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Q. Acupuncture seems to be in all of the "Alternative Health" articles these days. How does it work?
A. This is a hard question for a quick answer. First, understand there are 14 "meridians" in the body that are much like "little rivers of energy" that flow up and down throughout all body regions. The body maintains good health when all of the energy throughout these meridians is flowing properly. If for any reason, this energy flow is disturbed with it's normal flow (much like the rising and lowering of the tide) then this will cause stress to an organ or muscle group and, over time, can produce pain and discomfort. By placing small needles in various points along these rivers of energy (meridians) I will attempt to balance this energy flow back to normal. When this is accomplished, the pain and discomfort will be relieved. The number of treatments necessary to gain this effect, is usually in direct proportion to how long you have been suffering with the condition. We would first make a very thorough physical examination to assess the underlying cause of the pain and discomfort and then outline a treatment plan that would be the best approach in your particular case. Acupuncture is not a panacea; however, it helps allow the body to heal itself naturally as God intended.
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Q. Dr. Stickel, what are some of the problems that you treat in your office using acupuncture? What is your success rate?
A. Here are a few of the conditions that I have successfully treated in my office utilizing acupuncture with a 70-100% success rate; headaches, Bell's Palsey, chronic sinus congestion, neck pain and all types of back pain, hip and leg pain, shoulder and arm pain, and cigarette addiction.
Q. What is done in your office for pain management using acupuncture? I do not like taking pain medication all of the time.
A. First of all, I would make a thorough physical examination that would be specific to your condition, in an attempt to find the underlying cause, and then we would be able to formulate a treatment plan utilizing acupuncture therapy that would best relieve vour condition. I would then monitor your progress with each visit and document your response,. Once treatment has been initiated, within 1-12 visits noticeable improvement should be seen.
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Q. I am having bad headaches, almost every day. I have had multiple tests run that show negative results. Could chiropractic or acupuncture do anything to help?
A. First, let me emphasize the necessity of finding the cause of your headaches. While the medical profession does a tremendous job with specialized testing to include MRIs, CT scans, and, of course, many other ways, they are looking for life threatening problems such as tumors, anurisms and disease. These being all negative, we would then start by giving you a very thorough chiropractic/acupuncture examination. In the great majority of cases, chronic headaches are caused by nerve root irritation that occurs in the top four vertebra of your neck. In such case, your chance of great improvement or full recovery is excellent.
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Q. Dr. Stickel, a friend of mine in another state told me they were fitted with custom molded arch supports and that this helped their back and leg pain. Are you familiar with this and how does it work?
A. In cases of chronic low back pain, hip pain, and/or leg pain, one thing that is always included in our initial examination is to check the arches of both feet. Your friend is correct. When you have a fallen arch, it causes that side of your body to be weaker than the good side which takes it's toll over time, causing increased back, hip and leg pain. When we correct your arch properly, it will enhance your improvement 20-25% and should be included in vour overall treatment plan. In my office, the patient's feet are molded, and then sent to a laboratory where custom molded orthotics are prepared for this patient. No one else can wear these except the person they have been made for. Once the arch is corrected, the strength on the weak side of the bodv is normalized which then reduces the chronic stress that was once in the lower back. Then with specific spinal adjusting to reduce nerve root irritation, the condition is greatly improved or completely corrected.
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Q. I have recently developed neck pain, headaches, and back pain that I have never had before. I was in a car accident 9 months ago, is it possible that the pain I'm experiencing now could be the result of that accident?
A. Yes. Even minor automobile accidents can have major ill effects on your health. It may be weeks, months, even years before you experience pain, headaches, even arthritis. Pain killers, muscle relaxers, sedatives, or physical therapy cannot re-align the bones of your spine that have been forced out of their normal positioning and relieve your nervous system from pressure, nor help your injured muscles heal with less scar formation. Conservative chiropractic care and acupuncture will decrease the possibility of future pain, scar tissue and arthritis. In my office you would receive a proper evaluation and treatment for traumatic injuries of this nature, and you should not settle with your insurance company until you at least get a good evaluation. Remember, your auto insurance will pay for this care.
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Q. I was in a car accident 3 years ago and initially I thought I was okay. However, as time went on, I have progressively developed neck pain, severe headaches, shoulder and arm pain, mid back pain and low back pain. I have also noticed stiffness and difficulty turning my head, especially when looking for traffic while driving. Is it possible that this is the result of the car accident from 3 years ago?
A. Yes. Injuries that result from a car accident are often misunderstood. Frequently, the pain or other symptoms of the injury are not apparent at the time of the accident. In fact, some injuries are hidden so well that they may be missed by emergency room technicians, and may take weeks, months, or even years before actual symptoms show. Car crashes cause the bones of the spine to be misaligned to where they pinch on delicate nerves and secondly, they cause injury to the soft tissues of the spine, meaning muscles, ligaments, tendons and disks. Without proper treatment for this type of injury, the patient will go through disorganized healing which may lead to disk degenerative changes and osteoarthritis of the spine. You still will be able to receive relief with proper care. However, you will not respond as well as you would have if treatment would have taken place soon after the injury occurred. Remember, your automobile insurance has a 4 year statute of limitations and you could still be seen by a doctor for a proper examination and treatment and your insurance company would pay for this service.
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Q. I have recently been in an automobile accident and I am still in considerable pain. I have been to the hospital and my medical doctor. Do I really need to see a chiropractor?
A. Yes. You need a doctor that focuses on the treatment and diagnosis of auto accident injuries. Many chiropractors perform these expanded techniques. Usually, hospitals will check vital signs and release the patient with only pain relief medication. They normally do not treat the underlying improper musculoskelatal biomechanics that can and often do lead to future pain. If you are still having problems, you should get a second opinion. In our clinic we would review all x-rays made by your hospital, make other views if necessary, and perform a detailed neurologic orthopaedic assessment of your injuries. We would then evaluate whether or not you need more sophisticated examination such as an MRI or referral to a specialist. Following this, we would begin literally "putting you back together again," realigning your spinal vertebra to release nerve pressure and assisting the body to heal the soft tissue injuries such as your muscles, ligaments, and spinal disks, utilizing additional forms of treatment. Acupuncture is also very helpful in relieving pain in these type injuries. Remember, your automobile insurance will pay for this service to help you get well from your injury.
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Q. I was in a car accident and my car was damaged very little. I really thought that I was not hurt and would be find; however, three days later, I began noticing neck pain and headaches. Do you think this pain is from the car wreck?
A. Yes. Latest research in these type of injuries have proved that auto collisions that occur at speeds of only 8.2 mph can cause permanent spinal injury. It may seem to you that the collision was minor, especially whenever there is very little damage to your car. However, the force that has been generated to the driver or occupant can be very substantial. An 8 mph collision will cause 2 G's of force to your lower back, 4 G's of force to your shoulder region and 5 G's of force to your head and neck. All of this occurs between 100-250 milliseconds in time. It is during this time that the damage is incurred by the human body because the nervous system can not react in less than 350 milliseconds. Therefore, the human nervous system can not act fast enough to prevent whiplash. During this fleeting moment of time, the bones in your spine are knocked out of alignment and muscles and ligaments will tear microscopically. Without proper treatment, this can cause ongoing pain and possibly spinal degeneration and arthritis. Consecutive chiropractic care and acupuncture can decrease the possibility of future pain, scar tissue and arthritis. After any car crash, you should be examined by a physician trained in the proper evaluation and treatment for traumatic injuries of this nature and you should not settle with vour insurance company until you at least get a good evaluation. Remember, your auto insurance will pay for this care.
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| Dr. T.J. Stickel, D.C., P.A.
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