Dr. Julie A. Amundsen D.C.

Chiropractor | Independent Medical Examiner

1112 B Street Petaluma CA, 94952 Show map

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About

Dr. Julie Amundsen is a Chiropractor practicing in Petaluma, CA. Dr. Amundsen specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions associated with the neuromusculoskeletal system, while improving each patient's potential for function and quality of life. Conditions treated include traumatic brain injury related issues, balance and coordination dysfunction, head, neck, upper and low back pain as well as that associated arthritis. Dr. Amundsen specializes is an advanced method of correcting the neurological insult secondary to malposition of the 1st and 2nd spinal vertebrae. This specialization requires years of training in addition to the four-year Doctor of Chiropractic degree. The method practiced is called Atlas Orthogonality and is delivered utilizing the precision of an instrument developed by Roy W. Sweat, D.C. Learn more at www.globalao.com

Education and Training

San Francisco State University BA 1992

Life Chiropractic College West DC 1998

Sherman College of Chiropractic BCAO 2014

Board Certification

National Board of Chiropractic Examiners

Provider Details

Female English

Dr. Julie A. Amundsen D.C.

Dr. Julie A. Amundsen D.C.'s Expert Contributions

My Answers

Can chiropractic help with nerve pain?
Indeed. By definition the profession of Chiropractic addresses relieving the effects of nerve compression (depending on the degree) and irritation to the nervous system. You must find a doctor that you trust to address your questions to your satisfaction and then make an informed decision for treatment. Your doctor should take a comprehensive history of your son's past and a focused exam of his complaints. If the recommendations of your chiropractor make sense to you, proceed with a trial of treatment. If your son's complaints started after a sports injury, find a professional that has experience in sports specific related issues. If his complaints are related to a neck injury, seek the advice of a specific and well-trained doctor who specializes in the upper cervical (first two vertebra of the spine). If you aren't certain after you speak to one doctor of Chiropractic, continue to seek consult and do not give up until you feel confident about your decision to proceed. I hope this helps you. READ MORE
Are chiropractic adjustments safe?
Chiropractic treatment is a safe and effective approach to address many pain related conditions. I would seek the opinion of a specific upper cervical (neck) specialist in the chiropractic profession. You can search under specific upper cervical chiropractic or Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic, Orthospinology Chiropractic, NUCCA. Once you find a professional near you, I would call or email the office with questions about their practice and how they address conditions similar to yours. Most offices should be willing or do offer a brief consultation at no charge. Good luck in your search. Chiropractic is a great option. READ MORE
Is chiropractic treatment best as a complementary therapy?
My opinion is that it is important to stay with one treatment form at a time to evaluate what works and/or what may not help to relieve or otherwise cause worsening of function. Pain is tricky because occasionally symptoms may increase for a short time, but any treatment that is worth staying with should be continually reducing symptoms and increasing function. Medication and more invasive treatments should only be considered after conservative and natural recommendations have been exhausted. Remember, your main goal should be to improve and progress toward reaching maximal musculoskeletal function (which includes relief of symptoms). Symptoms are the last to present and the first thing to go away resulting from weeks or months of maladaptation to an activity that may not have been healthy for your body! Stay mindful! READ MORE
How do you treat a pulled neck muscle?
Make an appointment with a doctor who specializes in conditions of the neck. You will want to seek someone who is highly trained in this region of the body to perform a comprehensive history and evaluation to make recommendations on the best course for you. Medication should be one of the last treatment forms recommended, in my opinion, for the reason that there are many conservative and natural methods of treating and healing that can result in long term relief and then prevention in the future. READ MORE
Do chiropractors treat chronic neck pain?
Chiropractic treatment can prove highly effective to assist or completely resolve your chronic neck pain as long as a comprehensive history, exam and x-rays are obtained prior to treatment. Your practitioner should be able to clearly provide you with how they may help and then a plan for enlisting additional alternatives in the event that your condition continues to be problematic. You should ask your practitioner questions about short and long term goal setting to make certain that you remain informed and clear on expectations between both doctor and patient. READ MORE
Persistent pain in neck. Should I visit a doctor?
Depending on how your neck pain is affecting your abilities, i.e. sleep, thinking, functioning during your normal activities of daily living, you may consider (if you haven't already) seeking the advice of your PTP under your health insurance. Medication can help to initially take address some of the symptoms. Imaging or other special studies may be recommended depending on your history of symptoms, namely, the presence of weakness, numbing or tingling which travels, etc. It is always a good idea to research conservative approaches for the allowance of supporting your body's abilities for self healing and then seek out additional opinions that make sense to you. Outlining some questions to ask a potential professional you feel may be able to support your condition should be more than willing to help you understand what they offer and their approach so that you can make a more informed choice. READ MORE
I was diagnosed with gout. Can a chiropractor help me manage the pain?
Certainly, if you gout condition is complicated by a bio-mechanical issue, a doctor of chiropractic can be of assistance for management of unrelated and additional pain. Many times, a condition of non-complicated gout can be addressed through dietary and other life-style changes. Your primary treating health care practitioner should be well versed in helping to guide you to the appropriate treatment and help! Don't give up. READ MORE
Can a chiropractor relieve muscle pain?
Chiropractic care can absolutely relieve pain from a muscular standpoint. It all depends on the cause of your injury, the duration and source of your pain, and where you've been to have it addressed. You might find your symptoms aren't the only thing that resolves as a result of Chiropractic care, your function may improve greatly too! READ MORE
I had back surgery. Should I see a chiropractor or avoid it?
Surgical intervention presents a special set of circumstances with respect to being a Chiropractic candidate. It is my opinion that your Chiropractic treatment be resumed once your physical therapy and other recommendations by your orthopedic surgeon have been completed. Chiropractic adjustments are contraindicated on the segments operated on. However, the segments above and below the surgical alteration are potentially safe to manually adjust/manipulate. Proceed with caution and make sure you are attended by a well respected and skilled practitioner. READ MORE
My back hurts when I sit down. Why?
Many symptoms that arise do not have a clear etiology however it sounds like you have experienced your symptom with a specific activity for a long time. In that case, you should ask yourself the questions, how much time to I spend sitting, what physical activities should/could I be doing to alter my symptoms (in a positive or negative way), what is my past history of any injuries? With that information you should seek out professional advice and get some help for your ongoing symptoms. The low back and pelvis are a very heavy weight bearing region as relates to the spine and sitting upright presents a great amount of weight on the spinal segments of your low back. When the segments start to change shape (degenerate) because of abnormal loads, the nerves become irritated and pain results. READ MORE
Pain years after spinal fusion surgery
It may be time to return to your physical therapist or another type of manual therapy to address asymmetries of your spinal balance and lifestyle habits. Don't be afraid to re-evaluate and renew your knowledge about yourself and your needs. READ MORE
Do chiropractors typically take x-rays?
Lots of Chiropractic doctors take x-rays to evaluate the integrity of the bony spine and signs of soft tissue abnormalities. With the advancement of imaging techniques, x-ray is utilized less often for evaluating serious medical conditions as it is limited with respect to observation of anything other than bone. Insurance coverage and insurance network participation is also denied if a Chiropractor takes x-rays, therefore, some doctors do not take x-rays because they would be denied access to patient referrals. I utilize x-rays in my practice and am of the opinion that they are a vital factor for guiding and dispensing the treatment method I use as well as evaluating and educating the patient about themselves. READ MORE
Very tight neck
If you have never tried chiropractic for you ongoing symptoms, it is an appropriate and, in many cases, a very beneficial option. As long as you can give information on what, where, duration and how your symptoms or discomfort affect your life, and ask what you can expect from your chiropractic practitioner. If it makes sense to you, then go for it. Do not be afraid to ask questions. If you are not getting your questions answered in a way that makes sense to you, move on. Before you choose a doctor, educate yourself on different methods of Chiropractic. Make sure the doctor you choose has the licenses and certifications described by the practice. Performing your due diligence is always prudent! READ MORE
Is it bad to suddenly stop chiropractic care?
Chances are that you will not have an adverse reaction by not be attended regularly by your Chiropractic doctor as would be the case when dropping a long consumed medication. For some, there is a strong belief that getting regular Chiropractic adjustments (manipulations) of the spine or extremities keeps them highly functioning. The beauty of the health care world we live in today, is that there are many resources from which to draw from and preventative measures to assist in reaching our physical and quality of life goals. You may want to try other alternatives to see how they fit your lifestyle and insurance perimeters and eventually revisit your needs through Chiropractic after you've explored other options. READ MORE
Why does my back crack so much during an adjustment?
That snapping sound you hear when your spine or other musculoskeletal joints get adjusted is a change in position of the gasses within the joints structure. Without getting greatly technical, the muscles' nerve endings that are specialized for detecting load and pain (as well as other sensory input/output) attached to the joints get stimulated by these adjustments and nerve messages are then able to communicate as they are designed for the high physical demands we place on our bodies. READ MORE

Areas of expertise and specialization

Neurovascular conditions related to upper cervical spinal malposition. Symptoms and conditions range from headaches of cluster and migraine type, Bells Palsy, heart palpatations, Parkinsons symptoms, brachial plexus related conditions of the upper extrem

Faculty Titles & Positions

Upper Cervical Instructor LIfe Chiropractic College West 1998 - 2003
Intern Supervisor Life Chiropractic College West Public Clinic 1998 - 2003

Professional Memberships

Professional Society Memberships

California Chiropractic Association

What do you attribute your success to?

Education and family.

Hobbies / Sports

Outdoors, walking and hiking

Favorite professional publications

Journal of Chiropractic Medicine

Areas of research

Literature review focused on relationship of upper cervical neural input and output.Literature review focused on result of upper cervical spinal movement and its causal effects of neural input and output.Objective SSEP measurement via CPT device of C2 DRG function resulting from interruption of neural input and output.