Chiropractic’s Role in National Healthcare – Houston, TX Chiropractor Comments
Clear Lake City / Houston TX Chiropractor Comments: In the 20 years that I have been a Houston chiropractor, I rarely have talked politics in the office, but the times are different. As it looks more and more like some type on national healthcare will be enacted by the government, I have decided to write this blog. To help ensure that Congress, insurance and managed care companies do not restrict your access to the essential chiropractic services that you have enjoyed and benefited from, I ask you to visit www.ChiroVoice.org. According to ChiroVoice.org., they are a chiropractic advocacy network is a dedicated group of national volunteers who educate policymakers about the value of chiropractic and work to positively impact any legislative efforts to reform the current national health care system. Through the chiropractic advocacy network, patients and chiropractic supporters can stay informed about important health care issues and help ensure that:
Congress does not restrict your ability to access essential chiropractic services.
Congress does not limit – but instead expands – coverage for services provided by Doctors of Chiropractic within Medicare.
Insurance and managed care companies do not deny patients’ access to the essential chiropractic services they need.
Your involvement makes a tremendous difference.
Each active member of the chiropractic advocacy network brings us one step closer to our goal of assuring full-scope access to chiropractic services. Chiropractic patients and supporters who are interested in serving as advocates may sign-up to receive special e-mail alerts about advocacy issues and important legislation. Network members will also receive a monthly e-newsletter.
On another note, since so many of our patients are active duty and retired military, I would urge you to call your national representative (ours is Pete Olson) and ask them to sponsor the bill HR 484. This will help to develop and implement a plan to provide chiropractic health care services and benefits for certain new beneficiaries as part of the TRICARE program.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Oh, My Aching…Leg? Sciatica Causes and Relief
Clear Lake City, TX, Leg Pain & Sciatica Specialist: I have been practicing in Clear Lake City, Texas since 1990 and my patients are always surprised to learn that certain low back conditions give rise to more than just low back pain. For example, leg pain can be more intense than low back pain, even though the cause of the leg pain is coming from the low back. When this happens, many patients complain that they have “sciatica,” which refers to radiating pain that starts in the low back and extends down into the leg. When the intensity of leg pain is worse than the low back, it can make patients wonder, “…where is my problem really coming from?”
To understand this better, a short “anatomy lesson” is appropriate. The spine can be divided into two halves, front and back. The structures in the front half include the larger, heavier bones called vertebral bodies and the shock absorbing cushions that lie between the vertebral bodies called the intervertebral disks. The disk is like a jelly donut where the center is liquid-like and the outer portion is a tough, criss-cross pattern cartilage arranged like the rings on a tree stump. There are also ligaments that hold the vertebrae and disks tightly together. The back half of the spine includes the spinal cord, nerve roots, as well as the small joints of the back called facet joints. Every movable joint has a joint capsule that helps lubricate the joint and limits the amount of movement, along with surrounding ligaments. The larger, heavier vertebral bodies and shock absorbing disks carry the majority of the weight (approximately 80%) while the smaller facet joints carry much less weight (only 20%) but are more responsible for guiding the movements of our back.
When leg pain is present, it can be caused by either a pinched nerve, or, an inflamed facet joint.
When a nerve is pinched, the cause is usually from the intervertebral disk where the jelly-like center leaks out and presses on the nerve that goes down the leg, commonly referred to as a “herniated disk with sciatica.” This type of pain is quite specific, easy to describe and often extends below the knee to the ankle or foot. It can include muscle weakness, numbness in certain areas of the leg, and bending forward increases low back and leg pain while bending backwards reduces the leg pain (and sometimes the LBP).
When a facet joint capsule tears (technically, called a “sprain”), the pain is “referred” down the leg in a generalized, non-specific manner, usually described as a “deep ache,” often hard to describe and usually does not go below the level of the knee. Here, it feels better to bend forward and worse to bend backwards, of which neither movement changes or affects the leg in a specific way. Disk related leg pain carries a potential for surgery if all non-surgical approaches fail, while facet joint referred leg pain rarely requires invasive treatments or surgery.
The good news is that both of these sources of low back and leg pain are very treatable with chiropractic care in my office! The important point to remember is that obtaining prompt treatment, when symptoms first appear is best – as waiting and hoping it will subside on its own often results in a longer treatment course and is less satisfying for all concerned.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
