 Hello, everyone! This is Dr. Bob Salamon with Lowcountry Chiropractic. As always, I hope you’re doing well and staying healthy! In my last post, we discussed scoliosis, an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine, and how chiropractic care can relieve pain caused by this condition and can prevent it from worsening if caught early enough. Today, we’ll be talking about arthritis and ways you can treat it at home. Arthritis is the inflammation, swelling or tenderness of one or more joints. The two main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which can get worse with age. Although arthritis cannot be cured, there are ways you can manage your symptoms at home. If you are interested in learning more, you’re in the right place! Let’s get started.
Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United States, affecting about 50 million adults and 300,000 children. There are different types of arthritis– in fact, there are over 100 types– but the two most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when the flexible tissue that cushions the ends of bones wears down over time. This most often happens with age and affects the fingers, knees, and hips. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissue and joints, causing pain and swelling. It often affects the hands and feet, and may also affect the internal organs and systems. The exact cause of most types of arthritis is unknown, but there are certain things that may put you more at risk. For example, having a family history of arthritis, having certain autoimmune disorders, or having a job or playing a sport that puts repeated strain and stress on your joints can all contribute to the development of arthritis. Prior injury to a joint could increase your risk of developing arthritis later in life. Additionally, smoking and lack of exercise can increase your risk. Obesity is also a common trigger of arthritis, as more weight puts extra strain on your joints. Different types of arthritis may require different treatments, but it is commonly treated with medication, such as anti-inflammatory and pain medications to relieve symptoms. Physical therapy is also a great way to rehabilitate the joints and improve strength, range of motion, and mobility. In severe cases of arthritis, surgery may be recommended. For those looking for a more natural and non-invasive treatment, chiropractic care is one of the safest and most effective therapies you can use. Chiropractic care can realign joints to relieve pain and minimize further damage to the cartilage surrounding the joint. In addition to visiting a chiropractor, there are ways that you can treat arthritis at home that will help manage your symptoms. Exercise One of the best ways to treat arthritis at home is through exercise. We all know how important exercise is to our overall health, but it is also great for our joints. Exercise strengthens the muscles, ligaments, and tendons surrounding the joints. This allows the area to act as a protective barrier or “brace” for the joints, protecting them and lessening pressure put on weakened joints by offering support. Joint pain is also reduced during and after exercise because of an increase in synovial fluid. Synovial fluid, sometimes known as joint fluid, is a thick liquid located between the joints. It cushions the ends of our bones and allows them to slip past one another freely, greatly reducing friction. Physical activity increases the circulation of the fluid, making it much easier for the joints to move. Low-impact exercises tend to be best for those with arthritis, including walking and cycling. Water activities and exercises are also great because the water’s buoyancy provides extra support for your muscles and joints– This increases your strength, endurance, and flexibility while putting less strain on your joints. Calming exercises such as yoga or tai chi have also proven to help reduce joint pain. Both of these exercises involve deep breathing and meditation and have been shown to improve mobility and range of motion, and reduce stress. Hot and Cold Therapy Heat and cold treatments are a great way to reduce pain and inflammation caused by arthritis. Heat therapy works by dilating the blood vessels, which increases blood flow and improves circulation in painful or stiff areas. There are two types of heat therapy: dry heat and moist heat. Dry heat comes from things such as heating pads or heat lamps. Moist heat comes from warm baths or showers and steamed towels. In any case, you want to aim for more of a warm temperature, rather than a hot one– This is more comfortable and will not damage the skin. In contrast, cold therapy works by reducing blood flow to a particular area. This is sometimes referred to as cryotherapy, and can significantly reduce inflammation and swelling. Cold therapy may include ice packs, ice baths, and coolant sprays. Again, you should find a temperature that is tolerable. It may feel a bit uncomfortable at first, but cold helps numb deep pain and discomfort. Adopt and Maintain a Healthy Diet Just like exercise, we know the benefits of a healthy diet. Not only can proper nutrition improve your overall health, but it can work wonders for your bones and joints, too. While a diet cannot eliminate arthritis, there are many foods that can help reduce inflammation and joint pain. Some foods that fight inflammation include:
Choosing one or all of these home remedies can bring much-needed relief– Especially if coupled with chiropractic care. Your chiropractor or primary care physician may also recommend massage therapy, as this gentle manipulation can reduce joint pain and stiffness. A chiropractor will evaluate your condition and can create a customized treatment plan accordingly. Chiropractors are also trained to give nutritional advice and can help you come up with a dietary plan that will help reduce inflammation of the joints. They can also recommend an exercise regimen that can be done at home. The body is self-healing and self-regulating, so these recommendations can provide your body with the guidance it needs to help you function as best as possible. Although there is no miracle cure for arthritis, symptoms can be managed with a combination of at-home treatments as well as chiropractic care. I hope you found this article informative. If you or a loved one are suffering from arthritis, you may benefit from chiropractic care. Consider reaching out to Lowcountry Chiropractic! We specialize in different chiropractic techniques, as well as both therapeutic and Swedish massage. Send us an email or give us a call and we’ll assess the situation and develop a long-term treatment plan to address your needs. We want to help you live a pain-free life– It’s what you deserve. As always, this is Dr. Bob and I have your back covered!
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 Chiropractic care is safe and effective for everyone at every stage in their lives. Today, we will be discussing chiropractic care for the elderly; benefits, safety, and common myths!
Hello everyone, it's Dr. Bob Salamon here with Lowcountry Chiropractic! Welcome back to the blog. I hope you are continuing to stay healthy and well out there, and I hope you've started to take the advice I discussed in my last blog to heart. Making those healthy additions in your life can make all the difference, keep you healthy, make you feel good, and so much more! Always know that I'm here to answer your questions or to schedule you for a consultation; just give us a call or shoot us an email! Today, I wanted to turn the tables and talk about chiropractic care for a certain age group. I've mentioned before that the myths and misinformation about chiropractic care can get in the way of individuals receiving life-changing treatment that can improve their overall quality of life. I hear these excuses and reasonings why individuals shouldn't get care all the time; I'm too young it's not safe, I'm too old it's not safe, I'm pregnant so it's not safe, I'm not in pain so I don't need chiropractic care. All of these reasons are incorrect. Today, I want to discuss and talk about chiropractic care for the elderly.
I hope all of this helps! Please know we are here for you at any stage of your life and can help you at any stage of your life. If you have any questions or concerns or would like to come in for a consultation give us a call! Stay healthy and safe, readers! Until next time, I'm Dr. Bob and I've got your back covered!  When it comes to the world of chiropractic care, just like any medical profession, you will hear some pretty crazy myths and rumors that can spread like wildfire. These can cause some hesitation and even fear for people who've never sought out care before. Today, we are going to be debunking some chiropractic myths to get rid of any fear or hesitation that you might have!
Hi everybody! It's Dr. Bob Salamon here with Lowcountry Chiropractic. I hope all of you out there are saying healthy and safe. I also really hope that while we inch closer to flu season that you take the time to read my last blog on the importance of keeping your immune system strong. If you've already read it, I hope that you've started to implement everything I talked about into your everyday life. I know some of it might be a huge lifestyle change, but each of those tips and suggestions will guarantee that you're not worn down all the time, you're not getting sick all the time, and that you are consistently feeling better more often than not. If you have any questions about this or would like to come in and chat more about getting the care you need and starting your chiropractic journey, please don't hesitate to do so. We are here for you! Since we are reaching the end of October and are getting very close to Halloween, I thought it might be interesting and fun to switch things up a little bit with the blog. I hear all kinds of strange myths, rumors, and incorrect facts that my patients heard and believed before they started to come see me. Sometimes the things they've heard have prevented them or made them skeptic about coming and seeing me sooner. So, in the spirit of All Hallows Eve, I wanted to debunk a few of these crazy myths and take the scare out of the care in your chiropractic journey. Myth #1 Chiropractic Care is Expensive! Fact: I can't tell you how many times I've tried to debunk this either in my blogs, in the videos I post, in my social media, or when someone comes into my office. This is one of the very first things I will share with my patients and potential patients: I will never allow the cost of care to get in the way of the care you need to feel better. I am willing to work with all of my patients to create a payment plan or a financial plan based on their financial standing. Also, keeping up with your chiropractic care and working towards being aligned and allowing your body to be working at 100% capacity is much more affordable than the alternative. It is also an all-natural alternative to expensive drugs both over the counter and prescribed. It can also be much more affordable and effective than injections or invasive surgeries. It can also prevent you from missing days off from work or even the potential of losing or having to leave your job because you're in so much pain or recovering from surgery. That can be a huge money saver and a good professional decision too. Chiropractic care is also much less expensive than your regular checkups! Myth #2 Spinal Adjustments Hurt! Fact: When you come to get adjusted for the first time, you might be nervous about the fact that an adjustment is going to hurt. An adjustment involves the subtle and conservative movement of joints and the spine that are restricted and causing you pain. These actions will not hurt you! We are expertly trained to make sure you don't feel pain during an adjustment. Most patients will feel some kind of instant relief or release during or after their appointment, making it something they look forward to. If you are nervous I will walk you through exactly what I am doing during your adjustment, I will prep you for each step, and I will not rush through the adjustment. We can take the whole experience at your speed. Myth #3 Chiropractors Only Treat Back Pain Fact: If you've just started reading my blogs or following us on social media, you know that this is not true! Chiropractic care is a whole-body treatment, working to help your whole body work at optimum health. Chiropractors are working with your back and spine to make sure that you don't have a pinched nerve or vertebrae out of place that will cause a subluxation. These subluxations can cause pain anywhere in your body, can weaken any system of your body, and can affect your sleep, digestive system, how often you get headaches, and much more. Since we are helping alleviate pain and issues in your whole body, we work on all parts of your body, not just your back! Chiropractic care can also be used to help assist with pregnancy-related issues and help promote a safer and more comfortable delivery. According to the National University of Health Sciences, chiropractors help resolve and manage a wide range of health conditions for over 30 million Americans of all ages every year. Myth #4 Chiropractic Adjustments Are Not Safe Fact: This is also very false. Chiropractic care is one of the safest and all-natural treatments you can give your body. According to the Health Journal, this rumor is so popular that many studies have been done to prove that chiropractic care is very safe. Recent studies prove that any risks or negative effects are extremely rare. It is safer than surgery and any medical side effects that can come from medications and surgery. Studies have even gone on to prove that chiropractic care is safe for patients of all ages. Myth #5 Chiropractors Aren't as Educated as Medical Doctors Fact: This is one of the hardest myths that I and others in the chiropractic world have to fight against every day. Every chiropractor goes through an incredibly demanding educational process and program that is very similar to medical doctors. Most chiropractic programs require a four-year undergraduate degree before you are accepted into a four-year doctoral program to become a chiropractor. As many of you know from reading my recent blogs, I graduated and worked professionally in another field before going back for my doctoral degree. The educational journey and curriculum you take during these four years are very similar to that of a medical doctor. Instead of focusing on surgery and pharmacology, a chiropractor spends their time focusing on joint mobilization, the muscular system, the nervous system, and radiographic imaging. Many schools require their students to do at least one year of clinic residency before they can practice on their own. You also must complete a very difficult, challenging, and rigorous set of board examinations before you are given your license to practice! I hope these five debunked myths have shifted your opinion of chiropractic care and cleared up any hesitation or fears you might have had. Many myths are floating around out there so if there is something I didn't touch on, please don't hesitate to reach out or call us. We are always here for you to talk about how chiropractic care can help improve your life and quality of living! Until next time, I'm Dr. Bob Salamon and I've got your back covered!  Something is lurking in the joints of millions of Americans every year: the very real pain of arthritis.
Hi everyone! It's Dr. Bob Salamon here with Lowcountry Chiropractic. I hope everyone is doing well. Today we are going to be discussing a topic that is very prevalent in our country, and that is arthritis. A lot of people have it and suffer from its pain every day. In this blog, I want to put arthritis into perspective. I want to explain what arthritis is and some of the many ways you can treat it. There are many different types of arthritis; there is rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune problem, psoriatic arthritis, enteropathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout and many more. In this blog though, we are going to be discussing the most common type of arthritis, and that is osteoarthritis. It is also called DJD or DDD, which stands for degenerative joint disease or degenerative disc disease. Why is it important to get a grip on your arthritis? The main reason is that it is a degenerative condition. If you don't take care of it, it will more than likely get worse as you get older. Why is that important? Osteoarthritis will and can destroy or at a minimum cause a lot of pain in your joints. It can appear in your hands, your spine, your knees, hips, shoulders, and almost everywhere else in your body. This type of arthritis causes pain because of the inflammation surrounding the joint it is affecting. Let's talk about osteoarthritis. Our bodies get out of symmetry as we go through our daily lives. Typically, this type of arthritis is caused by asymmetry, and your joints start to work improperly because they are not working symmetrically. This can happen in your spine as well. You'll find that if you have a vertebra or two that is locked or misaligned, it's going to put a lot of stress on that joint. What the body does in reaction to this misalignment is it takes calcium out of the bloodstream, and sends it to that affected area to strengthen it. In theory, that sounds like it would make total sense, but what happens is that calcium deposits can form which leads to spurring. In addition, asymmetry causes the discs in your spine or cartilage in your peripheral joints to wear thin. You don't want spurs in a joint that aren't supposed to be there; they're going to get in the way of your ligaments, tendons, and the space the joint uses to properly move. These spurs are going to cause you a lot of pain because of the inflammation they cause. As we know, inflammation leads to serious pain. This is what is happening to your body when you have osteoarthritis. The next question then becomes, how do you manage this condition? As I mentioned before, if you don't do something about your osteoarthritis, it is going to get worse. The medical approach is usually some kind of steroidal anti-inflammatory product or injection to the affected joint. These products are created to take out some of the inflammation so you feel better. These remedies don't do much for correcting the cause of your arthritis, and steroids carry their own set of pretty nasty symptoms that might not appear until much later. How can chiropractic help? Chiropractic looks at a particular joint (in your spine, shoulder, hands, etc.) and figures out whether or not the bones in that joint are moving properly. What chiropractors do is adjust or treat that bone or bones to restore the proper motion to that joint. Once this happens, your body can work symmetrically and the degenerative process can be stopped. If the degenerative process is slowed down or stopped the inflammation will decrease, and the pain will get better. If you have arthritis, chiropractic care is something that you need to seriously think about incorporating into your health protocol. I also recommend a few supplements to my patients that help with inflammation connected to osteoarthritis that help with the pain in a natural way. 1. Fish oil! If you're going to use this, please use high-quality fish oil. 2. Coconut Oil! Most people don't know much about the benefits of this oil, but just like fish oil, it can do wonders for inflammation. If you want to add this oil to your diet, take a couple tablespoons preferably after a meal. Always make sure you use high-quality coconut oil. I recommend virgin, organic cold-pressed brands. 3. Turmeric is a great spice that you can put in your food or take in pill form that also helps with inflammation and the effects of osteoarthritis. Exercise can also help, but if the joint is damaged you want to be careful about doing too much repetitive exercise to the affected joint. Also, be very careful when doing too much weight-bearing or load-bearing exercises with that joint. Getting in a pool and swimming and some lightweight workouts are good to keep your affected joints moving. I hope this helps! If you're suffering from osteoarthritis or think you might be, please make an appointment to come to the office. We will do a very thorough exam (including x-rays), show you exactly what's going on and what is causing your problems. We will then get to work on fixing those problems so you can get healthy, out of pain and prevent that degenerative process from getting worse. I am Dr. Bob Salamon, and I have your back covered! Stay well!  Staying on top of your health and wellness is so important! Working out, eating well, and brushing your teeth are things we hopefully do regularly. Did you know that your chiropractic care is just as necessary for your body's maintenance?
Hi everybody! Dr. Bob here with Lowcountry Chiropractic. Today's blog is going to be dedicated to the maintenance for your chiropractic care. Anyone that has a car knows that they have to go in and get it serviced regularly. Rotating your tires, getting an oil change, and things of that nature need to happen regularly. This helps your car run better and last longer. Everyone I know brushes their teeth, works out, and tries to get enough sleep regularly. Why do we do these things? Inherently we know, like keeping up with basic maintenance on our cars, these things are going to help prolong our health, lifespan, and quality of life. They will also help prevent serious issues down the road if we take care of ourselves. Taking care of your body and putting good things into it will promote good things coming out of it. You can prevent cavities, help create a better sleep schedule, and keep your body fit and working at its optimal health all by maintaining these normal services to your body. With chiropractic care, it is very similar. Most people who come into my office, depending on what the condition is, are going to need some level of intensive care in the beginning. This is very normal, especially if they've never been to a chiropractor before. It is also very normal if the problems and issues in their spines and bodies have been around for a long time. There are four different goals of chiropractic care:
Wellness and maintenance care is a very important step in this process. It is something that is done or should be done anywhere between once a week to once a month. Most people need some care on an on-going basis to ensure that the work we've done on their spine is being maintained. This way things don't fall out of place and the problems don't reoccur. If you want to stay healthy, you have to continue going to your chiropractor. Once we've done all the work to get you lined up you're going to be exposed to physical, emotional, and chemical stresses in your life. These stresses will eat away at the weak areas in your spine that we work on fixing. These stresses can lead to you getting out of alignment again if you don't keep up with maintenance. A good analogy would be to look at what braces do on teeth. When you put them on, it doesn't take long for those teeth to change their position and become aligned. What does take time, up until the braces come off, is the remodeling of the gums and soft tissue around the new position of the teeth. This allows the teeth to stay in their new correct positions when the braces come off. Maintenance care in chiropractic is very similar to that. We know that we are subject to a lot of stresses in our lives that tend to harm our spine. Wellness care is there to make sure that we are doing everything we can for you to deal with these stresses. This will prevent you from returning to the state of health you were in when you first came into my office. Now, some people do come into the office and they don't have a lot of issues or pain. They might not need intensive care at the beginning of their treatment. But, they are certainly going to wellness care going forward just like anyone would. I hope this helps to clarify a little bit about why wellness care is so important in chiropractic. If any of you out there thinks you need a chiropractor, you probably do. If any of you out there is hurting, come in and we'll take a look. We will sit you down and go through a very thorough workup and take some x-rays if we need to. Then, we will get started on getting you back to health and maintaining your health with regular care. I hope this helps. I hope everybody out there is staying safe and well, and I look forward to next time. Take care!  Even if you aren't new to the chiropractic world, you might not know how much chiropractic can do for your body beyond the spine. Did you know that chiropractic care can help you from head to toe?
Hey everybody! It's Dr. Bob Salamon here at Lowcountry Chiropractic. I hope you're doing well! Today we are going to be talking about the expanded role of chiropractic in treating the non-spinal joints in the body. Most people understand (if they know chiropractic) that chiropractors adjust or work on the spinal bones. In reality, chiropractors work on all the joints of the body. Why is that? Every joint in your body, if it is not moving properly, can cause problems or pain. The chiropractor's role is to realign the bones that are out of alignment, and then restore the range of motion and get rid of any malfunction and pain. So let's start with the very top of the body and work our way down to discover how a chiropractor can help you.
I just wanted to spend some time on this topic because so many of my patients come in with an extremity issue, and don't realize that I can help them with it. Any articulation in your body can be effectively looked worked on by a chiropractor. If you are having any of these issues that are mentioned above and if you are trying to go the least invasive route (the least surgical and drug intensive route) look us up and give us a call. If it's a misalignment issue, we can help you! So again, it's Dr. Bob, and I hope you have a great day!  One of the most common forms of pain, arthritis, haunts millions of Americans every year. Could chiropractic care be one of the best routes to avoid this pain and help alleviate the pain for those already suffering?
Hey everybody! Dr. Bob Salamon here at Lowcountry Chiropractic. For this blog, we are going to be discussing arthritis. Arthritis affects about 54 million Americans every year. We are going to be focusing on osteoarthritis, which is the most common type. There are many other types of arthritis like rheumatoid, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic, and infectious arthritis, but not as many people suffer from these types of arthritis compared to the number of people who suffer from osteoarthritis. Another common term for osteoarthritis is ‘degenerative joint disease’. This condition will get worse if you don't take care of it. It will slowly break down your joints. Which joints does this exactly affect? Almost any of them. It can affect your spinal bones, your knees, your ankles, your wrists, and your shoulder joints. Any of your body's articulation points can suffer from arthritis. What is arthritis? Medical experts don't have a cause for it, but we will get to that shortly. At its base, arthritis is an inflammatory condition of the joints that can cause swelling, lack of range of motion, pain, and discomfort. Medications are one way to treat arthritis, but anti-inflammatory drugs just cover up the pain you're experiencing. Medications aren't addressing the issue or cause of your pain. Therefore you might not feel the pain as much when you use anti-inflammatories, but they can make the problem worse. There are three steps you can take that can naturally help you treat and deal with the pain of arthritis without medications. They are simple, and ones that are worth taking the time to do. Let's talk about each of them.
That's it for today. I look forward to seeing you soon!  One of the most common back pain issues affects over 200,000 people a year - but with regular treatments from your Chiropractor, your pain can be eliminated or managed. Most importantly, if already suffering, you can avoid going under your surgeon's knife.
Even though age is just a number and should never be something that holds you back - sometimes it's your back that betrays you as that number grows. One of the most common and painful diagnoses found in the neck and lower back is called Spinal Stenosis. Affecting over 200,000 people a year - back pain sufferers are no stranger to this malady. Many of you might already be aware of this disease, especially if osteoarthritis has become a part of your daily life. But if you're new to the world of back pain or have put a lot of wear and tear on your body over the years, or arthritis has started to settle in, now is the time to start paying attention. It is also time to start paying attention to how chiropractic care can alleviate this pain without surgery - so you can safely and comfortably continue living your life! Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the space within your spine (the spinal canal) that can cause pressure on the nerves that travel through your spine. It causes a pinching of the spinal cord and possibly the nerve root which leads to pain, cramping, weakness, or numbing. The condition commonly appears in the neck and lower back and is most often caused by wear and tear over time causing arthritis. Anyone over the age of 50 is at risk of suffering from it, although it can happen in younger patients if they have been exposed to or have experienced trauma, scoliosis, and genetic diseases that affect bone muscle development. Other Causes can also be related to:
Symptoms to look out for in your neck:
According to the US Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, Chiropractic care is beneficial in the treatment of patients with spinal stenosis. Think of it as a preliminary treatment - something that can be done to prevent this diagnosis happening to you, help it from becoming worse if you already have been diagnosed, or slow the progression. Think about it - Chiropractic care focuses on keeping you properly aligned so your nervous system continues to work without being interrupted. This way it can function the way it's supposed to. Continued alignment care can also help the weight distribution on the spine to help it return to its normal functioning speed. So, if you start becoming a regular visitor of your Chiropractor - you may not ever have to know what spinal stenosis is! If you're diagnosed your doctor may start adding gentle adjustments to your care to help regain your range of motion and give you enough space in your back so the nervous system can continue its normal function. What else can greatly help is (doctor approved) exercises, stretches, and activities that boost joint function. Exercise keeps your muscles strong, improves your flexibility, boots strength, keeps your blood flowing, and helps reduce pain. If you have been diagnosed or put a lot of wear and tear on your body - don't jump to a surgeon or pain pills just yet. There might be a simpler and safer way of taking care of that back pain. You're not alone - and you're not without help. Dr. Bob will be here when you need him, and will give your back the care it needs and deserves! |
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