Temperomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)

Chiropractic Monthly - February 2011

Just a note before we begin...

Welcome to another edition of our newsletter. This month we're going to talk about an odd pain in the jaw. What better way to do that than to relate a patient's story for your consideration.

Here's George's story, a 30 year old came in complaining of pain in the back of his head. He explained it was a dull pain but constant, day and night. George also mentioned getting a sudden sensation that he was spinning or that the inside of his head was spinning. This condition is also known as positional vertigo.

Notice that he didn't mention jaw symptoms per se, but the jaw was definitely involved with all the other symptoms. He had prior Chiropractic and Physical Therapy care he even received cortisone shots which gave no relief.

The patient's vertigo, neck and shoulder tension were relieved quickly but the jaw symptoms took longer to improve. It turns out that his father was horsing around swinging a branch and accidentally hit him in the right side of the jaw! This was when he was only 7 years old. We knew this wasn't a recent problem but an old injury that the patient had completely forgotten about.

This came to light as a result of our pre- treatment history questions. We see this quite often. Explaining this to the patient helps them understand when symptoms don't resolve as quickly as they'd like.

We look forward to seeing you through 2011 to help you have your best health ever.

Yours in Health,

Dr. N

Does This Sound Familiar?

Temperomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ) or jaw pain is much more common than you might think and it can have far-reaching effects. Most people don't associate their chiropractor with this type of problem. They relate jaw pain to tooth pain and indeed T.M.J. can cause tooth pain thus off to the dentist they go. Not a bad place to start to rule out a cavity or gum disease with an exam and an X-ray, but when the dentist says, "your teeth are fine, there is nothing wrong with them", what do you do? The dentist might recommend a dental appliance or splint since their main focus is to protect the teeth from cracking. Unfortunately all too often the pain remains.

Visually, at first sight you may not notice anything different about a person who has this condition but, if you press firmly into the jaw muscles right below the cheek bones, one often finds spasm and pain on one or both sides. Pressure in the temple area may also be painful. Most people don't know that the temple muscle is a chewing muscle! Other signs include the jaw moving from side to side on opening instead of moving straight down or a limitation of movement. In general you should be able to put three fingers side to side into your mouth. Go ahead give it a try, see if you can do it.

As far as history we have many patients who, for example, fell off a deck and hit their jaw on the way down or fell at the park and hit their jaw on a bench on the way down. They might remember as a child, fighting with siblings, someone gets hit in the jaw by accident. Playing sports can also lead to unintentional accidents like being hit with a baseball bat or ball. Even gum chewers are at risk! The constant mastication can fatigue the muscles. We have seen all these conditions and the interesting thing is that often the symptoms don't come up right away and so often the cause is forgotten.

Over time the symptoms slowly develop and possibly years later patients will come to 3D Chiro for other health problems and we find they have symptoms related to T.M.J. through the course of our treatment. As we said before, most people don't think about a chiropractic solution for what they believe to be a "dental" problem.

Using the 3D chiropractic principles we analyze the whole system from front to back, side to side and top to bottom. Once we have taken a detailed history we often find there has been trauma to the jaw from a fall or from being hit in the jaw from various accidents or during sports. Naturally we evaluate the patient's stress level and how they handle stress.

Our philosophy in 3D chiropractic is that many chronic problems in the body stem from dysfunctional habits that we developed growing up in a stressful environment. Do you, the patient tend to externalize or internalize your emotions? On a scale of 1 to 10 what is your stress level, considering work and personal issues, do you feel you are over extending yourself? Is the stress constant or intermittent?

People who are at 8+ or higher stress level on a routine basis over the past six months to a year and who internalize their emotions are on a collision course with health issues that could vary from mild to severe.

Once we diagnose the problem most T.M.J. issues can be successfully treated in a very short time.

We treat the spasms, re-align the jaw and adjust spine related issues. We also teach you how to use Pressure-Plus-Motion (PPM) techniques to relieve muscle tension. This is part of a PPM workshop that 3D Chiro periodically offers to its patients. The PPM techniques we teach you can be used at home and work to lessen the pain and discomfort of T.M.J.

Remember, our goal is not to develop dependence on 3D Chiro, but to help you to help yourself!

Yours in good health,

Dr. Al Nunez, DC

Love your results?

We can't believe you have friends who may not know about the doctor and your results. Why not help someone you know get the same results? Tell a friend and earn a discount on your next visit for both of you. It's simple go to Yelp to get your secret discount word. Oh and leave a review while you're there, we love hearing from you on Yelp.

Associates Corner Dr. Subia

Did you need me?

If you had an emergency or were working late and needed to see the doctor, I'm here!

I am offering a HUGE discount for anyone seeing me for the first time;
I'm now available for after hours appointments.

I will be staffing the offices of 3D Chiro for our busy working patients.
3D Chiro Now Open Evenings
6:00 PM until 9:00 PM
Monday thru Friday
It gets lonely here by myself. If you need an appointment come on by and see me?

I'm here to help after hour's patients and emergency patients in the evening as well as on call for weekends.

Remember, if your schedule gets busy or you have an emergency I'm here for you!

Live life to the fullest with healthy posture,

Dr. Subia

Calling all "Weekend Athletes"

If you ache after a Sunday Softball game and need relief, you need Ortho-Nesic. It was made for you!

Get yourself a tube before your next sports weekend!

Tell someone!

While you're on Google why not leave a review, we'd really appreciate hearing your comments. You can also connect with us via email at: DrsNotebook@3DChiro.com

Hey, let's be friends! Check our 3D Chiro on FaceBook. To become a "Fan" of 3D Chiro click on the link below.

References

1. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Glendale-CA/3D-Chiro/106083849423260?ref=ts

2.http://www.maps.google.com/coupons/page?did=0_3775915993132674328&provider=SELF&cid=1XFOFTJXO859DRWH&oi=md_coup&sa=X&ct=coup&cd=1&hl=en

3. http://www.yelp.com/biz/dr-alan-nunez-d-c-glendale

4. http://www.3dchiro.com/patient_services.php

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5a1COM-ufg

6. mailto:DrsNotebook@3DChiro.com?subject=Love%20The%20Newsletter

Achieve Health Maximization in Steps

Chiropractic Monthly - January 2011

In my last newsletter we began a conversation about Body Mass Index and how it can be mis-interpreted, we talked about maximizing your health and we talked about weight. In this issue we’ll discuss some of the steps that can be taken to change our lives into what we choose. We shouldn’t feel like victims of genetic fate. We hope this month’s article will motivate you on your path to a happier year and a healthier you.

Let’s be honest with ourselves about what the goal is we want to achieve. Is it back pain, fatigue or being over-weight? We have to decide is it something we can manage ourselves or is it something too big for us? When do we need to get "professional" help? Admitting weakness can be emotionally wrenching but until we do we’ll be constantly fighting a losing battle driving us deeper into despair.

Next is more of a primal question, we need to believe that, one; we can be helped, and two; there is someone or something out there that can help. The goal is to restore that youthful feeling of vitality, health and vigor that we once had. The answer to this question may be one or all of the following.

It may be your chiropractor, a support group or a gym. The main thing is moving forward from "I can’t do it" to "We can do it". Here’s a new mantra for this year, "We can do what I can’t". The cool thing is, even with all this help from others, you’re the one that gets all the benefits. You get to feel better and look great!

Finally we need to make a decision to turn to this new team, the "We" team to help us make better choices about our lives for the health of it. The best people to have on our team are those who understand and have achieved long-term success in their lives. Give them permission to challenge your negative notions and you will progress faster. Step one, call and consult your "We team" frequently to be sure your thoughts, words and actions are consistent with your long-term goals. Be public about your goals, the more people you have on your "We Team" the more power you will have.

We look forward to seeing you in 2011 to help you have your best health ever.

Yours in Health,

Dr. N

Does This Sound Familiar?

Does this sound familiar? When I get up in the morning I inventory my ailments; chronic heartburn, migraines and shoulder pain that are causing my arms to go numb. Not to mention the chronically severe spasms in my calves. Oh, and the meds I’m taking are for the most part, useless!

I had just such a case recently, a 23 year old woman suffering from these exact ailments. She had been seeing her doctor but his remedies seemed, at best ineffective. Incidentally, she was five feet five inches tall and weighed 166 pounds giving her a BMI of 27.7 (the top end of that scale). She did not come in to see me for weight issues though.

Within eight to ten visits using the 3D chiropractic methods we were able to eliminate all of her physical complaints. Then something happened that I really hadn’t expected. She was feeling so good from the treatments she started a consistent walking program then she added one more thing to her "We Team". She joined the Weight Watchers program. She had continued coming in to see me periodically and I actually saw the pounds melting away in a few short months. As of last week when I saw her, she had lost 29 pounds! (A healthy 22.8 rating on the BMI) When I first went in the treatment room her back was turned to me, I almost stepped back out; I thought I had the wrong chart. I didn’t recognize her profile!

Now, could she have lost the weight without getting her physical ailments corrected? Possibly, but let me tell you, when you are feeling bad, you will not be motivated to exercises much less get on a program to lose weight. I’m so proud to be on her "We Team"!

Love your results?

Tell someone!

We can’t believe you have friends who may not know about the doctor and your results. Why not help someone you know get the same results? Tell a friend and earn a discount on your next visit for both of you. It’s simple go to Yelp to get your secret discount word. Oh and leave a review while you’re there, we love hearing from you on Yelp.

While you’re on Google why not leave a review, we’d really appreciate hearing your comments. You can also connect with us via email at: DrsNotebook@3DChiro.com

Hey, let’s be friends! Check our 3D Chiro on FaceBook. To become a "Fan" of 3D Chiro click on the link below.

The "We Team"

It’s 8:00 am and you arrive at the office, just in from the gym and your vigorous morning exercise regimen. Now its mid-morning and you’re stomach is feeling empty, a bit hungry so you reach for a snack of crackers or chips.

Worst of all these are between meals and you’re always craving them. Oh it’s ok I’m going back to the gym for another workout later. If not for that I’m sure I’d be much more overweight.

Well I have just such a patient; she’s in her early 30’s and was only mildly overweight thanks in great part to her exercise routine, vigorous and daily. She had come in to our offices primarily seeking help for severe vertigo. She also mentioned symptoms of stomach acid reflux.

As part of our philosophy of treating the whole person we not only treated her vertigo problem but also made stomach adjustments. The interesting thing was that the patient reported as a result of these adjustments she lost the craving for crackers and chips! Normally she would devour the bag of chips in only a few hours. Then the bag began to last all day, then two days. Last week she came in and reported she had lost 13 pounds! She also reports that now for a snack she is craving snap peas and celery sticks. She said it’s crazy, "I never used to crave these things!"

This is not the first time we have seen people report less of a craving for carbs. I have a new theory about why this happens. When a patient reports having had a frightening or traumatic event in their lives this can cause the stomach to spasm. If the tension remains long enough it can become self-sustaining and last throughout their lives.

What I deduce happens in a normal stomach when you eat a meal; it stretches out or "fills up" which sends a signal to the brain and one feels "full" or satisfied. With a spasmed stomach it takes much more food to stretch it out making one feel constantly hungry. The brain never gets the message.

3D Chiro has the tools and methods to not only solve the stomach tension problems but also to monitor your weight, your body fat percentage and your BMI. We can also teach you relaxation techniques to help reduce stress. Using these tools we can help you make realistic and achievable goals for weight loss, fitness and Health Maximization. Let us be a part of your "We Team" this year.

References

1. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Glendale-CA/3D-Chiro/106083849423260?ref=ts

2.http://www.maps.google.com/coupons/page?did=0_3775915993132674328&provider=SELF&cid=1XFOFTJXO859DRWH&oi=md_coup&sa=X&ct=coup&cd=1&hl=en

3. http://www.yelp.com/biz/dr-alan-nunez-d-c-glendale

4. http://www.3dchiro.com/patient_services.php

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5a1COM-ufg

6. mailto:DrsNotebook@3DChiro.com?subject=Love%20The%20Newsletter

What a great year!

Chiropractic Monthly - December 2010

What a great year we've had and a pleasure to serve you as your health maximization coach. Over the last few months we have talked in our newsletters about the 3-D Chiropractic technique.

We discussed how it can help people with Hiatal Hernia Syndrome and many other digestive complaints. We talked about how 3-D Chiro has helped people who have infertility issues and the 43 amazing successes we had with them. We talked about those individuals who suffer from chronic tail bone pain and how these patients can be helped.

We are so excited for the New Year. There are many wonderful articles planned that will continue the discussion on topics of concern. Next year's newsletters will have a quarterly flow to them. This means the articles will build on one another from month to month. We can't wait to share this helpful information about how 3-D Chiro can help you or someone you know.

Many of you are new to chiropractic having been referred to us from our Yelp page. The reviews of our patients on sites like Yelp and Google has been a huge boost to our patient referrals. Thank you for the kind words you all have written on our behalf. The "review site" patients we get are wonderful patients. They all tell us that they come to 3-D Chiro because of your reviews. These sites and reviews are a bridge because you simply tell the online community what you would have said in person:

That the care you get with 3-D Chiro is unique, effective and results are fast. There is no twisting, popping or cracking and you know that I am always working to try to "Keep the Chiropractor Off Your Back!"

We would like to take a special moment to thank my Chiropractic Assistant, Melissa, who has been with us for a year. Her warm welcoming personality and her efficient management of the front office has been a great addition to our staff. Melissa takes great pride in how she cares for your appointments, statements, and she keeps things moving smoothly in our busy office. Now you have two reasons to come back and visit our office; one, for the treatments and then for Melissa's smile.

We know that this has been a tough couple of years for everybody and we've tried to help by providing the best quality care possible each and every time you come to our office. Your time is your time and it is valuable, that's why we never double book appointments.

We have added value to your visits by periodically giving you complimentary five minute mini treatments to help keep you progressing between regular visits. The only way we are all going to make it through these tough times is if we help each other.

I wanted to finish this newsletter by talking about the "W" word: Weight. We will cover this important topic in more detail in future issues of the "Dr's. Notebook".

We wish you a bountiful holiday season and all the best in the New Year.

Stay strong, stay healthy,

Dr. Al

Love your results?

Tell someone!

We can't believe you have friends who may not know about the doctor and your results. Why not help someone you know get the same results? Tell a friend and earn a discount on your next visit for both of you. It's simple go to Yelp to get your secret discount word. Oh and leave a review while you're there, we love hearing from you on Yelp.

While you're on Google why not leave a review, we'd really appreciate hearing your comments. You can also connect with us via email at: [4]DrsNotebook@3DChiro.com?

Hey, let's be friends! Check our 3D Chiro on FaceBook. To click "like" 3D Chiro or simply click on the link below.

Associates Corner - Dr. Subia

What a wonderful year I've had here at 3D Chiro. I have learned a great deal from Dr. Nuñez on the specific techniques he employs.

I am so excited about the coming year and watching my practice grow right along with 3-D Chiro and Dr. Nuñez. I am so grateful to him for taking my training to a whole new level.

Just like any new business, I'm trying to build my practice and patient base here at 3D Chiro. I would appreciate your referrals. Won't you consider sending a friend to see me? Just tell them to ask for Dr. Subia, Thanks.

I am always available for emergency appointments.

Live life to the fullest with healthy posture,

Please enjoy this wonderful holiday season,

Dr. Subia

The truth behind BMI

I'd like to share a few professional observations with you about a misleading and often overused term. It's called, BMI (Body Mass Index). First, this is not an index of your health, rather a number based solely on a calculation of your height and weight. The BMI does not consider important factors such as, age, gender, or body type.

Oprah magazine recently had a nice article "Weight Loss: How Women Do the Math" on this very subject. It described how a person could have a "normal" BMI yet have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and not even be able to go up one flight of stairs without getting winded. The article wrote of a person who is a fitness instructor, has low blood pressure and a BMI of 27. This is considered a "high" BMI.

A fitness instructor is obviously in better condition than her BMI shown, but many physicians would label her unhealthy based solely on the raw BMI number. Remember there are three basic body types: Ectomorphic a thin build, Mesomorphic a medium build, and Endomorphic representing a more rounded /full figured body type. Your body type is primarily a result of your particular genetics.

Once we here at 3-D Chiro get you out of pain, our next job is to help you achieve and maintain your maximum health regardless of your body type. We have the equipment to monitor your weight, body fat percentage and can help recommend, advise and guide you in your exercise programs. Our goal is to be sure and keep you moving towards your goals without re-injuring yourself.

Calling all "Weekend Athletes"

If you ache after a Sunday Softball game and need relief, you need Ortho-Nesic. It was made for you!

Get yourself a tube before your next sports weekend!

References

1. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Glendale-CA/3D-Chiro/106083849423260?ref=ts

2.http://www.maps.google.com/coupons/page?did=0_3775915993132674328&provider=SELF&cid=1XFOFTJXO859DRWH&oi=md_coup&sa=X&ct=coup&cd=1&hl=en

3. http://www.yelp.com/biz/dr-alan-nunez-d-c-glendale

4. http://www.3dchiro.com/patient_services.php

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5a1COM-ufg

6. mailto:DrsNotebook@3DChiro.com?subject=Love%20The%20Newsletter