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Although some people are still uncertain about chiropractic care, even the American Medical Association (AMA) recommends that adjustments should be tried prior to surgery--the one option that should be a last resort.

Dr. Messerschmidt has seen many back pain patients in our Juneau, AK office who have been suffering for years and who are afraid that they might need an operation for their back pain. Dr. Messerschmidt has had great success in helping patients recover and avoid risky back surgery, and the science backs up our experience.

Research Supports Chiropractic Helps You Avoid Risky Surgery

Recently, in one study carried out on almost 2,000 Washington State workers who suffered from a back injury while on the job, more than 40% who saw a surgeon first following their injury found themselves having back surgery within three years. That compares to just 1.5% of the people who first sought treatment with chiropractic, showing that this non-invasive approach is very effective at keeping you out of the operating room.

Dr. Messerschmidt Can Help Clients Find Relief From Back Pain Without Surgery

There are alternatives to risky medical procedures. Chiropractic is a proven effective and safe way to improve the function of your spine, which is the root cause of back pain. Dr. Messerschmidt has helped many patients in Juneau, AK recover. Give our office a call today at (907) 789-1344 for an appointment.

Reference

Goodman DM, Burke AE, Livingston. Low Back Pain. The Journal of the American Medical Association 2013;309(16);1738.

Keeney BJ, Fulton-Kehoe D, Turner JA, et al. Early predictors of lumbar spine surgery after occupational back injury: results from a prospective study of workers in Washington State. Spine 2013;38(11):953-964.

We manage many car accident cases in in our Juneau, AK office, and a widespread symptom we see in our patients is headache. Let's take a look at why headache is commonly experienced after a car crash and see how chiropractic care can help you recover.

There are many different kinds of headache. Headache that's caused by an auto injury, though, usually begins as tension or strain in the muscle tissue of the cervical spine. In a wreck, the neck muscles can be torn, which results in inflammation and soreness. These kinds of headache can be felt in different places, including the back of the head or even the temple.

Another common cause of pain after a crash that we see in our Juneau, AK office is cervicogenic headache, or headaches that start in injured ligaments of the neck. Ligament injury is quite common after a crash, and it's important to get care for this type of problem to prevent the creation of scar tissue.

Chiropractic is an excellent way to treat headaches, including those triggered by auto injuries. Your chiropractic doctor will help reduce the irritation and tension in your neck, which will help ease the headache pain.

You don't have to suffer from headache. Dr. Messerschmidt is conveniently located in Juneau, AK to help you heal, whether you've been in a car crash or not. First, we'll do a careful examination to figure out the root cause of your problem, and then decide how to restore your body's natural functioning. Ready to make an appointment? Give us a call at (907) 789-1344 and we'll get you back on the road to health.

Don't Choose Drugs for Back Pain

Here in our Juneau, AK practice, Dr. Messerschmidt has helped many people heal from back pain. If you are dealing with back pain, you've most likely been tempted to take some medications to reduce the discomfort. You should know that research shows that chiropractic care is often a much healthier approach than drugs when it comes to alleviating this specific type of pain.

In a 2013 study published in the journal Spine researchers included 101 men and women who had experienced back pain for at least 48 hours. Each patient was then designated to one of three groups. The first group, which was made up of 37 people, received chiropractic care and a placebo of the drug diclofenac. The second group of 38 patients received fake chiropractic treatments and the genuine drug. The third group of 25 individuals served as the control as those individuals received sham chiropractic care and also received the placebo, thus having no real care at all.

Both of the groups that received some type of treatment, whether through chiropractic care or the NSAID, fared better than the control subjects who had no real care. However, when the two active groups were compared to each other, the people who received chiropractic had improvements that were "significantly better" than those who took the medications.

Natural Healing with Chiropractic Adjustments

Because chiropractic care is non-invasive and doesn't use drugs, it helps promote healing without undesirable side effects. For instance, NSAIDs can result in ulcers, high blood pressure, and other serious health complications. Plus, the health benefits of chiropractic last longer as it's purpose designed to resolve the source of the problem, not just treat the signs and symptoms.

If you're ready to get help for your back pain naturally, then chiropractic is for you. Schedule an appointment in our Juneau, AK office with Dr. Messerschmidt today at (907) 789-1344. We'll help improve your back problems in a healthy way!

References

von Heymann WJ, Schloemer P, Timm J, Muehlbauer B. Spinal high-velocity low amplitude manipulation in acute nonspecific low back pain: a double-blind randomized controlled trial in comparison with diclofenac and placebo. Spine 2013;38(7):540-548.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is a common condition after a car accident, and it's something that Dr. Messerschmidt sees often in our Juneau, AK office. Let's look at why thoracic outlet syndrome is frequently experienced after an auto collision and see how your chiropractor can help you get better.

The thoracic outlet is a bundle of nerves and blood vessels that travel through your neck and shoulder to your arm. These vessels don't have a lot of room, so they pass underneath and through the strong bands of muscles that support your head.

In a crash, these muscles can be stretched and strained. If damaged, the muscles become inflamed and sore, and they can develop scar tissue which restricts motion and puts pressure on the tissues of the thoracic outlet. Pressure on the nerves can cause tingling or numbness in the shoulder, elbow and even the hand. Pressure on the blood vessels can also cause problems in the arm.

Juneau, AK Thoracic Outlet Treatment

Chiropractic adjustments can be an effective way to treat thoracic outlet syndrome, as Dr. Messerschmidt will help improve mobility in your spine and restore normal nerve function in your neck and shoulder.

Let us help you recover from thoracic outlet syndrome. Dr. Messerschmidt has helped many people with the same condition, and we can probably help you, too. First, we'll do a careful examination to establish the root cause of your problem, and then decide how to restore your body's natural functioning. Call us today at (907) 789-1344 if you have questions or would like to make an appointment.

We know how difficult long-term headache pain can be. Dr. Messerschmidt and our staff have worked with many men and women in our Juneau, AK chiropractic office, and we've had great success in helping people eliminate their headache pain.

Research Shows Chiropractic Helps With Cervicogenic Headaches

A 2016 research study verifies what we see in our office. In this paper, the authors started with 110 people who were suffering with headaches that originated in the cervical spine. 58 of these patients were given a series of neck adjustments; 52 were given some stretches and exercises. The treatment period for both groups was four weeks.

The study found that the individuals who received cervical and thoracic spinal adjustments "experienced significantly greater reductions in headache intensity, disability, headache frequency, headache duration, and medication intake as compared to the group that received mobilization and exercise."

The study also found that these outcomes were maintained at the three-month follow-up exam.

Chiropractic is a safe and effective way to treat headache, back pain, neck pain, and many other health conditions. If you're tired of suffering, give Dr. Messerschmidt a call today at our Juneau, AK office at (907) 789-1344. We're here to help get you relief.

Research

Dunning JR, Butts R, Mourad F, Young I, et al. Upper cervical and upper thoracic manipulation versus mobilization and exercise in patients with cervicogenic headache: a multi-center randomized clinical trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2016;17(1):64.

Chiropractic is centered on the concept of enabling your body to heal naturally through spinal adjustments and lifestyle changes that encourage overall health. For Dr. Messerschmidt, this involves working to restore your body's natural functioning to prevent the need for medications or surgery. We see that many of our Juneau, AK patients are relieved to find a natural answer for their health issues.

One advantage of chiropractic is that it helps people decrease or even eliminate the use of drugs. Prescriptions are commonly supplied to individuals who have back soreness. This is such a significant concern that the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) issued a press release stating that opioid (painkiller) dangers outweigh the advantages when administered for back pain.

Some of the most common narcotics, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, include hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin and Percocet), morphine, and codeine. Figures provided by the AAN mention the fact that about half of the people taking these types of substances for a period of three months are still dependent on them five years later. This can further complicate the difficulty of back pain and recovery, especially if an opiate addiction occurs.

Compare that to chiropractic which engages natural healing and the advantages are obvious. While a pill might be helpful at briefly relieving the discomfort of a health condition, it's not a long-term solution to the problem. Drugs can't mend your injured spine; it will only cover up the pain.

Dr. Messerschmidt will first examine you to get to the root of your back pain and then work with you to eliminate the spinal interference -- without risky drugs.

If you're ready for relief, naturally, give our Juneau, AK office a call at (907) 789-1344 to make an appointment with Dr. Messerschmidt.

References

• Risk of opioids outweigh benefits for headache, low back pain, other conditions. American Academy of Neurology;September 29, 2014.
• What are opioids? National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/prescription-drugs/opioids/what-are-opioids

We work with many car accident cases in in our Juneau, AK office, and a common symptom we see in our patients is back pain. Chiropractic is an effective way to treat back pain. Let's look at how back pain is caused by a crash and how Dr. Messerschmidt can help you.

During a rear-end motor vehicle accident, your car and car seat are quickly accelerated forward against your body. Since car seats don't perfectly align with the curve of your spinal column, the car seat can put uneven force on your lower back. This can cause some of your spinal vertebrae to move in one direction while an adjacent vertebrae might move in another direction. This differential motion can sprain or strain the structures that hold your spine together. This kind of injury can cause chronic back pain if not treated promptly. Thankfully, chiropractic is one of the most effective ways to treat back pain.

Let us help you recover from back pain. Dr. Messerschmidt has helped many people with the same condition, and we can probably help you, too. Dr. Messerschmidt will first determine what's causing your pain and then work to restore your body to its natural functioning. Give our office a call today at (907) 789-1344 to make an appointment.

When playing sports activities that require a lot of lower body movement, like football, soccer, and basketball, it's common to sustain some type of injury to your lower extremities. Between pulled hamstrings, sprained ankles, knee injuries, and more, many athletes have found themselves out of commission. Dr. Messerschmidt has seen all of these problems in our Juneau, AK patients. The good news is, chiropractic adjustments can help prevent some of these injuries from occurring and research proves it.

Research Shows Chiropractic Helps With Sports Injuries & Recovery

Dr. Messerschmidt keeps up-to-date with all of the recent scientific research, and in a report published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, researchers from Macquarie University in Australia studied 59 semi-elite Australian Rules football players. Roughly half were placed in a control group and the other half were put in a treatment group that received sports chiropractic care at regular intervals. During the first six weeks, this meant getting care once a week. The following three months consisted of an adjustment every two weeks before decreasing those to one visit monthly for the final three months of the study.

The authors noted that there was a "significant" decrease in the number of leg strains the players received in the treatment group when compared to the control. Furthermore, they noticed that the subjects who engaged in chiropractic also had fewer weeks of missed practice and games as a result of non-contact knee injuries. This led them to determine that sports chiropractic intervention should be added to "the current best practice management."

Every major sports team in the United States and the US Olympic Team has chiropractors on staff for their players, because they know that chiropractic works. If you live near our office in Juneau, AK and would like to see if Dr. Messerschmidt can help you boost your performance or reduce sports injuries, give our office a call today at (907) 789-1344 for an appointment.

Dr. Messerschmidt Can Help Clients Find Relief From Sports Injuries and Recover Faster

If you're suffering with severe pain, Dr. Messerschmidt and our staff are here to help you recover. Give our Juneau, AK office a call today at (907) 789-1344 for an appointment today.

Original Study

Hoskins W, Pollard H. The effect of a sports chiropractic manual therapy intervention on the prevention of back pain, hamstring and lower limb injuries in semi-elite Australian rules footballers: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2010;11(64).

We work with many back pain patients in our Juneau, AK chiropractic office, and Dr. Messerschmidt and our staff uses an assortment of techniques to help get you out of pain and restore your spine's normal, healthy function. We find spinal decompression to be a highly effective approach.

Understanding Spinal Decompression Therapy

To help you better understand spinal decompression therapy, think of the discs in your spine like small balloons filled with jelly. When you compress them (which occurs due to normal living, sustaining an injury, or other medical conditions), they can protrude, placing pressure on the nerves in your spine. This affects your brain's ability to communicate with tissues in the rest of your body.

If the force on the discs becomes too high, the discs can herniate or protrude. This reduces the cushion between your vertebrae and can cause pain. The purpose of spinal decompression therapy is to reduce this pressure to help improve your body's function and also reduce your level of pain.

Can Spinal Decompression Therapy Help Me?

Spinal decompression therapy relieves disc pressure through the use of a specially designed table that carefully elongates your spinal column through slow and controlled movements. This decreases the pressure placed on your discs. Some studies report an increase in disc height by as much as 1.3 millimeters after just six weeks of this treatment.

If you're wondering if spinal decompression therapy could help you feel and function better, simply call our Juneau, AK office and schedule an appointment with Dr. Messerschmidt today. Your optimal health is our number one goal!

Resources

Apfel CC, Cakmakkaya OS, Richmond C, et al. Restoration of disk height through non-surgical spinal decompression is associated with decreased discogenic low back pain: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2010;11(155). doi:10.1186/1471-2474-11-155

In our Juneau, AK office, it isn't uncommon for us to see patients suffering with sciatic nerve pain, and Dr. Messerschmidt has helped many of these people improve with chiropractic. What makes chiropractic so helpful to those who suffer with this condition? First, it shortens their healing time and a Norwegian research study confirms it.

In the study, which took place in a Norwegian hospital's orthopedic division, researchers looked at 44 patients who had abrupt low back pain that was clinically diagnosed as acute sciatic nerve pain. The individuals were all treated by a chiropractor, with the average follow-up being two years after treatment.

The authors discovered that all but two patients returned to their jobs after receiving chiropractic treatment, which is a 95% success rate. Moreover, the average amount of time that the patients spent off work "was reduced by two thirds as compared with that associated with conventional medical treatment."

Considering that the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that over 170,000 workdays were missed in 2013 due to employees dealing with back or spine-related issues, that is almost 112,500 work days that could potentially be recovered each and every year solely by receiving chiropractic care. Not only would that increase productivity, but it would also reduce costs to businesses and employees from lost work.

If you live in Juneau, AK and you suffer from sciatic pain, Dr. Messerschmidt is here to help. Give us a call at (907) 789-1344 and we'll work with you to find the source of your sciatica and get you back on the road to recovery.

Orlin JR, Didriksen A. Results of chiropractic treatment of lumbopelvic fixation in 44 patients admitted to an orthopedic department. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2007;30(2):135-139.