Here's what's in this week's Health Ezine:

1. Personal Happenings 

2. Feature Article - Discs

3. Doctored - The Official Movie Trailer

4. Oven Fries

5. Recommendations - ConvertBot

6. Upcoming Events

 

Personal Happenings:

 

 

Last week was a week of settling back into a regular flow of life. After the trips to Seattle and Joplin, Missouri.....I've had enough for a little while. Time to decompress. It was a good weekend to just sit at home and do very little. 

 

Except that's not the way it happened. My wife decided that we'd have a costume party last Friday night.  Don't judge...LOL. It was a good time and lots of fun. I would share pictures but I'd be afraid you would share them. LOL. 

 

The dogs are mostly getting along. It's been pretty interesting to watch the interaction and how they decide who the boss is. I'll tell you how it works. The great dane is bigger and meaner so she's the boss. Pretty simple really. Sampson is afraid of his own shadow so he's going to be the one taking orders. At least that's what it looks like for now. Although, I've seen him get fairly aggressive with her here and there so maybe it's not totally settled at this point. I'll keep you updated. 

 

They are both beautiful dogs. Jewel is a challenge though. She has separation anxiety which causes her to try to tear up our back door if she's left alone for 10 seconds. It'll wear a person out a little. But she's great at going to her crate when it's time. She's perfect on a leash. She knows sit, lay, leave it, drop it, and shake. Pretty good stuff so far. 

 

On another completely random topic, most of you know that I'm a guitar player. But, I also enjoy drawing, doing charcoal portraits, sculpting, and other scattered creative things like that. I recently came across a guy that I think is amazing. I bought some instructional materials from him. Someday, if things work out, you'll see little statues and things hanging around the office. LOL. We'll see. I'm not sure how you have heads and sculptures and things around your office without it looking creepy but I'm sure I'll come up with something. : )

 

Here are some of his YouTube videos. He is just outstanding!

 

 

Sculpting The Aging Process

Sculpting The Art Critic

Crazy, by Philippe Faraut

Meth-Amorphosis

 

I promise to not do the "Crazy" guy and put it in the office. LOL. I stumbled on these one day and was just amazed at this guy's talent. Anyway, I think this may be my new interest when I'm away from the office and have some extra time on my hands.....which sounds good in theory but rarely happens. I'm going to give it a try though. I hope you enjoyed the videos. They're fun. I think it's important to continue to learn. So, this is my new way of trying to do that. 

 

Random Dog Pics

 

Happy Tuesday and have a great rest of the week!

    

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Feature Article 

Disc Issues & Spinal Decompression

For more info, visit www.amarillodecompression.com

The feature article is on spinal decompression this week and it's only partly because I have a decompression table. The main reason is that I get questions about it ALL the time so it's obviously a bit unknown. I'm going to try to remedy that. 

 

Damaged, degenerative, bulging, herniated, and ruptured spinal discs are among the most common causes of lower back pain, leg pain, leg numbness, or weakness, neck pain, arm pain, and arm numbness or weakness. It's a medical fact that damaged discs, which bulge or protrude as a result, seldom retract on their own because they are always subject to gravity and are under constant internal pressure. 

 

Many patients are recovering more quickly and more completely than previously possible using Non-surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy. This exciting new therapy relieves pressure on vital structures of the spine by reducing pressure inside the discs. In many cases this allows the body to actually repair some of the damage inside the discs and other joints of the spine. Previously, treatments were only aimed at relieving pain & getting things to heal. This means that many patients have been able to return to a more active lifestyle than they had previously imagined. 

 

Why we need healthy spinal discs. 

 

 

The bones of the spine (vertebrae) are separated and cushioned from one another by highly specialized tissues called discs, which vary in thickness between one eighth inch in the neck and just under one-half inch in the low back. Discs help form windows between vertebrae so spinal nerves can exit, fan out, and serve all areas and organs of the body with vital nerve energy. Discs let the spine bend in daily living while they absorb the everyday knocks, shocks, and bumps to the spine - similar to the way an automobile tire constantly "gives" and recovers while running on a bumpy road. 

 

 

 

A Disc's Unique Structure

 

It is the disc's structure - a tough outer wall surrounding a gel-like core - that allows the disc to "bounce back" repeatedly. 

 

The wall is made up of layers of elastic tissues, crisscrossed for strength like an auto tire. This wall encases the disc's core. 

 

The gel-like core is under considerable internal pressure. This gives the disc most of it's "bounce" much like an inflated tire. Unfortunately, the internal pressure also contributes to the disc's own distress if the disc is damaged, herniates, or ruptures.  

 

Damaged discs seldom retract on their own because they are always subject to gravity and are under constant internal pressure. 

 

 Causes Of Disc Distress

1. •Some disc problems are caused by injury. 
   

2. •Some result from repeated occupational stress over a period of time such as sitting or standing in a harmful way. 
   

3. •Some disc problems develop very slowly through disc degeneration and thinning - a process so gradual as to establish the disc problem well before pain and other symptoms demand attention.
   

 

 

Spinal Decompression Table Is Specific For Disc Disorders

 

Seldom do damaged spinal discs heal without proper treatment because the discs are constantly under the internal pressure that contributed to the dis problem in the first place. With state-of-the-art treatment using a Spinal Decompression Table as a treatment option, along with pain relief and healing, your body may be able to repair some of the damage produced by this constant pressure. 

 

 

DECOMPRESSION THERAPY RELIEVES PAIN WHILE TREATING THE UNDERLYING CAUSE. 

 

1. •Therapy on a Spinal Decompression Table creates negative pressures inside the herniated, bulging disc letting it retract naturally, thus relieving disc pressure on spinal nerves. This usually brings welcome relief from pain. 
   

2. •Reducing pressure in the disc also reinstates the natural transfer of surrounding fluids, nutrients, and oxygen into the disc, a process essential for disc health. 
   

3. •Tears in the disc's wall can now repair themselves while nutrients introduced back into the disc's nucleus can reverse the disc's degeneration and it's collapse, and restore disc height which relieves pressure on inflamed spinal joints.  
   

4. •During normal activities, the pressure inside the lumbar discs typically ranges between 100mm/HG to 300mm/HG
   

5. •Spinal disc decompression can reduce the pressure inside the discs to approximately -150mm/HG, shrinking disc herniations, and drawing in necessary fluids and nutrients.
   

Spinal Decompression Treatment

1. •Fully clothed, patients are comfortably positioned on the table for a gentle computer-controlled tractioning procedure to reduce the disc's internal pressure.
   

2. •A typical treatment session consists of 15-20 minutes of decompression often combined with chiropractic adjustments and 15 or so minutes of therapy such as low-level laser, complex electrical stimulation and exercise rehabilitation for a faster and longer lasting response. 
   

3. •The process is painless. It is not uncommon for patients to fall asleep during treatment. 
   

4. •Get relief of symptoms quickly. Many patients begin to get relief in a s few as 6-10 sessions and patients generally fully recover in 25-40 sessions The average recommendation is about 25 sessions, ideally done daily with a rest on weekends. 
   

5. •At the conclusion of the treatment series, when the disc injury has been corrected, patients are continued on mobilization and strengthening exercises and periodically reevaluated to avoid repeat injury. 
   

6. •After only a few weeks of treatment, research and our own clinical experience has shown outstanding results in relief from the debilitating pain caused by damaged, degenerative, bulging, herniated, or ruptured discs, as well as sciatica, posterior facet syndrome, spinal stenosis, and some failed back surgery cases Most patients are able to return to normal or even enhanced levels of activity at work or recreation in just a few weeks. 
   

Cold Laser Enhanced Spinal Decompression Therapy

This is the best of the best. 

Cold laser works on the cellular level to decrease the time it takes to heal. So, if the outer ring of the disc normally takes 300-500 days to heal, then cold laser can help it to heal 3-6 times faster. Meaning, we can potentially reduce the healing time of the disc ring to 50-100 days!

Spinal Decompression created the negative vacuum that brings the disc more to the center; closer to where it belongs. The Cold Laser does it's part by helping the outer margin of the disc repair more quickly and in a more permanent and durable fashion to better maintain the new found disc health for a better, more complete, and longer lasting result. 

And finally....

Non-surgical Spinal Decompression Facts

1. •Non-surgical - safe and painless.
   

2. •Studies report that many patients reported good to excellent relief of their symptoms (as many as 86%)
   

3. •Works to repair damage and correct the underlying problem, not just relieve ymptoms. 
   

4. •Definite and circumscribed treatment period leading to recovery.
   

5. •Spinal Decompression is usually not covered by health insurance plans. 
   

6. •Adjustments and other therapies used in conjunction usually are covered by health insurance plans. 
   

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 Here's the movie the whole chiropractic profession has been waiting for. It makes a very solid and compelling case for the integration of conservative and natural treatment along with traditional medical care. 

 

As I've said before, I have a family member that is an invasive radiologist. I go to my family M.D. at least 2 times a year. I am not anti-M.D. at all. However, I do not feel that the mentality of "a pill for this and a pill for that" is the right way. In many cases, there are conservative and natural answers. Plain and simple.

 

The movie is in select theaters as of last week!

 

Watch the official trailer by clicking the movie below:

[OFFICIAL TRAILER] Doctored

 

 

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Oven Fries

These easy-to-make fries are very versatile: sprinkle with garlic or chili powder halfway through baking, or sprinkle with chopped fresh herbs before serving.

This recipe has 1696 reviews and a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. That's means they're pretty good!

Ingredients

 

2 large uncooked potato(es), baking-variety, cut into 16 long wedges each   

1 Tbsp canola oil   

1/2 tsp kosher salt, plus more for serving   

Instructions

1. •Place oven rack in top third of oven. Preheat oven to 400ºF. Line a large baking sheet with nonstick foil (for easy clean-up) or coat with cooking spray.  
   

2. •Place potatoes on prepared pan; drizzle with oil and toss to coat. Spread potatoes into a single layer; bake for 20 minutes.   
   

3. •Remove potatoes from oven; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Flip potatoes and arrange in a single layer; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt.  
   

4. •Return pan to oven; bake until potatoes are golden, about 15 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and serve. Yields about 8 fries per serving.
   

Notes

1. •Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired
   

http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeid=225411&sc=11

 

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ConvertBot

 

I have had this app on my phone from Day #1. I don't really use it all of the time but, when I have that rare occasion that I need it, it's invaluable. 

 

Description

Convertbot is a unit conversion robot. Convert currency, length, mass, time and much more in an exciting new way! Converting numbers will never again be a mundane task. In addition to its innovative interface, our robot is smart enough to convert to and from mixed units. Are you 5 foot 9 inches tall? Other converters require you to convert that to 5.75 ft in your head before being able to enter it. Convertbot allows mixed units like Foot + Inches, Pounds + Ounces, and more! Download the unit converter from the makers of the award-winning Weightbot today!

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Visit tapbots.com for demos and more information. And visit tapbots.com/convertbot/units.php for a full listing of units supported.

From the makers of Weightbot and Pastebot...

 

 

Jeff S. Williams, D.C.

Amarillo Chiropractors

http://www.amarillopain.com