Bozeman, Montana, Treat Your Back Pains With "Pro" Chiropractic Care

If you are suffering from back pain, chiropractic care is a great way to deal with certain levels of pain and to treat it quickly and effectively. For injuries stemming from a sports related accident, an auto accident, or just sleeping on your back the wrong way, a great chiropractor is going to know the best methods to treat the pain, and will work with you, to find and deliver the best course of treatment.

Types of care - 
When visiting a chiropractor's office, you have to choose a facility that has the tools and training to tackle it all. From family care for young to old, sports related injury care, whiplash and auto accident injury care, or treating a patient who simply has back problems for unknown reasons. Offering adjustments, pain relieving therapies, functional taping, and active rehabilitation, the best chiropractors can do it all.

With the best facilities, and the latest equipment and technologies, the Top Rated Bozeman Chiropractors at Pro Chiropractic can treat your injury or pain. You have to visit a qualified office, and the most experienced service providers, to know the treatment you are getting, is going to address and resolve your pain.  

This is not the time to visit a "stroll-in" chiropractic joint, that seduces you with a cut rate promotional fee.....$29, $17,....free.  Seriously??  

You and your spine deserve a compassionate chiropractor, who will listen to your concerns in a calm and un-rushed environment.  Chiropractors who charge a reasonable fee, reflecting the quality of their care and the extent of their advanced training.  This is the chiropractor that you should expect to encounter at Pro Chiropractic.

The facilities that you visit - 
When you go in for chiropractic care, you have to choose the right facilities. You can choose a friendly chiropractor, but if they don't have the equipment to properly diagnose you, or the right training or technologies to deal with your pain, they won't be able to properly treat your condition.

You want to visit an established Bozeman Chiropractic Clinic, one that employs the latest technologies, and has the best equipment on site. Can you believe that some Gallatin Valley chiropractic clinics don't even have the ability to x-ray your spine at their clinic?  This can mean an expensive and time consuming trip to the hospital.  The Bozeman and Belgrade Pro Chiropractic Clinics offer the latest diagnostic tools including digital x-ray, MSK Ultrasound, iPad posture analysis, dynamic gait scan, and MORE, in-house to reduce cost and better serve you.

Whether it is for traditional back pain treatment, or soft tissue therapy, you have to visit the offices that are well equipped to deal with all patients, and any kind of care or treatment that you might require to treat your pain.

The doctors - 
Of course you want to be treated by licensed, and well trained chiropractors, when you choose to go in for chiropractic care. Therefore, as a patient, you have to do your research.   Did you know that there are nearly a dozen recognized chiropractic specialty's including orthopedics, sports medicine, pediatrics, and neurology?  Every one of the chiropractors at Pro Chiropractic have dedicated themselves to improving their education and skills, and possess or are working toward advanced chiropractic certification.  For example, Bozeman native, Dr. Jonathan Wilhelm, is a certified chiropractic sports physician (CCSP), and serves on the board for the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians.  

When you visit a chiropractic office that demands excellence in their doctor's training, you will not only receive the best form of treatment, you will also have exceptional chiropractors tend to your pain. So, regardless of the type of care you need, or what pain you are dealing with, you can have that pain treated through the services of a first-rate chiropractor. Whether it is a sports injury, a work injury, or a whiplash injury from a car accident you were in, Pro Chiropractic can treat it all, and they are going to provide you with compassionate care choices, from outstanding chiropractors, in a modern facility.

We invite you to experience the Pro Chiropractic difference, and end your back pains at these locations today!

Pro Chiropractic Bozeman

 2405 W Main St, Ste 8
Bozeman, MT 59718
(406) 551-4057

Pro Chiropractic Belgrade
 8757 Jackrabbit Lane Suite A
Belgrade, MT 59714
(406) 388-9915

Pro Chiropractic Manhattan
122 East Main Unit 102
Manhattan, MT 59741
(406) 284 - 4018

Autoimmune Disease And Chiropractic

Did you know that autoimmune disease is the THIRD largest category of disease in the United States behind heart disease and cancer?  There are more than 80 autoimmune diseases and they affect over 50 million Americans.  But what is an autoimmune disease?

Imagine that your immune system is an army whose sole purpose is to protect your body from intruders, such as viruses, bacteria and other outside toxins.  What if that army all of the sudden turned it's guns on you and started attacking your tissues?  That is autoimmunity.  Your body's natural ability to fight external threats starts to attack the body's tissues.  This process can cause symptoms such as fatigue, fever, malaise (feeling unwell), joint pain and rash, among others.  These symptoms usually wax and wane causing exacerbations of symptoms then going into remission.  Autoimmune diseases affect blood vessels, connective tissue, endocrine glands, joints, muscles, red blood cells and skin.  They can also start attacking your organs, such as the liver, intestines or kidneys. 

The exact cause of autoimmunity is unknown, but it is believed to be a combination of heredity and environment.  If a family member has an autoimmune disease, you are 2 to 5 times more likely of developing one.  Environmental triggers include certain medications, hormones (such as pregnancy and stress hormones) and chemical irritants.  Women are 75% more likely to be affected by autoimmune disorders, especially African-American, Hispanic-American and Native American women.  

Examples of autoimmune disorders include: rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's disease, multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes mellitus, psoriasis and irritable bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and crohn's disease), among many, many others.  Autoimmune disease is one of the top 10 causes of death of females over 65, the second highest cause of chronic illness and the top cause of morbidity in females in the United States.  These diseases are treated by medical doctors using immunosuppressant drugs and corticosteriods, which both have pretty severe side effects when used for extended periods of time.  

What does this have to do with chiropractic, you ask?  Chiropractic can be a fantastic supportive treatment for those who suffer from autoimmune disorders.  The treatment goals for most autoimmune diseases include reduction of symptoms, control the autoimmune response and to maintain the body's ability to fight disease.  Immunity is controlled by the brain stem which is protected and encased by the upper cervical spine.  Chiropractic adjustments relieve the pressure on the nervous system caused by misalignments in the spine.  Every cell, organ and tissue in your body is controlled by the nervous system, so relieving the pressure on the nervous system promotes better health and function of those cells, organs and tissues.  In short, chiropractic adjustments allow your body to function at it's fullest potential.  Chiropractic patients with autoimmune diseases often relate improvement in symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain and muscle aches.  With dietary alterations and consistent chiropractic adjustments, patients have noticed a marked decrease in inflammation caused by autoimmunity.

If you, or someone you know, are in the Belgrade or Bozeman, Montana area and looking for a chiropractor to help with symptoms caused by an autoimmune disease, please call Dr. Shea Stark with ProChiropractic at 406-388-9915 to schedule an appointment.  Dr. Stark is a board certified chiropractor and the author of this blog post.  To learn more about Dr. Stark and the many benefits of chiropractic care, please visit our website: www.prochiromt.com

Know the Facts About EPIDURALS

When talking with other moms, it is becoming very common to hear about epidurals being used during the birth process.  Mothers are being convinced that pain during labor is unnatural and that they should turn to drugs to help them during labor and delivery, instead of LISTENING to their bodies' own natural capabilities.  During a recent poll, 64% of nurse midwives and 53% of certified nurse-midwives reported concern over the increased use of epidurals. Unfortunately, mothers are led to believe that a "natural" birth is one where she delivers the baby vaginally and remains conscious during the entire process. That is not the case! A natural birth is one where no drugs are used, only the mother's inborn intuition to listen to her body!

Know the facts about epidurals before you go into labor and outline your thoughts about drugs in your birth plan. Parents are not being told of the consequences of epidurals such as their ability to quickly cross the placenta and potentially cause toxicity in both the mother and baby.  Side effects of such toxicity include: low blood pressure, incontinence, headache, paralysis of lower limb, numbness in extremities, SLOWING OF LABOR, allergic reactions and many more. 

Birth in itself is a traumatic process for the baby but chiropractic care can help minimize structural obstacles and allow the baby to get into the best possible position for birth. By restoring proper alignment to the mother's pelvis, the baby can more easily pass through the birth canal. Mothers that utilize chiropractic care throughout pregnancy experience SHORTER labor times and DECREASED pain during labor in 84% of moms. These moms also show a decreased incidence for the use of external forces to "help" the baby.

Other important facts to consider about the use of epidurals:

•  They cause longer labors with slower progress
•  They may cause fevers in the mother during childbirth
•  They increase the use of Pitocin by about 3.5 times, causing slow and irregular contractions
•  They increase the use of antibiotics in your baby fourfold
•  They increase the use of forceps by about 4.5 - 20 times
•  They cause neonatal jaundice due to its alteration of red blood cells
•  They increase the incidence of birth trauma due to the increased use of mechanical assistance
•  They cause adverse behavioral effects on the baby

A recent study comparing 100 babies delivered either vaginally or by c-section with NO DRUGS to 100 babies delivered using epidurals and/or Pitocin. Immediately after birth, all babies were placed on their mothers' bare abdomen. Within 30 minutes, ALL babies that were delivered without the use of drugs moved up towards their mother's breast, latched on and began breastfeeding ON THEIR OWN. After the same 30 minutes, ALL babies that were born with the use of epidurals and/or Pitocin, were still resting on their mothers abdomens.

If you wouldn't inject your baby with these drugs after birth, then doesn't it make sense to not inject your baby during the birthing process when you are still sharing a blood supply?? 

Establishing a Birth Plan

Congratulations! You are now embarking on the wonderful journey of pregnancy! Throughout the process, you will be asked often what your birth plans are: When? Where? How? BE PREPARED!!! Establishing a written birth plan ahead of time will greatly simplify the birth process and will ensure that everyone will be on the same page in your ideal birth situation. The purpose of the birth plan is to provide additional clarity to your caregivers and birth supporters so that your wishes can be followed though. Below is a sample Birth Plan to guide you along the way:

1. Who are the caregivers?
2. What do you expect from your caregivers?
3. Place/Location of birth?
4. What position do you want to give birth in (squatting, lying down, birthing chair)?
5. Which tests do you want performed (ultrasound, fetal monitoring, amiocentesis)?
6. Which surgical procedures do you/or don't you want (induction, episiotomy, c-section, scraping of membranes)?
7. Which drugs, if any?
8. Which drugs do you want/or not want administered to your baby (Hep-B vaccine, antibiotic cream)?
9. If additional blood is needed, do you want it from a blood bank or do you have a donor?
10. What testing/procedures do you want or refuse for your baby (PKU, platelet count, Vit K shot, circumcision)?
11. Who will be with you at your birth?
12. Who will be with your other children, or will they be with you at the birth?
13. Do you want video-taping or pictures?
14. Specify any wishes if complications arise:
15. Do you want the baby lain on your chest immediately?
16. Do you want to wait for the cord to stop pulsating before it is cut?
17. Will you breastfeed? Do you need support?
18. Names of people you want contacted after the birth (names and phone #s)
19. Addtional comments:

Make this plan available to your birth provider and supporters prior to the birth so that confusion can be minimized and your wishes can be honored. Listen to your body and have the type of birth you want!!

VBAC: What is it? Is it available in Bozeman, Montana?

The idea of having a Vaginal Birth After a previous Cesarean (VBAC) is one that seems to be controversial among many health care providers. Some midwives will allow their clients to opt out of getting a second c-section if certain precautions are taken, whereas many medical doctors and OB/GYNs prefer for their patient to have a second cesarean.

If you have had a previous c-section and are interested in the possibility of having a VBAC, ASK QUESTIONS! Learn the facts before letting your medical provider dissuade you from having the birth you want (as long as precautions are taken, and your are at low risk).

 Here are some common guidelines to keep in mind when considering VBACs.

1. Parents have discussed all of the pros and cons regarding having a VBAC with their doctor
2. The current pregnancy does not show any indications for necessitating a cesarean
3. In the previous cesarean, a low transverse incision was used
4. The mother is admitted to the hospital EARLY during labor and is carefully monitored throughout labor and delivery
5. Facilities are set up for an immediate c-section if needed 

Other issues to keep in mind:

a. Some doctors will not allow a VBAC is the previous cesarean was due to a small pelvic cavity
b. Some doctors won't use drugs to stimulate labor is a previous c-section was performed
c. Some doctors will not use a regional anesthesia during a VBAC since it may mask symptoms of rupture issues
d. Some doctors recommend using low forceps to decrease labor time

If a cesarean is inevitable, Cesarean Support Groups recommend the following:

* Allow the mother to refuse preoperative medications
* Allow the mother to receive regional anesthesia so that she can watch the baby being born
* Use an epidural, if an anesthesiologist is present
* Perform the operation with a low transverse incision, when possible
* Let the father be with the mother in the delivery room
* Let the mother have her arms free
* Let the mother view the birth without a screen, or with a mirror
* Encourage the doctor to encourage the parents and reassure them during the surgery
* Allow the mother, and or father, hold the baby immediately after birth
* Let the parents watch during the initial pediatric exam
* Allow for an initial bonding period before rushing to weigh, measure and administer eye drops
* Let the new family be together in the recovery room for the first hour after birth
* Let the mother nurse the baby as soon as the operation is complete

Some helpful websites:

Internation Cesarean Awareness Network

WebMD

Pro Chiropractic, Inc. Receives 2011 Best of Belgrade Award

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pro Chiropractic, Inc. Receives 2011 Best of Belgrade Award

U.S. Commerce Association's Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

NEW YORK, NY, November 9, 2011 -- Pro Chiropractic, Inc. has been selected for the 2011 Best of Belgrade Award in the Chiropractors category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2011 USCA Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)

U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a New York City based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association

More information on ProChiropractic can be found at www.ProChiroMT.com

We Can Help Your Tennis Elbow!

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis or epicondylosis,  is a painful condition that occurs when tendons in your elbow are overworked, usually by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm. Tennis elbow can result from poor technique in executing a tennis backhand. However, many occupations also feature repetitive wrist and arm motions that can cause tennis elbow.

The pain of tennis elbow occurs primarily where the tendons of your forearm muscles attach to the bony prominence on the outside of your elbow. Pain can also spread into your forearm and wrist

With a combination of Kinesiotaping, Graston soft tissue therapy, and specific elbow and wrist adjustments, Belgrade Chiropractor Dr Wilhelm uses his advanced sports medicine training to quickly resolve this painful condition for you! If you or someone you love in the Bozeman, MT area is affected by tennis elbow, schedule an appointment with us today!

Graston                                                                                    Kinesiotaping

To learn more about these treatments visit www.prochiromt.com