Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chriopractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC; “Once Your Pain is Gone, Do You Need to Keep Seeing a Chiropractor??…..”

In short, I would say ‘Yes’ it’s absolutely a good idea!’ But to those who ask this question, please think about this, “How often do you see your dentist every year? and do you only go to see your dentist if you have pain?”

“If I feel better and no longer have pain, why should I continue with Chiropractic care?”. This is an age old question that many patients have about Chiropractic care. I know of patients who’s previous Chiropractors have recommended ‘maintenance care’. Often involving treatments 2-3 times/week for months and gradually tapering off from there. Many see the rationale behind this approach and still many others believe this is far too much treatment.

Here’s my honest opinion about this topic. I believe Dentists have it right. Sure some people will only see a dentist if there’s pain but many others follow the recommendation of a visit every 6 months. But why? Well because of PREVENTION! A regular check up will help to identify problems with your teeth before things get really bad. Isn’t it better to spot a cavity early and have a minor filling done instead of extracting the entire tooth?

But here’s where Dentists really excel. Everybody knows to brush their teeth daily! Often times twice a day! This message is so ingrained in society that no one even questions it. People just do it out of habit because, wait for it……….THEY KNOW IT’S GOOD FOR THEM! Even though, you only really use your teeth for minutes a day while you’re eating, you still brush religiously.

However consider this, on any given day, when are you NOT using your body, muscles, spine and joints for movement? You’re even using your muscles when you’re sitting using your laptop! So what are you doing on a daily basis to keep your body, bones, muscles and joints healthy? Chances are not that much.

I see many patients who are new to Chiropractic and in my clinic I do my best to educate them about health. More importantly, the idea that HEALTH is much more than a lack of pain! I work with my patients to devise a sensible treatment plan with re-evaluations scheduled at regular intervals. This is important because we need to track progress and offer the best, most complete care possible. In addition, we need to evaluate how successfully Chiropractic care is working for them. Is it still the best option three weeks from now? Would Physiotherapy or Massage Therapy be better? You can only answers these questions with confidence if you have been keeping track of a patient’s progress.

In addition, I believe in promoting healthy habits like stretching and exercise from the first day of treatment if indicated. Just like a Dentist emphasizing the importance of brushing to keep your teeth healthy, a person should be active to keep their entire body healthy! I think as a Chiropractor, it is my duty to show my patients that they can do a lot to stay healthy and pain free on their own. Once my patients get better about making stretching and exercises a regular habit, I encourage them to decrease the frequency of Chiropractic treatments! Everyone benefits.

I have patients who see me for follow up care once a month, once every other month, even twice a year! I help my patients decide what frequency is right for them if they are already practicing healthy habits on their own.

Moral of the story is, “Yes, regular Chiropractic care is helpful even if you don’t have pain but the ultimate choice lies with you!”. No one said getting healthy and staying healthy was easy, if it was, everybody walking around would be healthy. If your Chiropractor recommends a treatment plan that you feel is excessive, make sure you know why. Ask questions! Any Chiropractor should welcome patient involvement in their treatment and if you feel like your concerns aren’t being addressed, maybe that’s a concern in itself.

Any questions about this post? In the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver? Contact Dr. Chan here,COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC

Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “Warning! Complex Spinal Operations on the Rise. But is it Safe?”

This article caught my attention because of the sheer numbers involved. In addition, I recently saw a patient who’s doctor recommended surgery for his chronic low back pain. After coming to me for a second opinion, I suggested a more conservative approach of Chiropractic therapy, stretching, exercise and simple home care. After three weeks, he is already feeling better than he has been in the last two years. Now he’s grateful he tried Chiropractic before opting for surgery like his doctor had suggested. (The surgery suggested would have involved a spinal fusion, mentioned in this article, that would have surgically combined two separate vertebrae in his spine into one)

Now on to the article. This piece was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In it, it was revealed that the use of complex spinal surgery to treat back pain has exploded in the last six years. Even though these operations are more expensive and riskier than simpler therapy, and not necessarily more effective.

“It was a bit of a surprise to see how big the increase was,” said Dr. Richard A. Deyo, professor of family medicine and internal medicine at the Oregon Health and Science University and lead author of a report published April 7 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “A 15-fold increase over a short period of time was more than we expected.” Several possible explanations exist for the increase, money among them, Deyo said. “There are financial influences at play,” he said. “You get paid more for complex procedures.”

Deyo and his associates looked at a particular problem, Spinal Stenosis. This is when the ‘holes’ in your back, where nerves travel through get progressively smaller and smaller. Without intervention, the smaller the hole gets, the more irritation and compression it can put on the nerve passing through. Eventually this can be a huge problem not only causing pain but loss or function, muscle wasting and numbness, just to name a few.

Deyo and his team looked at Medicare claims from 2002 to 2007. Over that period, they found that surgery for spinal stenosis actually decreased slightly. However, of the operations that were done, complex surgery rates shot up a staggering 15 times higher! Meaning, in spite of more conservative treatment options, including simpler surgery, doctors were resorting to complicated surgery far more often. Not surprisingly, the study also found related hospital costs over the same time period increased 40%.

The costs of simpler surgical options were reported to be $23, 724 but the costs of more complex spinal fusion surgeries were found to be $80, 888. In addition, patients who underwent complex surgeries spent two more days in hospital and were 3X more likely to encounter a life-threatening complication related to surgery.

Now the big question remains, “…was it worth it?”. The surgical literature does not appear to justify the extra cost and hazard of the complex procedures for most people, Deyo said. “Most of the evidence suggests that in terms of pain relief and functional recovery, there is not much advantage in terms of complex procedures,” he said. “There is even a possibility that the net benefit of surgery is lessened because of this.”

Wow. Now I know many people will counter this study occurred in the states and the results would likely be different in Canada. But the question is, “… are you sure?” With our population aging and the already accepted lifetime incidence of low back pain to be near or above 80%, isn’t it likely that doctors will suggest surgery more and more?

I suggest that the answer is Yes. Unless we start looking at other options like Chiropractic. That’s right, not only has Chiropractic been proven as both effective and safe but Chiropractic by it’s very nature is Preventative!

As everybody knows, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! So if you’ve been suffering from back issues, go see a Chiropractor. Not only can you find relief but you can learn strategies and techniques to keep you back and body in good shape, hopefully avoiding a costly surgery later!

In the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver? Drop in and see Dr. Chan or visit his website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC

Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “Prescription Painkiller Overdoses on the Rise According to Study”

In my practice I often come across patients who have used prescription painkillers to manage their pain. Very often,they go to see their family doctors or a doctor at a walk in clinic and they complain of severe back or neck pain. After a usually brief exam and history, they are sent home with a prescription for Tylenol 3, Oxycodone, Naproxen etc. Usually when I uncover this during a history in my office, the patient admits that they don’t want to become “hooked” on the medication for the long term. They are looking for an alternative. A more natural method of pain relief and management, without the aid of prescription drugs. These people are concerned, and according to this study being published today in the the Annals of Internal Medicine, they should be.

This study reviewed the pharmacy files of nearly 10, 000 patients who were prescribed opioids such as; oxycodone and hydrocodone, for 3 months between 1997 and 2005. The results were alarming, but perhaps not surprising. The researchers found that 51% of the patients overdosed on these drugs and tragically, 6 of these overdoses were fatal.

The study found a clear correlation between the risk of overdosing and the dose prescribed. Those who were prescribed a higher dose were 9 times more likely to oversdose. “The rate of overdose was strongly related to dose,” said senior study author Michael Von Korff, a senior investigator at the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle. “For patients currently receiving higher-dose regimens, their rate of overdose was almost 2 percent per year, which is a lot.”

One reason for the greater reliance on opioids is a recognition among physicians that chronic pain is a serious problem, hindering people from working, sleeping and enjoying their lives, Von Korff said. These types of “chronic pain” included; back or neck pain, headaches, jaw pain, pain in the extremities, arthritis and menstrual pain or injuries.

Coincidentally, a Chiropractor can offer very reasonable and effective treatment options for all of the above noted conditions.

On a personal note, I am not a Chiropractor who will advise my patients to steer clear of all prescription medications. I do however believe that a patient needs to be educated and aware of the risks and benefits of medication, especially for pain. I believe that helping patients find strategies to manage their pain involving a healthy lifestyle with sustainable health practices is far superior than to just popping pills.

If you’re in pain and want a natural way to find relief, visit your COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR HERE!!!!

Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “Osteoporosis”

Today I’d like to discuss a topic that is important to a lot of patients out there, particularly if you’re female; Osteoporosis.

What is Osteoporosis exactly? Osteoporosis is a bone disease where by bone mass and tissue deteriorates over time. In effect, the bones become “less dense”. A very simple way to think of it would be like imagining Swiss cheese. Now everybody knows Swiss cheese is known for having characteristic “holes” throughout. Now just imagine the Swiss cheese developing more of these holes over time. More holes means more empty space and thus, less cheese. Now this is a crude example but I think you get the picture.

Now a common misconception is that Osteoporosis is a problem unique to females, but not so. Did you know that 1 in 8 men over the age of 50 will also develop Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis, is known as a “silent thief” because as the bones deteriorate, the patient often notices no symptoms at all. However, Osteoporosis is a real problem because with weaker bones, a person may be subject to disfigurement, lowered self esteem, loss of mobility and an increased chance of severe injury.

For example, as one ages, co-ordination and balance often suffers. This is a major reason why falls are more common in the elderly. Now if a person with Osteoporosis also suffers a fall, the chance of a fracture goes way up. Did you know that 80% of hip fractures are Osteoporosis related? Once an elderly person suffers a hip fracture, the chances of complications and maybe even death also become a very real possibility.

So what can you do to prevent Osteoporosis? firstly, you might want to get a bone scan or measure your bone density. It’s good to know what you’re starting with right. Next, there are simple things like the appropriate exercise, nutrition and even supplements that can help to prevent osteoporosis. It’s a good idea to have a talk with your doctor/ Chiropractor to find out the appropriate actions for you.

If you have questions or comments, feel free to visit YOUR COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR HERE!