How Does Chiropractic Help Back Pain?

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Chiropractor Chapel Hill, NC

Doctors of Chiropractic (aka DCs) are healthcare specialists whose training emphasizes the spine and its attachments, the movement and kinesiology of the body, and the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system and its various components. The Chiropractor’s primary healing tool is taking a good history and understanding the connection between the spine, extremities, and the nervous system in each person, followed by making supportive changes in the structure and posture of the spine and connected areas to improve overall health and well-being. By using the adjustment (aka manipulation), whether it be a hands-on diversified adjustment or via the use of a handheld instrument such as an Activator or SOT blocks, Doctors of Chiropractic resolve blocked movement to restore nervous system functioning and reduce pain.

A quick Google search of Back Pain doctors results in DCs and other specialists. Known for their gentle, practical, nondrug approaches to back pain, chiropractors are often a patient’s first choice in healthcare, especially regarding back pain. Whether it be pain in the head (headaches), neck pain, or middle or lower back pain, chiropractors help many people resolve their back pain issues each year. In addition to the finely tuned, extremely fast joint mobilization chiropractors employ, known as the adjustment, many DCs also utilize other physical modalities such as massage, TENS (electro-stimulation), hot and cold application, ultra-sound, Kinestiotape application, even acupuncture, and cupping gua sha techniques to relax and rebuild tissues.

Patients who come into a chiropractor’s office for back pain inevitably discover resolution of other conditions at the hands of their doctor of chiropractic. That is because the spine and inner spinal cord directly communicate with the brain and influence the entire body and mind. Stress conditions impact sleep, digestion, and other aspects that benefit from care. In addition to back pain relief, patients experience improvement in different painful and stressed areas. The World Health Organization recognizes the benefits of chiropractic in various public health initiatives such as healthy aging, opioid misuse, and women’s health. Through their use of adjustment therapies, exercise prescription, and nutrition expertise, chiropractors help women and men of all ages and abilities get better naturally without addictive medications or drugs with side- effects.

Call today at (919) 929-1400 to see how natural chiropractic can help you. Located in Chapel Hill just off Interstate 40, the chiropractic and acupuncture offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay are here to help you. Whether you need help with back pain or other health conditions, we look forward to helping you make the best out of your spine and nervous system. You can also visit us on the web anytime to schedule an appointment or to learn more at acudocnc.com to schedule your healthy appointment today.

Why Do People Get Acupuncture?

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Acupuncturist, Chapel Hill, NC

Many people ask ‘Why Do People Get Acupuncture’ about acupuncture treatment, a 2500-year-old healing art that was brought to the United States a relatively short time ago in the 1970s. Since that time in the US, however, millions of people have discovered the healing benefits available in the acupuncturist’s office. From stress relief to relief from back pain and other body aches and pains, to sleep and fertility improvement, as well as helping patients stop addictive behaviors such as drugs and alcohol, and weight loss, acupuncture helps people feel better in many ways. Acupuncture Facelift, available in some locations such as Acupuncture at Eastowne, can also help improve one’s appearance.

Used extensively in China, Japan, and many other Asian countries worldwide to extend and improve life, acupuncture treatment can improve many aspects of a person’s life without the side effects of drugs and surgery. People like the relaxation they get when they rest on the acupuncturist’s table; they like that the acupuncturist asks them questions about their lives, feelings, and other symptoms to understand the whole person before beginning treatment. These questions help the acupuncturist develop an understanding of the person before them and where imbalances exist. Patients like getting a massage before therapy because it allows them to relax and get more in touch with their body and what it is feeling.

Acupuncture treatment involves the acupuncturist placing thin, sterile needles into small acupoints in the skin. Each acupoint represents an area of energy that the needle will activate. Sometimes, the energetic point has stagnation, where energy (or chi qi ki) is stuck. Such a point may feel hard, knotty, sore, or tender. Other times, the point represents a crossroads where energy is deficient, vacant, and in need of stimulation. Upon needle insertion, the patient may feel a unique, generally pleasant sensation at the needle site.

People get acupuncture for many reasons; each treatment is as individual as the person receiving it. Acupuncture at Eastowne, LLC and Acupractic Natural Healing Center are the premier acupuncture and chiropractic offices of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay in Chapel Hill, NC. Serving the Triangle Community since 1995 with quality alternative, complementary medicine, our patients enjoy the hands-on, holistic treatments they receive. Our offices are here whether you are interested in acupuncture, chiropractic, or solely chiropractic. Call 919-929-1400 or email schedule@acudocnc.com today to schedule your healthcare appointment. You can also visit us on the web anytime to learn more and schedule an online appointment: acudocnc.com. Our friendly front desk staff will reach out to you to answer any questions and help you use any insurance you would like us to consider.

Chiropractic: How Can a Chiropractor Help You?

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Chiropractor Chapel Hill, NC

We offer quality chiropractic and acupuncture services at Acupractic Natural Healing Center, located at 205 Providence Rd in Chapel Hill, NC. When accepting new patients, we receive many questions about Chiropractic.

What is Chiropractic?

A chiropractor is a licensed healthcare professional trained to help patients heal naturally and obtain maximal functioning without drugs or surgery. By treating the spine and musculoskeletal system using spinal adjustments, your chiropractor supports postural alignment and cares for all body systems, including nerves, muscles, ligaments, and organs. Through the use of chiropractic adjustments, Doctors of Chiropractic reduce back and neck pain, as well as many other conditions. Our chiropractor will prescribe specific exercises and make nutrition suggestions to improve self-healing throughout the body.

Like Doctors of Osteopathy, Doctors of Chiropractic promote self-healing through work with the bones, muscles, and other tissues that support and move your body. Doctors of Chiropractic attend 4 years of undergraduate pre-med study, followed by 4 years of post-graduate training to earn a degree in Chiropractic. Chiropractors and some osteopaths utilize a ‘high-velocity thrust’ technique, referred to by chiropractors as a chiropractic adjustment and osteopaths as an osteopathic manipulation. This short, fast thrust applied to the spinal column releases tension and restores position and mobility to areas of limited motion and nerve interference. Sometimes, your Doctor will get x-rays to diagnose or rule out certain conditions. Following an initial exam, your chiropractor will likely make a treatment plan and suggest a regimen of treatment to make lasting corrections over time and to allow patients to make exercise and nutrition changes while they monitor progress and make additional adjustments to the spine and extremities.

Chiropractors perform periodic re-exams to help understand the impact of the treatment plan. Chiropractors do not prescribe drugs or medications; they examine patients, looking at their spine’s position and muscle reflexes. They also perform tests to diagnose the patient’s condition, devise a treatment plan, and monitor progress. Chiropractors do not prescribe pain medication. Instead, they rely on and assist the body’s ability to heal itself. A chiropractor’s primary therapy is spinal manipulation, where they use hands or instruments to apply force to a joint in the spine, moving the joint in a specific direction for better alignment.

Using chiropractic adjustment, DCs or doctors of chiropractic help reposition spinal joints, improving alignment and movement and lowering pain. Adjunctive therapies may include exercise prescriptions and stretches to support strength, balance, and joint mobility. Also, many DCs utilize soft tissue massage to ease muscle tension and spasms, which helps relax the mind and facilitates adjustment. TENS unit application, or transcutaneous electro-nerve stimulation, also relieves muscle and joint imbalance. They may also do kinesiotaping to gently brace injured, sore joints and muscles. Some doctors of Chiropractic also perform acupuncture, which helps with many conditions ranging from stress and insomnia to headaches and back pain. Many patients find support for weight loss and even infertility using a combination of Chiropractic and acupuncture in a chiropractor’s office.

Chiropractors work in various locations, from private practices in solo clinics to larger multidisciplinary practices, with other practitioners offering complimentary services. Some chiropractic offices, such as Acupractic Natural Healing Center, offer truly individualized care with an array of service types, such as hands-on adjustments to the neck and back, Activator adjustments, physical therapy modalities such as massage, TENS (transcutaneous electrostimulation) unit, exercise instruction, and nutrition prescription, weight loss and addiction acupuncture, trigger point therapy and dry needling technique DNT, and lifestyle counseling with generous (30” or more) treatment times. Some chiropractic offices, such as The Joint, provide mostly adjustment therapy, but they do so with less counseling and shorter treatment times. Chiropractic offices frequently rely on front desk staff to assist with patient scheduling and insurance billing, although some do not. Also, some offices do not bill insurance, and others may exclusively depend on online scheduling.

Call 919-929-1400 today to learn more about how a chiropractor can help you and to schedule your chiropractic healthcare visit. Our hours of operation in Chapel Hill are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 8:30-5:30, Wednesday 12:30 -5:30, and Friday 8:30-12:30. You can also schedule online anytime by visiting acudocnc.com.

The Connection Between Back Pain and the Feet

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Chiropractor Chapel Hill, NC

Some people may not realize that their feet have a close impact on issues like back pain, but as the foundation for our posture, the feet significantly impact back pain. Problems in the lower extremities impose changes in connected regions, including the calves, knees, thighs, and hips, resulting in strain on the lower back. Imbalanced footwear choices and innate conditions such as flat feet, high arches, or uneven leg lengths all stress the feet and, therefore, the back and spine, causing pain and, eventually, deformity. Your doctor of chiropractic will evaluate the connection between your feet and your back to help you get and stay healthy.

Back Pain and Feet

One’s choice of footwear affects the feet as well as the back. Shoes without proper arch support or ill-fitting shoes magnify existing foot conditions and create new problems. While it may be fun to wear some boots for fashion’s sake, in the end, the pain in the back and feet that result may not be worth it. Choosing an attractive shoe that fits and supports walking to look your best is better.

The feet influence leg length discrepancies, and differences in the length of each leg on a person also impact the feet. Differences in leg length impact back pain and posture; walking thousands of steps each day with even a slight imbalance will affect pain and inflammation in the spinal joints and elsewhere. Your chiropractor will evaluate postural imbalances imposed by leg length discrepancies at each visit to make necessary spinal and foot adjustments, where possible.

Flat feet cause the feet and, subsequently, your knees to roll inward. This results in misalignment of the hips and back, inevitably causing pain and joint damage over time. Suitable footwear and regular postural work can help. Likewise, high arches impact the back by reducing the natural shock absorption of the feet, causing excessive trauma at the spinal level over time. Again, suitable footwear with added cushioning can help.

Chiropractic can help you understand how your feet influence your posture and back pain. At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, Dr. Oskardmay DC, LAc. can recommend helpful exercises for the feet and back and make adjustments to the spine and feet as needed to improve posture and reduce strain. Call today to schedule your appointment. 919-929-1400 acudocnc.com.

Does Acupuncture Help Neuropathy?

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Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC

Dr. Kulus, an acupuncturist at the Henry Ford Center, explains neuropathy in this way:

“Peripheral neuropathy can affect different nerves, from the sensory nerves responsible for registering sensations (like hot, cold, painful, and soft) to the motor nerves that govern how you move. It can even impact the autonomic nerves that control your body temperature, heart rate, and digestion.”

“Peripheral neuropathy can result from traumatic injuries, infections, vitamin deficiencies or over-supplementation, autoimmune diseases, metabolic problems, and exposure to toxins (such as chemotherapy drugs). But one of the most common causes is diabetes.”

Symptoms vary from person to person, depending on which nerves are affected. You might feel a gradual numbness and tingling in your feet or hands, which spreads into your limbs. You might experience sharp pain and sensitivity to touch, muscle weakness and paralysis, or bladder problems and incontinence.

Acupuncture is an ancient holistic therapy that helps patients suffering from neuropathy. Acupuncturists stimulate a healing response by inserting tiny sterile needles at particular acupoints. Thousands of patients benefit each year from this nondrug, nonsurgical neuropathy treatment approach to healthcare. Although acupuncturists and Western medical doctors may have different explanations for the treatment, acupuncture therapy is a widely used, highly effective neuropathy treatment option for many.

One medical doctor explains how acupuncture helps neuropathy in the following manner:

“Yes, acupuncture uses the gate control theory of pain and the summative effect of our body’s analgesic chemicals in response to a minor stimulus. Studies have shown that acupuncture is effective in peripheral neuropathies such as diabetic neuropathy, Bell’s Palsy, and carpel tunnel syndrome (CTS). Acupuncture also helps in nerve regeneration and preservation.”

Another explained how acupuncture works in a somewhat different way:

“Acupuncture is a therapy that involves inserting thin needles into various points on the body to relieve chronic pain and stimulate blood flow. It is an effective treatment for peripheral neuropathy, with fewer side effects than medications. Acupuncture might require multiple sessions to see improvement.”
Still, another explanation states:

“Acupuncture can help manage neuropathy by stimulating specific body points to enhance the body’s natural healing mechanisms. It boosts endorphin production, improves blood flow, and modulates the nervous system to alleviate neuropathy symptoms. Recent studies have shown promising results for acupuncture as a treatment for neuropathy.”

The acupuncturist mentioned above Dr. Kulus describes how acupuncture helps neuropathy in the following manner:

“According to traditional Chinese medicine, peripheral neuropathy happens when there’s a blockage of energy (called qi) and blood in the body. If qi and blood don’t flow freely, our cells and tissues don’t receive the necessary nourishment.”

Acupuncture is good at restoring blood flow and stimulating the body’s nerve pathways. It can also help with nerve regeneration and preservation. If there has been nerve damage or diminished sensation, we target treatment in these areas to re-stimulate those nerve fibers.”

“With local needling around the fingertips, for example, we’re able to stimulate blood flow to the capillaries, which, in turn, makes the nerves work better,” While medications can help manage symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, they do not stall the course of the disease — and some have nasty side effects. Anyone with peripheral neuropathy should try acupuncture to get relief, mainly if medications and other strategies haven’t worked.”

Whereas different people may have to alter explanations as to how acupuncture treats neuropathy, ranging from blood flow enhancement to boosting endorphin production to modulating the nervous system, everything points to helping patients effectively reduce neuropathy symptoms using natural means.

Call the Acupractic Natural Healing Center today at (919) 929-1400 to see how acupuncture can help reduce pain and help you feel better naturally. Dr. Lisa Oskardmay, licensed acupuncturist and doctor of chiropractic, has served the Triangle since 1995 with quality alternative and complementary healthcare. Visit online at acudocnc.com to learn more and schedule online 24 hours a day.

Chiropractic and the Use of Massage Traction and Electrostimulation

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Chiropractor Chapel Hill, NC

Trained in body mechanics, doctors of Chiropractic use their hands to palpate and adjust the spine’s bones and other areas to improve joint mobility, restore balanced positioning and reduce pain and muscle spasms. Subluxation or joint dislocation areas cause pain, inhibit range of motion, and impact surrounding nerves, muscles, and ligaments. Following a chiropractic adjustment that restores joint positioning, many patients feel a sense of relief, as if a blockage has been removed. Applied to the spine, the adjustment has the added benefit of helping to improve nervous system function; one sees and feels the effects locally at the site of the adjustment and distally where affected nerves flow.

Therapies such as massage, traction, and electrostimulation facilitate the hands-on treatment chiropractors provide. These and other adjunctive therapies benefit patients tremendously in getting the most out of their adjustive experience as they reduce worries and muscle interference. Chiropractors use deep tissue and soothing massage to relax tight muscles, making the adjustment less painful and effective while requiring less physical force to mobilize the needed joint. Traction can have a similar effect as massage; applying gentle rolling pressure along the skin and muscles over joints enhances relaxation. Electrostimulation, frequently applied using a TENS unit or transcutaneous electrostimulation device, harnesses the body’s electrical nature to reduce muscle and ligament tension.

In addition to the aforementioned physical modalities, Doctors of Chiropractic also function as health coaches for many patients. Patients seeking nonpharmaceutical care for back pain, headaches, neck tension, shoulder discomfort, and other ailments invariably benefit from nutrition and exercise counseling chiropractors provide. They will also recommend additional medical testing such as X-rays, MRI, and lab work. Doctors of Chiropractic know when to refer for outside help, if needed, and can assist patients needing additional care beyond the chiropractor’s scope or knowledge base.

At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, the chiropractic and acupuncture clinics of Dr. Lisa Oskardmay since 1995, we love helping patients achieve better help and less pain naturally. If you have pain, are looking for nondrug and nonsurgical relief, or want wellness care to stay healthy, call today to schedule an appointment. Located in Chapel Hill’s Eastowne Hills, we offer free accessible parking, comfortable, relaxing, and non-rushed environments, and 30 years of experience helping people get and stay well. We participate with most major insurance plans, and our front desk support is here.

Call (919) 929-1400 or visit us anytime online at acudocnc.com to learn more and schedule 24 hours a day.

Insurance Noncovered Care includes Maintenance and Supportive Elective Care

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At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, serving the Triangle since 1995 with quality chiropractic and acupuncture alternative medical healthcare, we love helping patients get better. As part of our commitment to helping patients, we provide cost-effective treatment and participate in many insurance plans for chiropractic and acupuncture services. As throughout all medical specialties, insurance covers care they deem necessary. Maintenance and supportive care and other noncovered services are the patient’s responsibility. In this post, we explain what maintenance and supportive elective care are, how receiving maintenance care is beneficial, and the insurance guidelines regarding this crucial type of care.

According to insurance websites, maintenance, supportive, and elective care occur when

  1. The patient has reached MMI (aka maximum medical improvement). The exam shows no improvement in symptoms and goals over 6-10 visits or one month.
  2. Additionally, although many patients benefit from adherence to a treatment plan, especially at the start of care, some people cannot follow one. Patients on maintenance care come in when they want to schedule regular or irregular visits with no identified goal for improvement.

Since insurance guidelines require goals for care that include following a treatment plan, when patients cannot follow a treatment plan, this is maintenance care. Patients struggling to adhere to a treatment plan should discuss their scheduling requirements to make the most of their time and any insurance benefits they have. Alternatively, using maintenance care is an option.

All patients benefit from maintenance and supportive care. At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, we strive to make care accessible, effective, and affordable by offering time-of-visit maintenance care visit prices.

Understanding the Benefits of Maintenance Care

Maintenance and support are essential adjuncts to healthcare; insurance plans generally do not cover this ongoing treatment.

  • Maintenance care can be less costly, with set fees for maintenance care generally lower than insurance allows.
  • One can use HSA and FSA benefits to pay for maintenance care.
  • Patients can come in with more flexibility and not according to a treatment plan, which generally necessitates coming in several times a week for several weeks in the beginning.
  • Regularly scheduled maintenance visits prolong good health.
  • Maintenance care visits generally do not use up allowed visits per insurance plan guidelines, allowing patients to keep those visits for times of need for acute care.

The Corporate Medical Policy from BCBS Insurance plan defines chiropractic care and explains insurance policies regarding covered services and noncovered care, including maintenance/elective and supportive care. Please note that although insurance generally does not cover or pay for maintenance/elective and supportive care services, the services are deemed helpful and necessary to support one’s health. For instance, many patients benefit from regular chiropractic adjustments to maintain spinal health and mitigate day-to-day stressors, but their insurance plan only covers care needed to improve an existing problem that shows improvement over time according to a treatment plan. Also, sometimes, patients need help to follow a treatment plan. Insurance does not promise to pay for unnecessary care, and we cannot guarantee that a patient’s insurance will pay for services; we are always ready to assist patients who need assistance.

Chiropractic medicine is a science based on the relationship between the structure and function of the human body. Services rendered are intended to support the spinal column and nervous system functions. The American Chiropractic Association published the following definitions: Chiropractic is a healthcare profession that focuses on musculoskeletal and nervous disorders and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches. Spinal manipulations and other treatment modalities can be provided manually or with mechanical or electrical devices.

Doctors of Chiropractic – often called chiropractors or chiropractic physicians – practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care, including patient examination, diagnosis, and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises. Chiropractors will readily refer patients to the appropriate healthcare provider when chiropractic care is not suitable for the patient’s condition or the condition warrants co-management in conjunction with other healthcare team members.

Supportive Care

Supportive care is long-term treatment/care for patients who have reached maximum therapeutic benefit but fail to sustain benefit and progressively deteriorate when there are periodic trials of treatment withdrawal. Supportive care follows the appropriate application of active and passive care, including rehabilitation and lifestyle modifications. Supportive care is appropriate when alternative care options, including home-based self-care or referral, have been considered and attempted. Supportive care may be inappropriate when it interferes with other appropriate primary care or when the risk of supportive care outweighs its benefit, i.e., physician/treatment dependence, somatization, illness behavior, or secondary gain.

Preventive/Maintenance Care

Elective healthcare that is typically long-term, not therapeutically necessary, but is provided at preferably regular intervals to prevent disease, prolong life, promote health, and enhance the quality of life. This care may be provided after maximum therapeutic improvement, without a trial of withdrawal of treatment, to prevent symptomatic deterioration, or it may be initiated with patients without symptoms to promote health and prevent future problems. This care may incorporate screening/evaluation procedures designed to identify developing risks or issues about the patient’s health status and give care/advice for these. Preventive/maintenance care is provided to optimize a patient’s health. Maintenance begins when the therapeutic goals of a treatment plan have been achieved and when no further functional progress is apparent or expected to occur.

At our office, we strive to help patients understand what their insurance covers and collect all noncovered items at the time of service when possible. Ultimately, however, it is the patient’s responsibility to know what their insurance covers. We work with patients to help them get the best healthcare at the best price. Call today at (919) 929-1400, email us at schedule@acudocnc.com or visit our website at acudocnc.com to schedule your healthcare appointment.

Trapezius Muscle Nerve Influence and Stress Response

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Chiropractor and Acupuncturist, Chapel Hill, NC

The trapezius, a muscle that supports body posture and enables shoulder and head movements, is a part of our everyday activities. Nerve input to the trapezius muscle from the brainstem and upper cervical spine influences its function and activity. The trapezius muscle, with its unique characteristics, is particularly impacted by physical and mental stress, affecting our daily routines. Chiropractic and acupuncture treatments that affect the muscles, the nervous system, and the stress response can bring relief, making our daily activities more manageable.

The trapezius muscle is the largest in the body. It is trapezoid-shaped and originates from the skull and the spinous processes of the lower neck to the mid-lower back, C7-T12. Additionally, the trapezius muscle attaches to several points of the posterior shoulders on either side, with connections at the medial clavicle, outer acromion, and the spine of the scapula or shoulder blade.

The trapezius muscle is the only upper limb muscle that does not receive innervation from the brachial plexus, a bundle of nerves arising from the lower cervical spine. Motor innervation comes from the 11th cranial nerve, meaning it arises from within the skull, while sensation for this muscle originates from the third and fourth cervical nerves. Tightness in the head and upper neck will impact the muscles, while tightness in the trapezius will impact the neck, shoulders, and posture.

The trapezius muscle plays a crucial role in stabilizing the shoulders and facilitating neck and shoulder movements. This makes it a key player in many work activities, such as typing while keeping the head steady to look at a computer screen. In jobs that are high-stress and demand speed and accuracy without many postural breaks, the trapezius muscle is significantly impacted by the stress response. This can lead to persistent muscle tightness and imbalance, causing trapezius muscle spasms that can interfere with other aspects of life and rest. At Acupractic, Dr. Oskardmay teaches stress reduction techniques that can help alleviate neck pain and improve overall body posture.

Many patients experience trigger points or knots between shoulder blades where the trapezius muscle inserts to stabilize the shoulder. Using trigger point therapy, chiropractic adjustments to the spine and extremities, acupuncture, and electroacupuncture or electro-stim, Dr. Oskardmay helps resolve trapezius tension and improve posture by getting to the source of the problem without drugs or surgery.

Call our office today at (919) 929-1400 or visit our website at acudocnc.com to experience relief from neck and back pain, shoulder, and headaches. Serving the Triangle since 1995, Dr. Lisa Oskardmay at Acupractic Natural Healing Center is here for you.

Is Acupuncture an Effective Treatment for Arthritis?

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Acupuncturist, Chapel Hill, NC

Acupuncture helps patients with arthritis in vital ways. Numerous studies show the effectiveness of acupuncture care in treating joint pain and inflammation caused by arthritis. Licensed acupuncturists such as Dr. Lisa Oskardmay identify blockages in qi flow using Chinese medicine diagnosis methods, including body palpation and tongue and pulse evaluation, to determine where to place tiny sterile acupuncture needles.

Acupuncture for Arthritis

Frequently located along pathways and around pain and inflammation, stimulation of acupoints enhances the body’s natural healing response in affected areas, bringing natural relief. Endorphins and other chemical signaling agents bring relaxation, while improved blood and lymph flow helps to remove toxins and other irritants. Acupuncture reduces inflammation by influencing the immune system, resulting in less joint swelling and stiffness. Whereas arthritis is a chronic and harmful inflammation, acupuncture needle stimulation causes a minor acute inflammation response that helps resolve arthritis symptoms. Pain and chronic inflammation reduction help improve overall joint function for most patients.

Another way that acupuncture therapy helps people with arthritis is by reducing overall body stress. Dr. Oskardmay always incorporates massage and other mindfulness activities into treatment at our office. Massage of the body’s muscles and ligaments increases self-awareness while at the same time promoting an aspect of calm and relaxation. Our private rooms, surrounded by nature, filled with soft spa music, and warmed with nonelectric devices, are smooth and comfortable. Dr. Oskardmay takes her time with each patient, and each person enjoys a healing, non-rushed atmosphere. We provide this healing atmosphere because we know it helps patients get better faster when they can relax.

As part of our holistic approach to care, Dr. Oskardmay provides patient education regarding exercises and nutrition that influence arthritis. Sometimes, patients stop exercising because it hurts, they do the wrong exercise, or they do the proper exercise too much or too little. She inquires about various activities of daily living to help people make small changes that can have a lasting impact. Sometimes, she also refers to local physical therapists or trainers.

Additionally, we recognize that sleep patterns influence joint pain and arthritis in many ways. While sometimes overlooked, sleep issues matter; again, small changes can have a lasting impact.

What a person eats significantly affects their pain and inflammation levels. Therefore, Dr. Oskardmay inquires about food intake, allergies, and other digestion-related aspects. Getting annual bloodwork to know one’s ‘numbers’ is helpful. Dr. Oskardmay helps patients understand how blood sugar, A1C, blood pressure, Vitamin D, C-reactive protein, magnesium levels, RF, and ANA affect arthritis. Eating a good, balanced diet can help resolve many arthritic symptoms.

Lastly, as a chiropractor and a licensed acupuncturist, Dr. Oskardmay can provide joint adjustments where needed. The option of chiropractic care at our office is another reason to call today. 919-260-0330. acudocnc.com

Is It Safe To Visit a Chiropractor?

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Chiropractor Chapel Hill, NCis it safe to visit a chiropractor

When choosing healthcare, people need to know the risks involved. Chiropractors appreciate a high level of safety and patient satisfaction and, for this reason, are increasingly the first choice of healthcare for many people seeking relief from back or neck pain, headaches, or other conditions. But what are the risks involved? Read more to learn if it is safe to visit a chiropractor.

Chiropractors utilize spinal adjustments (aka manipulation) to mobilize spinal joints, impacting posture, pain, and the nervous system throughout the body. By reducing interference to the nervous system, chiropractors help patients attain equilibrium without drugs or surgery. The chiropractic adjustment is a very safe first-choice option for care because it is noninvasive and helps the patient’s body heal itself.

Side effects of manual adjustment do exist. Occasionally, some patients will experience soreness at the adjustment site or headaches. Neck manipulation has caused vertebral artery dissection in rare cases; most chiropractors mitigate this risk by examining the patient before providing the manual adjustment or using other adjustment options, such as the Activator Technique.

Other healthcare practitioners, such as medical doctors, orthopedists, and nurse practitioners, depend more heavily on drugs and surgery to make changes in the body. While these more invasive approaches can sometimes be necessary, for most musculoskeletal or stress-related aches and pains, the adverse side effects of these heavy hitters may not be as desirable. Adverse drug reactions are a significant concern ranging from mild to severe; the more drugs a person takes, the worse the problem. Surgical risks carry risks of complications such as bleeding, infection, or anesthesia-related issues.

At our chiropractic and acupuncture office in Chapel Hill, NC, Dr. Lisa Oskardmay begins each office visit with a conversation about the treatment plan, a review of symptoms, and hands-palpation of problem areas. As patients rest comfortably on the padded table, she performs massage before applying spinal adjustments to areas of subluxation or slight spinal dislocation. Patients can inform Dr. Lisa of any area of discomfort, and they can provide input into their care. Some patients receive acupuncture after adjustment; resting on a warm table for 20″ is a great way to relax and further support healing.

After treatment, Dr.Oskardmay answers questions and generally provides suggestions for exercises and nutrition to help patients at home between treatments. At the front desk, Debbie helps patients schedule their next appointments and helps with insurance questions. We strive to help people receive gentle, effective chiropractic care in a safe, supportive manner. Call today at 919-929-1400 to schedule your healthcare appointment or visit our website at acudocnc.com.

Serving the communities of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham, Hillsborough, and the rest of the NC Triangle

205 Providence Rd. Chapel Hill NC 27514 | Phone: (919) 929-1400

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