 The sacroiliac joint can cause so many problems if it doesn't work right. One thing I specialize in is the sacroiliac joint. The sacrum is at the base of your spine. Your ilium is your hips. They come together to form the sacroiliac joint. You can read older blog entries on the sacroiliac joint for a basic understanding. I recently attended another seminar which addressed the way the muscles of the body relate to this joint and how that relates to the ligaments that hold the joint together. Basically, the joint is held together by ligaments. In a sacroiliac joint injury, the ligaments are stretched. The joint becomes hyper-mobile. In an attempt to stabilize the joint, the body will activate a multitude of muscles and people will experience this as a multitude of symptoms. Some of them include:
 Image copyright Sacro Occipital Research Society International ® But there are so many muscles that attach to the pelvis that symptoms far away from the pelvis can actually be being caused by this sacroiliac joint problem. Some of these symptoms are:
Ultimately, the joint needs to be stabilized. It needs to be held together. This is contrary to much of the "standard of care" thinking in orthopedics, physical therapy and chiropractic, which focuses on mobilization of joints. Mobilizing the joint may give temporary relief, but ultimately it creates a perpetual problem with no end because the joint cannot heal.  SOT® wedge-shaped blocks are placed under the pelvis to correct the sacroiliac joint. Part of the way I decrease mobility in the joint is using wedged-shaped blocks that are placed under the pelvis. They help close the joint and compress the ligaments together. Sometimes this is enough to resolve the issue. Other times, patients need extra support. This is done by having the patient wear a trochanteric belt. Worn around the pelvis, it helps hold the joint together so the muscles don't have to. The muscles are then able to relax and the pain goes away. Exercises can also be given to strengthen some of the weak muscles that contributed to the injury occurring in the first place. Healing of the joint can take 4-6 weeks. Sometimes additional nutritional support can be given to help the joint heal.
So many of my patients have sacroiliac joint problems and this is one of my specialties. If you would like to know more or set up an appointment, call the office at 727-509-3760 or send an email to thedclcsw@gmail.com. You can also schedule appointments online.
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 I have had tremendous success treating ADHD and ADD with Neurofeedback as a stand alone therapy. I did this before I was a chiropractor. Since becoming a chiropractor, I have started combining Neurofeedback and chiropractic care in some cases. With those cases, it seems to be that patients are responding faster to care.
Why might this be? In the research I did on chiropractic effects on brain function using Sacro-Occipital Technic® (SOT®), we showed that there were changes in the frontal cortex in the brain. This is an area that relates to attention, impulsiveness and something called executive functioning. These are all things that people with ADHD can struggle with. Other research on chiropractic done by Haavik has also show that the frontal cortex of the brain is affected by chiropractic adjustments. By doing chiropractic at the same time as Neurofeedback, you are giving additional input into the brain to help it make the changes necessary to resolve the symptoms of ADHD. I like to do the chiropractic care and Neurofeedback on the same day, doing the chiropractic adjustment first and then the Neurofeedback. The idea is that you work more globally on the brain with chiropractic and then more specifically with Neurofeedback. I'm the only person in Pinellas County able to both evaluate and treat ADHD and ADD with this comprehensive approach combining my licenses as a Chiropractic Physician and a Licensed Psychotherapist. Do you or someone you know have ADHD or ADD? Are you looking for a long lasting solution without medication. Are you thinking a person might have ADHD or ADD but need to consult a professional to determine if they have this condition? If so, please give my office a call at 727-509-3760 or click above to book an appointment online.  Low back surgery is done to make you feel better. But according to a 2018 study, an estimated up to 46% of low back surgeries fail (1). The odds of a second surgery working are only 30% with a 15% chance of the third surgery working and a 5% chance of the 4th surgery working.
Did you know they have an insurance code now for low back surgeries that don't work out? The insurance code is "M96.1 Postlaminectomy syndrome, not elsewhere classified." There are enough of them to make a code for it. As a Chiropractic Physician, I obviously advocate avoiding surgery if possible and will do everything I can in my power to help a person avoid surgery. This includes cases of low back pain and sciatica. But what if you already had surgery and it didn't work out? Is there still help? The answer is I've had great success working with people who had low back surgery that failed to provide relief. One method I use is Cox Technic flexion distraction. This is a gentle method of increasing mobility in the spine, opening up the disc space and taking pressure off of nerves. I also use Sacro-Occipital Technic®, which offers additional low-force options to help out a part of the body that has already been traumatized. If you want to find out if you are a candidate for treatment for failed low back surgery syndrome, call my office at 727-509-3760 or schedule online by clicking on the tab above. 1. Daniel, J., Osti, O. Failed back surgery syndrome: A review article. Asian Spine Journal. 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5913031/  Chiropractors traditionally treat the bones in the spine. But did you know that some chiropractors also treat bones in the head? The head is also known as the cranium. Chiropractors trained and certified in Sacro-Occipital Technic® (SOT®) practice Chiropractic Craniopathy, which is the study of the motion and function of the bones in the head and how they relate to the rest of the body.
I got into Chiropractic Craniopathy because I had a chiropractor who performed Chiropractic Craniopathy on me. I was amazed at how good I felt afterward and how powerful the effects were on my body. I wanted to be able to help others in this way. I knew I would be able to help more people and do more wonderful things if I learned how to do cranial work. Traditionally, the bones in the head in an adult were thought to be fused and that their function was like a football helmet. However SOT® chiropractors and osteopaths believe that the function of the cranium is greater and that there is some mobility in it, even in the adult skull. More recent research has shown this to be true. Problems that can be treated with Chiropractic Craniopathy include:
This is a partial list of what can be treated with Chiropractic Craniopathy because the cranium houses the brain and the brain controls the rest of the body. So cranial work can get results affecting areas distant from the head. I have resolved previously unresolved cases of low back pain with cranial work. I've even fixed stubborn ankle problems by fixing the head! Sometimes chiropractic adjustments won't "hold" because of an unresolved cranial issue. With all my patients, I make sure the cranium is functioning properly as part of my routine session so that patients can get better as soon as possible. I'm often asked if this technique hurts. Cranial work is gentle. It does not involved cracking or popping of joints. Most of my patients really enjoy cranial work. Have you had your cranium checked? Cranial bone dysfunction can have profound effects on your health. Do you have a problem that has been unresponsive to other forms of chiropractic care? Contact the office at 727-509-3760 to book an appointment or book online by clicking on the tab above.  In any field, professional certifications can mean a lot. Some can represent years of hard work. Others can be gained by attending a weekend course. I'm certified in Sacro Occipital Technic® (SOT®) by Sacro Occipital Research Society International (SORSI). This organization was started by the founder of SOT®, Dr. M.B. DeJarnette who developed the technique. It takes a lot of hard work and time to become certified in SOT®. You are subject to a written test and then a practical where you demonstrate your abilities on actual people. Certifications in SOT® take hundreds of hours of training and years of experience.  A real example of what I get in the mail inviting me to become "certified" in a 2 day course. At least once a week, I get information on weekend courses to become "certified" in something, either for my Chiropractic Physician license or my LCSW license. I could take these to make myself to look good on paper. However, there is no substitute for hard work and experience. I look beyond the number of certifications and focus on the quality of results I can get to help my patients and better me as a professional.
 SOT® blocks: they have been shown to change the function of the brain and, of course, relieve pain and so much more! Did you know I am the only Certified Sacro Occipital Technic® SOT® practitioner in Pinellas county and only one of two in the greater Tampa area?
Some of the more well known parts of SOT® are wedged-shaped blocks. In my award-winning research, I showed that they actually changed activity in the brain both immediately after using them and then one week later after they were used. SOT® blocks are placed under the pelvis in a variety of positions either with the patient laying face up or face down, depending on what is indicated by the patient's presentation.They are very effective with:
The blocks are gentle. There is no cracking or crunching of the spine with blocks. Rather, the patient lays on the table and gravity along with the patient's breathing and the direction of the blocks brings the pelvis back into proper position. Tense muscle groups relax bringing muscle tension back into balance. But don't let their gentle nature fool you. The blocks can have profound effects. Many patients tell me the blocks are their favorite part of the adjustment. I also get lots of positive feedback on Chriopractic Craniopathy work, which often occurs after I use the blocks. Because the pelvis is the foundation of the spine and cranium, having a person laying on the blocks can alleviate problems such as:
The effects of SOT® blocks go beyond simply pain relief, however. They influence cerebrospinal fluid flow, which is essential to a healthy and well-functioning brain and spinal cord. This is the topic of another blog post. Want to see what the blocks can do for you? Give Tuttle Health a call at 727-509-3760, or email thedclcsw@gmail.com, or schedule online https://www.tuttlehealth.com/schedule-an-appointment.html  Migraine headaches, tension headaches, cluster headaches, sinus headaches... migraine with aura, migraine without aura. There are all sorts of headaches out there.
The thing is, headaches are complicated. Not all headaches are the same and there isn't one cause for all headaches. People get frustrated by this. Depending on what thing or things are causing a headache, chiropractic or other services I offer may be a total solution or part of the solution. One thing I do to deal with headaches that many others do not is Chiropractic Craniopathy . Chiropractic Craniopathy is an advanced level of training that a chiropractor can undertake as part of Sacro-Occipital Technic (SOT®). It takes years of study and practice to become certified. It is not a weekend course that a chiropractor takes. In basic terms, it deals with the micro-motion and position of the bones in the skull as well as the soft tissue involved in these structures. Chiropractic Craniopathy can also help with temporomandibular joint problems (TMJ or TMD) and these issues as well as dental issues like a bad bite or malocclusion can contribute to headaches as well. Sometimes a chiropractor and a dentist have to work together in these situations. Headaches can also be caused by the vertebra in the neck being subluxated (a chiropractic term for misalignment or joint articulation problem). Poor posture, muscular tension, dietary issues, food allergies, emotional stress...all these things can contribute to and cause a headache. Another therapy I use for headaches is Neurofeedback. People with headaches often have abnormal brainwave patterns that match the symptoms of the headache. By retraining the brain, I can often reduce or eliminate headaches, especially if they haven't responded to other therapies. Headaches may take a team approach. I'm happy to work with other professionals you may be working with or help you find another professional to help you if I can't do it alone. Interested in knowing if what I do might be able to help your headaches? Give my office a call 727-509-3760, email thedclcsw@gmail.com or book online https://www.tuttlehealth.com/schedule-an-appointment.html  The average person doesn't spend a lot of time thinking about cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). But it's something that's really important.
First off, what is CSF? Picture a balloon with water and a gummy worm on the inside. CSF is the water and the brain and spinal cord are the gummy worm. The balloon is something call the dura mater, which houses the brain and spinal cord. For years, traditional medical textbooks said the purpose of CSF was to act as a cushion for the brain and spinal cord. Osteopathy and some forms of chiropractic like Sacro-Occpital Technic ® (SOT®) believed that the CSF was essential to the health and well being of the central nervous system and the person in general. They proposed that CSF helped remove toxins from the central nervous system and bring fresh nutrients to your central nervous system. It was a way the body "cleaned shop." The SOT® chiropractors and osteopaths believed that part of a person being healthy was having proper flow of CSF in the body. Disease states were associated with pooling or reduced CSF flow. With CSF not moving, the brain and spinal cord could not get proper nourishment and would be stewing in a pool of toxicity leading to disease. Now science is "discovering" what the osteopath's and SOT® chiropractors were saying all along. CSF has been shown to interact with the lymphatic system and interstital fluid, which act to both remove toxic materials from the body and bring important things like white blood cells to the body to fight infection. Problems with CSF flow have been documented in people with problems in the spine, pelvis and head (1, 2, 3). As an SOT® chiropractor, I have been trained to not only restore function to the spine but place a special emphasis on CSF flow to maximize your potential. How's your "flow?" Are your spine, pelvis and head functioning properly to maximize flow of CSF and function in the body? Call my office 727-509-3760, email thedclcsw@gmail.com or book an appointment online to have yourself checked out. 1. Cerebrospinal Fluid Dynamics at the Lumbosacral Level in Patients With Spinal Stenosis: A Pilot Study Se-Woong Chun,1 Hack-Jin Lee,2 Koong-Ho Nam,3 Chul-Ho Sohn,3 Kwang Dong Kim,4 Eun-Jin Jeong,2 Sun G. Chung,4 Keewon Kim,4 Dong-Joo Kim 2. Yamada, S. Cerebrospinal fluid physiology: visualization of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics using the magnetic resonance imaging Time-Spatial Inversion Pulse method Croat Med J. 2014;55:337-46 3. Head movement, an important contributor to human cerebrospinal fluid circulation Qiang Xu1,2, Sheng-Bo Yu1, Nan Zheng1, Xiao-Ying Yuan1, Yan-Yan Chi1, Cong Liu1,2, Xue-Mei Wang3, Xiang-Tao Lin4 & Hong-Jin Sui1 Influence of respiration on cerebrospinal fluid movement using magnetic resonance spin labeling Shinya Yamada1, Mitsue Miyazaki2,3*, Yuichi Yamashita3, Cheng Ouyang2, Masao Yui3, Masao Nakahashi3, Seiko Shimizu3, Ikuo Aoki3, Yukuo Morohoshi4 and James Gordon McComb5  The VibraCussor works on many soft tissue issues and feels great. My patients will tell you I do more than just adjust the spine.
Soft tissue (muscles, fascia and more) becomes tense and will pull bones out of alignment. I can give an adjustment to a person, but if their soft tissue doesn't come along for the change then the adjustment may not hold. To address this issue, one of the tools I use is the VibraCussor. The VibraCussor vibrates, giving percussive impulses that go deep into the soft tissue of the body. It can be set at various speeds tailored to the individual needs of the patient. The repetitive vibrations and impulses work at undoing fascial restrictions, relaxing muscles, treating trigger points and releasing joints. This is part of why my visits are longer than what patients may be accustomed to. Why do I take the extra time during my sessions? To help my patients get better faster! Contact the office at 727-509-3760 or email thedclcsw@gmail.com to schedule an appointment or learn more. You can also schedule online.  I know enough to know that there's always more to know. That's why when I take continuing education courses, I always try to find things that can really help my patients. One of the courses I recently took involved learning more about a technology called microcurrent point stimulation made by a company called Dolphin neurostim.
These hand-held devices give off DC microcurrent and are applied to various points on the body to help with a variety of conditions, especially PAIN. Dolphin runs at a low frequency that is close to the current that the human body creates and uses. Studies have shown that after Dolphin Neurostim is used on a person, he/she experiences an increase in parasympathetic nervous system activity. So what? Well parasympathetic nervous system activity is the "rest and digest" part of the nervous system. Sympathetic nervous system activity is associated with increased stress and pain. I first used this device on myself, of course, and have started using it at the office with great results. Patients tell me they feel less pain and feel more relaxed. Others declare they feel "even better." Scars are another thing that the Dolphin can be used on. When you have a scar on the body, the body forms adhesions that the restrict motion of the soft tissue and joints, leading to lack of mobility and eventually pain. The pain may happen near the site of the scar or even at a place on the body far away from the scar. That's another blog entry really, but I recommend that you read a book called Anatomy Trains by Tom Myers to really understand this concept if you are interested in learning more. You might say, oh it's a TENS unit. IT IS NOT! TENS units act at a very high frequency. They "trick" the brain into thinking there is no pain for a short period of time, but they don't relax the nervous system. In fact, they aggravate it and ultimately make the pain cycle worse. TENS units don't fix anything. The Dolphin, on the other hand, addresses the root causes of the problem. Tight muscles? Trigger points? Tight fascia? All of these things can be helped by Dolphin. The list is too long to include everything Dolphin can be used for. But consider the following to give you a general idea:
Contact my office if you would like this therapy. Existing patients feel free to ask if it might be something to help you. 727-509-3760 or thedclcsw@gmail.com |
AuthorI'm a Chiropractic Physician, Psychotherapist and researcher. I'm interested in helping people live their lives to their full potential. That could be simply without pain. Or it could be without more complicated physical or mental health problems. Or it could be getting help in making changes in their life so that they can achieve their dreams. Archives
August 2019
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