History: Pain is not new, but the term fibromyalgia is. In 1975, Canadian Rheumatologists Moldofsky & Smythe discovered that sleep deprivation in healthy subjects produced fibromyalgia-like symptoms.

Sleep deficiencies resulted in:

• Oxygen deficit
• Growth hormone changes
• Deconditioning

Many people are misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia. In order to have Fibromyalgia you must exhibit: Widespread pain in 11 out of 18 specific points on the body. You must also have joint stiffness and insomnia, widespread muscle main, weakness, overwhelming fatigue, insomnia, short-term memory loss/confusion.

If You Have Three or More Of These Symptoms…You May Have Fibromyalgia

Do not be afraid of fibromyalgia. At first the severity of pain is very scary and frustrating. However, it is very important that calmness prevails because anxiety will only make the pain and your sleep patterns worse.

The triangle is – severe pain which causes sleep problems – which causes anxiety – which causes more muscle pain – which causes more sleep problems – which causes more anxiety and around and around it goes. Anything that aggravates your sleep will also make the muscle shortening worse.

Deep “REM” sleep vs. light sleep = healing, correction, growth

There are many names for this condition given all around the world. There is a tremendous controversy over its existence, and even more over it’s criteria for diagnosis. It can affect any person on the planet and is associated with many “Injury Factors.” The complete condition is more common in women, but it is also common in men, and even in children and young people.

• Increased Age
• Repetitive Work
• Types and Severity of Accidents
• Joint deformity
• Hormonal Effects (Growth Hormone, rapid cycling of periods, low estrogens and progestins, low testosterone)
• The Presence of Stress or Worry
• Inherent Anxiety Level
• Types of Work and Workload
• The Absence of Stretching
• Muscle Bulk and Strength
• Muscle Length
• Nerve Function
• Inherent Flexibility of Muscle
• Types of Hobbies and Past-times
• Drug Effects upon Muscles
• Types of Work and Workload
• The Absence of Stretching
• Muscle Bulk and Strength
• Muscle Length
• Nerve Function
• Inherent Flexibility of Muscle
• Types of Hobbies and Past-times
• Drug Effects upon Muscles

People with fibromyalgia are suffering from muscle and tendon shortening, caused in part by multiple nerve compressions throughout the spine and limbs. Pain can be directly from the muscles crushing a joint, or from pain referring into the joint from the spine. Typically both exist at the same time.

Headaches can exist from referred pain from the neck but also from local muscle problems around the head. The spine in the neck, mid-back and low back figure prominently in the source of pain.Deep spinal muscles cause deep nerve compressions and traction that cause further muscle problems in the spine, limbs and head.

Pain is nature’s (your body’s) way of saying: “There is something wrong here that I can not fix by myself!”

The cause of most, if not all, fibromyalgia pain is a combination of nerve and muscle dysfunction.

The deep spinal muscles cause minor or even major nerve entrapment syndromes. Those nerve injuries will cause pain that refers into our limbs, head and body. One of the most important principles that must be understood is that, once adulthood is reached, adult skeletal muscles shorten with exercise, injury or any movement of the muscle. This is probably related, in part, to a decrease in growth hormone levels as we move into adulthood.

It appears that growth hormone has an affect upon the degree in which muscles sustain exercise and injury.  Another important principle is that muscles that are injured during work shorten from those injuries during rest, such as during sleep, sitting or standing. This will cause joint compression of the spine and limbs and causes joint stiffness, joint pain and eventually osteoarthritis of the joint.

Much of this shortening is gradual, over months or years, but it does happen.

The more your spine is like a child’s, the better. This is why a child can run all day and not tire out or ache and then wake the next day and run all day yet again. This is also why most adults over thirty have difficulty running a block or two without hobbling to their car.

Muscles that remain persistently spastic or short will eventually scar into a tight spastic position causing abnormal joint movement and compression. This will lead to disc compression and herniation, arthritis and misalignments of the spine. It will also cause joint compression in the limbs and abnormal tracking, which will cause abnormal wear points and osteoarthritis.  The spine is lined with five layers of muscles. The three top layers are designed to be the heavy work muscles for the spine and the two deepest layers are designed to be the structural integrity for the spine. These deep muscles, primarily the multifidus and the rotator brevis and longus muscles are probably the most important muscles of the body.  These muscles allow our spines to move without falling apart. They are very strong, but also very small. They are not designed for heavy work but unfortunately will be exposed to work and injury over time. These muscles become very tight and scarred and can literally crush segments of your spine.

Neuropathy is a term to describe nerve disease or injury. This includes diseases such as multiple sclerosis, but also includes myofascial compression/traction neuropathy, or “pinched nerves.” The most common neuropathy, or nerve “disease” is a pinched nerve. The deep spinal muscles cause directly, or indirectly, most of the pinched nerves we experience in our lives.

From a biophysical point of view, the base of the neck and low back are the weak links of the spine. The base of the neck and low back are most susceptible to muscle injury and scarring. The areas of note are between the fifth cervical, or neck vertebrae and the seventh cervical vertebrae. In the low back, the weak areas are between the fourth lumbar vertebrae and the first sacral vertebrae.

Pain could be considered a very important adaptation. Many people would probably argue this point, but, nevertheless, pain can save your life, and in a world of natural selection, this is good. Learning to live with it is not a good answer! Covering it up with painkillers is not a good answer. Ignoring it until it gets worse is not a good answer.

There is no one definite solution for fibromyalgia for all people. Most people with fibromyalgia respond gradually to a combination of chiropractic, physiotherapy, exercise and nutritional supplementation. Some people can not be totally cured, but may be helped by a combination of therapy and analgesics.

Remember that physicians and therapists are not Gods but are simply people trying to make a difference in a person’s life that is truly suffering.

Learn as much as you can about stretching, physiotherapy and chiropractic. Doctors of chiropractic use a procedure called an adjustment. Chiropractic adjustments remove the interference from compressed nerves so that the muscles controlled by those nerves can relax and lengthen. Physiotherapy can also be a helpful way to combat fibromyalgia, especially when combined with chiropractic adjustments and exercise. Within the area of physiotherapy there are numerous tools such as ultrasound that can reduce muscle scarring. Manipulation, stretching and traction can be helpful but are often a little too painful in the early stages of therapy.

Moist and dry heat can both be very helpful. A comprehensive stretching program will prove to be the single determining factor for prevention. Career, lifestyle, depression and age are also important. Exercise Increases Muscle Mass, Mobility, Circulation, and “Good” Hormones. Water requirement:  6-8 glasses/day, Natural Sleep Aids like Valerian Root and Melatonin

Proper eating is NOT enough: today’s Sulfate, Chondroitin, and Cat’s Claw and Sharks Cartilage are aimed at cartilage supplementation and food contains 70-80 percent less nutrition than it did 30 years ago. You need supplementation! All Natural High Potency Vitamin & Mineral supplement: Antioxidant Vitamins A,C, D,E, & K, Pycnoginols, Pine bark, Grape seed extracts, Co-Q10, Glucosamine reducing inflammation. Other supplements include Melatonin, a central brain hormone that can dramatically help sleep and pain in some. It also stimulates growth hormone secretion but is not completely proven to be safe. L-Arginine is one of many amino acids that stimulates growth hormone naturally and may become a major player for pain and rehabilitation.

Avoid prolonged postures at work and home. Manage stress through meditation and, if needed, counseling. Massage Therapy can be very effective as an adjunct to fibromyalgia treatment. Patients who suffer mild symptoms may benefit even more from massage therapy. Timing: The longer the problem has existed, the more difficult it is to correct. Learn more about the condition. Seek support groups. Find knowledgeable doctors and therapists willing to use a team approach. Learn to manage stress. Develop a positive attitude. Develop a wellness lifestyle

“Maybe it will go away!” We know that does not happen!

Don’t wait for your pain to go away on its own, because chances are it won’t!

We all know it’s that time of year again when all of the hawks go looking for the best deals in town for Black Friday. While everyone may be looking to save big, we’d wager nobody intends to get injured in the process, but collateral damage tends to happen when big clusters of people get together vying after the same items.

Read on for some Black Friday shopping tips that will help you avoid injury.

1.) Shop From Home!

In this day and age, it’s easier than ever to get all your shopping done from home. As long as you know the sizes when it comes to clothes and shoes, you should be good to go. Just about every retailer has an online presence and will let you buy product from their website. That way you can stay away from the crowds and avoid the traffic and the bruising.

2.) Bring a Friend

It’s a bad idea to lift heavy objects on your own. Retail items aren’t always the easiest to haul out of the store, either. Bringing a friend will help you avoid getting a back or neck injury from lifting bulky objects alone.

3.) Schedule an Appointment with Your Chiropractor

Many folks think that seeing a chiropractor is the measure only after experiencing an injury, but chiropractic care can actually help you avoid injury. With a chiropractic adjustment, your body will be more pliable, more limber, more relaxed, and functioning at an optimum capacity. You’ll be ready to hit the pavement and you’ll be less likely to get a tweak in your neck or back.

If you experience back pain that persists, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today. We have a long track record of getting our patients back to active. Happy holidays from ours to yours!

Barton Chiropractic Clinic specializes in chiropractic care services in Homewood, IL. A large part of what we do is provide preventive medicine in the form of education and health tips that will help you avoid costly health hardships down the road. A part of staying healthy is staying hydrated. So many of our patients aren’t getting the requisite amount of water — about 75% of the population, actually.

Read on for a few reasons to stay on top of your hydration.

1.) Dehydration Leads to Joint Pain

Drinking the correct amount of water each day — which is about 1/2 your body weight in ounces — will help your joints stay hydrated and pliable. Around 80% of the body’s cartilage composition is made of water, so your joints can become compromised by a lack of water.

2.) Not Getting Enough H2O is Bad for Your Back

Did you know that dehydration actually has a negative effect on the discs of the spinal column? Herniated discs can come as a result, which nobody wants to have to deal with.

3.) Dehydration = Low Energy

Dehydration happens to disrupt your heart’s ability to properly pump blood (which spreads oxygen to your body’s cells). A lack of hydration makes it hard on your body to maintain peak wellness.

Remember next time you’re thirsty to make it a water. If you still experience back or joint pain even in the face of getting the requisite amount of water each day, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to schedule your appointment. We have a long, successful track record of happy patients — we keep you in the game.

You’ve likely heard of a friend or family undergoing chiropractic care — but maybe you’ve been reluctant to try it out. Maybe you haven’t experienced any sort of discomfort or injury — which, consider yourself lucky if this is true for you. But, just the same, it’s important not to press your luck, which brings Barton Chiropractic Clinic into compelling reason number one (which might be the most compelling reason for many)

1.) To Avoid Future Injury

Chiropractic care is an option for those who experience injury, sure, but it’s also a viable drug-free option for routine maintenance that will help patients avoid future injury. Chiropractic adjustments can help realign your spine, which will give you added health benefits and help you get more in-touch with your body. Chiropractic care specialists will also give you tips and advice, give you information on things like how to lift properly, for instance. Chiropractic care truly is the gift that will keep on giving!

2.) Because Daily Routines Break Down the Body

It doesn’t matter what you do, whether you stand or sit at work, day by day, you’re putting your body through a significant amount of wear and tear. Just like you take your vehicle in for a tune-up every several thousand miles, you should give your body a tune up — once a quarter is a good place to start. Chiropractic treatments are a great way to check in with your body and recalibrate your spine. It’ll help you optimize your daily routine, as a matter of fact.

3. ) You Many of Us Aren’t Performing at Our Full Potential

Is that you feeling like you’re not firing on all cylinders, so to speak? Misalignments of the spine (also called subluxations) can and will disrupt your vital brain communication, affecting the way it sends messages to the rest of the body. Just one simple spine adjustment will help clear situations like these up immediately.

Don’t wait to explore the benefits of chiropractic care. Treat yourself to the Barton Chiropractic Clinic experience today.

It doesn’t matter who you are, back and neck problems can happen anytime, anywhere. It doesn’t matter what your vocation is, whether you are on your feet all day or sitting in front of a computer 40 hours a week. As a matter of fact, about 8 out of 10 Americans will have a back problem at some point in their lives.

As a way to fight back pain and keep you in the game for the long haul, Barton Chiropractic Clinic would like to go over a few ways to reinforce your back, neck, and spine from home.

Make Sure to Stretch

You don’t have to drop any serious coin on classes or anything, but you can watch a few yoga videos on YouTube and incorporate some of those moves into either a morning or an evening stretch routine. It’s actually a great idea to split up your stretching between the morning and the evening, both as a way to calibrate your body after a night of sleeping on a mattress, and reinforcing your body after a day’s grind.

Make Sure that You Belly Breathe

When you tuck in your belly button and take deep, cleansing breaths, you’re actually improving your posture, enabling your spine’s nerves to move through proper channels more freely. Simply by doing this act you’ll cut down on overall back pain with the addred benefit of increasing your sense of well-being. Namaste!

Find a Way to Do Perfect Push-Ups and Perfect Pull-Ups

We like exercise, but make sure you’re incorporating proper form, especially when you’re doing push-ups and pull-ups, which are both great for your upper body. They both help strengthen your back as well. Incorporate some exercises for your core to go the extra mile for your back, neck, and spine.

Engaging in a regular meditation practice, cutting down on your caffeine intake, and committing yourself a structured, consistent sleep routine will give your body what it needs to recharge for the next day.

For patients and prospective patients feeling anything less than 100%, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today. We’ll get you back to fully active in no time.

People looking to correct their posture have more than a few options for assistance in their quest for achieving good posture — which helps protect your neck and back as a result.

One of these devices is called a posture corrector (also called back brace), which generally makes an effort to retrain your musculature, which, in the end, has the intention of helping wearers maintain their upright, posture-perfect position without exerting much in the realm of effort.

Posture correctors are especially good for people who have to spend a significant amount of time in front of a computer, which can promote muscle loss and less-than-stellar posture. We often see patients who have shoulders that are slouched forward as a result, not to mention neck and back problems as well.

Back braces used for posture improvement have been shown to help in building muscles that help you sit and stand upright.

Sitting upright and having good posture makes you appear thinner and taller — and who wouldn’t like to add those benefits to their repertoire?

Not to mention, when you slouch, you’re not getting the proper amount of oxygen into your body. This can affect your energy levels, which might force you to gain weight or inhibit your performance at work and in your personal life.

If you experience neck or back pain that not even posture correction devices can help, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to schedule your consultation.

Neck pain (NP), lower back pain (LBP), as well as middle back pain (MBP) don’t discriminate when it comes to age. Actually, all three conditions are starting to become acknowledged as widely starting early on in life. Bad habits like poor posture, as well as everyday wear and tear, can contribute to flare-ups. During adolescence, back problems can develop, progress, and often reached aggravated levels as early as the age of 18.

That’s why taking care of your spine should be a lifetime pursuit that starts early. In many ways, we are all only as healthy as our spines.

Young People, Consider Chiropractic Care

Those who are less advanced in age start putting stresses on their body early on, especially when engaged in athletics. Remember that your bodies have not fully developed, yet you’re expecting them to perform at a world-class rate. Even walking the halls, carrying books in a backpack strapped over one shoulder can lead to back problems.

The solution: stay on top of your back and spine now by incorporating chiropractic care into your wellness routine. Chiropractic care is drug-free, pain-relieving, and even helps you to better stay focused.

Barton Chiropractic Clinic offers holistic, drug-free pain relief. We can help kids who are athletes, or kids who are dealing with back problems that they shouldn’t’ have to be. We’ll help you focus on the things that are important, like prom and whatnot, not some pesky back or neck problem.

Finding A Chiropractor Near You

Barton Chiropractic Clinic provides comprehensive Chiropractic Care services, operating out of Homewood, IL. We treat the entire family, from young to well-aged. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.

As our college-age and younger patients head back to school we like to remind them to take extra measures to take care of their back. We also remind our wide patient base that Barton Chiropractic Clinic specializes in treating patients of all ages — pretty much from infants and toddlers to our elder patients. We also treat children, adolescents, as well as young adults who need to keep their spine in line. Your back, neck, and spine take a lot of pressure as you lug your books from class to class.

Those chairs in the classroom likely aren’t doing you any favors, either. That’s why it’s important to schedule your visits with your chiropractic care specialist in Homewood, IL.

Chiropractic Care provides a holistic alternative for students looking to boost their wellness and their test scores. We can help in both treating and preventing:

• Muscle Stiffness
• Muscle Pain
• Stiff Neck
• Headaches
• Extracurricular Activity-Related Injury
• Nerve Disorders
• Lack of Focus
• Lack of Energy
• Back Pain / Back Stiffness
• Pain in the Abdomen
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis
• Arm, Leg, and Foot Pain
• Whiplash
• And More!

If that’s you carrying heavy packs of books and slouching in your chair 3-5 days a week — just know that there’s a better way. Symptoms associated with spine misalignment can have a serious effect on your productivity throughout the semester. An adjustment might just give you that extra edge you need during exams. Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to schedule your consultation.

Spinal stenosis is a disorder that you might not have heard about until affects you or someone you know. It’s a disorder brought on by the narrowing of the spinal canal —  which comes as a result of facet joint and intervertebral disc degeneration. During spinal stenosis, bone spurs (also known as osteophytes) start to develop, which grow into your spinal canal. Your facet joints enlarge and become arthritic, which leaves minimal space for nerve roots. 

Spinal Stenosis and Spinal Distortion Symptoms Include:

Painful legs or buttocks, which is believed to be due to the compression of microvascular structures. Microvascular structures carry blood to nerve roots.

Patients living with spinal stenosis might also experience discomfort in the lower back area — some might experience such severe discomfort that they won’t be able to walk.

Some patients living with this unfortunate degenerative disease of the spine might not experience any symptoms at all.

In the most severe cases numbness may occur, or tingling, or weakness to the lower extremities.

A certain amount of spinal distortion is going to occur virtually every individual. For most of us, it’s an unfortunate fact of life as we age. The severity of symptoms generally depends on the patient’s spinal canal size as well as nerve encroachment. Deterioration rate will be different from patient to patient.

If you believe you suffer from spinal stenosis or spinal distortion, chiropractic care might be the right choice for you. Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to schedule your consultation.