Archive for the ‘children’ category

Growing Pains

April 23, 2010

[originally published in KCN, Febuary 2002]

If the mere mention of “Growing Pains” reminds you of the popular 80’s Alan Thicke and Kirk Cameron sitcom, then you probably weren’t one of the select 10-20% that were tagged with this misleading medical diagnosis when you were a child.  Misleading in that, from a physical sense, it doesn’t hurt to grow.  But then, why do children experience this reoccurring “vague leg pain”? — with pain so intense at times that it actually causes some to cry themselves to sleep.

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Torticollis

February 26, 2010

Spinal Column Radio Torticollis Podcast[originally published in KCN, March 2010]

Torticollis. While it might sound like a strange Italian dish, it’s not.  Imagine waking up one morning with your ear pressed to your shoulder as if cradling a telephone receiver.  The only problem is, there is no telephone to be found  — only an unrelenting, painful neck spasm with absolutely no ability to bring your head back to any semblance of socially accepted posture.  Most would agree, it’s a pretty disturbing situation to find yourself in.  Thankfully, in most cases, the “fix” for torticollis can be as simple as a visit to your local chiropractor. (more…)

Seed or Soil?

November 20, 2009

[originally published in KCN, December 2000]

Seed or SoilWith the Holiday Season upon us comes its not so welcomed compadre: the “Cold and Flu Season.”  And with news reporters telling us that our nation’s drug companies are running a little low on the Traditional Flu Shots that we have come to expect, many are being forced to abandon these “shots” of artificial “immunity” for, perhaps, as some new studies are suggesting, something that will ultimately benefit them more in the long run:  bolstering their body’s immunity, naturally.

Louis Pasteur reminds us that “the microbe is nothing” and that “the soil is everything.”  In other words, if germs (microbes) were seeds, in order for them to grow and “germinate” into viable disease states, they would need fertile soil in which to do so.  The question we need to pose to ourselves is “What is the condition of our ‘soil’?”  Are you a “Disease Gardener’s Paradise”, or are you actively doing things to make your “soil” an inhospitable residence for “seeds?”

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Mary Poppins and Elbow Pain

September 25, 2009

mary-poppins[originally published in KCN, November 2009]

Imagine, if you will, a Hollywoodesque, classic scene of a bygone era when a tantruming, unruly, obstinate toddler is grabbed by the wrist from his stern, fast-walking, nursemaid — who exemplifies the antithesis of Mary Poppins — and is briskly pulled along across the courtyard and up the steps of the manor.  What you probably wouldn’t imagine though is what might happen next:  the child shrieks out in pain and the arm that had been pulled by the nursemaid now hangs motionless.  Too hard to imagine?  Well, it must have happened often enough, because doctors ended up giving it a name: “nursemaid’s elbow.” (more…)

Consternation over Constipation

August 28, 2009

Constipation Outhouse

[originally published in KCN, September 2009]

For many of us, going “number 2” is just something we fit into our day.  Not much thought is given to it.  Sure, most of us have experienced an occasional, short-term bout of constipation, perhaps due to a shift in diet, not drinking enough water, or emotional stress.  But unfortunately, the $800 million spent each year in this country for laxatives tells us that for some, constipation is hardly “an occasional bout” — it’s a way of life.

Consider the story of an 8-year-old boy who, since the day he was born, would only experience a bowel movement once every 7 to 10 days — sometimes almost 2 weeks would go by.  And when he would finally “go,” it was a 1 to 2 hour experience in the bathroom that almost always ended up with mom or dad fetching the plunger. (more…)

A Not So Silent Night

July 24, 2009

[originally published in KCN, January 2000]

colic-crying-baby-1The Christmas season has come and gone once again.  Memories have been made.  Good times have been shared.  And families have come together.  But alas, it’s time to pack away the decorations and lights.  Put away the Christmas CD’s, and eat that last Christmas cookie.  And as you hum the tunes of popular carols, and “Silent Night” comes to the forefront,  it might be surprising for you to realize that on average the parents of nearly 25% of our newborn population aren’t experiencing such a “silent night.”  Not during Christmas; not during anytime of the year for that matter.  Their babies are suffering from a frustrating condition of persistent crying many parents are well aware of — a condition known as colic. (more…)

Backpack Safety

June 19, 2009

[originally published in KCN, September 1999]

backpack-girlAs we approach the beginning of yet another school year, I’m reminded of a growing concern that is circulating throughout  our health care community.  The concern I’m speaking of is that we are simply putting too much weight on our children’s shoulders.  And while those in the various mental health professions would certainly support this statement, I’m looking at this problem more literally.  The “weight “ I’m referring to is physical, and it comes from the overstuffed backpacks that our children lug to and from school everyday.   Our children are becoming virtual pack mules, if you will,  placing undue stress on their developing spines and thus giving birth to a whole host of future, and sometimes immediate, spinal and muscle related problems, including the obvious — back pain. (more…)

Kids Need Chiropractic Too!

March 9, 2009

[originally published in KCN, July 1998]kids-need-chiropractic

As my daughter, Paige, enters into her eighth month of life,  it’s not uncommon for people to make a joking remark, here and there, that she has “wonderful posture” and “appears to be well adjusted” — of course that’s what you’d expect from a chiropractor’s child, right?   Then the same people will ask with a concerned look on their face, “You don’t really adjust her spine do you?”

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