Dr. Ann E. Bailey

Hi and thanks for your question! It’s a common one. Unfortunately your back can be out of alignment and causing nerve impingement without any symptoms. There are 9 different functions nerves can do and only one is for pain. Nerves that are being affected by subtle misalignments can cause diminished blood flow to organs or other tissues which goes unnoticed for years. The best way to tell if you are out of alignment is to be tested by a chiropractor who practices Applied Kinesiology. They use muscle testing to assess nerve function and misalignment with the most accuracy. There are also computer programs which can detect misalignments that your chiropractor may use.

YES!

There are many reasons why you may have a pain now when you run. Your chiropractor will be able to check your gait and shoes, test the muscles that support the knee (popliteus is my favorite overlooked knee muscle), do some provocative tests to see if there is any problem with the ligaments, patella, or meniscus and then either treat you or refer you to an ortho if they feel you may be a surgical candidate.
Almost all problems should be treated conservatively (no cortisone or surgery) first for a few weeks even if problems do show up on MRI as the body can heal itself and you can perform at 100% even with no ligaments (believe it or not) if your muscles are in top form! The techniques you will want your chiropractor to be versed in are Applied Kinesiology, TBM, Quantum Neurology and NET. On your own, make sure you are drinking a quart of water for every 50 lbs you weigh and add a cup for every caffeinated or alcoholic beverage you consume. If you work out a lot, you may need even more than that. Also, knee problems often correlate with gallbladder stress and adrenal stress so if this persists, consider having those issues checked. Good luck!

Absolutely! While I recommend chiropractors who practice a technique called Applied Kinesiology for most problems, even an old school “rack and crack” Chiro could probably help you with this one. You can also help yourself by getting up every half an hour from your desk and drinking 4 ounces of water consistently! Set your phone alarm and really commit to it. Good luck!

Your mom needs to be evaluated by a neurologist. There are a myriad of diagnoses which could cause this, from low blood sugar to Parkinson’s to vitamin deficiencies, etc. you can google tremors and read about the specific types of shaking and see where she fits but it is best that she receive a complete neurological exam. Good luck

You most likely sustained some nerve damage and or inflammation around the nerve either due to the trauma or the surgery. If it is not coming from the elbow itself, it may be coming from a disturbance to the nerve higher up the chain like in the shoulder or neck. A chiropractor who does Quantum Neurology and Applied Kinesiology should be able to evaluate the source of the problem and treat it. The GRT light used in QN works beautifully on over or under active nerves. In the meantime, the homeopathic remedy Hypericum Perforatum is available at your local health food store and may help to calm down the nerve pain and inflammation. While you are there, pick up some Arnica Montana and use that for inflammation from the surgery and injury. It can even work months after the trauma. If none of those options work for you, find a practitioner who does Neuro Emotional Technique (NET), commonly a chiropractor but could also be someone in the psychology field who can treat the emotional source of the pain, which lot can last forever following an injury. Best of luck to you!

That very much depends on your particular situation. I would discuss it with your current chiropractor. Not that this is you, but it makes me sad when patients don't have enough money for out of pocket chiropractic care but they can afford manicures or professional haircuts, etc. Everyone has the choice of what to prioritize but spinal health affects everything from emotional well being to being able to move and work to earn more money. If you feel you benefit from care, try to find a way to put it in your budget. Your health is worth it.

The sound you are hearing during your chiropractic adjustment which you are calling a crack, is a release of gas inside the fluid filled joint space that happens when the joint is moved past its normal range of motion. It's like the cork coming up from the champagne bottle. Afterward, lubricating fluid refills into the joint space, lubricating the joint and providing some relief. There is also a 15 minute endorphin release which accompanies this popping sound, in chiropractic we call the sound a cavitation. Cavitation is not necessary to have corrected a subluxation or a mis-aligned bone causing a "stuck joint". The joint can be realigned with other techniques like the activator tool, or even a very light force touch when applied properly.

Hi there!
Some chiropractors do, some don't. Personally I choose not to x-ray everybody on intake because an x-ray will usually not change the treatment protocol, and I do everything I can to avoid radiation exposure for myself and patients. If there is a history of cancer, osteoporosis, or an injury which may have caused a fracture or some type of damage to the spine, or the patient is not responding to treatment as expected, then x-rays are indicated and I send patients off site to get them. I take a very detailed health history and do very gentle chiropractic adjustments, usually with an activator which has no history of injuring the spines of patients. Some chiropractors are more "rack and crack" docs who rush you in and out with a heavy handed adjustment and probably are wise to X-ray. Some do it to show the patient scoliosis or other problems in curvatures of the spine in order to show the patient why they need chiropractic care. The problem with using it to identify curvatures or educate their patient is that x-rays don't show everything. Also curvature can be changed dramatically depending on how a person stands during the x-ray. A disc herniation which is a very common problem seen in practice is not seen on x-ray, you must get an MRI for that. Also, osteophytes or arthritic changes may or may not affect the outcome of treatment. In my experience, function does not always follow structure, meaning that you can have a pretty "ugly" arthritic spine on x-ray and still have full range of motion and be pain-free, or you can have a very "clean" looking spine and be unable to move.. If X-rays did not subject the patient to radiation I would say it's ok to do them without cause if the patient wants to pay for them, but for me the risk of subjecting a patient to radiation outweighs the risk of missing a pre-existing condition. I hope that helps!

The short answer to your question is Yes, but there are also many other reasons why you could have pain. You are not necessarily stuck with this pain even if there are degenerative/arthritic changes present. A good chiropractor proficient in Applied Kinesiology, TBM, Neuro-Emotional Technique or Quantum Neurology should be able to examine you and determine if your pain can be potentially lessened or removed. While every case is unique, in my experience it is more likely than not that you CAN be helped without more surgery or medication. Good luck! If you are in the San Diego area give me a call. 760-518-1139 and I will take a look!

There are so many factors influencing fertility for both partners, including spinal misalignments or irregularities. The easiest thing to do is first try naturally and if it doesn't work have your husband get his sperm tested. If there are problems, speak with a fertility expert and good luck!

Definitely not too late. Symptoms arising from a car accident can start two years after an injury and can haunt you for the rest of your life if you don't re-align your spine and re-set your muscles. Get your spine aligned by a chiropractor who does a technique called Applied Kinesiology for best results.

Some can, some cannot, it depends on the techniques the chiropractor uses and the source of the muscle pain.  In my office we use many techniques to facilitate the nerves in the muscle to make it stronger after injury which often cuts down dramatically on pain.  We also have ways of "turning down" the hyper-firing of nerves after an injury if that is a source of pain. To find out more, you can call me to discuss or schedule an exam to see if I think your case can be helped.  760-518-1139  Have a great day! -Dr. B Star Bailey D.C., RND Mind Body Chiropractic www.mindbodychiro.com 858-792-1955