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Chronic pain: Only one tool needed to get the job done?
If you were to hire a handyman, you would be a bit concerned if he showed up with nothing more than a flat head screw driver. You might want to know where the rest of his power tools were and if he even knew how to use them.
Dr. Berglund is a doctor with a "lot of different tools in his tool belt". If you came to him for a headache, he would be looking at hormones, mineral levels, gall bladder, the cervical spine, the cranial bones, blood pressure, sinuses, etc. to make sure he found the true source of the headache.
Dr. Berglund has a holistic paradigm that every part of the body is interdependent on the others. His job is to figure out where the obstruction is, and how he can then help the body heal. If it means doing a chiropractic adjustment, he's all for that. However, if you come to him with shoulder pain, he would want to find out early on whether or not it's caused by gall bladder dysfunction. Otherwise, he'd be trying to rehabilitate an area that primarily didn't need an adjustment in the first place. (Right shoulder pain is often caused by gallbladder dysfunction, and gall bladder dysfunction is caused by food sensitivities!)
Are adjustments safe?
Yes. A New Zealand government study concluded that chiropractic adjustments are “remarkably safe”. Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever is about 100 times more risky. Dr. Berglund has performed adjustments on infants only hours old, as well as very elderly patients with bad osteoporosis and debilitating (wheel chair bound) arthritis, and many other patients in between.
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What do adjustments feel like?
After the brief thrust, many patients report a sense of well-being or a feeling of calmness. Others feel improved mobililty. Inflammation or muscle spasms may delay these positive side effects. Chiropractic doctors excel at making adjustments comfortable and effective. Dr. Berglund will utilize many different techniques (depending on the patient) throughout the course of his day. Some patients require very light adjustment pressure while others require more.
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Will adjustments make my spine too loose?
No. Only the spinal joints that are “locked up” receive adjustments. This allows weakened muscles and ligaments to stabilize and heal.
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What makes the sound?
Lubricating fluids separate the bones of each spinal joint. Some adjusting methods can produce a sound when the gas and fluids in the joint shift. It’s like opening a soda can or removing a suction cup. The sound is interesting, but it isn’t a guide to the quality or value of an adjustment.
Can I adjust myself?
No. Some patients can make their joints “pop”, but that’s not an adjustment! Even Dr. Berglund must consult another chiropractor to benefit from chiropractic care.
What about physical therapy?
Dr. Berglund offers ultrasound and interferential therapies, as well as help with different stretches and exercises in order to aid in recovery and speed healing time for various injuries.
Dr. Berglund also does custom fit orthotics for his patients.
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