Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC: “FYI: How Long Will it Take Until You Get Better?”

This is a typical question that many patients have before they begin treatment at my office. Now I can’t speak for other Chiropractors but I hope to shed some light about how I come up with a treatment plan for my patients. I must stress that every patient is considered individually and it’s hard to apply generalizations when it comes to care but I hope this post helps to clarify what to expect in my office.

It all begins with the first visit. Here I take a thorough history and get a chance to ‘see’ what we’re dealing with. I want to get a sense not only for the nature of the discomfort/pain but I also need to assess how the injury is affecting your function. For example, is it keeping you from work? everyday activities? sports? hobbies? etc. This gives me an idea of the severity or acuteness of the situation. If there was some serious trauma involved, ie. a motor vehicle accident, I generally will recommend three sessions a week for at least the first two weeks. If the injury is moderate, I might recommend a plan of sessions twice a week for two weeks. I inform my patients that the first two weeks of care is very important because from my experience, patients should respond fairly quickly to Chiropractic care. At the end of two weeks, we perform a re-evaluation on the patient. The re-evaluation allows us to monitor and mark the progress we are making. It also serves as ‘checkpoints’ to ensure that we are reaching our treatment goals and that everybody is satisfied with the progress. At the end of the re-evaluation, I generally like to discuss the treatment frequency again. The goal in my office is to use less and less office visits and encourage the patient to become more active in the recovery process by participating in more home care.

That is another key component in a patient’s progress, home care. From nearly the beginning of treatment in my office, patients will be shown and encouraged to practice exercises and stretches at home. I believe that patients can do a lot to further their progress at home if given the right instruction and guidance. But I make it very clear, “If you can do these exercises and stretches at home, you will get better faster!”

Here is obviously where a huge variation in recovery times comes in to play. Some patients are very good at following my home care instructions, they understand the importance of active home care and they participate diligently. It’s no wonder that they respond faster and require fewer office visits. However, other patients do not follow home care advice quite as consistently and they tend to take longer to progress. It’s really not rocket science but it is up to you.

As time goes on and the patient feels better and better, I strive to spread out the frequency of office visits as much a possible. One of the goals of treatment is to get a patient to the point where they are returning for maintenance care or ‘tune-ups’ only rarely. Some of my patients have achieved a state of health where they feel they benefit from Chiropractic once a month, others only a couple times a year!

I hope this sheds some light to the question, ” How long will it take until I get better?”. If you still have questions, please leave a comment here or visit my website; COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!!

Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “Finger Length Linked to Prostate Cancer Risk – Study”

This was a very interesting study that came from the UK just a few days ago. Researchers from Britain’s Warwick University and the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) found that males who’s middle fingers were longer than their ring fingers were one-third less likely to develop prostate cancer than those men who’s ring fingers were longer.

“Relative finger length could be used as a simple test for prostate cancer risk, particularly in men aged under 60,” said Ros Eeles from the ICR, who helped lead the study. This is important because men are advised to get regular prostate exams after the age of 50, some even suggesting as early as 40! But a very common test to detect possible signs of cancer is called the PSA test or Prostate Specific Antigen test. Unfortunately, this test is not very good at differentiating those men who would develop aggressive cancer from those who may not need treatment at all.

With this in mind, doctors and researchers have been searching for better screening methods to determine which men would be more likely to develop prostate cancer later in life. With this study it seems a clue is in the hands. Researchers hope that finger length may provide a ‘clue’, especially for younger men, as to their risk of developing prostate cancer as they age.

So what’s the connection? you may ask. Well, it appears it all starts in the womb. As embryos our development is influenced by the introduction and levels of differing hormones. Testosterone being the main one in question here. Scientists believe that too much Testosterone during development actually affects finger length. Often correlated with a longer ring finger. Conversely, less Testosterone during development in the womb resulted in a longer middle finger.

Scientist now believe that less Testosterone (longer middle finger) during development significantly decreases the chance that a man will develop prostate cancer later in life.

I think this study is very interesting but needs further support and confirmation. But it does go to show how significant a concern cancer is in life. If there is even a possibility of a better screening test for cancer, especially one that is free and obvious, it is worthwhile investigating further!

If you’re in the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver, stop by or visit the website here;COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC

Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “Primary Care Physicians Least Confident in a Group of Health Care Providers”

This information came from a national survey involving a variety of health care providers who commonly see patients for chronic pain. The group of health care providers included; primary care physicians (medical doctors), pain specialists, chiropractors and acupuncturists. The goal of this survey was to see how different disciplines perceived chronic pain and how they went about treating it. (As an aside, chronic pain is a serious health problem costing the health care system and the overall economy millions of dollars in expenses and loss in productivity)

According to the survey, medical doctors see about 52% of the patients suffering from chronic pain. Chiropractors follow next at 40%, acupuncturists at 7% and pain specialists at 2%. The survey found that pain specialists commonly treat these patients with long-acting Opioids. The kinds of drugs they prescribe include; methadone, anti-depressants and anti-convulsants. Pain specialists were 50-100% more likely to prescribe medication and drugs to their patients compared to medical doctors.

But here’s what’s alarming and slightly disheartening. 29% of medical doctors and 16% of pain specialists reported prescribing opioids LESS than they thought was appropriate because of regulatory oversight concerns. Meaning, these doctors wanted to prescribe opioids for their patients more often than they actually did but were concerned about regulations. So these doctors felt that the best course of care for their patients suffering from chronic pain was more drugs!

To top it off, the survey also revealed this startling result. Medical doctors, out of this group of health care providers, were least likely to feel confident in their ability to manage musculoskeletal pain and neuropathic pain, and are least likely to favor mandatory pain education.

I don’t know about you but I find this very concerning! According to this survey, not only do medical doctors see the vast majority of chronic pain patients, but they probably feel the least confident in dealing with many of these patients! (Note: This was a survey so the doctors were free to answer any way they chose fit and this is how they responded)

There has got to be a better way! Luckily for many there is and it’s called Chiropractic. I will be the first to admit that Chiropractic may not work for 100% of patients, realistically nothing does. It may not even be appropriate for some patients. However, for the the vast majority, Chiropractic is a very real and often the best option for chronic pain sufferers.

Chiropractic by it’s very nature is; non-invasive, conservative and a drug free therapy. Not only that, but years of successes and studies proves it works!

Here’s more information about the study; Pain management by primary care physicians, pain physicians, chiropractors, and acupuncturists: a national survey. Breuer B., Cruciani C., Southern Medical Journal, 2010 August: 103 (8), 738-47

So if you’re in the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver, stop by the office or visit the website at;COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN

Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “New Guidelines for Cancer Patients Urge Exercise!”

I came across this article and it really hit home for me the importance of exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle. In addition, according to this article, we could be seeing a significant shift in how doctors are advising patients to deal with their cancer diagnosis.

Traditionally, doctors have advised their patients undergoing cancer therapy to rest and ‘save their energy’. However, the evidence is quickly piling up that in fact the thing they should be doing is staying active and exercising! More and more research is coming to light that show exercise is far more beneficial to a cancer patient than rest. So much so, the American College of Sports Medicine is recommending a new guideline; “Cancer patients and survivors should strive to get the same amount of exercise recommended for everyone else, about 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. Resistance training and stretching also are recommended.”

Doctors do understand that it may not always be possible for a cancer patient undergoing therapy to keep up with non-cancer patients, but the idea is to maintain a certain level of activity throughout treatment. Important to note also is that different patients may have to customize their exercise plan according to their cancer and therapy. For instance, some forms of cancer therapy can make a patient’s bones brittle, so no impact or low impact exercise is best for them. In other cases, therapy can weaken a person’s immune system so these patient’s should probably avoid the busy environment of a gym.

“Evidence is promising that exercise may make cancer treatment more effective,” said Kathryn Schmitz, an associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and a researcher at the university’s Abramson Cancer Center.

For example, breast cancer patients doing resistance training were better able to take a full dose of chemotherapy, rather than having to cut the treatment short due to the detrimental effects of chemo on the body.

Other benefits of exercise included;

Reduced Fatigue: I know this sounds counter intuitive but it’s not. Aerobic activity has been shown to lessen the need for drugs to help increase production of red blood cells due to chemo damage. ( Note: the loss of red blood cells that carries oxygen to your tissues is a big reason why cancer patients feel tired in the first place)

Reduce Loss of Muscle and Bone Mass: A lot of cancer therapy can contribute to the loss of muscle and bone mass. Both undesirable if a patients want to feel strong and lively. In addition, both muscles and bones can act as storage for important minerals and nutrients the body can use.

Improve Quality of Life: This benefit is important not to overlook. Many cancer patients report feeling helpless and overwhelmed with their diagnosis. Exercise can help patients cope better. Being active and working out can help these patients feel better emotionally, an important component of a better treatment outcome.

I realize that many patients may not have the energy to exercise while undergoing cancer therapy but it doesn’t have to be a lot. You can always start small and gradually work your way up. Exercise and activity should be an important part of anyone’s life regardless if they are battling a serious illness or not.

If you’re in the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver, why don’t you stop on by, or find out more here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN!!!

Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You About Back Pain”

Many people will visit their family doctors when seeking relief for back pain. Of these people, many will be told that they are suffering from “muscle spasms” and told that it should get better with time. To relieve their current condition, many a times doctors will write their patients a prescription for one or all of; pain killers, anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxers.

If the doctor is thorough, they will advise their patients that many of these drugs may have side-effects and to discontinue use if they suffer any unwanted symptoms. But many times, patients are not told these things.

The majority of the patients I see in my clinic do not only want symptomatic relief, but they would like to know ‘how’ they got into trouble in the first place. Here’s where I’d like to shed some light.

Now I will be the first to say that many a times, injury to muscles is a major component to back pain. But as you may have guessed, it’s not the only thing that’s going on. Here’s a Chiropractor’s point of view.

Just imagine for a second and visualize your muscles under your skin. If you think about it carefully, your muscles aren’t just ‘floating’ in space are they? No they’re not. They actually serve the very important function of providing movement for your body. Just as the picture above depicts a woman doing a bicep curl, the muscles are what allows her to bring the weight closer to her. As she contracts her biceps muscles, the weight is brought closer to her as her elbow bends. As she relaxes the same muscle, she can move the weight away from her and straighten her arm. This is a very simple description of your muscles at work.

Now just for a moment, think of the muscles in your back. As they contract and relax, you can move your body, twist your body, bend forward, arch backwards and so on. But they do this because the muscles are attached to and move the bones in your spine. Now if you suffered an injury and your muscles went into spasm, unable to relax, how would that affect your spine?

Well, you would probably feel; pain, soreness, stiff, unable to move and difficulties performing even the simplest of tasks. A general loss of normal function is a very common complaint for back pain sufferers.
This is why Chiropractic works so well. If you can get your joints to move better, taking pressure off these sensitive tissue, you will feel better. But it gets better, not only do you ‘feel’ better, you are doing something beneficial for your body; restoring motion. Chiropractic can do this in a natural manner without the use of pharmaceutical drugs that can have some very serious side effects. Chiropractors are highly trained to identify and safely restore function for people who suffering. But in my clinic, I don’t just stop there. Once I can get my patients to feel relief from discomfort and pain, I will go on to educate them. I will encourage my patients to be active, exercise and to practice the appropriate stretches to help their body work at it’s best.

If you think about it carefully, your body does not become painful because it’s lacking Tylenol 3 or Robaxacet. You are just ‘masking’ the symptoms and tricking your body it into not noticing the pain. However, your doctor won’t tell you this. If you want to get to the “CAUSE” of your back, neck or joint pain, a Chiropractor is likely your best option.

Come visit me if you’re in the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver or visit my website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN