Here are some videos available that discuss a little more about how Chiropractic care can help with ear infections. View these to see how others have been helped through Chiropractic care.
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Here’s another video that discusses more about ear infections, and Activator methods.
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Our February newsletter is here! This month features common ear infections in kids (aka Otitis Media). You can read this newsletter here, or click the picture below for the printable pdf.
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Are your child’s ears burning? Is someone talking about them, or do they have an ear infection?
One of the most common reasons children under the age of 5 years old make visits to the doctor’s office is because of an ear infection. Otitis media, or infection of the middle ear, occurs most frequently among children ages 6 months to 5 years; most children having at least one episode of otitis media by the age of 2 or 3 (Mayo). Usually the trip to the medical clinic for an ear infection will have 1 of 2 results: watch and wait or prescription antibiotics. Is there anything more frustrating to a parent who has been up all night with a screaming child, with a painful ear, than to be told to monitor the situation and wait it out? Most of us want the antibiotics so our child can get some sleep! But what if antibiotics don’t help?
What is Otitis Media?
There are 2 main types of otitis media: serous and acute. Serous otitis media is when there is a buildup of fluid inside the middle ear, but there is no infection present. Acute otitis media is when the fluid that has built up in the middle ear becomes infected due to exposure to bacteria or a virus. Both conditions can be quite painful, and both are what we commonly refer to as “ear infections”. Now the big question is, what causes the fluid to build up in the middle ear? Usually, it is due to a simple drainage problem. The drainage system of the middle ear is quite simple: the Eustachian tube runs from the middle ear to the back of the throat.
The Eustachian tube opens briefly when you swallow or yawn, allowing fluids to drain from the middle ear to the thraot. A child’s Eustachian tube is shorter and more horizontally oriented than an adult’s. As children grow, their Eustachian tubes lengthen, becoming wider and more vertical, making it easier for the middle ear to darin. This is why the occurrence of middle ear infections decreases dramatically as one ages.
So, let’s recap. The most common underlying cause of otitis media is a problem with the drainage system of the ear: the Eustachian tube. By not allowing fluids from the middle ear to drain, it causes the fluid to build up and put pressure on the eardrum (called serous otitis media), which can be very painful. If the child comes in contact with bacteria or a virus, the fluid in the middle ear can become infected (called acute otitis media). If there is bacteria in the middle ear and antibiotics are prescribed, the antibiotics will only attempt to rid the body of the bacteria; it will not do anything to darin the fluid from the middle ear, and will not directly decrease the pain your child is experiencing. Another thing to be aware of is if the antibiotic being used is the correct one for the bacteria present. Antiobiotics are usually prescribed to treat the most common starains of bacteria, which may or may not be the strain causing the infection.
Why not give them antibiotics, just in case?
If your child has serous otitis media, or fluid build-up, in the middle ear without the presence of bacteria, the use of antibiotics would be fruitless. The use of antibiotics when they are not necessary may increase the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. This can make future infections very challenging to treat. Oftentimes, a child’s immune system is strong enough to fight the infection without the use of antibiotics. But sometimes antibiotics are required so that the infectino does not spread to surrounding tissues. Up to 80% of ear infections resolve without the use of antibiotics. In fact, a review of studies by the American Academy of Pediatrics showed no significant difference in symptom relief after a 24-hour period between children treated with antibiotics and those who were not (Mayo). Visit the Mayo Clinic website for further information regarding the pros and cons of using antibiotics for middle ear infections.
What about ear tubes?
Ear tubes are often suggested if a child has a chronic fluid build-up in the middle ear, or has repeated middle ear infections. Ear tube placement is a surgical procedure that requires general anesthesia, which can have its own complications including allergic reaction, fever, breathing difficulties, and heart irregularities.
During the surgery, the surgeon makes a small incision in th eardrum and then inserts a tiny metal or plastic tube into the hole in the eardrum. This tube then does the job of the Eustachian tube, draining excess fluid from the middle ear and balancing pressure inside the ear.
The risks of infection of ear tubes include bleeding and infection, tearing or scarring of the eardrum, hearing los, or infection of the tubes themselves. The tubes are left in the ears for 6-12 months, and will eventually fall out themselves. If the tubes do not stay in or fall out too soon, additional surgery may be prescribed to insert another set of tubes.
My child has an earache, not a backache. Why would I go to the Chiropractor?
Chiropractic is gaining popularity in the general population as a method of draining the middle ear. Chiropractors assist the body to work as it is supposed to. The Eustachian tube should be draining the middle ear, so Chiropractors focus on the reason why the tube isn’t doing its job. Babies and children often have joints in their upper necks that are restricted in their movement, for various reasons from the trauma of birth to daily bumps and falls. When these joints are not able to move correctly, it causes the muscles in that region to become tight and sometimes inflamed. This can put pressure on surrounding tissues, including nerves and other structures that can cause blockage of the Eustachian tubes, making them unable to open up enough to drain teh fluid from the middle ear. Through very specific Chirorpactic adjustments, these joints regain their motion, the muscles are able to relax, and the pressure is taken off the Eustachian tubes, allowing the ears to drain. The Chiropractic adjustments that are administered to babies and children are usually painless and very gentle, usually consisteing of a light finger-tip adjustment, placing pressure in very specific points. A study about the effectiveness of Chiropractic with acute otitis media showed that over 90% of children show improvement, 75% in 10 days or less, with over 40% in only 1 or 2 treatments. Serious side effects of spinal adjustments are very rare. The estimated risk of serious complications from neck adjustments is 6.39 per 10 million adjustments, and for low back adjustments it is 1 per 100 million adjustments, according to an article in Integrative Medicine. If you hav further questions regarding alternative treatments for otitis media, please contact your Chiropractor.
1. Many ear infections are a result of improper drainage of the ear.
2. Antibiotics are often ineffective and can increase drug-resistant bacteria.
3. Antibiotics do not help alleviate pain or cause drainage of the middle ear.
4. Surgical tubes can result in various side effects.
5. Chiropractic is safe, gentle, and effective.
References:
Mayo Clinic, American Chiropractic Association,Coulter ID. Efficacy and Risks of Chiropractic Manipulation: What Does the Evidence Suggest? Integrative Medicine 1998;1:61-66
Froehle. Ear infection: a retrospective study examining improvement from chiropractic care and analyzing for influencing factors. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1996 Mar-Apr;19(3):169-77.
Our January newsletter is here! This month features sledding tips. You can read this newsletter here, or click the picture below for the printable pdf.
You must have Adobe Acrobat installed. Download the latest version for free. If you’re having trouble downloading this newsletter, right-click the picture and choose “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” and save them to your computer.
THE TIME FOR SAFER SLEDDING IS NOW!
One of the few pleasures we get to experience living in the Midwest during winter is a day of sledding. We probably all remember those days of family fun while we were growing up—bundling up against the bitter cold, climbing that hill, and whizzing down on our plastic sleds. Ah, the good times.
Today, when we try to do the same thing, we end up trudging up that darn hill with aching joints, and feeling like our tailbones are cracked when our behinds hit the snow. Recent studies have shown that maybe we’re doing the sledding thing all wrong. Some say you should never go down the hill face-first. Some say you should never sit on the sled. Everyone says not to stand up on the sled. What is the right answer?
First of all, it is important to realize that sledding accidents can and do occur to people of all ages. Sledding has been shown to be somewhat of a dangerous recreational activity, with between 30,000 and 50,000 children in the US ending up in the emergency room with sledding injuries each year (1). The majority of injuries occur to children between the ages of 5 and 14, with boys being injured more often than girls. So no matter how much fun a day of sledding can be, there are real risks involved and safety must come first.
Let’s tackle the face-first position. This position saves your low back from taking the brunt of the force while sledding, but your neck is in an extremely vulnerable position. The face-first position puts your body at a high risk for whiplash injuries, and could result in spinal cord damage. This is probably the worst position to be in while sledding, so never do it!
Most of us were taught to sit down while sledding. But there is a huge downside to this position, too. Sitting on your sled puts all the impact on your spine, pelvis, and sacrum, and can result in compression fractures in your spinal column Compression fractures are caused when a severe impact occurs which causes vertebra to collapse. Compression fractures can be painful and lead to early degenerative disc disease and changes in your biomechanics. Compression fractures can also put direct pressure on spinal nerves, causing not only pain, but loss of function in the areas that those nerves serve.
So, what position is safe?
The position that seems to be the safest to go down a hill on a sled is on your knees. This takes the stress off your neck, as compared to the face-first position, and it also gives some extra shock absorption to your spine, pelvis, and sacrum, as compared to a seated position.
Keep in mind that injuries can happen very unexpectedly. When you are out in the cold having fun, you may not be able to feel the same aches and pains that you would normally feel if you were indoors and warm with your adrenaline at rest.
Make sure to pay close attention to your body after sledding, and pay particular attention to your children.
If you or your child do experience an injury while sledding, seek care immediately. If you have prolonged discomfort following a day of sledding, see your Chiropractor as soon as possible to prevent long-term damage.
In order to reduce the risk of any type of injury while sledding, follow these tips:
1. Check out the hill: choose hills with a gentle slope and long runoff area.
2. Avoid icy areas—these give you a harder surface to land on, increasing the risk of injury.
3. Be sure the hill is free of jumps, bumps, holes, rocks and other obstacles.
4. Keep your arms and legs within the sled while going down the hill.
5. If you fall off the sled or stop unexpectedly, move out of the way of other sledders quickly.
6. Walk back up the side of the hill, out of the way of other sledders.
7. Wear an appropriate helmet to reduce the risk of serious head injury.
8. Make sure there is appropriate supervision! Children under 5 should have an adult on the sled with them. Monitor children for wet clothes, chilling, frostbite, and fatigue.
Source: GenesisHealth.com
The Alltell Center in Mankato, MN will be hosting this years Baby & Kids Expo on February 21, 2009 from 9AM to 2PM.
This is a great event to attend if you are planning a family or expecting, or if you have already started a family! Information will be available on health topics, nutritional information, and some of the latest trends in clothing, toys, and products. There will also be information on many organizations in the community and how you can get your children involved in activities.
Be sure to stop by our booth, as Discover Chiropractic will have lots of goodies available that day!
Admission is FREE!
For more information about the event, call us today or visit here.
Our December newsletter is here! This month features headaches. You can read this newsletter here, or click the picture below for the printable pdf.
You must have Adobe Acrobat installed. Download the latest version for free. If you’re having trouble downloading this newsletter, right-click the picture and choose “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” and save them to your computer.
Headaches are one of the most common complaints our patients have. They vary in ranges of slightly nagging to completely debilitating. We often hear patients who suffer from chronic headaches describe them as their “normal headaches.” When you suffer from these headaches for so long, they often become part of your regular regimen. But in fact, headaches are never normal. It can be easy to forget that pain is a normal bodily reaction, and not a cause to the injury or disease. Your body experiences pain in order to remind you that there is something wrong. Though some types of headaches may occur more often in certain demographics of people, they can occur in men and women of all ages.
TYPES OF HEADACHES
The most common forms of headaches are tension and migraine headaches. Tension headaches typically occur with muscle tension in the head, neck, shoulders, and jaw. They often present gradually and get worse, feeling like a dull pain that is like a headband gradually squeezing the head harder and harder. This type of pain is usually on the less severe side, and can last from hours to days.
Migraine headaches are not as common as tension headaches, but are more common in women than in men. Migraine sufferers may report having their first attack in their teens, and they continue to recur for years. Sensitivity to light and loud sounds, as well as nausea can often accompany these headaches. Certain people may also know when they are about to have an episode. These symptoms may vary, and are called a prodrome. Some people will experience visual disturbances as seeing flashes, spots, stripes, or having blurred vision; that’s known as an aura. These types of headaches can be very debilitating and can last for hours to days, with little effect by over-the-counter painkillers.
Other types and causes of headaches can range from cluster headaches, space occupying lesions, meningitis, hypertension, sinus infection, or trauma.
DIAGNOSIS
Like any other complaint, it is very important to get the right diagnosis for your problem in order to properly treat it. This is important in identifying a serious underlying cause. Your Chiropractor should take an in-depth history and perform a thorough examination to help determine the cause of your symptoms, and the seriousness of your problem. If it is necessary, other special tests may be used to help determine the type of care you need, including x-rays, laboratory tests, special imaging (such as CT scan or MRI), or a headache diary.
TREATMENT
There are various common ways to treat headaches. One thing you can do at home is to take a headache log. Think of this log as your daily diary. This diary should contain information such as the date and time you get each headache, food/drinks you have consumed during those days, the amount of sleep you get each day, when the headaches started and stopped, and anything else that may be going on in your life. This information should be as detailed as possible, and may be extremely helpful in determining what is causing your headache.
If you seek care with your primary care doctor, they may also prescribe various types of painkillers, over-the-counter medication, or even antidepressants or other medications. Many people suffer from rebound headaches, which are types of recurrent headaches that may result from overuse of pain medication. It is important to keep in mind that medications have side effects, some more serious than others, so it is extremely important to seek medical advice before taking any types of medication for your pain. If your headaches are more advanced or are due to more serious underlying problems referral to other specialists may follow, including a headache clinic or a neurologist.
Other types of care may include ice/heat therapy, physical therapy, simple rest in a dark room, massage, acupuncture, biofeedback, meditation, exercise, stress management, and lifestyle changes.
CHIROPRACTIC AND HEADACHES
As with most ailments, conservative care is generally the preferred treatment method. Fortunately, most headaches are not life-threatening and can be managed conservatively through Chiropractic care. Treatment can vary with the type of headache and causes of your headache. But Chiropractic care, particularly cervical manipulation, has been very effective in eliminating or reducing the frequency/intensity of headaches, particularly when you know your headache is coming.
Headaches are often accompanied by tense muscles of the neck, shoulders, and upper back. This tension may cause joint irritation and restrict motion of your joints. Through Chiropractic adjustments, that motion can be restored, allowing those muscles to relax.
Only your Chiropractor can determine if your headaches can be helped through Chiropractic care, and prescribe a treatment plan specific to you. Headaches can often accompany other bodily injuries or even be a result of serious conditions, so it is important to consult your Chiropractor if you are experiencing them.
Do NOT suffer more than you need to. Contact your Chiropractor today!
Our November newsletter is here! This month features snow shoveling. You can read this newsletter here, or click the picture below for the printable pdf.
You must have Adobe Acrobat installed. Download the latest version for free. If you’re having trouble downloading this newsletter, right-click the picture and choose “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” and save them to your computer.
When the snow starts flying, the back starts aching.
Although many people enjoy the winter months for the skiing, sledding, sleigh rides, and hot chocolate, not many of us enjoy shoveling the snow that falls onto our sidewalks and driveways. Thank goodness for the invention of the snow blower! But for those of us that do not have one of those handy devices, or choose not to haul it out when there are only a few inches of snow, the opportunity for injury while clearing the snow
away is great.
There are many strategies that can help decrease your chances of injury while shoveling snow.
Now that you know what to do to get ready to shovel snow, here are some tips to follow while getting the job done!
Who needs to think twice about snow shoveling?
Although shoveling snow is a fantastic aerobic workout, there are some that are at increased risk of heart attack due to the increased stress put on the heart.
Anyone who meets the criteria above should check with their doctor before taking on the job of shoveling snow.
Back Aching?
If you experience any soreness or pain after shoveling snow, apply ice to the area for 20 minutes and repeat every hour 2-3 times per day over the next few days. See your Chiropractor if the pain persists, is sharp, shooting, or burning, or if you have tingling or numbness, as these could be signs of serious spinal injury.
The greatest compliment our patients give is the referral of their loved ones.
We appreciate that you trust us enough to recommend a loved one into our care.
Your continued thoughts are much appreciated.