors have extended the definition to mean a slight dislocation causing interference to the nervous system.

The theory, which bears itself out in practice and in more and more scientific experiments, is that these chiropractic subluxations are interfering with the body’s central nervous system.  Since the central nervous system is the one system that controls and coordinates everything else in your body, interference can be and usually is disastrous.  Years may go by with one or several portions of the body slowly degenerating before the body feels pain or other symptoms show up.

Obviously most people do not come through our doors asking us to adjust their subluxation.  However, I do have a list of some of the symptoms and conditions that have gotten better after we have corrected the subluxation and restored normal nerve flow up and down the spine.

Headaches (of all types), neck pain and low back pain are the most common complaints in all chiropractic offices.  However, the fact that conditions such as Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Multiple Sclerosis can respond may be surprising to many of you.  These conditions are not well defined, are difficult to diagnose and are even more difficult to treat medically.

There is evidence that people respond to upper cervical chiropractic care and get better from such neurological problems as Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, and Tourette’s Syndrome.

    In children, as well as in adults, we have seen changes in asthma, allergies, bed wetting, athletic injuries, ear infections, A.D.D., A.D.H.D., and scoliosis.

Some psychological conditions such as depression, learning disabilities, nervousness, and restlessnesshave improved in some individuals.

Other symptoms/conditions seen resolved or improved are: arthritis, arm pain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, child development problems, chronic infections, constipation, digestive problems, female disorders, fever, frequent colds, sinus infections, high blood pressure, immune system deficiency, infertility, insomnia, neuralgia, numbness, tingling, poor vision, crossed eyes, T.M.J. Syndrome, and whiplash.  There are many more, too many to list.

We do not treat any of these disorders.  All we do is remove interference to your nervous system so that your body, which is the best doctor you will ever have, is then free to work.

Posted in Chiropractic Clinic, Conditions and tagged ADD, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, digestive problems, epilepsy, health, insomnia, pain, sinus infections, treatment

The Road Back to Health

The typical chiropractic patient gets symptomatic relief fairly quickly after the first adjustment.  However, it sometimes occurs that a few days after the first adjustment, a new patient may begin noticing aches and pains that weren’t present before.

There are two possible reasons for this.  

The most common is that as the patient’s physical frame is straightening up, tension is being placed on tissues that are no longer used to it. Some muscles and ligaments have shrunk and now the body is stretching them.  Cartilage has been molded in the old joint position and now has to be molded into the new one.  These pains are often similar to muscle soreness after exercising your body more than it is used to.

The other reason for new aches and pains after the first adjustment is called retracing.  Retracing is the term used in chiropractic for the journey back to health and optimal function.  The reason it is called retracing is that the journey back to health often oddly mimics the previous path of degeneration from optimal health to disease.  Imagine having a home on a mountain peak, the road down off the mountain and into the neighboring valley is treacherous with falling rocks, hairpin curves and steep drops.  After having descended into the valley, the only way back home is to retrace every foot of that difficult road back to the top.  In our bodies the journey back to health is usually much quicker than the descent to dis-ease, but often longer than we would like.  Most patients do not notice the retracing, but in some it can be very obvious.  In order to go back and heal an old knee injury, for example, the body will need to undo some of the work that had been already done which can involve soreness and inflammation, but usually only for a short period of time.  This type of repair often occurs in cycles, constantly improving the body.

Posted in Chiropractic Clinic and tagged health, recovery, relief, repair

Of Beds, Pillows and Sleeping Positions

I get a lot of questions at the office about beds, pillows and sleeping positions.

We spend so much of our time in bed trying to get a good night’s sleep that my patients are often concerned that bad habits or equipment may be sabotaging their efforts to be healthy. After 40 years of experience in the art of sleeping, and 10 years as a doctor I think there is one rule and a few guidelines.

The rule is: whatever is the most comfortable and gives you the best sleep is the best for you.

This may be frustrating for those of us who like to have everything in black and white. And we have all heard that you shouldn’t sleep on your stomach and a firm mattress is good for your back. However, I have seen no evidence that these things are rules.

It seems to me that each one of us is different. We are made differently, raised differently, and have different experiences. It follows that our sleeping needs are going to be different as well. It also follows that what makes us comfortable at night may well change over time.

So, my recommendations:

1. Get a good mattress – the most expensive ones are usually best, but get one that is comfortable. I like Select Comfort’s beds, others prefer something else. Preference is key (are you waking up achey?). Generally a guideline is that your curves are supported, such as the curve in your low back when you are laying on your back.
2. Find a comfortable pillow – or not. Some of my patients are more comfortable with no pillow because the curve in their neck has completely reversed. As time goes on and the curve restores itself they may well find that using a pillow is more comfortable than not. But let comfort be your guide. Do not rush out and buy an expensive pillow. Start with cheap ones and see if they work first. The guideline, like the one for mattresses is that the curve in your neck is supported when you are lying on your back and when lying on your side your neck is level with the rest of your spine.
3. Sleeping position – unless you have a specific injury that particular positions irritate, don’t worry about it. Yes, if you don’t usually sleep on your stomach and you do, you may wake up with a stiff neck. But normally you will move while sleeping into more comfortable positions and that is normal and there is really nothing you can do about it easily, nor should you in most cases.

Posted in Lifestyle and tagged bed, mattress, sleep

Kids and Chiropractic

What is more precious than a child? What does a parent want more than to make sure that their child is healthy, happy and strong?

Kids need good food, good sleep, mental stimulation and plenty of exercise. The foundation of all these things is the brain as it guides and makes us of these resources to grow a strong, straight and healthy body as well as a resilient mind.

One of the first things an embryo develops is the nervous system, made up of the brain and nerves, in order to guide the growth of the fetus. It continues to control and coordinate every part of the body throughout life.

The neck is the weakest part of the spine, and it carries the most nerves to and from your brain and the rest of your body!

A neck injury, from delivery, sports, a car accident, playing, can cause a neck bone to move and get stuck in such a way that it blocks some nerve flow right at the base of the brain. There is over 10 billion nerves at the top of the neck! When something interferes with those nerves, it can cause health problems anywhere else in the body.

After a neck injury, the body will begin to twist in order to relieve as much pressure as possible from the base of the brain. This can lead to scoliosis and arthritis later in life.

The Solution Is To Fix the Mechanical Problem First!

Then let the body do what is was made to do and grow back into health.

All Chiropractors adjust the neck, but only Upper-Cervical Chiropractors take into account that no two bodies are made the same, therefore we can fix the problem without any twisting or popping at all!

Posted in Kids and tagged children, Chiropractic, exercise, health

Pain Medications

There are a lot of pain medications easily available at any pharmacy, grocery store or convenience store and others that are commonly prescribed. I decided to write a guide for myself to keep them straight! All of this information was gleaned from the internet, mostly wikipedia, but I wanted an easy reference that would answer the most basic questions I and my patients have most regularly.

Common terms associated with pain medications:

1. Anti-inflammatory: reduces inflammation, the body’s defense mechanism to bring wound repair material to the injured site. There are two forms of inflammation; our western diet tends to force the body into the less desirable form.
2. Analgesic: anti-pain, generally affects the nervous system and keeps the pain signal from reaching the brain. Some drugs act on the central nervous system (brain, brainstem and spinal cord) others act on the peripheral nervous system.
3. Anti-pyretic: reduces fever, the bodies increased temperature response to infection killing foreign organisms by cooking them.
4. Vasoconstrictor: a substance which causes blood vessels to constrict (get smaller, therefore decreased blood flow).
5. Narcotic: originally any psychoactive drug that caused drowsiness and sleep. In analgesics it refers to opioid drugs (see below). Legally it refers to any prohibited drug.
6. Steroid: there are many different types. Naturally they are produced in the human body. In analgesia they are usually synthetic corticosteroids, used mostly for treating different inflammatory conditions. They can suppress the immune system and cause osteoporosis.

The main classifications of pain meds are:

1. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): analgesic, anti-pyretic, anti-inflammatory – works on the peripheral nervous system, has a similar anti-inflammatory effect as corticosteroids. Can inhibit healing of fractures. Causes or aggravates gastrointestinal conditions. Some can increase risk of vascular problems such as heart attack and stroke.
2. acetaminophen / paracetamol: analgesic – works on the central nervous system rather than the peripheral nervous system, does have some anti-inflammatory properties, but they are very weak, so overall not classified as an NSAID. Most commonly overdosed over-the-counter analgesic, especially when used with alcohol. Can cause liver damage and some kidney damage.
3. opioids: analgesic – addictive, acts on the central and peripheral nervous system as well as the GI tract. Decreases pain by decreasing pain perception and reaction and increasing pain tolerance level. Many patients have said that they could still feel the pain, but just didn’t care. Has psychological effects.
4. barbiturates: analgesic and other – central nervous system suppressants that can cause many different effects. Physically and psychologically addictive.
5. benzodiazepines: muscle relaxant and other – often used instead of barbiturates, can still be addictive.
6. ergotamines: vasoconstrictor – used to treat acute migraine attacks, usually in combination with caffeine. Vasoconstriction is not confined to the head so it can cause decreased blood flow to other parts of the body causing chest pain and cold hands / feet.
7. triptans: restrict blood vessels in the head and inhibits inflammation. Used to treat migraine and cluster headaches. Most common adverse effect is causing headache!
8. others: Some pain, like nerve pain can be treated with drugs made for other conditions such as antidepressants or anticonvulsants.

The most commonly used pain medications:

1. Ibuprofen: (Motrin, Advil) – NSAID – has a mild anti-clotting effect and some vasodilation properties. 400 mg per dose and 1200 mg per day is max recommended for non-prescription use. Used also to treat swelling.
2. Acetaminophen / Paracetamol: (Tylenol) – In an analgesic classification by itself because it is similar to an NSAID in many ways, but has a weak anti-inflammatory effect and works in the central nervous system rather than the peripheral nervous system.
3. Acetylsalicylic acid: (Aspirin) – NSAID – found in willow bark. Also has an anti-clotting effect. Can cause ulcers and excessive bleeding.
4. Naproxen: (Aleve, Naprosyn) – NSAID – One of the NSAIDs with lowest risk for vascular side effects. Often used to treat stiffness.
5. Morphine: – opioid – Named after the Greek god of dreams because it is one of the original narcotics (causing sleep). Acts directly on the central nervous system to relieve pain. Highly addictive.
6. Hydrocodone: – opioid – derived from codeine. Often used in combination with NSAIDs or acetaminophen. Often used to treat cough (antitussive).
7. Colecoxib: (Celebrex) – NSAID – increases risk of heart attack, stroke or other vascular problems. Increases risk of upper GI tract problems.
8. Codeine: – opioid – morphine derivative. Often used in combination with Tylenol, Aspirin, or Ibuprofen.
9. Oxycodone: (OxyContin) – opioid – Acts directly on the central nervous system to relieve pain. Often used in combination with NSAIDs or acetaminophen.
10. Tramadol: – opioid – Codeine derivative. Used also for restless leg syndrome, motor neuron disease and fibromyalgia.

General Advice:

1. READ the fine print! Make sure any drug is not known to react with any condition you are known to have or any other drug / medication you are on.
2. Pain, fever and inflammation are all defense mechanisms of your body and have an important place in the healing and repair process. Treat them as little as possible, and not at all if you can.

Alphabetized Trade Name List:

Advil (ibuprofen)

Aleve (naproxen)

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)

Cafergot (ergotamine, caffeine)

Celebrex (colecoxib)

Diazepam/Valium (benzodiazepine)

Fioricet  (barbiturate / acetaminophen / caffeine)

Imitrex (triptan)

Lorazepam  (benzodiazepine)

Maxalt (triptan)

Motrin (ibuprofen)

Naprosyn (naproxen)

Norco (hydrocodone / acetaminophen)

OxyContin (oxycodone)

Tylenol (acetaminophen)

Vicodin (hydrocodone / acetaminophen)

References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki: /NSAID, /Analgesic, /Narcotic, /Opioid, /Ibuprofen, /Colecoxib, /Naproxen, /Morphine, /Oxycodone, /Hydrocodone, /Steroid, /Corticosteroid, /Barbiturates, /Benzodiazepine, /Ergotamine

Posted in Conditions and tagged inflamation, medication, pain, prescriptions

Chiropractic: The Cure for Deafness?

Those holding to a “modern” and “enlightened” concept of chiropractic may well envision snake oil when confronted with the above claim.  But for many people at the turn of the century this was a valid question.  The speculation whirled around a magnetic healer in Davenport, Iowa, and his janitor.

The magnetic healer was Daniel David Palmer, known by his initials D.D., and the janitor was a man by the name of Harvey Lillard.  In D.D.’s words:

    Harvey Lillard, a janitor in the Ryan Block, where I had my office, had been so deaf for 17 years that he could not hear the racket of a wagon on the street or the ticking of a watch.  I made inquiry as to the cause of his deafness and was informed that when he was exerting himself in a cramped, stooping position, he felt something give way in his back and immediately became deaf.  An examination showed a vertebra racked from its normal position.  I reasoned that if that vertebra was replaced, the man’s hearing should be restored.  With this object in view, a half-hour’s talk persuaded Mr. Lillard to allow me to replace it.  I racked it into position by using the spinous process as a lever and soon the man could hear as before (The Chiropractor’s Adjuster, Portland Printing House Co, Portland, 1910: 18).

    This was the first modern chiropractic adjustment and the event that launched chiropractic as a profession.  D.D. Palmer defined chiropractic as the “science, art and philosophy of things natural, and a system of adjusting the articulations (joints) of the spine, by hand only, for the removal of the physical cause of disease.”

Today’s concept of Chiropractic as a treatment only for low back pain, headaches and other musculoskeletal problems was alien to chiropractic patients of the early 1900s.  They understood chiropractic to affect the whole body by the removal of interference to the nervous system.

We don’t know if any of Dr. Palmer’s subsequent patients were ever cured of deafness, but we do know of three Blair Chiropractors in the last two years who have had patients regain their hearing after beginning care.

Posted in Conditions and tagged Chiropractic, deafness, history

Neurocalometer, and other $40 words

By Gordon Elder, D.C. and Philip Kennedy, D.C.

Skin temperature has played an important role in analyzing disease from ancient times. Hippocrates would put mud on a patient’s back and would note where it dried first, indicating higher temperatures and therefore disruption of normal physiological function.

In the early part of the 1900’s chiropractors, in much the same way, would move the back of the hand up a patient’s spine to locate “hot boxes,” areas of increased temperature. The increased temperature indicated to them, as to Hippocrates, an area of dysfunction and therefore possibly an area in need of a chiropractic adjustment.

As the century and technology progressed, chiropractic analysis became more refined. In 1922 the Neurocalometer (meaning nerve-heat-meter) was invented.

Dossa Evins, an engineer, contracted tuberculosis which then caused kidney failure. The effect that this had on Evins was that, since waste could not leave the body via urine, he excreted it through his sweat glands (called uremic frost) – which didn’t exactly provide a pleasant body odor. In his search for health he got under the care of a chiropractor in San Antonio, Texas. Evins noted that when his spine was in alignment his kidney function improved and he didn’t have the uremic frost. He also noted that the chiropractor analyzed his spine by using the above described method of sensing hot boxes with the back of his hand. Being an engineer, and figuring that if he could help the chiropractor do his job better he would benefit as well, Evins began working on a thermocouple device that would measure and compare skin temperature on either side of the spine. At the same time (1920) he enrolled in the Palmer School of Chiropractic. By 1922 the Neurocalometer was finished and in 1924 it had been tested and retested and was submitted to the chiropractic profession.

Our modern heat-sensing instruments are similar to the one developed by Dossa Evins and our understanding of the meaning of temperature imbalances has advanced since the 1920’s. Chiropractors of that era thought they were detecting the heat of an inflamed nerve, but we now know that the real story is more complex. Abnormal signals generated by spinal misalignments travel into the spinal cord along nerve fibers which connect directly to the part of the nervous system that controls blood flow in the skin. These abnormal signals disrupt the ability of the nervous system to keep the skin temperature even and balanced. The resulting temperature imbalance can be detected using the Neurocalometer or a similar device.

Incidentally, the same part of the nervous system that controls skin temperature also controls many of the major organs and systems of the body. This is why many patients who seek chiropractic care because of back or neck pain also end up noticing improvement of other health problems as well – digestive disorders, asthma, or abnormal heart rhythms, for example.

While many in our profession have abandoned the use of heat-sensing instruments, we at Muncy Chiropractic feel that they have an important place in any program of precise, specific spinal care.

Posted in Chiropractic Clinic and tagged alignment, inflamed nerve, spinal care, temperature

Atlas: Carrying the Weight of the World

Atlas is a character from Greek mythology who supported the world on his shoulders.

In anatomy, the name “atlas” is given to the first bone in the spinal column because it supports the skull, your personal world, on its shoulders.

The atlas is shaped like no other bone in the spinal column.  Looking from above it appears as a giant ring, through which the bottom part of the brain stem runs as it morphs into the spinal cord.  Over ten billion nerve tracks pass through the brainstem at this level on their way to or from the brain to the rest of the body.

The head, normally weighing between eight and ten pounds, must have a strong base as it balances on the slender cervical (neck) portion of the spinal column.  The atlas has broad, cup shaped pads (superior facets) in which the skull rests via short protrusions (occipital condyles).  On these joints the skull can only rock back and forth very slightly in the “yes” motion.  The skull and atlas rotate as a unit around an axle (dens) which protrudes upwards from the neck bone immediately below (the “no” motion).  This bone is aptly named the axis.  By nature the superior facets of the atlas and the occipital condyles of the skull fit together like mirror images.  It is when these mirror images are no longer aligned exactly that the nervous system is affected.  This interference can affect any tissue that receives input from the nervous system causing it to malfunction and be prone to disease.

Because of its position under the skull and on top of a slender column of bone and muscle, the atlas is extremely vulnerable to trauma.

A difficult delivery, a fall on the playground, an auto accident, even a bump on the head at the right time in the right (wrong?) direction can disturb its position.

Many diseases and disorders are related to a misalignment of the atlas, either primarily or secondarily.  Without proper innervation a tissue is less capable of carrying out its tasks, predisposing it to injury and less capable of protecting itself from germs and toxins.

The chiropractic adjustment starts the atlas moving back into its proper position, relieving nerve interference and allowing the body to heal itself.  The atlas connects your brain to your body and your body to health.

Posted in Chiropractic Clinic and tagged atlas, brain stem, chiropractic adjustment, spinal column

How Many Appointments Does Upper Cervical Chiropractic Require [Video]

Dr Gordon D. Elder of The Blair Chiropractic Clinic, Lubbock Texas explains how many sessions people require for Upper Cervical Chiropractic.

One of the biggest objections I’ve heard to chiropractic is once you start going you have to keep on going and in one sense that’s true.

In one sense it’s not or shouldn’t be true. I suppose in really severe occasional cases that that may be the case but if you’re fixing a problem and the body is repairing itself then you should be seeing the chiropractor less and less and less. Most of my patients in the first 90 days I might check them about 12 times. Now that doesn’t mean I’m having to readjust. This isn’t therapy, what I want to do is fix it once and I want it to stay in alignment for the first 90 days. I might have to adjust them a few more times but 50% of my patients I adjust once they hold their alignment let me keep checking. We’re making sure that they’re getting well that they’re staying in alignment for the first 90 days and then I might check them once a month for a little while and then once every two months. We just keep pushing it out. There’s always going to be a little bit of a scar tissue where the damage was, where the soft tissue was torn, where the joint misaligned and got stuck so it’s never gonna be as strong as the natural tissue was before the injury.  So there’s always a little bit of weakness. That doesn’t mean you have symptoms. That doesn’t mean you have to be adjusted all the time. It just means that you need an occasional checkup to make sure that you’re still in alignment. Even if you’re feeling okay because it may take a while before the symptoms to return.

Visit us at

Blair Chiropractic Clinic

1802 E. 50th Street

Lubbock, Texas 79404

Phone: (806) 747-2735

Posted in Chiropractic Clinic and tagged Blair Chiropractic Clinic, chiropractic adjustment, Lubbock appointment, Lubbock Clinic, Lubbock Texas, Upper Cervical Chiropractic

Multiple Sclerosis and Upper Cervical Chiropractic [Video]

In this video Dr Gordon D. Elder of The Blair Chiropractic Clinic, Lubbock Texas explains how Upper Cervical Chiropractic can be used to help those with Multiple Sclerosis.

Let’s look at Multiple Sclerosis

When I was at school I did a research paper on Multiple Sclerosis. A lot of research in the medical literature and in Chiropractic literature realize that part of the problem in Multiple Sclerosis is related to a neck injury. Almost in all cases. So the few I’ve seen in my office have recovered to a certain degree, it helps them function better. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone improve 100%. There are a couple of different kinds of Multiple Sclerosis and for some people it comes and goes and maybe it just goes for longer periods of time and when it comes it’s not as not as bad or did they need an adjustment and they pull out of it quicker. It’s an interesting disease that we don’t have all the answers to but I know that an upper cervical injury and the neck is part of the key.

Posted in Conditions and tagged chiropractic adjustment, Chiropractor, Lubbock Chiropractor, Lubbock Texas, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Upper Cervical Chiropractic

Meet Dr. Elder

Dr. Gordon Elder has been in practice as a Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractor since 2000.

"Dr. Elder has been my chiropractor for 5 years now. I can't imagine what I would be like without upper cervical chiropractics. I've had a lot of back issues throughout my adult life. This type of chiropractics has healed all of them from herniated discs to a weird rash, even my son's scoliosis. Thank you Dr. Elder for all you've done for me and my family!!! You keep us "balanced"

EDUCATION

Dr. Elder graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cleveland Chiropractic College's Los Angeles Campus in December of 1999.  In addition to his Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree, he holds a Bachelor's degree in Human Biology, is a Fellow of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, and is an Advanced Instructor for the Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic Society.

EXPERIENCE

Dr. Elder was trained by R. Weldon Muncy, D.C., Dr. Blair's designated teaching successor and spent his first year of practice in Dr. Muncy's clinic in Lancaster, California. After over 17 years of practice in Lancaster, Dr. Elder was tapped by E.A. Addington, D.C., Dr. Blair's designated clinical successor to take over the directorship of the original Blair Chiropractic Clinic in Lubbock, Texas.

Dr. Elder has also served in various ways in the Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic Society, most notably in the design and organization of the testing system used to certify proficiency and instructors in the Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic Technique.

Head Carriage

n my office I have a 12 pound shot put. It fits in my hand nicely but it is heavy!  In fact, I think the shipping cost was as much as the original price! It is a bright, shining brass color, but as I didn’t buy it to throw, I’m not worried about marring the finish! I keep it near my feet by my standing desk and I occasionally rest my foot on top of it and roll it around. But I didn’t buy it for that either. I bought it to replace three bowling balls (10, 13 and 14 pounds). As if that explains anything!

Did you know your head is roughly the size and shape of a bowling ball?

Imagine holding up a bowling ball and almost, but not quite, resting it on your shoulder. You could probably hold it there comfortably for quite a while. However, if you were to straighten your elbow a little so that the bowling ball was in front of your shoulder by about 12 inches – how long could you hold that position? After a few moments your forearm and shoulder would start to ache and you’d feel pressure pulling that ball down.

Looking at you from the side, your head is designed to be centered directly above the main part of your body. If it is as much as one inch forward it roughly doubles in weight! Or at least that’s how it feels to your neck.Imagine carrying that around all day! Enough to cover all sorts of aches and pains throughout the body if done day after day, month after month, year after year!

Posted in Chiropractic Clinic and tagged neck, pressure, strain

Common Posture Problems and Upper Cervical Chiropractic [Video]

In this video, Dr Gordon D. Elder of The Blair Chiropractic Clinic in Lubbock Texas explains how Upper Cervical Chiropractic can help common posture problems.

Common postural problems of people who have neck problems will have can be many and varied. This is because when your body is trying to protect the nerves that are going through your neck and it changes your posture there’s going to be different stress points so the most common ones are neck pain, causing headaches. The middle of the back between the shoulder blades can have issues because that curve in your back can sometimes increase or decrease and put extra stress in there. It can curve from left or right which is what we call a scoliosis.

One of the biggest ones is the low back because you’re standing on level ground and gravity is pulling you down and you’ve got this foundation that’s your pelvis. Then if your body is twisted on top of your pelvis that’s going to be a really big stress point right in the low back. For most people who have low back pain, the problem starts in the neck. If you treat the low back that can help and sometimes is necessary but if you don’t treat the neck, often you have to keep treating the low back over and over and over again just to feel good unless you can get that neck corrected too.

Posted in Chiropractic and tagged back, Blair Chiropractic Clinic, chiropractic adjustment, Chiropractor, Lubbock Chiropractor, neck, Upper Cervical Chiropractic