[originally published in KCN, March 2007]
Did you know that whiplash injuries were relatively unheard of before the automobile was invented? Likewise, carpal tunnel syndrome wasn’t even a blip on the health care radar before computers hit the scene. And whoever thought that a “mouse” could cause so much trouble? The truth is, as we become more and more innovative and advanced in our technology, there seems to be an injury, or set of injuries, lurking in the shadows to complement it.
[originally published in KCN, June 2011]
On a flight home, chiropractor Kevin Donka settled into his seat. Behind him was a mother with her baby.
As the flight took off, the baby — as many will — began to cry. The mother did everything in her power to quiet the little one… but to no avail. The child simply would not calm down. And then something happened that every parent fears while flying — the child’s cry catapulted to a full-tilt shrill. Again, the mother tried and tried but the child could not be comforted.
At about minute ten of the full-blown wail, Dr. Donka began to think to himself, “Maybe I should offer to help. Maybe there is something I can do.”
[This is the second part of Dr. Lamar’s article on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Click here to read Part 1].
[originally published in KCN, April 2003]
Last month I brought to your “attention” a disorder which is currently termed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Its prevalence has literally skyrocketed over the past decade. It has affected nearly 4 million children and strangely only seems to occur, for the most part, within the borders of the United States. It’s a disorder whose diagnosis is often questionable — primarily because there is no way to objectively prove its existence, making it a subjective diagnosis — one of opinion. Observations of a child exhibiting hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and an inability to pay attention are enough to bring about the label of ADHD. But perhaps the most questionable aspect of ADHD is the treatment of choice by most doctors: Ritalin. It’s a drug that is classified as a Schedule II Drug of the Controlled Substances Act, and is remarkably similar to cocaine. The side effects are appalling, personalities are being lost, and children are becoming addicts — actually seeking it out in the streets. Meanwhile, the drug manufacturer’s wallet is getting fatter. What someone doesn’t want you to know is that there are other treatments available — other treatments that are effective and will spare your child.
[originally published in KCN, March 2003]
Imagine for a moment a medical disorder — a medical disorder primarily found in children. This medical disorder is unique, however. Because unlike most disorders that have lab work-ups, special imaging, fancy tests, or good old-fashioned doctor procedures to verify their diagnoses, this one has none. The only bit of evidence that exists to support it are the various observations and interviews that the doctor (hopefully) conducts with the involved parties. In essence, it’s a diagnosis that is totally opinion-based. Now imagine that the number one treatment for this diagnosis, primarily found in children, that lacks any “hard” clinical evidence for its existence, is a drug very similar to cocaine. Sound ridiculous? Well, it’s not. As a matter of fact, it’s happening every day.
[originally published in KCN, April 2002]
Onions and chiropractic? A new culinary delight? Perhaps. But the reality is that when most people finally show up in a chiropractor’s office their spine resembles an onion. The symptom (usually pain) that eventually drives them to our offices is all too often an overt warning flag of a problem that has persisted for quite some time. Like the layers of an onion, neglected spines are virtually layered with a history of stress and injuries — making the chiropractic experience akin to that of an archeological dig. What surprises a lot of people, is that the neck or back pain they’re experiencing as an adult, could have stemmed from the time they fell off the changing table as an infant, the fender bender Mom got into when they were a toddler, or the fall they took off their bike as a youth. Or perhaps, they never had a fighting chance — perhaps their “onion” can be peeled back to an event we all share in common: birth.
[originally published in KCN, December 2002]
With a prevalence second only to that of the common cold, ear infections — more correctly known as “otitis media” in doctor jargon — may just seem like a part of growing up. Doctors estimate that children will have at least one by the time they turn six. Unfortunately, for many the occurrences are quite a bit higher — some as many as 12 in any given year. Perhaps this is why one doctor referred to otitis media as “an occupational hazard of childhood.” Truly though, the “hazard” lies in the common course of the “hamster wheel” medical treatments the majority will face. Aside from “well check ups,” otitis media is the number one reason a child will visit a pediatrician.
SpinalColumnBlog 