My name is Dr. Mike Schrad and I would like to share with you an amazing and humbling experience I had. In February 2007, as I was completing my studies at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Iowa, I had an opportunity to take a clinic abroad trip to Manaus, Brazil - a city located on the Rio Negro in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. Along with 22 classmates, 3 faculty doctors, and 2 practicing doctors, I had the wonderful experience of setting up a chiropractic clinic, diagnosing and treating the wonderful Brazilian people. In my view they are the warmest and most grateful people I have ever met.

The area we were in is one of great contrasts, from the beautiful rainforest and rivers which are rife with danger to the widely divergent lifestyles. While some of the people there live a lifestyle similar to ours, many are not as fortunate. We encountered a great deal of poverty and difficult living conditions. The sights I saw and experiences I had were absolutely humbling.

In our short six days there we were able to treat over 2000 patients with everything from simple low back pain to Larsen’s Syndrome, headaches to paralysis. I had the opportunity to work with over 250 patients in that short time. Needless to say, it is an experience I will never forget.

We take so much for granted here in the USA; our homes, automobiles, food, clothing, and even our jobs. It seems we are forever complaining and never satisfied with the quantity and quality of our possessions. Because of our great wealth we tend to lose sight of our most important possession, our health! So many westerners take it for granted that we neglect to take care of our health until we are no longer healthy. Then we rely on the flawed healthcare (sick-care) system to make us “healthy” again.

Unfortunately, I think many of us have this mindset. Make no mistake, your health is your most precious asset – for without it little else matters.

The best way to be and stay healthy is to focus on wellness, thereby preventing problems – not the eradication of disease. (In the long run this will also save you time and money!) Many factors contribute to a healthy lifestyle, including good nutrition, exercise, effective stress management, and a properly functioning nervous system. Keeping your body and mind well paves the road to a healthy future in which all things are possible.

My experiences in Manaus taught me to never take anything for granted, and I hope you make the decision to never take your health for granted.

Our office prides itself on the education and quality care we provide for our patients. We proudly offer bi-monthly classes free of charge on various health topics. We also review research regularly, assuring you that the procedures we use are the safest and most effective. It is our mission to have EVERYONE in our wonderful community educated, healthy and well!

If you or someone you love have/has ANY health problems that concern you PLEASE give us a call or stop in TODAY! A healthy spine and well-functioning nervous system are essential if one is to achieve true health…your most precious asset!

We’d like to make an offer to make it easier for you to achieve true health. Call today and we’ll give you our initial consultation, comprehensive examination, and report of findings for $47!!! In addition, if you bring a family member in they can receive the same offer for only $27!!! We do this because we know that families that make their health a priority together are more successful at staying healthy. Don’t let another day go by – come in today and take advantage of this special offer.

CALL OUR OFFICE TODAY!

(303) 774-1311

Just mention this ad when you call to book your appointment to take advantage of this special offer. If you still have any questions feel free to call us. Consultations with Dr. Mike are always free!

Main Street Chiropractic Center

1248 Main St.

Longmont, CO 80501

(303) 774-1311

www.mainstreetchirocenter.com

Spinal Decay

Have you heard of spinal decay? I'll bet that you've heard of tooth decay! Spinal decay is a major problem affecting our health today! One of the difficulties in confronting the problem of spinal decay is the fact that unlike your teeth, you cannot see your spine. Also, health problems that are caused by spinal decay may not be readily associated with the spine. What all this means is that spinal decay is a hidden problem that you may not even know you have until it is too late!

Spinal decay is also known as spinal degeneration, subluxation degeneration, and/or degenerative disc disease. It is a degenerative process that, when the cause is not corrected, worsens over time, often without obvious symptoms.

You may be wondering, what causes spinal decay? Most often, it is an uncorrected trauma to the spine. Examples of these traumas include, but are not limited too;
-Slips and falls (like on the ice in winter)
-Accidents (auto, sports)
-Poor ergonomics (whether at work or in sports)
-Learning to walk
-Birth!

The spine, having experienced this trauma, loses it proper, natural curve. When this is lost, your spine's range of motion, or ability to properly bend and twist, is reduced at specific joints. When this happens, other areas of the spine must move more than they should to compensate. This can set off a chain reaction of health problems in other areas of the body. How?

This phenomenon is explained easily by a metaphor called the safety pin cycle. Imagine a closed safety pin. It forms a complete loop. At the top is the brain, which communicates with the rest of the body via the peripheral nerves, and vice versa. The brain and the peripheral nerves are connected by the spinal cord. The spinal cord is housed in and protected by the bones of the spinal column. When one of the bones of the spinal column is out of place, or one of the joints of the spinal column is not moving properly, irritation of the nerves occurs. This irritation interferes with the proper communication between the brain and the peripheral nerves and vice versa. Think of it like the safety pin is now open. The loop is no longer complete, and communication cannot properly occur.

Two of the problems associated with spinal decay is the formation of bone spurs and the herniation of intervertebral discs due to their degeneration. These are two ways in which direct pressure can be put on nerves. Nerve damage and interference begins with only 30 mmHg pressure. This didn't mean much to me when I first heard it, however, it equates to approximately the weight of a nickel lying on your hand. That's not much! It is important to keep in mind that most nerve interference is not caused by direct nerve pressure. When the spinal joint are not moving properly, irritating chemicals are released, which lower the pain receptor firing threshold in you spine. This explains why normally non-painful movements become so painful.

Now imagine that you've had an uncorrected trauma (I'll bet you can think of at least one). How does your body deal with these improperly moving joints and malpositioned bones? In the early stages of the degeneration process the normal curvatures of your spine are reduced, and calcium begins to be deposited in the soft tissue (such as ligaments, connective tissue, and intervertebral disc margins) around the poorly functioning joints. This is the beginning of your body's effort to protect itself from further injury.

In later stages of spinal decay, you may see a reversal of the normal spinal curvature, further development of bone spurs, and possibly even fusion of the spinal joint. This is the end stage of spinal decay. Once fusion has occurred, your only options are surgery and palliative care (drugs to relieve the pain).

Many people think that spinal decay is a normal part of the aging process. While it is a problem we often see in elderly patients, it is NOT normal. With proper spinal maintenance throughout your lifetime you should be able to maintain a healthy spine. It is important to remember that it is normal and natural to get older, however, it is not normal to get older and suffer with pain!

So how do you know if you've got spinal decay? This is difficult for most of us, because it is usually a silent problem until the later stages. No obvious symptoms may be present early. In the later stages, numbness, tingling, pain, and altered sensations show up in the arms, legs and back. Also, because the nerves of the mid-back are responsible for communication with the internal organs, you may have problems that you would never associate with spinal decay that are in fact caused by just that. The best way to know if you have spinal decay and to avoid the problems associated with it are to have regular checks of your spine by your chiropractor. We are trained to locate and correct specific problem areas of the spine to restore proper structure and function, and therefore proper nerve communication. It's just like brushing your teeth to avoid tooth decay!

Many patients come to a chiropractor because they have back pain and then discontinue care once that pain has been relieved. This is a huge mistake! One of the first things to improve with chiropractic care is usually pain. However, that does not mean that the underlying problem has been corrected. Your body has adapted to the improper positioning and function, and has to be retrained to make the proper correction. Just as it took time for the pain to develop, it will take time for it to be corrected. One of the reasons most often cited for dropping out of care before the problem is corrected is because insurance will no longer cover treatment. At Main Street Chiropractic Center we have affordable wellness care plans available for you and your entire family, that will work for any budget! If you know of someone you love who you would like to see live a life free of spinal decay, have them call today and set up an appointment. If they tell us about this article, the first appointment will be 50% off!

So remember, brush your teeth, and have your spine checked regularly!

Weekend Warrior Ergonomics

Be sure to attend Weekend Warrior Ergonomics on Tuesday, March 18th. This hour long class will look at ways for the weekend athlete to avoid costly injuries. Warm-up, stretching and cool down suggestions will be presented for several sports. Common injuries and ways to avoid them will also be discussed. Some of the sports we will be looking at include golf, softball, tennis, running and even gardening (yes, gardening counts as a sport!).
This free class will be held at the Main Street Chiropractic Education Center, located at 1248 Main St., Longmont, CO. Friends and family are encouraged to attend. There is NO obligation for attending this free event.
RSVP today as space is limited. (303)774-1311.

Welcome!

Hello, and welcome to the Main Street Chiropractic Center newsletter website! We're glad you've found us, and hope you come back often for the latest up-to-date information on health problems and issues that you or someone you know may experience. You can subscribe to our newsletter by submitting your name and e-mail address through our home page at www.mainstreetchirocenter.com, or simple visit this site often. Feel free to leave appropriate comments about the topics covered here, your opinions are always welcome. If you have a particular health concern that you'd like to see covered, please e-mail me at drschrad@mainstreetchirocenter.com and let me know.