Alpharetta-Cumming Chiropractor Offers No Waiting, No Hassles and Same-Day Relief.
0 comments Posted by Dr. Kurt Meininger at 8:45 AM
Dr. Kurt Meininger, Forsyth County, Alpharetta-Cumming Chiropractor Offers No Waiting, No Hassles, Same-Day Relief For Back and Neck Pain Sufferers:
Your life is busy... you're in a hurry... waiting in line... waiting for calls... always waiting. But when it comes to getting pain relief... waiting is just out of the question.
South Forsyth Chiropractic, located between Alpharetta and Cumming understands. We've delivered effective back and neck pain treatment to trusted clients since 1992. Our office provides immediate walk-in service, with most patients in and out within just 30 minutes or less.
In fact, you do not even need an appointment... just walk in during open hours (Mon., Wed. & Fri.: 10:00am - 1:00pm and 4:00pm - 7:00pm)... and you'll be seen quickly!
We work with each client individually to address your specific complaints, offering advanced non-surgical pain-relieving therapies. Patients frequently realize immediate alleviation of symptoms, whether facing a simple sprain/strain or a chronic disc problem.
Our safe, therapeutic services include modern chiropractic care (manual manipulation or low-force instrumentation), back and neck traction, electrical muscle stimulation, core-strengthening exercises, deep tissue fascia-muscle stretching, low-level (cold) laser therapy, pressure point therapy and nutritional/diet counseling. We work hard to make each visit a wonderful experience. Your satisfaction is our top priority.
Routine appointments are available via convenient phone scheduling... but are not necessary. Get the urgent pain relief you want when you need it the most. Visit South Forsyth Chiropractic; 5670 Atlanta Highway; Ste. C-1; Alpharetta, GA 30004 today.
Dr. Meininger’s treatment has been successful with chronic back and neck pain, degenerative or herniated discs, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, pinched nerves, headaches, sciatica, Fibromyalgia, whiplash and all sorts of sports-related injuries.
For complete details call Dr. Meininger's office at 770-777-0900.
NSAIDs Side Effects: What Every South Forsyth County - Alpharetta-Cumming Back Pain Sufferer Must Know
Posted by Dr. Kurt Meininger at 11:03 AM
South Forsyth County – Alpharetta-Cumming Chiropractor And Non-Drug Back Pain Doctor Reports:
Can Doctors Agree On Fibromyalgia - Chronic Fatigue Diagnosis And Treatment Options in South Forsyth County - Alpharetta-Cumming?
Posted by Dr. Kurt Meininger at 4:31 PM
South Forsyth County – Alpharetta-Cumming Chiropractor And Fibromyalgia Doctor Reports:
Fibromyalgia (FM) has long been considered a condition involving the soft tissues of the body, that is, the muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia. It is defined as “a chronic, generalized pain condition associated with symptoms of fatigue, stiffness, and sleep disturbance and is characterized by the physical findings of local tenderness in many specific but widely dispersed sites. Fibromyalgia is the most common cause of widespread pain. The prevalence of this disorder in the general population is between 3% and 5%... Most patients with fibromyalgia remain symptomatic for several years, and no cure has been identified." Disturbances in the central nervous system (CNS) have also been linked to this condition.
In one study, 168 FM patients had the CNS evaluated by hearing tests, eye movement tests, and a test that evaluates balance/dizziness. Abnormal findings were common in the FM patient group compared to non-FM subjects. Another study utilized an electrical current treatment approach through the skull to stimulate part of the brain to see if that would help a group of patients with FM. Two different parts of the brain were stimulated as well as a sham or fake treatment approach. One of two parts of the brain that was stimulated resulted in reductions of pain that lasted for three weeks and mild improvements in quality of life were reported.
Comparing 287 general practitioners (GPs), 160 orthopedists, 160 physiatrists, and 160 rheumatologists, evaluating a patient injured in a motor vehicle crash, those most likely to diagnose FM were rheumatologists (83%) with physiatrists and GPs in the middle at 60% and 71%, respectively. Orthopedists were least likely at 29%. There were five factors found to be important in the respondent's agreement or disagreement with the FM diagnosis:
- The number of FM cases diagnosed weekly by the respondent (strong predictor).
- The patient's gender (females > males was a strong predictor).
- The force of the initial impact (least important).
- The patient's psychiatric history before the trauma (more important).
- The initial injury severity (least important).
This information is important as the shift from considering FM to be strictly a condition of the muscles and other soft tissues to being a condition of the central nervous system will affect our future treatment strategies. Obtaining multiple opinions from various types of practitioners will most likely result in a variety of opinions.
Previous reports of treatment benefit utilizing chiropractic approaches, exercise, and strategies to facilitate sleep restoration remain strong in the management process of FM.
To schedule a complimentary consultation and learn how our comprehensive Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue treatment may be of benefit to you or a loved one, just call our office at 770-777-0900 and visit our website at http://www.painreliefcare.com
Our standard business hours are: Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM and Tuesday and Thursday between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM.
Do You Really Need To Take X-rays For Back or Neck Pain?" Dr. Kurt Meininger, Alpharetta-Cumming Chiropractor Gives His Opinion
Posted by Dr. Kurt Meininger at 1:11 PM
South Forsyth County – Alpharetta-Cumming Chiropractor And Back And Neck Pain Doctor Comments:
Most chiropractic patients have x-rays taken of their lumbar spine. Since x-rays do carry a very small risk of tissue damage, this risk needs to be outweighed by benefits. So, how are x-rays used in our clinic?
First, x-rays can tell us about medical conditions that may require referral to another health care provider such as a spine tumor or an infection. Fortunately, these diseases are very rare, but they do need to be considered in every patient, especially those who may have certain "red flags" such as back pain at night or rest, or if there is also a fever. In addition, certain severe traumas (like a fall) can produce fractures. In an older adult with osteoporosis, or someone taking steroid medications over years, even a minor trauma event can be enough to cause a break, because the bone is in a weakened condition.
After these very rare conditions are ruled out, your x-rays can provide important information about your anatomy and physical posture. For example, curvatures of the lumbar spine, such as scoliosis, are virtually undetectable without an x-ray. If we know how your spine is deviated, this information can help direct the adjustment more specifically. Sometimes leg lengths are uneven and a person may require an orthotic (arch support) or heel lift to level the foundation for your spine. About one in ten patients will have an unequal leg length of a centimeter or more.
In terms of the bone anatomy, x-rays can show the planes and angles of the disks between bones and whether any degeneration is present. If the degeneration is advanced, then a natural bone fusion may be present. It should be obvious that if the spinal anatomy does not allow movement or if the joints are literally fused movement is impossible, then manipulative adjustments are not appropriate… but low-force instrumental adjustments are utilized instead.
X-rays can also show us how one area of the spine mechanically compensates for a deviated area below. Sometimes, pain may be present at compensatory areas but without knowledge of the cause of this deviation, care may be less optimum. Just as the lumbar spine may compensate for a pelvic problem, so to can a neck condition be caused by abnormal postural lower down the spine. The x-rays can show us how case management needs to be altered to reflect your individual needs.
In any case, x-rays are important to reach an accurate diagnosis, which is the first step on the road to recovery and regaining your vitality and quality of life.
To schedule a complimentary consultation and learn how our comprehensive Back and Neck Pain program may be of benefit to you or a loved one regaining health, just call our office at 770-777-0900 and visit our website at http://www.painreliefcare.com
Our standard business hours are: Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM and Tuesday and Thursday between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM.
Fibromyalgia Research Reveals Benefits Of Vitamins C and E! Forsyth County - Alpharetta-Cumming Chiropractor Reveals Fibromyalgia Solution.
Posted by Dr. Kurt Meininger at 12:48 PM
South Forsyth County – Alpharetta-Cumming Chiropractor And Fibromyalgia Doctor Comments:
Fibromyalgia is a complex disease that requires a comprehensive approach. Often, the spine is neglected and chiropractic care is, therefore, underutilized. This seems surprising since so many patients have spinal pain and chiropractic care is one of the most proven treatments for this condition. Chiropractic care of the fibromyalgia patient may also incorporate a structured exercise program utilizing strength training and aerobic components, as well as nutritional adjuncts.
Sound nutrition is one of the keys to vitality. One scientific study (Altindag O, Celik H. Total antioxidant capacity and the severity of the pain in patients with fibromyalgia. Redox Rep 2006;11(3):131-5.) looked at antioxidant (such as vitamin C and E) markers in the blood of patients who had fibromyalgia symptoms. The researchers wanted to see if patients with low levels of these vitamin markers experienced more pain. The results indicated that patients with fibromyalgia are exposed to oxidative stress and this increased oxidative stress may play a role in the cause of the disease. Supplementation of antioxidant vitamins such as vitamins C and E may be indicated based on the results of the study.
A preliminary study (Bramwell B, Ferguson S, Scarlett N, Macintosh A. The use of ascorbigen in the treatment of fibromyalgia patients: a preliminary trial. Altern Med Rev 2000;5(5):455-62.) looked at 12 fibromyalgia patients and gave them a blend of vitamin C and broccoli powder. The results suggested that physical impairments were reduced and quality of life was increased.
Vitamins such as C and E can act as antioxidants protecting your cells from damage. They are found in fruits (oranges, strawberries, kiwi) and vegetables (kale, broccoli, bell peppers). Heat and processing can destroy their actions so eating raw forms may be preferred. If you do not eat lots of servings (e.g. five to nine) of these foods every day, it is wise to consider supplementing with natural source vitamins to boost your blood stream antioxidant levels. There is some scientific debate about the benefits of natural versus synthetic vitamins and whether it's best to consume them through primary food sources. The important thing is to take a step in the direction with whatever path you choose. It may make an important difference in how much pain you experience as the above cited studies suggest. With less pain, this may help you to move and exercise more.
To schedule a complimentary consultation and learn how our comprehensive fibromyalgia program may be of benefit to you or a loved one regaining health, just call our office at 770-777-0900 and visit our website at http://www.painreliefcare.com/
Our standard business hours are: Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM and Tuesday and Thursday between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM.
Until recently, Fibromyalgia (FM) was felt to be a condition that could only be diagnosed after eliminating other conditions that are more "testable." A recent study suggests an MRI can identify patients with FM from those without it. Though this may be relieving for those suffering with this condition, it doesn’t change the difficulty in treating FM.
We have all felt tired and burned out in the past and thought nothing of it. Can you imagine feeling that way all the time? The degree of fatigue, inability to concentrate, fear of driving a car, confusion, depression, anxiety, and sleep deprivation can be overwhelming. Frequently, health care providers seem to have little or no compassion for those coming to them with these symptoms. It may be that they feel helpless, as most treatment approaches utilizing pharmaceuticals either don’t work or may create side effects can be worse than the condition.
Diet is also important since food is the fuel our bodies run on. If you put diesel fuel into your regular gas engine car, the results will not be good! The engine will kick and sputter and eventually die after gumming up the fuel lines. This is analogous to eating too many refined carbs (simple sugars), eating transfats, eating too excessively and/or eating too quickly.
There is a general dietary approach that is very effective in both improving quality and producing a "full" feeling without the need to eat a large quantity of food. The basic premise is to eat like we did back in the Paleolithic era, when humans were hunters and gatherers. This means only grass fed animal meat, fruits and vegetables are the primary foods consumed. This also means minimizing the grain related foods we currently eat a lot of such as bread, pasta, crackers, cookies, etc.
For more information, google "paleodiet" or visit sites such as paleodiet.com where diet recommendations, cook books, and other information can be obtained. Also, anti-inflammatory diet and vitamin recommendations are available. We have more information about these methods at our office.
For more information on Fibromyalgia or to schedule a consultation with the doctor, please call our office at 770-777-0900 and also visit our website: http://www.painreliefcare.com/.
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome of unknown cause in which widespread pain, persistent fatigue, and muscle weakness are common symptoms. This discussion will focus its attention to the use of non-drug methods of treating FM and in particular, the use of physical exercise approaches. Studies have shown that a reduction in pain, fatigue, and the number of tender points can be achieved in patients with FM who participate in aerobic exercise programs. The use of progressive strength training has been shown to decrease the impact on the nervous and muscular systems, perceived symptoms, as well as functional capacity. Therefore, exercise programs that include aerobic activity and strength training benefit the FM patient.
But what about flexibility exercises? What, if any, are the positive benefits that stretching has for those with FM? Because this information is scarce, a recent February 2009 study compared two different stretching programs that continued for 12 weeks, at 2 times per week, for 150 minutes/week in duration. The study included a 6 month follow-up after the stretching programs ended to determine if any long-term benefits could be achieved by either method if the exercises were discontinued. The study reported a significant reduction in both symptom severity and an increase in flexibility at the end of the 12 week treatment period. However, there were no significant differences at the 6 month time point compared to the start of the program. The authors concluded that both flexibility methods were equally helpful in achieving a reduction in symptom severity and improved flexibility by the program’s conclusion, but no significant long term (6-month) benefit was seen if the exercises are discontinued.
This study emphasizes the importance of continuing an exercise program of flexibility in order to maintain the beneficial effects of exercise in FM patients. It also adds to the collection of data that shows flexibility is effective in the treatment of FM, as are aerobic and progressive strength training. However, it remains unclear if all three in combination vs. any one of the three exercise methods alone would be equally effective in reducing the symptoms associated with FM. This study looked at the quality of life, the psychological aspects of FM, the measurement of pain and, the measured physical performance using a sit and reach test. They reported all of the FM patients were less flexible compared to norms gathered from the general population without FM. When comparing younger vs. older patients with FM, higher/worse scores were found in the older patient group. Regarding quality of life, the average score placed the patients in both groups in the “moderately” affected quality of life category. Re-gaining flexibility is important for both feeling less pain and improving function. Perhaps most important however, is to reduce the fear associated with movement that is found in many with FM. Because most FM patients have had their condition for extended lengths of time, such as that reported in this study where an average of 7 years is noted, it is common to become fear avoidant when it comes to activity and adopting a sedentary lifestyle is very common. The lack of activity over time then leads to further de-conditioning, which only perpetuates the vicious cycle of worsening symptoms. Therefore, a supervised program of exercise is almost always needed to achieve meaningful and satisfying results as these patients are afraid to exercise.
We treat patients with FM using a variety of methods. Since every patient is unique, various approaches and techniques may be employed. These may include chiropractic spinal and extremity adjustments, physical therapy modalities such as electrical stimulation, low-level laser therapy and/or others, as well as advice on diet and nutrition, supervising exercises, and discussing work station modifications, may be employed. If you or a loved one is suffering with FM, sharing this information may be one of most significant acts of kindness you can give to those that you care about.
To learn more about our Fibromyalgia treatment programs, call our office at 770.777.0900 and/or visit our website at http://www.painreliefcare.com/.
May patients ask me what the low-level laser is and how long it’s been around. Here’s the fascinating low-level laser story:
Albert Einstein proposed it way back in 1917. It sounded like something straight out of a science fiction novel. The use of low-level focused light waves as a therapy to heal tissue. But, just like most of his brilliant ideas… Einstein was WAY ahead of his time and everyone laughed at him.
It’s important to note… MOST of Einstein’s brilliance was thought to be foolishness by the scientific community of his time. And nothing has changed. Scientific breakthroughs – especially in health care – are often violently opposed by the status quo. That is unless some big-wig corporate fat cats stand to line their pockets with silver.
Anyway, it was 43 years after Einstein’s prediction that he was proven right and low-level light was first developed into a therapy. In 1960, Hungarian surgeon, Endre Mester, first reported his experience using laser light to treat non-healing infections and inflammations (swelling) in rats.
Mester’s reported a 70% success rate treating these infections which led to the
development of a science he called “laser biostimulation,” or the stimulation of the local immune system.
Today there is an entire science field devoted to this subject call photobiology -- The study of how light affects living things. Since 1967, more than 2,000 clinical studies have been published worldwide on low level lasers. Many of the studies are positive… but… many were small and not designed well enough to stand up to the scientific standards we have today.
Recently, however, all that has changed. One of the most difficult things I know is getting a patent and market clearance from the FDA for anything related to health care. Well, in February, 2002 the first patent and market clearance was given to a low level laser for the non-surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. The patent and market clearance were granted after a low level laser manufacturer conducted double studies with General Motors and Baylor College of Medicine as part of their trials.
One of the numerous positive results was an amazing 75.6% of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome showed improvement. And listen to this: the study showed the low level laser even worked on patients that already had surgery.
And with so many modern medical “cures” causing worse problems then the conditions they were initially intended to treat… one of the most important benefits was… No Documented Side Effects! Not one. The only warning was not to shine the laser directly in the eye for a prolonged period of time.
Low-level laser therapy has been successful in helping patients with: Headaches, Fibromyalgia, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Back pain, Neck pain and Whiplash!
To learn more about low-level laser therapy call our office at 770.777.0900 and/or visit our website at http://www.painreliefcare.com/.
Our standard business hours are: Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM and Tuesday and Thursday between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM.