The Bolick Clinic of Chiropractic Wellness

Warning: 7 Tips Everybody Ought to Know About Auto Accidents

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:30:14 +0000

No one likes to think about getting into a traffic accident, but it’s important to plan. Sources cite the likelihood of being in a car accident anywhere from 25% to 80% in a person’s lifetime. Here are seven steps you can take to make sure the process proceeds as smoothly as possible.

1. Be prepared before it happens

While auto insurance policies don’t make for exciting reading, you need to understand exactly what’s in yours. A lot of people don’t even know what their policies are. It’s important that you take a look at that. State laws vary. You’ll want to know what protections are there for you, particularly if the other person doesn’t have insurance. Make sure you have your insurance information — in both your wallet and your glove compartment, as the glove compartment could be damaged in an accident. It’s also a good idea to keep a disposable camera — unless you use your cell phone for a camera — and a pen and paper in the glove compartment.
2. Make sure everyone is OK, then call the police.
Obviously the first thing you want to do is make sure everyone involved is OK. If injuries are serious dial 911 for an ambulance. Otherwise, move your cars out of traffic to avoid another accident. Experts advise that in any accident you should call the police. “Even if the other person says, ‘I’ll take care of you; I’ve got a brother-in-law with a body shop that can fix your car,’ you still want to call,” That’s because you don’t know how things will turn out, and a police report will provide an official record of the accident. If you’re on an interstate highway, call county or state law enforcement.
If it’s a minor accident without injury or much damage, the officer will merely file an incident report, which functions as an information exchange. If the accident is more serious, the officer will create an accident report to assist the insurance process and establish legal liabilities. Be aware that if it’s a minor accident, police officers may not come to the scene.

3. Call your insurance company pronto.

People in the insurance industry say you should call your carrier regardless of the accident’s severity. If any payments have to be made to you or anyone else involved in the accident, the sooner your insurance company knows of the situation, the better. Don’t procrastinate if you do decide to call your insurance company. It can raise eyebrows with your insurer if the “other guy” calls your insurer first.

4. Gather information.

If possible, take photos, including the surrounding area, traffic signs, lane markings and the damage to vehicles involved. Photos can provide a wealth of information and assistance in handling your claim. Pictures are particularly important for accidents in parking lots or other private property, where police may not show up and it’s difficult to determine exactly what happened. Write down the name, contact information and insurance information for the other driver. If the other driver doesn’t have proof of current insurance, you can call his or her carrier at the scene to verify coverage. You also want to write down all of the accident’s details. Try to get the names and contact information for any witnesses, so they can back up your version of events. Treat parking lot accidents the same as road accidents. The crucial issue is who was at fault, just like in collisions on the road. But that’s not always obvious in a parking lot. Often parking lots don’t have stop signs or lane markings, and it’s unclear who has the right of way. So a lot of the time it’s comparative negligence. Unless you were clearly stopped or parked, and someone just backed into you, there will be some negligence attributable to you.

5. Don’t admit guilt.

Express concern for any injuries or damage sustained by anyone else involved in the accident, but don’t admit you were at fault. It may turn out you weren’t at fault. But because you’ve admitted liability, you take on yourself the cost of the wreck. Your insurance company would have to pay for the other person’s injuries, and you could see an increase in your rate as a result. If you admit blame, the police investigation of the accident might not be as thorough as usual. In conversation with the other driver, you don’t want to go beyond showing compassion and exchanging insurance and contact information. Don’t answer questions or make statements.

6. Keep track of repairs.

Keep abreast of the repair process for your car. You don’t want to just leave it all to your insurance company. The insurer would like the repairs to be done in the least-expensive manner. You may not have a lot of options (in terms of where the car is taken and how damage is fixed). But the key thing is to make sure you have the right to have original manufacturer parts put in. If the other driver contacts you after the accident, you don’t want to get involved in discussions. Politely tell the person that your insurers will handle the situation.

7. Get a Medical Check-up.

A whiplash injury occurs when the head and neck are thrown very quickly in one direction and then rebounds in another. Studies indicate that injury can occur at impact speeds of 8 mph where there is little or no damage to the car itself. National Transportation Safety Council: A one vehicle accident at 10 mph is the equivalent of a person from a second story elevation throwing a 50 lb. sack on you.
Many accident victims falsely assume that wearing their seatbelt reduced the risk of Whiplash injury. Seatbelts can actually increase the likelihood and degree of neck injury. Now, no one denies that seat-belts save lives, but when the body is firmly secured to the seat, the seatbelt actually increases the “whipping” action of the neck this can increase injury to the neck and its supporting structures. Soft tissue injuries are often not visualized on x-rays and frequently overlooked. Soft tissue injuries can cause severe debilitating pain after a car accident.
Although “rear ender” type of accidents represent on 20% of motor vehicle accidents, it causes 80% of injuries giving long-term and persistent symptoms. An older accident victim will generally suffer more serious injury because of decreased elasticity, dramatic loss of flexibility and strength, and slowing of the natural healing rate. Auto accident victims have an 80% higher incidence of osteoarthritis and get it faster.
If you have been in a car accident with an impact of 10 mph or greater it is a good idea to get checked out by your local chiropractor who is well trained to evaluate and treat these types of injuries.

What to do in an auto wreck:

1. Be prepared before it happens.
2. Make sure everyone is OK, then call the police.
3. Call your insurance company pronto.
4. Gather information.
5. Don’t admit guilt.
6. Keep track of repairs.
7. Get a Medical Check-up.

Five-step Headache Rescue Plan

admin — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:59:54 +0000

An Interview about America’s Most Common Health Complaint

Orlando Area Clinic Offers

Five-step Headache Rescue Plan

Drugs and Aspirin Don’t Treat the Causes of Headache Pain,

Says Dr. Channing Bolick, D.C., founder of the Bolick Clinic

Do you have a splitting headache? If so, you’re not alone.

According to recent reports, there are an estimated 50 million chronic headache sufferers in America. Headaches account for more than 80 million doctor visits, 175 million lost work days per year, and 4 billion dollars in over-the-counter medication sales.

“Headaches are more common than the common cold,” says Dr. Channing Bolick, of the Bolick Clinic in Maitland, Florida. “Chronic headache pain can severely disrupt one’s personal and professional lives, but the good news is that most headaches can be successfully treated without resorting to aspirin, drugs, or surgery.”

Dr. Bolick, an expert in the treatment of headaches, says 90 percent of headaches fall within three categories:

“Tension headaches are the most common type of headaches,” says Dr. Bolick. “Victims will suffer from mild to moderate pain that s concentrated on both sides of the head. These headaches can be caused by stress, diet, posture and spinal misalignment possibly from a minor injury,” says Dr. Bolick.

“Migraine headaches occur only periodically and occur in fewer people,” says Dr. Bolick. “Migraines are characterized by the throbbing pain, usually on just one side of the head. These headaches afflict more women than men, and cause a loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and changes in vision. Migraines can be caused by stress, medications, food allergies, spinal misalignments, and anxiety.”

“Trauma-related headaches are due to abnormalities in the neck, often as a result of injury,” says Dr. Bolick. “The injury doesn’t need to be a car accident… even a ball hitting your head can lead to a misalignment in the neck which then causes headaches.”

Dr. Bolick says even without an incident of physical trauma, bones in the spine and neck can very gradually become misaligned. That is why his first reaction whenever a patient complains of headache is to check the patient’s neck and spinal alignment.

Dr. Bolick’s Headache Rescue Plan

1. A series of simple, non-invasive tests will reveal whether bones in the spine or neck have moved out of place and are irritating nerves, constricting blood flow, or causing muscles to tense.

2. A chiropractic adjustment to return alignment of vertebrae in neck and spine.

3. Dietary change emphasizing whole, unprocessed foods. Eliminate sugar and food additives such as aspartame, MSG, nitrates, and sulfates. Avoid foods and products known to trigger allergies like alcohol, tobacco, chocolate, wheat, cheese, milk, nuts and caffeine. Drink plenty of pure water.

4. Get the proper amount of sleep.

5. Exercise at least four times per week, including special exercises to stretch neck and shoulder muscles.

“Being able to manipulate the spine into correct alignment allows us to successfully treat headache pain without drugs or surgery in many patients, so there is definitely hope for most suffering with headache pain,” says Dr. Bolick.

Unraveling the Mystery of Fibromyalgia

admin — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:08:37 +0000

Fibromyalgia breaks down as FIBRO: from fiber or fibrous – tissues. MY: from myo – meaning muscle. ALGOS: from algia – meaning pain. IA: meaning state of, or condition. Fibromyalgia simply means a condition which is characterized by pain in the muscles and soft tissue fibers of the body. According to a paper published by the American College of Rheumatology, Fibromyalgia affects up to 18 million – or as many as one in 20 Americans. Up to 90% of those diagnosed are women between the ages of 40 and 60 years old.

Chronic widespread body pain is the primary symptom of Fibromyalgia. Most people with Fibromyalgia also experience moderate to extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances, sensitivity to touch, light, and sound, and cognitive difficulties. Many individuals also experience a number of other symptoms and overlapping conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, lupus, restless leg syndrome and arthritis. Many Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) patients have been previously diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Diagnosis of FM can be difficult. Currently there are no laboratory tests available for diagnosing Fibromyalgia. Doctors must rely on patient histories, self-reported symptoms, a physical examination and an accurate manual tender point examination. This exam is based on the standardized American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. Proper implementation of the exam determines the presence of multiple tender points at characteristic locations.

It is estimated that it takes an average of five years for an FM patient to get an accurate diagnosis. Many doctors are still not adequately informed or educated about FM. Laboratory tests often prove negative and many FM symptoms overlap with those of other conditions, thus leading to extensive investigative costs and frustration for both the doctor and patient. Another essential point that must be considered is that the presence of other diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, does not rule out an FM diagnosis. Fibromyalgia is not a diagnosis of exclusion and must be diagnosed by its own characteristic features.

To receive a diagnosis of FM, the patient must meet the following diagnostic criteria: (1)Widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months. (2)Tenderness or pain in at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points when pressure is applied.

Hormone imbalance is another important factor contributing to Fibromyalgia. As women approach peri-menopause in their early 30’s to late 40’s, hormone levels of DHEA, estrogen and testosterone decline. Excessive stress can accelerate the decline in adrenal hormones, testosterone and estradiol leading to an increase in inflammation.

The adrenal glands are located on the top of each of the kidneys. Adrenal glands contribute to the production of many hormones, including cortisol, DHEA, steroid hormones, neurotransmitters norepinephrine, epinephrine, and others.

When women are under physical, emotional or environmental stress, cortisol is released from the Adrenal glands in response to stress.When the adrenal glands become chronically stressed over time there is a decline in production of cortisol that leads to an increase in inflammation. The symptoms of menopause can be worsened by adrenal stress as more and more of the female hormones come off of the adrenal gland as a woman approaches menopause.Glucocorticoids produced by the adrenal gland help regulate blood sugar.When blood sugar is too low symptoms of hypoglycemia can occur, affecting Fibromyalgia symptoms.

Since Fibromyalgia symptoms may have a different cause or combination of causes in different people, treatment protocols may be variable for individual FM sufferers. Different FM sufferers may have different results with the same treatment. There are no specific medications for Fibromyalgia and all too often FM patients end up in pain management as a last resort.

There are some nutritional options that have been helpful. Reducing the number of simple sugars (carbohydrates, table sugar, high fructose syrup, etc.) in the diet helps support the adrenal glands and manage blood sugar that may reduce the symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Restoring normal adrenal function with Magnesium Malate has been studied in treating FM. Malic acid is important in the body’s energy production; the muscle fatigue of FM may be reduced when therapeutic doses of Magnesium and Malic acid are used over a reasonable treatment duration. Balancing hormones naturally using Bioidentical hormones can be very good in treating adrenal stress and its resulting complex of symptoms. I have been helping women for over a decade balance hormones naturally and have much experience in this area.

Help reduce FM inflammation with omega-3 fatty acids.It is important to maintain an appropriate balance of omega-3 and omega-6 (another essential fatty acid) in the diet, as these two substances work together to promote health. Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation, and most omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation. An inappropriate balance of these essential fatty acids contributes to the development of disease while a proper balance helps maintain and even improve health. A healthy diet should consist of roughly 2 – 4 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids. The typical American diet tends to contain 14 – 25 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids, and many researchers believe this imbalance is a significant factor in the rising rate of inflammatory disorders in the United States.Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids. They are essential to human health but cannot be manufactured by the body. For this reason, omega-3 fatty acids must be obtained from food. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut, other marine life such as algae and krill, certain plants (including purslane), and nut oils. Also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA’s), omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal growth and development.

There is a new non-invasive test for Fibromyalgia that may produce relief of symptoms that could last days, minutes or even weeks. Available for the first time in Florida, it will now be offered at The Bolick Clinic. People who respond well to the test are typically good candidates for this new treatment regimen. Even if you think you know all about Fibromyalgia, you will learn something new, as this has never been available in this area. If you have had failed courses of medical treatment, chiropractic or otherwise you definitely want to come and get tested and see if this is right for you.

The Bolick Clinic in Maitland will be hosting a FREE Workshop on Fibromyalgia Wednesdays in July. Please call 407-641-0279 for info.

Auto Injury Facts

admin — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:14:07 +0000

A whiplash injury occurs when the head and neck are thrown very quickly in one direction and then rebounds in another. Studies indicate that injury can occur at impact speeds of 8 mph where there is little or no damage to the car itself. National Transportation Safety Council: A one vehicle accident at 10 mph is the equivalent of a person from a second story elevation throwing a 50 lb. sack on you.

Many accident victims falsely assume that wearing their seatbelt reduced the risk of Whiplash injury. Seatbelts can actually increase the likelihood and degree of neck injury. Now, no one denies that seat-belts save lives, but when the body is firmly secured to the seat, the seatbelt actually increases the “whipping” action of the neck this can increase injury to the neck and its supporting structures. Soft tissue injuries are often not visualized on x-rays and frequently overlooked. Soft tissue injuries can cause severe debilitating pain after a car accident.

Although “rear ender” type of accidents represent on 20% of motor vehicle accidents, it causes 80% of injuries giving long-term and persistent symptoms. An older accident victim will generally suffer more serious injury because of decreased elasticity, dramatic loss of flexibility and strength, and slowing of the natural healing rate. Auto accident victims have an 80% higher incidence of osteoarthritis and get it faster.

If you have been in a car accident with an impact of 10 mph or greater it is a good idea to get checked out by your local chiropractor who is well trained to evaluate and treat these types of injuries.

“Do You Have These Dirty Dozen Dangerous Thoughts About Your Health?”

admin — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:03:43 +0000

Do You Make These Common Mistakes?

There are three basic kinds of stress (1) physical stress: like an accident or trauma; (2) emotional stress; (3) environmental or toxic stress. Any combination of these three types of stressors that the body cannot effectively handle can cause vertebrae in the spine to become displaced very much like the circuit breaker panel in your home. Chiropractic, which was discovered in 1895 can effectively treat misaligned vertebrae along with all of the symptoms associated with this physical problem.

Dangerous thought one: “It will go away if I ignore it.” While it does take the body time to heal; it sometimes needs some outside physical help. A simple muscle strain should only last a few days and then never come back. If you have back or neck problems longer than a few days then it is probably more than a simple strain and should get checked out. The body also has an ability to “adapt” to pain; where you don’t perceive the physical problem as much, all the while it is degenerating your body.

Dangerous thought two: “I’ll just take some Ibuprofen.” Drugs and pain killers often just mask a physical problem—if they have any positive effect at all for many types of neck and back disorders. Long term use of pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs can cause serious damage to vital organs (ex: long term Ibuprofen use linked to kidney failure). If you have been taking over the counter pain remedies for more than a week or two you should definitely consult a doctor to get at the true cause of your health problem. If you have tried a lot of chemical solutions (drugs) that have not permanently resolved your problem, then your problem may by physical in nature that would respond best to a physical solution–like a gentle chiropractic adjustment. A 2002 study from Annals of Internal Medicine found that Chiropractic was more effective than drugs in treating neck pain.

Dangerous thought three: “I’m fine my back doesn’t hurt at all.” This can be one of the more dangerous health attitudes. Just like death can be the first symptom of a heart attack, there could be misaligned vertebrae in your spine that are not giving you symptoms yet. Simple non-invasive tests by a Chiropractor can determine if your spine is in proper alignment or not. Preventative care can save you a lot of time and money. Unfortunately, most patients wait until their situation is unbearable before they seek help, then bounce around in the American “sick” care system a long time before they find it.

Dangerous thought four: “It’s too late. I’m too old to get better.” I have a number of patients who first sought my care when they were well into their 90’s and my oldest patient is over 100—all of these cases that I accepted had a positive outcome and were very happy with their care. I won’t waste your time or money. I only accept cases I feel I can truly help, others I refer on to the appropriate specialist.

Dangerous thought five: “I can crack my own back.” A gross manipulation delivered by yourself or some other unqualified person could be dangerous. Even if it feels good at the time moving the wrong vertebrae can lead to instability of the ligaments of the spine and other more serious complications. Frequently feeling the “urge” to “pop” your own back is a huge warning sign you are moving the wrong vertebrae. When the correct vertebrae is put back in place by a gentle specific Chiropractic adjustment, this sensation to “pop” your own spine usually goes away after just a few visits.

Dangerous thought six: “My doctor says there’s nothing else I can do.” All I can say is I have helped hundreds of patients who were given this advise—there is a chance I might be able to help you too.

Dangerous thought seven: “I went to a Chiropractor once and he fixed me.” This is like going to the dentist to get a toothache handled, then never going back for a check-up. If you have ever had a problem with your spine, then you are predisposed to having more problems with your spine. Getting a regular check-up can prevent serious issues in the future.

Dangerous thought eight: “I’m healthy. I’m not taking any medications at all.” Take this quiz: When was the last time I consistently felt my very best? If the answer is anything other than “now,” then you should come in to get checked out. You may need nutrition or lifestyle changes to regain optimum health.

Dangerous thought nine: “I’m too busy. I’ll do it next week.” The longer you wait the more time and money it can cost to handle or it may get to a point where conservative care (Chiropractic) is no longer an option for you. Some people think the worst that can happen by putting it off is having a surgery, only to be disappointed when the surgeon says they waited too long and will just have to live with it. Why wait until it is so bad you would even consider a surgery?

Dangerous thought ten: “My wife/husband/partner doesn’t believe in it.” Chiropractic is not a religion or a belief system. It is a type of physical medicine. It is the process of moving a misaligned vertebrae off a “pinched” nerve so the body can regain normal function to whatever that nerve controls.

Dangerous thought eleven: “I don’t have any money.” Could you find $300 to fix your car if it were broken today? Most people would easily say yes. Americans commonly take better care of their car than they do their body.

Dangerous thought twelve: “I only want to do what my insurance will cover.” The insurance company is in business to turn a profit for their shareholders and executives not to take personal responsibility for your health and well being. Their goal is to spend the least amount of money per diagnosis, if it is cheaper to patch a problem (like mask it with drugs) than it is to fix it, you can bet they will only pay for the patch. Wellness and holistic care are often foreign territory for an insurance company. HMO patients presenting with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or heart attack have twice the risk of dying in-hospital compared with AMI patients with fee-for-service type insurance in a study done by the American Heart Association.

Headache Pain

admin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:04:43 +0000

Do you have a splitting headache? If so, you’re not alone. According to recent reports, there are an estimated 50 million chronic headache sufferers in America. Headaches account for more than 80 million doctor visits, 175 million lost work days per year, and 4 billion dollars in over-thecounter medication sales.

Watch 5 Step Headache Rescue Plan Interview with Dr. Channing C. Bolick, D.C. as seen on Channel 13 News.

A True Healer

admin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:35:20 +0000

Dr. Bolick:
Thank you so very much for your kind and caring ways. You are a true healer and like most healers you had to go through the trials of life’s test to become the wonderful Physician that you are.

Sincerely,

Tia Shanwte

Long Standing Low Back Problems

admin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:33:21 +0000

I was feeling hopeless as I explained my long-standing low back problems to Dr. Bolick. Other medical and chiropractic doctors relieved pain over the years of course. Dr. Bolick has designed a process that does much more than inform and treat clients effectively and efficiently. The Bolick Clinic staff is a team. I am a member of the team. Our goal is to give me the best chance possible to enjoy my senior years. I am involved and inspired as a participant. My life is forever changed!

Winnifred Eis

Severe Back and Leg Pain

admin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:31:38 +0000

I began seeing Dr. Bolick on Feb 28 of 2005. I had severe back and leg pain that radiates from my back to my leg with numbness and aching. I’ve had severe back pain and leg pain for over a year. I’ve seen several emergency room doctors and a number of physicians for my back pain. I’ve taken Lortab and heavy pain medications. I haven’t been able to work in over one year or even do my daily housework. I was also involved in a serious car accident a few weeks into my initial treatment which further injured my back and neck. Dr. Bolick was able to change my treatment plan to handle these new injuries and it was a success. Today I feel much better and now I’m able to return to work soon. I really believe in chiropractic care because of the way it changed my life.

Aesha Salahuddin

Back Pain, Joint Pain and Degenerative Disc Disease

admin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:29:38 +0000

The problem I was having daily constant was lower back pain. I was previously diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. I was also having a lot of pain in my right hip joint. I suffered with back pain for at least 8 years and at least 4 years with the hip. I had previous medical treatment. I saw an orthopedic surgeon where pain med and home exercise was prescribed. I saw another orthopedic surgeon when I moved to the Orlando area; I was again given medication and instructed to go to physical therapy. When I went PT I was given home exercises again, but this treatment only made me worse. The surgeon then told me that since the PT did not work that the next step would be injections and then surgery. I just didn’t feel comfortable letting someone cut on my back since the surgeon said my hip again was caused by disc degeneration and drugging me up to disguise the pain wasn’t going to happen either.

The pain in my hip was so intense that it impaired my normal way of life. I used to walk 2 miles per day and now it was very difficult to do the simplest tasks like: walk the dog, shipping, and cleaning my house. Simply being on my feet for any period was excruciating.

I started my chiropractic care with Dr. Bolick in February 2006 and now I’m pain free after just a few months of treatment. I am very impressed with the care I have received. At one point I was ready to give it all up, but Dr. Bolick reassured me that he could help me and everything would be fine, he was right! I’m ashamed of myself for doubting he could help me. I’m sorry Dr. Bolick, you are the best!!

I made a wise decision to seek treatment at the Bolick Clinic. Thank you Dr. Bolick and the entire staff, you are all great.

Cheryl Rivera