How To Choose The Right Chiropractor

Though there could be the need to hire a quality chiropractor in Frisco Texas, you must know how to choose the right service providers. Not many people have the right experience and expertise in this field and therefore they could end up making the wrong choice. We are therefore happy to share some useful and proven tips. We certainly believe that the steps mentioned over the next few lines could be helpful in making the right choice for these professionals. It will help you to separate the good from the not-so-good so that you get the right relief and also the right value for money.

 The Importance Of Referrals

 It would always be better to get referrals from family members, neighbors, colleagues, and friends. You could also take inputs from your primary doctor and at times he or she could offer the best possible Frisco Chiropractic Center. Further, when checking the chiropractors, it would be ideal to find out if they have insurance coverage. This could come in handy if as a customer you raise your insurance claim once the treatment is completed successfully. You must also not hesitate in making a quality check on these professionals to be sure that you are able to get the best value for money from them.

 Look For Experience And Expertise

 You must pay quite a bit of attention and importance to the overall experience and expertise of chiropractors. Experienced professionals will be in a much better position to find out more about the problems and physical conditions of the patients based on their statements and also by actual physical examination. This skill set does not come immediately after the chiropractors have come out of the training centers. It comes only with a lot of practical experience. Therefore, it would always be better to look for chiropractors who carry with them at least 10 to 15 years of experience and expertise.

Look For Credentials And Feedback

 Most of these professionals must have their own websites if they are really serious about their business. It would be always prudent on your part as a customer to visit such websites. You should try and look for feedback from their clients and the more the number of such genuine feedback from customers, the better you can find their services when things get difficult and demanding.

 Do They Offer Home-Based Services

 You would also do well to look for chiropractors who are ready to offer their services at the doorsteps of their clients. This is very important especially if you have patients who are aged or are not fully fit to travel to the clinic of the chiropractors. Talking about clinics, chiropractors should ensure that it is well-located and has the best of infrastructure and facilities. It should also have an experienced and supportive team to help out the main chiropractors.

 Offering Guaranteed Results

 Though offering guaranteed results may not be always possible, there are quite a few such professionals who are ready to offer some amount of warranty and guarantee for their clients. It would be advisable to look for such clients.

The above are just a few examples that one should bear in mind while identifying these professionals.

Contact Us:

Taylor Family Chiropractic
Address: 8501 Wade Blvd, Suite 240 Frisco, TX 75034
Phone:(214) 387-7883

Sisterhood: The Weapon Against Cervical Cancer

From the moment she was diagnosed, April Bay reached out to the strong women in her life for support to help her fight her fight. They came bearing weapons of love and support.

She sits in a circle of women at a recent support group. Her ears are open, her eyes are focused but April Bay knows that her strongest support comes from family. Her older sister, Teresa Farmer sits next to her—close enough to hold a hand or wrap an arm around her sagging shoulders.

That’s the way it’s been since day one.

Bay lives in Greenwood and Farmer lives in Noblesville, but when the call came, Farmer dropped everything and away she went—to be with her sister. It was August of 2018 and Bay, 52, had been experiencing some back pain. When the pain got worse she made an appointment with her primary physician. At first they thought she might have diverticulitis, an intestinal inflammation triggered by certain foods. As a precaution, her doctor ordered a CT scan. The screening showed a mass on her uterus.

She was immediately scheduled for more testing, including a biopsy. The tests showed that the mass extended outside her uterus. She had cervical cancer.

This month during Cervical Cancer Awareness Month healthcare providers highlight issues related to the disease that impacts the lives of nearly 13,000 women across the United States. In recent years, two areas of interest have been promoted to reduce the risk of cervical cancer – vaccination and testing. HPV vaccines help prevent infection from both HPV types that can lead to cervical cancer. The CDC recommends all boys and girls get the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12. The vaccine produces a stronger immune response when taken in the teen years. A Pap test can generally detect changes in the cervix caused by HPV. But HPV is not the only cause of cervical cancer. A weakened immune system and certain lifestyle choices such as smoking can also create an increased risk of cervical cancer.

Bay kept up on her regular pelvic exams and had recently had a vaginal ultrasound and Pap test when she was experiencing some cramping. The tests came back normal.

“My advice to women is to know your body. Your body does give you signs that something can be wrong,” said Bay. “I was up to date on my Pap test and mammogram, but cancer doesn’t discriminate.”

So when she learned she has cervical cancer, it came as a complete shock.

“At first we thought she’d have a hysterectomy and life would go on,” said her sister. The family has no history of cancer. By Labor Day Weekend, Bay was hospitalized with increased calcium levels – a result of a benign parathyroid tumor. She was released after the initial hospital stay but was readmitted two weeks later. More nodules were discovered on her lungs. Under the care of IU Health hematologist/oncologist Dr. S. Hamid Sayar, Bay began chemotherapy—a routine that continues every three weeks. So far the treatments are working. The nodules are shrinking significantly and the back pain has subsided said Bay.

As she spends long days at IU Health Simon Cancer Center Bay’s family circles up like a fortress. Along with her sister—five years older—she has a brother Greg, two years older. Her parents Earl and Martha DeRiter also attend her infusions and doctor appointments along with her son, Chris Bay. She also has two grandchildren that she says she idolizes.

“Every day we congregated waiting for the doctors to come in,” said Farmer. “We didn’t want April to be by herself. We wanted a group to hear everything.” Like a big sister, Farmer has gracefully stepped into the role of organizer and along the way they have all found humor to help them cope. Farmer tells the story of how she once called an Uber to transport her parents from their Greenwood home to IU Health Simon Cancer Center. Her mother later announced that they got a ride from “Udder” to take them to the hospital.

Martha DeRiter relates how her two girls once fought so much as youngsters that the family converted the dining room into a second bedroom to separate them. As they got older the girls played softball together and can remember sneaking in the house after they had been out past curfew.

After college, Farmer moved away from home and lived in Georgia for a number of years. She’s glad to be back in Indiana now. “I sometimes wonder if it’s my calling to be a caregiver,” she said. The sisters enjoy many family activities together – joining their parents for beach vacations in Florida, attending Colts games, exploring local wine trails, and playing at the casinos. They celebrated Bay’s 50th birthday with a trip to Las Vegas.

When Bay’s hair began to fall out, the family drank wine and planned a hair-cutting party.

“She’s my rock. She never complains,” said Farmer. “I have my tasks – to get her water, make sure she’s comfortable, and let the nurses know if she needs something.” Along with their mom, Farmer has been by her sister’s side every appointment, every infusion.

“It’s like April has made our family closer,” said Farmer. “We’ve always been a family who cares and now we show it even more,” said DeRiter.

For Bay, it’s her family who has been her rock: “I keep moving forward because of their support. They keep me looking to the future.”

— By T.J. Banes, Journalist, IU Health.
   Reach Banes via email tfender1@iuhealth.org.

Salute to a young man’s perseverance after devastating diagnosis

Teen’s dream of joining the Navy may be over, but he is ready to tackle new challenges.

Since he was a little boy, Michael Anderson has wanted to join the military. Both of his grandpas were in the service, as was his great-grandfather, and he was eager to be a part of that honored tradition.

As he got older, the Putnam County teen set his sights on the U.S. Navy, where he hoped to train to become a nuclear engineer. He was winding up his high school career last year, just days before he was to sign his enlistment papers, when everything changed.

Last January, Michael began having severe headaches and suffering what appeared to be flu symptoms. Doctors diagnosed a migraine and prescribed medication, but the next day he was worse. He called his mom from school and asked her to take him to the emergency room at Putnam County Hospital.

Her son, a wrestler and four-wheeler racer, has a pretty high tolerance for pain, said Kellie Lowry, so she knew something was wrong. A CT scan revealed the awful truth. The doctor said the teen had an “aggressive” tumor on his brain. He recommended Michael be airlifted to IU Health Methodist Hospital.

It was a whirlwind for Lowry and for Michael’s dad, Mike Anderson. The surgery to remove a cavernous angioma, a cluster of blood vessels that had begun to leak into his brain, took place Jan. 25, 2018. Michael was left paralyzed on his left side.

During that dark time, Lowry said the hospital staff took good care of Michael, “but I’d say their waiting room chairs aren’t the best to sleep in.”

Six days later, he was transferred to Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana, where he vowed to leave his wheelchair behind.

After three weeks of intense therapy, Michael proudly walked out of RHI with the aid of a cane. But his journey was just beginning.

For the past 10 months, he has been undergoing therapy at Neuro-Rehabilitation & Robotics at the IU Health Neuroscience Center to regain the use of his left arm and to improve his balance when he walks.

“He started at zero,” Mike Anderson said of his son. “He had nothing on his left side at all.”

It was a hard thing to see, the elder Anderson admits. Father and son have spent years on the Midget car racing circuit, traveling up and down the East Coast.

“We’ve raced go-karts and four-wheelers since he was four years old,” Anderson said, as he watched Michael struggle to step over obstacles during a physical therapy session. “He was number one in the nation in his class two years ago.”

Today, Michael can walk without a cane, though his gait is still unsteady. He can move his arm and hand, but he has a long way to go to regain full function.

Occupational therapist Rachel Lower said Michael came to her already in better shape than most of her patients. He was otherwise healthy, young and fit. And he was motivated. But teaching an arm to work again is a lot harder than it sounds.

“Everything we do is just automatic, right?” Lower said. “You reach for a glass of water and you don’t think about what your arm is doing. But it’s so complex. You have to extend your elbow, you have to keep your wrist in neutral, you have to open your hand, you have to flex your shoulder. So many movements go into just reaching for a glass of water.”

The rest of us don’t have to think about any of that, she said. “But Michael has to think about every single one of those movements and break down the task in order to be successful.”

To help him, she works to isolate certain movements and muscles, sometimes with the aid of a robot, which forces his arm and hand to manipulate a controller to play a video game.

To give his parents a window into his world, the soft-spoken teen challenged them to go without using one arm for a period of time. For starters, mom couldn’t crochet, and dad couldn’t tie his shoes.

Michael smiles when he sees his parents watching him as he walks backward on a treadmill during therapy. He’s a young man of few words anyway, but his brain is also working double time to remind his limbs what to do, so he stays focused.

Seeing how far he’s come has been amazing for both of his parents to watch, but along the way, he decided to let go of his Navy dream, accepting that he might never be in top physical shape again.

There were a lot of tears, but they weren’t Michael’s; they were his mom’s.

“I still cry every day,” she said, but not in front of her son. His determination has been an inspiration to her.

“He’s done fabulous with his attitude throughout. He’s a strong young man.”

The fact that he was a high school wrestler in excellent physical shape has helped him on the road to recovery. As an athlete, he knows his body very well, Lower said. He is strong and flexible, and his attitude is critical to his success.

But Mike Anderson is leaving nothing to chance. He built a small gym in his garage so Michael has a place to work out between his therapy sessions. He hired a personal trainer for his son. And one more thing: Quitting is not an option.

“He may not always want to do something, but he never gives up,” his mom said.

Same goes for school. Michael, who celebrated his 19th birthday last week, could have finished out the school year at home, but he chose to go back to Greencastle High School, where he graduated with his class last May. The month before, he was crowned prom king.

“He just does what he’s gotta do,” said Mike Anderson. “It’s all coming, but it’s slower than we expected or hoped.”

Recovery is unique to each individual, Lower said. Despite his post-surgery paralysis, Michael came into rehab at the Neuroscience Center fairly independent. But because he is so high-functioning, he may feel that in some areas he is far from fully recovered, she said, while in others, he can check them off and say, “yes, I can do all of those things.”

Regardless, she said, “Therapy’s not for life. Michael is working with a trainer, he’s going to college, he’s moving on.”

Michael has decided to enroll at Indiana State University in the fall to study civil engineering.

“Life is slower,” he said, “but I can still enjoy it.”

— By Maureen Gilmer, IU Health senior journalist
   Email: mgilmer1@iuhealth.org

How Choosing a Chiropractor Would Prove Beneficial to You

The spine of a human body plays an important by enabling an upright stance thereby being one of the factors which differentiate the humans from the rest of the livings things. A problematic spine, back or a neck does hamper the daily functioning of an individual. Research shows that back pain, especially the lower back pain causes more disability across the world when compared to any other cause. Studies indicate that 80 % of the population in America having back problems at some point in their life and the numbers on a constant rise across the world.

Spinal Problems and Their Treatment: There are many reasons for the cause of Spinal and other muscular problems. The major ones being, sports injuries, improper posture, sudden movement of the body with more strain on the lower back etc. There are various relief options that are available, for the people to seek relief from the back pain. These methods include medication, surgery, controlled manipulation etc. The prudence of choosing any of these options is based on various aspects like the severity of the pain, the physical situation of the patient, the financial position etc. While medication does provide relief for some time, it does not help to resolve the cause of the back pain. Surgical procedures are cost and risk intensive and not advisable for all the patients suffering from back pain. One of the better options which a large section of the people opts for is Chiropractic care.

Chiropractic Care – A Better Option: The Oklahoma City chiropractor usually use hands-on manipulation spine trick and a few other treatments to determine and help getting rid of back pain. The focus is to treat the cause of the pain rather than focus only on temporary relief. The rationale behind the chiropractic care is proper and correct alignment of the human body’s musculoskeletal structure, mostly the spine, which enables the body to cure itself. This process removes the need for having surgery and except rarely the need for medication. The hands-on manipulation is used by the chiropractor to bring the mobility of joints back which are restricted by the injuries to the tissues. The causes could include stress due to a tragic event or repetitive stress caused by a continuous bad posture over a period of time. Chiropractic care is generally used as an alternative to relieve severe pain.

Chiropractor for Your Benefit: The Sports Injuries chiropractic care is generally considered to be a safe method with research findings showing that applying moderate pressure as done by a chiropractor is effective in relieving acute back pain which is more common. Typically, a chiropractor comes up with an individual treatment plan based on the physical examination and referring to medical and diagnostic reports. The individual plan includes nutritional advice, customized exercises, and physical regimen along with their hands on spinal manipulation treatment.

A safer method of treatment, the lasting relief that can be achieved, and the individual focus provided by the chiropractor to design the treatment in accordance with the ailment makes having a chiropractor a beneficial option.

Elledge Chiropractic & Acupuncture Offers Following Services :

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Chiropractor Oklahoma City

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Former CNN Anchor – Research Brought Him To IU Health

He spent years reporting some of the most significant events in US history. David (Dave) Kirschner knows that the world isn’t as big as it might at first seem, and getting the best healthcare can be as close as one day of travel.

The assassination of the Kennedy brothers and Martin Luther King Jr.; the terrorist attacks of 9/11; and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina are all part of Kirschner’s career in journalism.

They all became more global than local – connected by world news reports.

Kirschner obtained his journalism degree from the University of Florida but has been interested in news and current events since his teen years.

“At age 13 I was fascinated with local disc jockeys and used to hang around the radio stations in Savannah, Ga. where I grew up,” said Kirschner who now lives in Atlanta. He was a disc jockey in college and then launched his career at Atlanta’s WSB-Radio.

“I was just out of college, 22-years-old, had been there two weeks when John F. Kennedy was shot. I thought I’d never cover any bigger news story and then 9/11 happened,” said Kirschner. He went on to work as an editor and anchor at CNN Radio Network, where he also reported the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He retired in 2008.

About the same time he had a prostate cancer scare.

“My family knows my history of research when it comes to medical issues,” said Kirschner, who has been married to his wife Elaine for almost 50 years. Together they have a son and a daughter and three grandchildren. “That scare was several years ago. My urologist didn’t give me much hope so my journalism skills kicked in and I plowed my way through the Internet and went to two other out-of-state doctors. It turned out to be nothing but my family knows I’ll get on a plane and go where the best doctors are,” said Kirschner, 77.

So when Kirschner was diagnosed with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) he began researching the best treatment options. Also known as enlarged prostate, the condition causes the prostate to squeeze the urethra weakening the bladder. Over time the bladder can lose the ability to empty completely.  

Kirschner’s local urologist suggested a Transurethral Resection of the prostate (TURP). The procedure involves using a special instrument to trim away excess prostate tissue blocking the urine flow.

“My father had the TURP. It’s a major surgery and I swore I would not have it. I started researching alternatives and found HoLEP and Dr. Amy Krambeck at IU Health,” said Kirschner. IU Health was the first hospital in the United States to offer HoLEP.  Dr. James Lingeman brought the procedure from New Zealand in the late 90’s. IU Health also provides the largest training program for HoLEP in the U.S. taking two 2-year fellows a year, said Dr. Krambeck. She performs approximately 200-250 procedures per year or 15-20 cases per month.

Holmium Laser Prostrate Surgery (HoLep) is a modern alternative for patients with bladder outflow obstruction. It is less invasive and requires a shorter hospital stay than the TURP procedure.

“In general, to master the HoLEP procedure it requires specialized training.  Most physicians who offer HoLEP have done a 1-2 year fellowship training program, said Dr. Krambeck. “Other physicians who offer the surgery may have taken a mini fellowship or other types of specialized training.” She estimates fewer that 100 surgeons in the US perform HoLEP.

The best candidates are patients with an obstructing prostate, said Dr. Krambeck. HoLep can be performed in patients who have failed other procedures, such as TURP, Rezum, UroLift, and can also safely be performed in patients on blood thinners for other conditions, said Dr. Krambeck. “No prostate is too small or too large for HoLEP.”

After reading abstracts and researching the procedure, Kirschner set his mind to coming to IU Health as a patient of Dr. Krambeck.

Accompanied by his son, Kirschner flew to Indianapolis on Nov. 15, 2018 and after one night’s hospital stay, he returned home to Atlanta. “I was going to stay in Indianapolis a few more days to make sure I was fully recovered but Dr. Krambeck saw no reason for me to delay my return. I was doing fine. This is a doctor I didn’t see until the day before surgery, but she has it mapped out for people from out of town. Everything I had read and researched was true.”

Even for a man who has covered major events around the globe, the thought of a hospital stay was intimidating.

“I haven’t been in the hospital that much. The last time I had general anesthesia was 20 years ago. I was petrified,” said Kirschner.  “Before surgery I told Dr. Zachary Cohen, my anesthesiologist, about my fears and he listened and helped calm my nerves. When I woke up there was no nausea, no vomiting, no after effects,” said Kirschner. In a letter of appreciation, he listed each person who took part in his surgery from IV to recovery, including Dr. Krambeck’s assistant, nurse Ashley Ross.

“I have friends who go to the doctor and the doctor says ‘this is what we need to do’ and they do it. I’m a different breed of cat,” said Kirschner. “I have doctors who say to do something and then I go home and research. My job led me to do research so I’ve learned to get second and third opinions. I can’t say enough about IU Health. The staff was amazing and even the food was good. I feel like I hit the jackpot and I would refer anyone to IU Health and Dr. Krambeck.”

— By T.J. Banes, Journalist, IU Health.
   Reach Banes via email tfender1@iuhealth.org.

She knew her body, and she knew something was wrong

School principal is recovering after treatment for ovarian cancer.

Moira Clark has always taken care of herself. She watches her weight, eats the right kinds of foods and exercises. So when her body quietly started telling her something was wrong, she listened.

The bloating in her abdomen, the gastrointestinal issues – they weren’t normal for her. And she refused to dismiss the changes as simply a natural part of getting older.

She told her doctor, “Something is wrong.” She was 15 pounds heavier than she’d ever been, even when she was pregnant years earlier. Yet, she couldn’t eat much. It got to the point where even an orange would leave her feeling full.

A colonoscopy revealed nothing, but Clark wasn’t satisfied. She went back to the doctor, who offered to schedule a CT scan. Within hours, she had the answer. A tumor in her ovaries. It was cancer.

Breast cancer gets a lot of attention; ovarian cancer, not so much. Clark herself didn’t know much about it. But the insidious disease didn’t get the nickname “silent killer” for nothing.

“When I was diagnosed, I didn’t know to be scared,” she said. She was frightened of the word cancer, of course, but she didn’t know then how ovarian cancer sneaks up on its victims, quietly doing its damage before a woman is any the wiser. Doctors refer to it as asymptomatic, and in many if not most cases, they don’t find it until it is in late stage 3 or stage 4, when it is most difficult to treat.

“What happened to me was I started to get this bloating around my middle,” said Clark, 62. “My normal weight gain was never around my middle. It was in my hips and thighs, so I knew that wasn’t right. But for many women who do gain in their middle, they might think it’s normal and they don’t go soon enough to the doctor. By the time they find it, it’s too late.”

Clark’s cancer was stage 3, but Dr. Jeanne Schilder, a gynecological oncologist with IU Health University Hospital, told Clark she was lucky. She wasn’t a typical stage 3 patient because there were no tumors growing outside of her reproductive organs, though there were microscopic cancer cells found in her lymph nodes.

“I think that was because I advocated for myself because I knew that what was happening to my body was not normal for me,” Clark said. “Then I told my story. I reached out to my sorority sisters, to my neighbors, to my co-workers, to my family.”

One surgery and six chemotherapy treatments later at IU Health Simon Cancer Center, Clark returned to work as principal of Maplewood Elementary in Wayne Township in July. It does her heart good (not to mention her mind and body) to be back at school, where 100 staff members and 800 children cheered her on during her treatment.

“From the day I left March 1 until I returned to school in mid-July, I got a card, a letter, an email, a text from someone in this building every day,” said the 2015 Indiana Principal of the Year.

One student even dyed his hair teal (the color for ovarian cancer awareness) in her honor.

Words fail her initially when she is asked about her experience at the Simon Cancer Center.

“I can’t tell you enough wonderful things about it. I just found it to be an extraordinary experience,” she said. “I felt like I could call anytime and they would call me back, and it was very personalized care. They focused on taking care of the whole person.”

Being a cancer survivor comes with new responsibilities, in her mind. Mainly, educating others. So she shares her story with friends, neighbors and colleagues, with anyone who will listen. Not to get attention, but to raise awareness of a disease that is diagnosed in an estimated 20,000 women in the U.S. every year. The five-year survival rate for all types of ovarian cancer is 47 percent, according to the American Cancer Society, but the longer it goes undetected, the worse the odds.

She is adamant that women speak up for themselves if they fear something is not right. And despite the general agreement that a Pap test (which can detect cervical cancer) is not needed annually, a pelvic exam is still important, she said.

Because of her willingness to talk about her illness, Clark inspired two other women in her circle to seek testing after each recognized the same symptoms in their bodies. Tumors were found in both women – one was not cancerous, the other was found at stage 1. Both are on their way to a full recovery.

“It’s about advocating and not being afraid to tell your story,” Clark said. “It’s about using your voice.”

Throughout her journey, she has been task-oriented, focused on the next step in treatment, not allowing her emotions to get the best of her.

In fact, the one and only time she cried was after she finished chemo, she said. It was a phone call from a hospital scheduler that prompted it. She needed to go in for another CT scan.

“I said, ‘Oh, OK, a CT scan.’ I got off the phone and burst into tears,” she said. “It was because I had the memory of the first CT scan, and I wasn’t feeling well, and it was a horrible experience. All those memories came flooding back.”

But this scan came back clear, and for that, Clark is grateful. As she greets kindergartners in the school library on a Monday afternoon, she is reminded of how much she loves her life and her job.

The few months she took off during her illness taught her something. “I learned that I don’t want to retire. I love it here. We have such purpose, and you can feel the love.”

And she learned something else.

“Once you have cancer, you realize how many people get cancer every day. When you’re on the front end of it and you don’t know what the experience will bring, for a survivor to say ‘you can get through this,’ that’s super important.”

— By Maureen Gilmer, IU Health senior journalist
   Email: mgilmer1@iuhealth.org

How to Relieve Stress Neck Pain – Useful Tips And Suggestions

Stress is something that has become an integral part of our daily lives. Stress could be attributed to various reasons and it could be because of work-pressure related problems and even problems in the domestic front. Stress manifests itself in many ways and thousands of people could suffer from stress neck pain and for many, it could be partially or even totally debilitating. According to Frisco chiropractor and experts beginning from the skull to the topmost portion of the shoulders, there are chances that the neck could become a center of pain. In many cases, the pain is caused by worries and stress. Unfortunately for many, the underlying reason does not get noticed and this could create many problems. Hence we will try and find out ways and means by which this problem can be addressed effectively.

Important To Understand How Pain And Stress Are Related

Put in plain and simple words, any pain that is aggravated by emotional or psychological factors could be classified as pain caused by stress and tension. There could be situations where an initial pain in the neck could have been caused by injuries to the tissues or muscles of the neck. However, if the pain continues beyond a reasonable period of time and drags onto weeks then it is important to find out the underlying cause. In many cases, it could be attributed to some hidden factors and more often than not stress could be the culprit. This is a typical situation where the pain continues even after the injured tissue or muscle has healed. Hence one needs to understand that there is a close connection between stress and pain, especially in the neck and shoulder areas.

Chronic Pain – Things To Be Aware

Experts are of the opinion that neck pain that is induced by stress is caused after all by physical factors. It is believed that there is always a constant but low level of activity happening in and around the Trapezius muscles. These muscles stretch to the upper shoulders from the back of the neck. ChiropractorFrisco Texas experts also have researched and found out that muscle activity and neck pain very rarely have a correlation except in the cases of injury caused by external or internal reasons. Hence, there are good reasons to believe that in most of the cases, nagging neck pain occurs because of increased levels of stress and tension. Unless this is understood well and the root cause is identified, the next level of treatment would be difficult.

Learn To Go Slow And Prioritize

Life is hectic for most of us and this could be the main reason for stress and tension. This leads to its obvious manifestations and neck pain is one of them. Hence, one needs to take things easy and they should learn to prioritize the tasks. Taking a few days off and relaxing in some beach or hill resorts would not be a bad idea.

Conclusion

Hence at the end of the day, there are many ways and means by which stress-related neck pain can be effectively managed, tackled and perhaps even cured in many cases.

Contact US:

Taylor Family Chiropractic

Address:8501 Wade Blvd #240
Frisco, TX
Phone: 214-387-7883

Back Pain and Injuries – Causes and Prevention

Back Pain and Injuries – Causes and Prevention

During the 10th annual Health and Fitness Summit and Exposition at American College of Sports Medicine, Michael R. Bracko, Ed.D, FACSM discussed stress as one of the leading causes of increasing cases for back pain and injuries. However, with a proper fitness program and healthy lifestyle, one can prevent back injuries to a great extent.

During research, it has been observed that nearly 80% of the population in North America would have suffered from back injuries and pain at some point in time in their lives. In fact, a high percentage of the suggested population must have already suffered from Owasso chronic back pain in the last six months. People who are in their late 40s might face activity limitations which are again most frequently caused by back problems. Even though 80% of people recover from their back pain within 3-6 weeks of their injury, it has been analyzed that nearly $31 million is spent on aftercare and physiotherapies to prevent back pain in the future.

So how do stress trigger back pain and related injuries? This has always been one of the most interesting connections to explore. Apparently, it has been seen that stress manifests itself to cause muscle tension in the body. It makes us feel lazy and worried about threats that may or may not be real. When stress takes over our mind, there’s a huge chance that one may not be able to cope up with it easily that leads to more health complications, mainly physiological. Thus, increasing stress levels at home and at the office most often create back problems. Perhaps, managing stress and working in peace with it can help people keep back problems at bay. Let’s take a look at some causes and prevention of back pain.

Individual Risk Factors for Back Injuries and Pain

In addition to stress, there can be plenty of other reasons that can trigger back pain and injuries. Even rigorous workout, recreation activities and excess sleep can cause back problems. Let’s take a look at other factors that can contribute to the condition:

  •         Lack of proper sleep/fatigue
  •         Emotional instability
  •         Family problems
  •         Substance or drug abuse
  •         Less physical activity
  •         More physical activity
  •         Improper muscle endurance
  •         Excessive weight

Occupational Risk Causes And Prevention Of Back Pain

This should be obvious as there are plenty of occupations and activities that require an employee to put extra pressure on his back. Truck drivers, IT consultant, nurses, and security guards are some professions that can lead to a high rate of back injuries. Factors that contribute to this condition include:

  •         Heavy physical job
  •         Sitting and standing
  •         Repetitive work
  •         Fatigue/poor muscle endurance
  •         Slipping, falling or tripping
  •         Twisting while the spine is loaded
  •         Vibration while driving
  •         Lack of work satisfaction
  •         Lack of motivation
  •         Mental fatigue

In order to prevent occupational back injuries, one should sit in an ergonomically-sound chair with the knees, hips, ankles, and elbows placed at 90-100 degree approximately.

They Hold the Hands of International Patients

Maria Siddons and Hamzah Radwan work behind-the-scenes of IU Health. Few people know that they are the ones who help patients who travel thousands of miles away from home.

There’s a world map inside IU Health’s University Hospital sixth floor offices. It may not mean a whole lot to many but to Maria Siddons and Hamzah Radwan, it represents their passion. Siddons and Radwan serve as destination service coordinators for IU Health.

What does that mean? It means they have welcomed, comforted, and served patients from close to 50 different countries.

When a male patient from China learns about Dr. Lawrence Einhorn’s successful treatment of testicular cancer using a mix of high does chemotherapies and peripheral stem cell transplant, he reaches out to destination services. By the time the patient contacts Siddons or Radwan, he has already researched physicians around the world and knows that IU Health provides the answer – sometimes the last hope. But traveling 10,000 miles for treatment isn’t the same as driving across town or even across state lines.

That’s where Siddons and Radwan come in.

“Every day patients are coming to a country where people speak a different language, have different cultural and societal norms. Knowing that we make a difference for people who would otherwise be helpless is what keeps us going. We know we make a difference because we hear it from patients, staff members and providers,” said Radwan, who speaks fluent Arabic. He graduated from the Kelley School of Business in 2013 and came to IU Health as a contract navigator for a year before his appointment as a full-time destination service coordinator in 2015.

At the time, IU Health was receiving a number of patient referrals from the Middle East by way of the US Embassy. A big part of Radwan’s job was to serve as an interpreter for the patients, assist with registration and help them navigate their stay inside and outside the hospital. Those roles are still key but over the years, many more have been added as patients’ needs arise.

Radwan still remembers one of his first patients who traveled from the Middle East for a liver transplant in 2014.

“I spent the majority of my time with this patient inside and outside the hospital and after an six-month stay, I went to visit the family in the Middle East. It also happens to be where my family is from. Two years after that they attended my engagement in Jordan,” said Radwan, who is married to a teacher, Heba Taan. “You spend so much time with the family that you build lasting connections. They become like your family.”

Some patients speak English, are more familiar with the United States and need minimal assistance, but Radwan and Siddons are available – whatever the needs may be.

“We have patients from Canada who need little help from us. Sometimes there are special requests like assisting a niece get transportation to the States,” said Siddons. Transportation, housing, and grocery shopping, insurance issues – anything a typical patient may need – that’s where Siddons and Radwan come in. Their contact with the patient begins long before they are registered at IU Health, and continues long after their hospital stay. Many remain in the States for many months during their recovery. When they return to their homeland Radwan and Siddons are as close as a phone call.

Siddons, from Venezuela, speaks fluent Spanish, and received a degree in business administration. She later obtained her LPN and worked as a bilingual triage nurse at various hospitals before joining IU Health in 2014. She and her husband David have three boys – 14, 11, and 6.

Next to the world map are a number of personal notes – many are hand-written “thank you” messages from patients and families. In a typical month, Siddons and Radwan have about four patients they are assisting. It has been as high as 20.

“Wherever they come from, we are the last resource in some cases,” said Siddons. “We have world-renowned physicians and the reputations are what we want to uphold.”

There are typical patients and there have been patients of notoriety that have been served by IU Heath.

“We don’t treat people the wealthiest because they deserve it. We do it for humanity, not because the patient is special. We do it because we want to be there for them. These are people in need,” said Siddons. Like Radwan, her relationships with patients are long lasting. By the time they make the decision to come to IU Health, many patients have already negotiated with international insurances for coverage, re-financed their home, applied for loans, or accepted help from their communities.

“They come to us at a time they are vulnerable. They know they can depend on us,” said Siddons. “I just received a text message yesterday from a woman in El Salvador. Her husband had completed chemotherapy and has a new image he wants to share with our doctors. She simply wanted to know ‘what’s next?

“They are grateful we are part of their lives and we are grateful that we can show them that we are a community that cares.”

— By T.J. Banes, Journalist, IU Health.
   Reach Banes via email tfender1@iuhealth.org.

Eight years out – Cancer patient turns to genomic testing

When her breast cancer returned after eight years, Tipton resident Brenda Raver turned to IU Health’s Precision Genomics team for a specialized treatment plan.

There’s a picture of Brenda Raver wearing a purple and white striped top. In her arms she’s holding her newborn grandson. Her smile hides the fact that the picture was taken on what she calls one of the “worst days and one of the best days” of her life.

Graham Thomas was born June 27, 2017 and he’s helped Raver get through some tough times. The day he entered the world Raver was beginning four treatments of Adriamycin + Cytoxan – a combined chemotherapy drug. After eight years, with no symptoms or issues, she felt a lump in the area at the top of her right clavicle. It was May 2017. Raver contacted IU Health’s Dr. Jennifer Morgan who ordered a CT scan and a neck biopsy. For the second time, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The first bout was in 2007. This time the diagnosis was Stage 4 metaplastic sarcomatoid carcinoma, Stage 4, a rare and aggressive type of breast cancer.

By August, another scan showed little reduction in the mass, so she began 12 cycles of Taxol chemotherapy, known to interfere with the growth of cancer cells and slow the growth of and spread in the body. But after the treatment, there was still little change in the cancerous area. So December 2017, she underwent a lengthy surgery – a modified neck dissection and a right auxiliary lymphadenectomy.   

“They removed 34 lymph nodes between my neck area and under my arm,” said Raver, who was in the surgical care of IU Health Drs. Kandice Ludwig and Hadley Ritter. She then had 28 radiation treatments under the care of IU Health radiation oncologist Dr. Surjeet Pohar. At the end of December 2017 Raver met with IU Health hematologist/oncologist Dr. Bryan Schneider director of the Precision Genomics Program. By sequencing a patient’s genome, precision genomics physicians can create a treatment plan specific to the care of patients with metastatic cancer.

For Raver, that meant a recommendation of Xeloda, an oral chemotherapy drug. She started the drug in April of 2018 – 14 days on and seven days off. 

“Through it all, my worst side effect was severe fatigue,” said Raver. She also suffers with lymphedema in my right arm and some neuropathy in her feet due to the Taxol. The only side effects of the Xeloda have been dry palms, hands and feet. She applies ointment to sooth the discomfort.

“The benefits of the drug far outweigh the side effects,” said Raver. “The lymphedema in my arm and the neuropathy in my feet are nothing compared to being so sick. Yes, I’m tired of putting chemicals in my body but I’m grateful for the advances they’ve made in the last eight years.”

Raver says she will remain on the drug as long as it is working. “I will have a PET scan every 90 days. The last two scans have been clear. They know from my molecular structure that this drug is inhibiting the growth of cancer cells in my body. That’s a good thing,” said Raver, who turned 62 on January 5.

These days she enjoys babysitting her grandson, and looks forward to celebrating her 40th wedding anniversary to husband Mark a trip to Hawaii this summer. Together they have a daughter, and a son – the father of Graham Thomas.

A Purdue graduate, she is part of a family that bleeds black and gold. She enjoys watching college and professional football, and favors both the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints – because Purdue’s Drew Brees serves as the team’s quarterback. She’s also a Cubs fan.

“I stay busy and I enjoy life. I like to garden in the summer and host a lot of family gatherings. I’m thankful I can still do those things I love,” said Raver. “I can’t say enough about the wonderful care and treatment I have received from the IU Health staff. That includes everyone from all of my doctors, nurses, technicians and administrative staff – especially, Dr. Morgan and her office staff. Everyone has treated me with utmost respect and concern for my continued healing and improved health.”

— By T.J. Banes, Journalist, IU Health.
   Reach Banes via email tfender1@iuhealth.org.