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Treat Chronic Back Pain with Spinal Decompression

Spinal decompression provides relief to back and neck pain sufferers by gently reducing the pressure within spinal discs; this involves stretching the spine, using a traction table or similar motorized device, with the goal of relieving back pain and/or leg pain.

During a nonsurgical spinal decompression treatment, the spinal vertebrae are slowly and methodically separated using a computer-controlled Spinal Decompression table. (Kennedy Decompression Table)

As the vertebrae are separated pressure is slowly reduced within the disc until a vacuum is formed. This vacuum allows the gelatinous center of the disc to move back inside, thereby reducing the disc bulge or disc herniation.  Joint bio-mechanics are improved and spasms or tightness in back muscles are decreased.

Significant disc bulge reduction removes pressure off the spinal nerves and drastically reduces pain and disability. This momentary lower pressure in the disc, also pulls much-needed oxygen, nutrients and fluid into injured and degenerated discs allowing the healing to begin.

Is Spinal Decompression Right For Me? | chiropractor victoria bc

Spinal Decompression Table

On your first visit to Diversified Health Clinic your health care practitioner will take a detailed medical history and complete a physical exam.

Therapy sessions typically last 20 minutes with most people feeling pain relief with as few as 3-5 treatments. It is important to remember however, that pain subsiding does not infer that your discs and spine are healed, so it’s critical that patients follow the treatment protocol prescribed in order to achieve the full value of the decompression therapy.

Spinal Decompression can help alleviate pain caused by the following conditions:

  • Severe or chronic low back and neck pain
  • Arthritis pain in neck and back
  • Pinched nerves
  • Sciatica
  • Degenerative disc / joint disease /collapsed discs
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Herniated or bulging disc
  • Numbness, tingling or burning pain

For patients suffering from chronic pain, spinal decompression therapy can help to alleviate pain, and get you back to your daily activities.

Please contact our clinic if you have any questions regarding nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy.

 

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Your Foot & Heel Pain Might be Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis can be a painful condition caused by overuse of the arch tendon (plantar fascia) of the foot.

The most common cause of plantar fasciitis is a tight calf muscle which leads to persistent pronation of the foot, which over stretches the arch tendon, and can lead to possible inflammation, thickening of the tendon, and further injury.

Strenuous activities such as running or excessive walking in footwear that does not provide the proper support can make you more at risk, causing additional stretching of the plantar fascia. Being overweight can also be a factor and place you at risk due to the excess weight impacting on the foot.

A Chiropractor or Physiotherapist can provide treatment for this type of foot injury.

Home Treatments can consist of:

  • Resting your feet
  • Reduce inflammation
  • Wear proper fitted shoes, with a good arch support
  • Wear orthotics
  • Wear slippers, slip-on’s, or any type of foot wear that has a an arch support at all times

Clinical Treatments can consist of:

A healthcare practitioner can instruct you in a series of exercises to stretch the plantar fascia and tendons and to strengthen lower leg muscles, which stabilize your ankle and heel. A therapist might also apply athletic tape to support the bottom of your foot.

Shock Wave therapy initiates a healing response by the body; causing blood vessel formation and increased delivery of nutrients to the affected area, which stimulates a repair process and relieves the symptoms of pain.

Dry needling /IMS  causes minor bleeding within the tissues and can break up scar tissue. This minor trauma allows the body to recognize the injured tissue as an acute problem area and  increases blood flow and the delivery of nutrients to the affected area.

The healthcare practitioners will also analysis your gait and see if orthotics can be part of the solution for treatment and prevention.  Plantar fasciitis is a condition that has a high re-injury rate.

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Direct Billing & Insurance Coverage

ExteriorDiversified Health Clinic offers the service of direct billing for your healthcare treatments, so you have one less chore to deal with.

We are approved healthcare providers and can direct bill to:

Many of Diversified Health’s services, modalities and treatments are covered by private insurance plans, extended health plans provided by an employer, Medical Service Plan (MSP), WorkSafeBC, and ICBC.

Medical Service Plan of BC Coverage:

The BC provincial health plan (MSP) covers core health services including:

  • Medically required services provided by a physician, including diagnostic services, (For example; laboratory services provided at approved facilities when ordered by a registered physician, or certain other health care practitioners

*MSP may provide limited coverage for other services and treatments provided at Diversified Health Clinic.

Extended Health Benefits:

Many extended health companies provide benefits that allow Diversified Health to bill your treatments directly on your behalf, or the insurance companies can reimburse you directly for treatments that are not covered by provincial health care.

  • Treatments such as Chiropractic, Physiotherapy, Registered Massage Therapy, and Acupuncture are often covered by extended health benefits.

WorkSafe BC Coverage:

If you have been injured on the job, WorkSafe BC (WCB) will cover treatments at Diversified Health for Chiropractic services.

ICBC Insurance Coverage:

If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, ICBC medical benefits will often cover physiotherapy, chiropractic and registered massage therapy treatments.

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Please feel free to contact Diversified Health Clinic to discuss your “payment” options, after an injury or accident.  Diversified Health is knowledgeable and adept at working with insurance providers and sorting out any “glitches”, whether it’s ICBC, WCB, MSP, an extended health insurance company or a lawyer.

Diversified Health can direct bill without the following information, however, we ask that you contact your extended health provider to find out your individual benefit coverage, including…

  • What is your annual coverage?
    What is your deductible?
    What is the percentage amount the insurance company will cover? ( ie: 100%, 65%)

For more information on how to set up your direct billing account, please contact our front desk staff at 250-382-0018 or email us.

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Rehab for Frozen Shoulder

“Frozen shoulder” Frozen Shoulder Rehab victoria bcis a term that is used when the shoulder becomes painful and loses motion because of inflammation. The tissues around the joint stiffen, scar tissue forms, and shoulder movements become difficult and painful.

The joint capsule of the shoulder joint has ligaments that hold the shoulder bones to each other. When the capsule becomes inflamed, the shoulder bones are unable to move freely in the joint. This pain prevents you from moving your arm. The lack of movement leads to stiffness and then even less motion. Over time, you will struggle to perform activities such as reaching over your head.

Frozen shoulder most commonly affects patients between the ages of 40 to 60 years old, and it is twice as common in women than in men. Also, patients who sustain a shoulder injury, or undergo surgery on the shoulder can develop a frozen shoulder joint.

If you have shoulder pain and stiffness and suspect you may have a frozen shoulder, contact your health care provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.

At Diversified Health you health care practitioner will make the diagnosis based on your symptoms and an examination of your shoulder. The main symptoms are decreased motion of the shoulder, pain, and stiffness.

The goal of your practitioner is to release the scar tissue by bringing the shoulder through a full range of motion and to remove the scar tissue from the shoulder. Some of the therapies and modalities that will be used during your treatments are:  Graston Technique, Cold Laser, T.E.N.S and Shockwave Therapy , Dry Needling, as well as a set of specific exercises and some time in our Rehab Gym.

Stretching exercises for frozen shoulder serves two functions: first to increase the motion in the joint and secondly to minimize the loss of muscle on the affected arm (muscle atrophy). The importance of stretching and exercises cannot be overemphasized as these are the key to successful frozen shoulder treatment.

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Why see a chiropractor?

The answer to why see a chiropractor depends on you. If your life is disrupted due to back pain, neck pain, headaches, sprains or strains, or another problem involving your muscles, joints, and nervous system, chiropractic care can help you feel like yourself again. Injuries to the spine can happen at any stage of life and for various reasons including car crashes, workplace incidents and sports injuries. Even simple everyday tasks such as going for a walk or washing the dishes have the potential to cause pain or discomfort that many of us just decide to live with. Sometimes these aches and pains even prevent us from working or doing the things we love. You don’t have to live with the pain.

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What is Sciatica, And How Do I Stop The Pain?

There are two types of categories of sciatic pain:

  • Acute sciatica (short-term) lasting 4-8 weeks.
  • Chronic sciatica (long term) lasting for 8 weeks or more.

The main symptom of sciatica is a shooting pain anywhere along the sciatic nerve. That can range from the lower back, through the buttock, and down the back of either leg. This pain can range from a mild ache to severe debilitating pain.

There are several reasons why someone might suffer from sciatic pain. This may be the result of something as simple as bad posture, muscle strain or spasm, a sports injury, car accident, being overweight, sleeping on a too soft mattress, or a simple sneeze, cough, bend, or lift, if you are out of shape and have a weak core. More seriously the sciatic pain maybe caused by a slipped disc in the back.

Pain from sciatica can change on a daily basis: it can be shooting, burning, sharp, dull, non-stop, or intermittent.  Many people complain of intense and acute pain, while others experience a numb and weak feeling in the parts of their leg where it hurts. This may sometimes indicate more serious neurological problems.

Your health care practitioner; chiropractor or physiotherapist can check the spine for areas of tenderness, and test for sensation, coordination, and muscle strength. Sciatica can be relieved by treating symptoms and any specific causes that exists, such as a slipped disc.

The healthcare practitioners at Diversified Health use manual therapy as well as numerous modalities, such as the Kennedy Spinal Decompression Table,  (provides relief to severe back pain sufferers by gently reducing the pressure within the spinal discs) Dry Needling, Laser therapy, and eToims Therapy, when treating Sciatica pain.

Moderate exercise will be recommended when pain is minimal, and when acute symptoms have lessened. Rehab therapy will be suggested to help strengthen abdominal and back muscles, which is important to prevent a return of these symptoms.

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What Can You Do At Home For Back Pain?

Everyone suffers from the occasional bout of back pain… so what can you do at home to decrease the pain?

One way to decrease back pain is to get a good night sleep. Pain is a leading cause of insomnia: approximately two-thirds of people with chronic back pain suffer from some type of sleep disorder.  Make sure to organize your bedroom to help you get a good night sleep. Keep your room dark and cool, make sure you have ample pillows to help support your hips, neck and back as needed.

Another easy way to help reduce back pain is simply applying cold/hot packs.

Cold therapy – It reduces inflammation, acts as a local anesthetic, and keeps the nerves from “spasming” and causing pain.

Heat therapy –It stimulates blood flow, which brings healing nutrients to the affected area and can inhibits the pain messages being sent to the brain.

Not all types of heat will work for every person. Heat therapy can take the form of a hot shower, soaking in a hot tub, a heating pad, hot water bottle, or commercial heat wraps that you place on your body and they provide continuous, low-level heat.

Gentle stretching can also help to relieve back pain. When stretching, make sure that it is pain free and never force a stretch.

  • Move into the stretch slowly and avoid bouncing
  • Hold stretches long enough (20-30 seconds)
  • Repeat the stretch several times

If you suffer from chronic back pain or neck pain, check with your physician or health care practitioner before starting any type of exercise or stretching routine.

 Static back stretch:

  • Lie face-up in front of a sturdy chair, with your legs raised and buttocks close to the chair’s front legs.
  • Bend knees to 90° and place calves on chair seat, with legs relaxed in a comfortable position.
  • Breathe from your stomach and let the lower back muscles relax.

Knee to chest stretch:

  •  Lie on your back with your knees bent.
  • Grab both knees and slowly bring them towards your chest and a stretch is felt in your lower back.
  • Hold this position for 30 seconds before lowering your legs back to the floor again.
  • you can also complete this stretch with one leg at a time: Slowly bend one knee and pull your leg up to your chest. Wrap your arms around your thigh, and gently pull the knee towards your chest. Hold and slowly extend the leg to starting position, and repeat with other side.

Supine Groin Stretch:

  • Begin in Static Back position – lie on your back with one leg resting on a chair, knee bent at 90 degrees, while the other leg is extended straight out and resting on the floor alongside the chair.
  • Make sure both legs are aligned with the hips and shoulders
  • The foot of the extended leg should be propped upright to preventing it from rolling to one side
  • Stretch arms along the floor, straight out from shoulders, palms up. Relax entire body and hold

If you are still suffering from back pain after a day or two, contact your health care practitioner: chiropractor, physiotherapist, massage therapist or acupuncturist and make sure you rule out anything serious.

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The Two Must Do’s After A Car Accident

You can suffer injuries after a car accident even if there is no physical damage done to your car. The majority of injuries suffered in minor auto accident are soft tissue injuries. A chiropractor, physiotherapist or massage therapist can help you recover after your auto accident.

One of the most important things to do after an auto accident is to seek medical attention. Many people who have been in auto accident go straight to the ER. The ER may perscribe or conduct imaging, treat any cuts or broken bones, write a prescription for the pain and tell you to follow up with your primary care doctor.  There is also the option of going to your GP, walk in clinic or health care practitioner.

Some of the symptoms from a car accident that may not show up immediately are:

Arm / Leg Pain
Back / Neck Pain
Bruising / Tenderness
Dizziness / Headaches
Muscle Weakness
Numbness
Sprains / Strains
Whiplash

Don’t underestimate the emotional symptoms caused by a car accident and make sure you take care of your mental health. Following a car accident, you may suffer from depression, easily frustrated, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, and “mental fog”.

The second most important thing to do after a car accident is to start a medical file/journal. Take detailed notes on your injuries, (take pictures of the accident location, and photos of your car’s damage and photos of your own injuries) treatments and what challenges you experience on a daily basis starting from the day of the accident and continuing until your last treatment; which can be a few days to numerous months depending on the severity of your injuries.

  • Keep a list of all doctors, clinics, hospitals, and health care practitioners
  • Keep receipts for all medical bills and receipts
  • Keep all correspondence with medical professionals, (emails, telephone conversations etc.) insurance adjusters, and any accident reports from the police
  •  Keep records of financial losses, such as lost wages

After the accident, your number one priority is to restore your mobility and range of motion, so you can get back to enjoying your daily activities.

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Treatments To Consider For Low Back Pain

Most cases of low back pain can be caused by a variety of problems, including muscle strain or sprain, herniated disc or degenerative disc disease. Typical sources of low back pain include:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Muscle spasm
  • Ruptured or herniated disk
  • Sciatica
  • Strain or tears to the muscles or ligaments supporting the back
  • The nerve roots in the low back, may be irritated
  • The bones, ligaments or joints may be damaged

Low back pain from a muscle strain is the most common and can be caused by lifting a heavy object, lifting while twisting, or a sudden movement or fall.  While pain or discomfort can happen anywhere in your back, the most common area affected is your low back.

When the muscles in the low back are strained or torn, the area around the muscles becomes inflamed.  This inflammation causes the muscles in the back to spasm and cause low back pain.

Treatment for low back pain depends upon the patient’s history and the type and severity of pain. The vast majority of lower back pain cases get better within six to eight weeks.

Treating low back pain consists of a combination of treatments, such as Chiropractic, Massage, Physiotherapy, Acupuncture, Cryo/Hydro Therapy, Laser Therapy, TENS therapy, Ultrasound, eToims, Decompression Table, Graston Technique, Shockwave Therapy, Neuro-mechanical Adjusting Tool as well as topical ointments such as Traumeel and nutritional supplements that help with inflammation.

An exercise program is necessary and essential to rehabilitate the spine, increase your range of motion and help alleviate back pain.

With the first symptoms of low back pain, stop the activity for the first few days; this allows injured tissue to begin to heal, and reduce any swelling or inflammation. You can also apply heat/ice to the painful area. Always use ice for the first 48-72 hours, then use heat.  You can also take something to help with the inflammation such as ibuprofen or nutritional supplements.

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Shockwave Therapy For Acute and Chronic Pain

Shockwave Therapy is a non-surgical treatment of soft tissue, bone, and joint pain.  Shockwave Therapy provides a safe, non-invasive, non-surgical alternative for those suffering with acute and chronic pain such as: knee pain, heel pain, foot pain, ankle pain, hamstring pain, back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain, wrist pain and hand pain.  It is also used to address sports injuries, scar tissue, stress fractures, enhance bone healing, and anyone suffering from joint and tendon disorders.

There are no side effects or long term effects with shockwave therapy and no extended recovery period. Shockwave therapy improves the metabolism in the pain region, increases blood circulation, promotes and accelerates the recovery of injured tissue, and stimulates the body’s repair mechanisms. Damaged tissue gradually regenerates and eventually heals.

Shockwave Therapy:

~ Decreases muscle tension and spasms
~ Reduces pain in the affected area
~ Decreases risk of Oedema (build up of fluid in the body which causes the affected tissue becoming swollen)
~ Increases production of collagen
~ Improves metabolism and circulation
~ Increases oxygenation to the damaged tissue
~ Dissolves calcified fibroblasts (type of cell that is responsible for making collagen)

Shockwave Therapy is exceptionally good at pain management by stimulating a metabolic reaction in the affected tissue, causing stress fibers to change in their permeability. Shockwave Therapy breaks down calcific deposits which induces an analgesic reaction, which blocks pain messages.

During a Shockwave treatment, a high-intensity sound wave interacts with the tissues of the body, effectively re-injuring the area on a cellular level and breaking up scarring that has occurred in the tendons and ligaments.  The controlled re-injuring of tissue allows the body to regenerate blood vessels and bone cells.  The resulting re-vascularization leads to faster healing, reversal of chronic inflammation, stimulation of collagen and a return to pre-injury activity levels.

To find out more about Shockwave Therapy, and to find out if this treatment is right for you, please contact our health care practitioners at 250-382-0018.

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