Our June newsletter is here! This month features back pain tips. You can read this newsletter here, or click the picture below for the printable pdf.
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Our Ancestors Invented The Wheel, We Made It Better
A Look Back
It has been more than a century since Chiropractic was introduced to the world. D.D. Palmer (the founder of the first Chiropractic college, Palmer College of Chiropractic) performed the first adjustment on Harvey Lillard in 1895. As one account of the story goes, Lillard was partially deaf. Following an adjustment by Palmer, Lillard’s hearing was restored. This single story raised many questions about the vast possibilities of the human nervous system.
The Healing Nature of Your Body
The more research that is done, the more we learn how much untapped potential our bodies contain. A simple task such writing involves such complicated communication and coordination from our bodies, and yet we are able to do it so efficiently. Our initial thought of the movement to the movement itself takes a fraction of a second. Yet in that time, our body communicates with itself from multiple areas with all sorts of different chemicals, electrical transmissions, neurotransmitters, and cells that must be involved. This simple example alone shows how our bodies are more powerful than we could have ever imagined.
When we look at its ability to heal, it is just as complex. Let us look at something as simple as cutting your finger. In the initial stages, you get signs and symptoms such as bleeding, redness around the wound, swelling, and pain. Looking at this from the body’s point of view, it has released several chemicals such as histamine and prostaglandin to help mediate the inflammation of this wound. The purpose of this inflammation is to cause congestion in the area of the wound so that your body has a chance to fight off any infections that may set in. Meanwhile, this inflammation also irritates the tissues, causing pain. The purpose of this pain is so that you are conscious of the injury and you will resist putting yourself in situations that can cause further injury. As your body starts the healing processes, there is interaction from other chemicals such as fibrinogen and thromboplastin that begin to build a scar over your wound to stabilize and heal it. It works like a well orchestrated machine. All of this occurs without us even having to think about it.
Everyday life is very strenuous on our bodies. We face illnesses and injuries on a daily basis that we are able to overcome. However, we all reach a certain point in our lives when we face something that our bodies are unable to repair on their own. During these crises, we need outside intervention for our bodies to recover. When we look at a broken bone, your body would be able to heal this wound itself. But without seeing your doctor to set the bone, it will take much longer if it is to ever heal properly. We could even look at severe cases of infection in which the invaders overwhelm our bodies, and without the use of antibiotics or antivirals, we would not be able to recover.
The Role of Chiropractic’s Intervention
Through everyday stresses and injuries, the joints of our spine and body may become subluxated. This occurs when they become misaligned and compress surrounding tissues, which limit their ability to move. Often times, the body is able to correct itself. But many times, they reach a point where they are unable to correct themselves, thus interfering with your body’s natural healing capabilities. At that point, they need intervention from a Chiropractor.
A Chiropractor corrects these subluxations by providing an adjustment. The traditional method for providing this adjustment is to do it by hand, providing a quick shallow thrust to re-align the joints and thus increasing motion and function. The number of times the adjustment is needed will vary on the severity. As we know, injured tissues can take several weeks to heal. During that time, the joints can subluxate repeatedly due to the compromised tissues and may need to be corrected more than once. As these corrections are made to remove interference, your body is able to heal properly and quickly.
What’s All That Clicking?
Often times with the adjustment, there may be some “popping” or “cracking” sounds that arise from the joints. These noises are called cavitations, which are indications of gases being released from the joint capsules. These cavitations may ordinarily occur with an adjustment, but do not indicate the adjustment itself. The noise of the cavitation causes a local neuromuscular response that temporarily numbs pain, thus patients may report liking the cavitation with an adjustment. But do not get hung up on this idea, as the joints do not always cavitate. The real power in the adjustment is restoring the alignment and motion of that joint. With some time, the tissues of those areas are able to heal, thus making the injury better. This is also an important concept to remember because we are all guilty or at least know of someone who is guilty of “self-adjusting.” The cavitation can be caused in joints that are NOT subluxated. It requires years of training and skill to locate and correct subluxated joints. Twisting or turning your own neck or back to cause these cavitations is not recommended and is a very dangerous game of Russian roulette.
Since Chiropractic first started, it has been constantly evolving. One area in its evolution is the method in which the adjustment is provided. In the 1960-s, Activator Methods was created as a way to provide a Chiropractic adjustment by using an adjustment tool, which has many advantages. Using this method is very safe, gentle, and controlled. There is no twisting or bending at the neck or back. Patients remain in a relaxed neutral position when adjusted, thus there is little to no concern about muscles that tense up prior to the adjustment or the risk of stroke. For those who have a phobia of their neck “popping,” it is an added bonus.
The Activator was invented right here in Minnesota and remains the most widely studied and used adjusting tool. There have been other similar adjusting tools invented, but the Activator is the only adjusting tool approved by Medicare. Since it is so gentle and safe, many doctors use the Activator tool with infants and the elderly. However, it is very effective in people of all ages. Doctors who specialize in Activator Methods require training beyond school to become certified.
Dr. Bobendrier and Dr. Huynh remain annually certified as Mankato specialists in Activator Methods. To learn more about Activator or to find a specialist near you, visit http://www.activator.com.
Our May newsletter is here! This month features back pain tips. You can read this newsletter here, or click the picture below for the printable pdf.
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Back Pain and Surgery – The Double-Edged Blade of Surgery
One of the most common complaints by patients is back pain. At some point, almost everyone will experience some form of back pain that prevents them from doing the things they enjoy. With the billions of dollars that are spent each year, it is important to understand that what was once thought as best for treating back pain may not, in fact, be the best option: surgery. That’s the big, scary word that gets thrown around a lot these days. To some of us, it rings terrifying images from those horror stories we have all heard. Yet for others, it is the first thing that comes to mind when this kind of pain arises, especially considering all the times we are inundated with news about a professional athlete going under the knife to fix an injury. We see it so much in our daily news, it almost appears as if surgery is the best and only option for your ailments. What is usually missing from these stories is information about all the complications that can arise, all the weeks of intense physical rehabilitation, the laboring recovery and, just as important, all the times surgery fails. The truth of the matter is we now know that too much surgery has been done in the past for the treatment of back pain.
What is back pain?
Back pain can typically be divided into two categories: acute and chronic. The types of therapies available for each will vary, as will the length of recovery time. Most back pain results from injury or trauma to the back. One of the most common forms of injuries we see is from repetitive stress, which is something that occurs from years of abuse by way of poor posture, poor sleeping habits, poor physical conditioning, smoking, obesity, and many other various causes. We so often hear about that friend who “threw out his back” while tying his shoe lace. What is often forgotten about this picture is that the shoe lace was not the cause of the back pain; it is often the “straw that broke the camel’s back.” Through years of repetitive trauma mentioned above, your back is harmed by micro-trauma, causing small tears in the tissues of your back. Over time, those tissues begin to scar, which is part of your body’s healing process. Scar tissue is neither as strong nor flexible as normal tissue. As this scar tissue builds up from continued micro-trauma, the back slowly weakens, which can lead to more serious injury. In addition to that, as we age, our strength and flexibility decreases. The intervertebral discs (the cushions between our vertebrae) begin to lose fluid and become less flexible, which decreases their ability to cushion our spine.
Other causes of back pain can result from degenerative arthritis, infection, tumors and other serious conditions. Some of the conditions that will require help from a specialist include:
Bulging disc, which is not to be confused with herniated or ruptured discs (both of which can present very similarly, but are more serious types of disc injuries). The joints of your back need the proper biomechanics to maintain the health of these discs. Did you know that they play a role on how tall you are? Did you ever notice that when you enter your car for the first time in the morning that you have to adjust your rearview mirror? What about at the end of the day? That is because your discs expand slightly while you rest at night, and they get a little thinner through daily stresses. To picture this, think of your intervertebral discs as water balloons that are wedged between two hard surfaces. When the balloon is put under too much pressure, it starts to flatten and bulge, just as your intervertebral disc does. These bulges can then put pressure around the surrounding tissues, particularly the spinal cord and nerve roots. This can cause one of the most common symptoms: back pain. If even more pressure is put on the discs, they can become further injured, resulting in a herniation or even a rupture of the disc, causing the inner substances of the disc leaks out, which further irritates the tissues.
Sciatica is a term describing pain that travels down the back of leg below the knee, and sometimes into the foot. The sciatic nerve is actually a large bundle of nerves that exits the lower part of the spine and travels through the buttocks and down the back of thighs. Impingement of this nerve bundle can be caused by a disc injury, degenerative arthritis, muscle spasm, or by a more serious condition such as a tumor.
Cauda Equina Syndrome occurs when a disc injury or bony protrusion is severe enough to place direct pressure on the lower part of the spinal cord. This condition is much more serious, as it can lead to permanent neurological deficit if not treated.
Spinal Degeneration occurs when arthritis sets in and decay of the spine narrows the spinal canal or spinal foramina; patients often complain of stiffness of the back, particularly in the morning. The spinal discs also become dehydrated and shrink in size. Smoking reduces the blood flow to these areas, thus increasing the rate of degeneration. So if you smoke, it is recommended that you quit.
Subluxation
Looking at the anatomy of the spine and intervertebral discs, you will see that discs cannot “slip,” as the saying goes. The intervertebral discs are securely connected to the vertebrae surrounding them, and thus do not translate in relative motion to the spine. When people describe that feeling of a “slipped disc,” it is often more accurate to describe it as a slipped vertebrae, otherwise known as a subluxation. Subluxated vertebrae can become fixated and cause irritation to the surrounding nerves, often presenting as back pain.
How is back pain diagnosed?
It is important to remember that there can be many causes of back pain, and that back pain itself is not a diagnosis. In order to properly treat back pain, you need a proper diagnosis; and the earlier it is found the better your prognosis will be. To get the proper diagnosis, a thorough examination is required. As a patient, you can recognize what a thorough exam is because your appointment will probably be more than 2 minutes long. If all your doctor did was ask you a couple of questions, it probably was not sufficient. If they just lay you on the table and start treating, or hand you a prescription for medication without even touching you, it would be in your best interest to seek a second opinion. A thorough examination should include:
Know what is causing your back pain
Keep in mind the danger of self-diagnosing your problem. As with most ailments, back pain can be caused by very serious conditions. Only your doctor should diagnose the cause. Many people self-diagnose their ailments and prescribe themselves over-the-counter medication, often failing to mention to their doctor they are taking them. Remember that all medications, prescription and over-the-counter, can have serious side effects. On top of that, they can have very serious adverse reactions to other medications, or are even unsafe to take in certain situations, such as pregnancy. If you choose to use medications of any type, be sure to keep your doctor informed about it.
Treatment Options
In a recent survey conducted by Consumer Reports, subscribers were asked which type of care they were highly satisfied with to treat their back pain. The results were as follows:
59% – Chiropractor
55% – Physical Therapy
53% – Acupuncture
44% – Physician, specialist
34% – Physician, primary-care doctor
This report is a survey, and not a scientific study comparing the effectiveness of each treatment. This does not mean that there is not useful information here. One of the most important things we can gather from this is that as consumers, we do not tend to continue using something that does not work. The results of this survey are compelling in that they indicate more people are satisfied using hands-on treatments such as Chiropractic, massage, physical therapy, and acupuncture than the traditional western medicine approach. This is consistent with the findings of Hertzman-Miller from 2002, which found that Chiropractic patients were more satisfied with their care than medical patients.
The good news is that most low back pain can be treated properly without surgery. With that being said, let us look at some treatments available for back pain:
Surgery
As mentioned previously, surgery for back pain has often been an over-used treatment option. The majority of low back pain can be treated effectively without the use of surgery. As most professionals agree, surgery can be effective to treat back pain, but should be the absolute last resort. If the cause is serious enough or if conservative care is not helping, only then should surgery be seriously considered. Surgery is a life-altering procedure and, once done, your spine will never be normal again. There is also no guarantee that a successful surgery will relieve your pain.
Medicine
Most back pain can be resolved within 3 months, with a great number of cases being traced back to a biomechanical cause. However, recovery can be complicated if your body is not allowed to heal as it should. Pain and anti-inflammatory medication, including spinal injections, can help with back pain, but it is well known that this type of care is more of a bandage on the problem than a solution. Numbing the pain does very little to address the cause of the problem, and many times can make it worse. Pain is an important part of the healing process, as it is a warning sign to alert you that an injury is present. Though medication might make you feel better, it prevents this vital warning process. Thus you may play that extra round of golf causing more injury because this warning system has been shut off by the medication. There are also concerns of drug addiction and serious side effects of prescription and over-the-counter drug use.
Bed Rest
Though it has been known for years, recent studies have confirmed that bed rest is not the best option for treating back pain. In may be necessary in severe cases, but it is generally recommended that you resume activities as soon as you are able. There are severe complications that can arise from long-term bed rest and it can make back pain worse. The idea is not to go play a game of full contact football, but instead to be up and moving doing the activities you normally do.
Physical Therapy
Strengthening exercises can be very effective in reducing the recovery time of back pain. Physical therapists are highly trained in working with back pain. The use of routine stretching and strengthening exercise not only can help recovery, but can prevent the recurrence of back pain. Some physical therapists may also perform general manual manipulation.
Graston Therapy
As mention previously, many causes of chronic back pain may result in significant scar tissue. This can often cause further pain and muscle spasm to these already injured areas. One method used to treat soft tissue scars is Graston Therapy. Through the use of specialized stainless steel tools, the grainy scars are broken down, thus mobilizing these tissues. The premise of this procedure is to re-injure the scar tissue in a controlled environment. Patients are prescribed specific exercises that must be done in order for those tissues to heal correctly. Cases can be treated with as few as 6 visits before seeing significant progress. Graston Therapy has been successful in treating post-surgical scar development, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and various other chronic conditions. Although this procedure currently does not have many peer-reviewed studies published about its effects on relieving back pain, many practitioners are reporting substantial success with Graston Therapy. Since it may be considered experimental, many insurance coverage plans do not cover this therapy, so patients may need to seek care out of their network. Practitioners using this method are required to have additional training for this therapy. To find a certified practitioner near you, visit Graston’s website.
Chiropractic Care
Recent studies have indicated that Chiropractic adjustments are very beneficial with back pain, and are one of the most cost effective forms of care, especially compared to spinal surgery. Chiropractic adjustments work in restoring alignment and function of the spine. There are varying methods to provide the adjustment, which should be tailored toward the severity of your back pain and your personal profile. One method that is often used is Activator Methods. Doctors must receive additional training to become certified practitioners of Activator Methods. This method utilizes an instrument that delivers a gentle high-speed adjustment while the patient is kept in a neutral position. See the Activator website for a doctor that is certified in your area.
Other Alternative Therapies
There are other types of conservative care including acupuncture, biofeedback, naturopathy and massage that can help back pain. Often times, doctors will recommend these types of care in adjunct to the care they prescribe.
Let’s Prevent Back Pain
Regardless of which type of care you choose, the most effective treatment for back pain is prevention. If you have already suffered from back pain, this does not mean it is too late. Preventing future occurrences may still be possible. This type of care requires your active participation through modification of lifestyle, ranging from diet, ergonomics and posture, strengthening exercises, stretching exercises, stress management, and maintaining alignment.
Eating a healthy diet is absolutely essential. Being overweight puts excessive stress on the joints of the spine. Your body also needs the proper nutrients to keep you healthy, including the proper amounts of calcium and vitamin D to maintain bone strength. The best sources of your nutrients come from fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly the green leafy vegetables and colorful fruits (strawberries, tomatoes…).
Keeping active and fit through regular core strengthening exercises and stretches can decrease your chances of a back injury. Other exercises such as yoga or pilates are wonderful for this too, since they promote both strength and flexibility.
Your teeth require proper maintenance and routine check-ups with your dentist to keep healthy. Your spine is no different, and should not be ignored if you wish to keep it healthy. Keeping your spine aligned with routine check-ups can help keep it healthy and moving well. The frequency of your check-ups should be discussed with your Chiropractor.
Thousands of work-related injuries are caused by ignoring the principles of ergonomics and posture, along with the exposure to heavy lifting, repetitive stress, vibration, and long hours. Many successful companies these days have begun applying ergonomic awareness programs in the workplace. These programs promote the reduction of risks to injury at the workplace AND at home by maintaining health, use of ergonomic equipment, education, and exercise. Many of these companies are now starting to hire outside agencies to help with these programs. These agencies provide doctors and specialists who educate their employees during monthly safety meetings about precautions they can take to prevent injuries. The obvious cost benefit can be very significant for the employer. Discover Chiropractic has been very active in providing these programs to the community, which provides the Mankato area businesses/organizations cost-effective alternatives to outside agencies.
If surgery is recommended
If your doctor recommends surgery, the most important thing to do is to get a second opinion. If this means you have to travel some distance to see another specialist, it would be in your best interest to do so. Do not be afraid to seek more opinions. The decision to have surgery is life-altering, so make sure you are well informed.
Do not be afraid to ask the hard questions. Find out how many of the specific types of surgery proposed your surgeon has performed. Ask to speak with someone the surgeon has performed a similar surgery on. There might be a lot of people who have gone through the same thing, and they are often very willing to discuss it. Speaking to the therapists that you will be working with for recovery can give you insight on what to expect. You might find that with the more research you do, you may get a better picture of your surgeon’s reputation. Though it might be important to like your doctor as a person, finding one with surgical expertise should be your focus.
Also be ready for the help of others. The process of surgery cannot be done alone, and neither can the recovery. Simple tasks that you take for granted (as bathing, cleaning, cooking, walking…) are going to be much more difficult. Having a good support system around you is absolutely essential.
You may also want to consider alternative care for post-surgical recovery. There are various types of care that are helpful in pain management and the healing process. Many post-surgical patients seek these alternative methods in addition to traditional physical therapy and pain medications. Chiropractic care is very safe and effective in post-surgical care, not only with pain relief and the healing process, but also with prevention of further deterioration.
As important as anything else: If your doctor does NOT recommend surgery, consider seeking other types of care. The “wait until it’s bad enough for surgery” approach often includes weeks, months, or years of unnecessary suffering. Most patients in this situation are in severe enough pain that they are willing to do almost anything. You do not need to wait until it is this severe. Just remember that there are options available. Many people who suffer from back pain have found great relief through Chiropractic care. It is amazing to see the number of people who were able to avoid surgery under the care of their Chiropractor.
Sources:
Haas et al (2005), Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Hoving et al (2002), Annals of Internal Medicine
“Low Back Pain Fact Sheet,” NINDS. Publication date July 2003.
NIH Publication No. 03-5161
Nyiendo et al (2000), Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
The next Relay for Life will take place Friday July 17, 2008 at 6:00 PM at the Ray Erlandson Park located at 101 N. Belmont, Mankato, MN. Discover Chiropractic is proud to announce that we will be sponsoring team Heart Beaters again this year.
In the upcoming weeks, we will be working diligently to raise money, gather donations, and add team members. If you would like to join our team, or make a donation, please see our page here or click on the logo below.
Support the Heart Beaters by clicking on the beating heart!
We welcome everyone to join us at the event or make a donation to team Heart Beaters. All proceeds go towards the cause to fight cancer. The Relay for Life is a community event that the American Cancer Society conducts in all areas of the country.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Cancer affects millions of people across the globe and many people right here in our hometown. By making a donation, you will be a part of Relay For Life® to celebrate survivors, remember the people we’ve lost to cancer, and fight back against this disease.
For more information about the Relay for Life, visit the American Cancer Society.
To make a donation, please call us at 507-720-0742!
Our April newsletter is here! This month features scoliosis. 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.
How many times a day do you tell your child to stand up straight? How many times have you looked at your child’s spine? Is it straight? Can you tell? Have you ever had yoru child screened for scoliosis?
What is scoliosis?
Scoliosis affects 2-3% of the population, or about 6 million people just in the United States! The most common age that scoliosis develops is 10-15 years, but can develop much earlier-even in infancy. Congenital scoliosis is due to a birth defect, and is usually present with otehr congenital problems. Most cases of scoliosis, however, are idiopathic, or are of unknown cause. No one knows who will get it, why they get it, if it will progress, or how much it will progress. There is no cure for scoliosis. However, there are a variety of possible treatments for the condition, and one of the most important factors is early detection.
How is scoliosis diagnosed?
While looking at a person from the side, a person’s spine normally has 3 major curvatures, designed to distribute weight evenly. While looking at a person from the back, however, the spine should be straight from the base of the neck down to the tailbone. If there are any curvatures of the spine while looking at a person from the back, that person may have scoliosis.
Scoliosis is defined as an abnormal curvature and rotation of the spine. Some signs of scoliosis are:
A trained professional can make the diagnosis of scoliosis by performing a physical exam, making observations from the person’s posture and sometimes X-rays to confirm the diagnosis and to measure the degree of curvature.
In many school systems, scoliosis screenings are performed by the school nurse. If you think that your child may have scoliosis, have him or her evaluated with a thorough examination immediately.
What are different treatment options for scoliosis?
Depending on the degree of curvature, various treatments can be recommended. Oftentimes, doctors will recommend monitoring curvatures under 20° to ensure that it does not progress. A curvature measuring 20°-45° usually requires some sort of bracing, and curvatures over 45° will be referred for a surgical consultation.
In other words, for a curvature that is less than 20°, there is no treatment. It is recommended that the child get check-ups every few months to see if the curvature is increasing, but if not, there is no treatment recommended. The bracing that occurs in curvatures 20°-45° is usually very aggressive. The brace is usually worn up to 20 hours per day, and there are stretching exercises prescribed in addition to the brace. There has been some controversy over the effectiveness of bracing, and whether it is actually beneficial in the reducing, or stopping the progression of, spinal curvatures.
What complications can scoliosis cause?
Most complications are only associated with severe scoliosis, or greater than 45°. With these severe curvatures, the ribcage is deformed and can put pressure on the heart and lungs, making it difficult to breathe and to circulate blood and oxygen to the tissues of the body. Any time breathing is compromised, the risk of lung infections and pneumonia increases, so these individuals are carefully watched for these complications as well.
Probably the most common complication of scoliosis is psychological. Children with spinal curvatures that are visually evident often feel isolated from their peers and embarrassed about their appearance. This is worsened if they are required to wear a brace for their scoliosis. It is important for parents to keep their children involved in confidence-building activities so a healthy body image can develop.
The complication that Chiropractors are most concerned about is the development of early arthritis in the spines of individuals who have scoliosis. Your spine has a specific architectural design that is important in weight distribution. If these joints are not allowed to move properly, they will experience an accelerated rate of degeneration, resulting in irreversible arthritis in those joints. This is a progressive process, and can be very painful. Over time, an individual with severe degeneration can lose the use of those arthritic joints, and sometimes can suffer neurological deficits of the associated spinal nerves.
How can Chiropractic help?
While more research is needed to determine if Chiropractic can help stop progression or reverse a spinal curvature, there is evidence that Chiropractic can decrease the progression of degeneration in the spine. Degeneration of the spine is caused by lack of motion or abnormal movement of a joint. Chiropractors restore movement in joints and ensure that the joints of your spine are moving correctly. Degenerative changes are permanent, so the key is stopping the damage before it is done. Chiropractic also is also very effective in pain management, and can often decrease the painful symptoms of having a spinal curvature.
Source:
Mayo Clinic, National Scoliosis Foundation
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.
Here’s another video that discusses more about ear infections, and Activator methods.
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.
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.
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.