Who is responsible for your health???

"There are few things more frustrating than finding a health care treatment that works for you — a chiropractic adjustment that relieves nagging lower back pain or a yoga class that helps reduce anxiety — only to find that your insurance won't pay for it."

Who is responsible for your health???

With the current state of the health care market, we are seeing more and more restrictions and denials from  insurance companies for chiropractic care.  The denials may be basis on the number of visits that you have had; the type of adjustments you receive (Aetna has denied claims when we have only used the activator instrument to adjust).  Claims have been denied for children based on their age, deemed as experimental care.  Some of the insurance companies have begun to use assessment surveys to establish when they will deny a claim. these surveys are focused on neck pain and back pain; only a small part of why you may seek to use chiropractic care. 

 All of these are as frustrating for us as it is for you. 

One thing to consider; "health" insurance is not intended to make you healthier than you are (or have been), it is intended as a benefit to manage disease or dysfunction.  They are not going to pay for your vitamins, organic foods, gym membership, etc.....  investing in these things and more are an investment in your health and well being!!!!! 

 

Recently we have a situation in which we needed to take my wife into the local emergeny room. The cost of this one nights visit to the hospital were incredible.  just to sign in at the ER was as much as some patients entire care with me.  $1500 just for the emergency room services.  you add the emergency room doctor, imaging, examination  and other miscellaneous charges and this trip to the emergency room was nearly $4,000.  All to confirm what I already knew without doing any test and to tell us to go home.   Very often, extended chiropractic care will cost you less than half just one visit to the ER.     

 Renaissance Chiropractic Center
 http://chirotacoma.com
 253-473-0300

 Dr. Mike Long, Renaissance Chiropractic Center, Tacoma WA
 Dr. Devin Long, Renaissance Chiropractic Center, Tacoma WA
 Dr. Doug Long, Renaissance Chiropractic Center, Tacoma WA
 Dr. Robert Brant D.C   

5 Ways Poor Posture Can Limit Height Growth

Article from Dr. Randy Baze's newsletter by Rodney Williams 
when your spine deviates from the idea curvatures, your body movement dynamic changes.  when your change the dynamics of body motion, you effect the nervous system.  when you change the nervous system, you effect to function of every cell in the body.  It changes the way your body chemistry is functioning and this can have an overall effect on your health.

Dr Rodger Niemi
Renaissance Chiropractic Center 
4902 Tacoma Mall Blvd
Tacoma WA 98409
253-473-0300

5 Ways Poor Posture Can Limit Height Growth
Rodney Williams

Many posture problems exist that people pick up over the years and may not even realize they have. These could lead to pain, especially back pain, and as far as height is concerned, can make us not only physically shorter, but appear shorter as well. Some of the most common posture problems are looked at below.

1. Walking posture - This is an easy one to get into bad habits with, probably the one which is the hardest to break, and also the one which is discussed the least of the three major ones, the other two of which are looked at next. It's often assumed that proper sitting posture and to a lesser extent, sleeping posture, can be taught, while walking is just something we naturally do, and cannot be changed or critiqued. Poor walking posture is quite common for this reason.
Breaking this habit can be difficult, and will take a concerted effort to break. The subject should practice walking with their shoulders tensed and forcibly held back, head held high, making a mental note of where their eye level is. Getting in the practice of doing this should make it easier to recognize when they're walking improperly, at which point they can consciously correct it until it becomes second nature and replaces the old, bad habit.

2. Sitting Posture - These posture issues are also very common, and as more and more people sit behind a computer for a living, their possible consequences and reach grows. The computer monitor, keyboard and chair should all be set in positions that all but force the user to sit in an upright position. LCD monitors are good for this, as they force a consistent eye level be maintained to get a good view of the screen. Any slouching and the user should know it immediately.

3. Sleeping Posture - The one people would generally be the least aware of, and also the one that would seemingly be the most difficult to break, though this isn't the case. By properly utilizing pillows, by removing them when sleeping on one's back and by sticking them between the legs when sleeping on the side, bad sleeping posture can be limited with little effort.

4. Bow Legs and Knock Knees - These conditions develop early, and are not as easily cured. A doctor visit will probably be necessary, at which point special insoles or footwear that can help break the problem will probably be prescribed.

5. Scoliosis - This is a serious condition, in which the spine is severely curved, resulting in a drastic loss of height, as well as other health ailments. In mild cases, Scoliosis can be corrected with the proper stretching exercises. In extreme cases, surgery may be needed to correct it.

Improved posture can not only result in increased height, it can improve our health in other areas, and proper posture also makes you appear more professional to others. Snap out of your bad habits today, and kick them to the curb.

Whiplash - Getting Well Naturally

The following is from an article posted on our website.   Whiplash injuries can happen whenever the head is shifted forward and/or backward rapidly or unexpectedly.   symptoms for these types if injuries can be felt with in minutes in some cases, in other cases the symptoms may not be felt for several weeks or even months after the injury.  forces as little as 4 MPH can effect the spine and cause permanent changes to the spine.  Falls, car accidents, fights are among some if the events that can cause a whiplash injury.   

if you have had and injury like this YOU NEED TO BE CHECKED BY A CHIROPRACTOR!!!!!!!    


Dr Rodger Niemi
Renaissance Chiropractic Center
253-473-0300     Call for an appointment today!!!!
 
  Whiplash - Getting Well Naturally

You're driving to work and stop for a red light. You're minding your own business and - bam! - your car rocks forward and backward, slammed in the rear by another car driven by some guy yakking on his cell phone. Or you're a passenger in a Seattle taxi. The driver's cruising down Denny Way when a teenager suddenly dashes into the intersection, running across the street against the light. The cabbie slams on the brakes and your head rocks forcefully backward and forward.

Or for reasons known only to yourself you decide it's a good idea to go bungee jumping. You dive into space, the cord extends, and finally the cord is fully played out. Significant physical forces blast through your body as you helplessly bounce back and forth, dangling in the air like a gaffed flying fish.
The result of each of these demonstrations of Isaac Newton's First Law of Motion? Later that day, or possibly within several days, you begin to experience neck pain. You might also have shoulder pain, headache, nausea, dizziness, and pain or numbness traveling down one or both arms. You have whiplash - a traumatic injury to the muscles, ligaments, and spinal joints of your neck and upper back.^1,2

If you're lucky you'll get better in a few days. If the injuries are moderate or severe the various complaints will linger and may even get worse. As with any injury or illness, if you're not getting better right away you need to see your doctor. As you've suffered an injury to your head and neck, it may be a good idea to see your doctor as soon as you can, in any case, even if you think the injury is mild.

Your chiropractor is an excellent choice for examination and evaluation of injuries due to whiplash. She will be able to determine the nature and extent of the damage to muscle, ligament, and bone. Taking an x-ray series is a very important part of the evaluation of whiplash, as even seemingly modest forces can result in fracture of one or more vertebras in your neck. Evaluation of nerve function, including both spinal nerves and cranial nerves, is critically important. Pain and/or numbness radiating into one or both arms suggests injury to a cervical nerve root and needs to be thoroughly assessed.

If no fractures have been identified, chiropractic treatment can begin immediately. Over time, chiropractic treatment helps reduce inflammation of injured muscles and ligaments. Over time, chiropractic treatment helps restore normal ranges of motion to your neck and upper back. With this natural form of healing you begin to make incremental, steady progress, recovering the ability to participate in all your daily activities with reduced levels of pain and discomfort.

Chiropractic treatment provides optimal therapy for whiplash injuries, allowing your body to recover and return to normal by utilizing its own restorative powers.<sup>3


1</sup>Kasch H, et al: Clinical assessment of prognostic factors for long-term pain and handicap after whiplash injury: a 1-year prospective study. Eur J Neurol 15(11):1222-1230, 2008
²Chen HB, et al: Biomechanics of whiplash injury. Chin J Traumatol 12(5):305-314, 2009
³Michaleff ZA, et al: A randomised clinical trial of a comprehensive exercise program for chronic whiplash: trial protocol. BMC Musculoskeletal Disord 10:149, 2009 (12/2/09)

Nevaeh House

The Executive Director and founder of Nevaeh  House, Naomi Truitt a devoted mother of three started out as a ECE Educator and in 2004 she became a CASA for the state of Washington. Shortly following she worked as a visitation supervisor and decided to follow her calling to start an agency providing quality supervised visitations for families, hiring only the best. Nevaeh House started out by creating and implementing an extremely sucessful 72-hour visitation program for the DCFS Offices located in region 5. This program helped over 350 families with much needed visitations between parents and thier children within 72 hours of  placement. In her free time Naomi spends at her church working as a nurse and giving back to the community. She is also an active mother in Jack and Jill of America incorporated, helping not only to better her own children's upbringing and education but of others as well.

Nevaeh House website for for information 

Antioxidants for a Youthful Appearance

Antioxidants for a Youthful Appearance
 
Those who continue to look young in their 50s, 60s, 70s , and beyond usually have learned many secrets and strategies for keeping themselves healthy and well. For the most part, those secrets are not found in the bottles, tubes, and jars whose sales account for many billions of dollars each year.

One key secret is eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. No one needed to be reminded of this 75 years ago. In those days produce was an essential dietary component. And for the most part the produce people age was grown locally. Today we have so many choices, not all of them healthful, and we need to be sure to eat produce that is fresh rather than packaged in cans.

Colorful fresh produce contains high levels of antioxidants, those small biochemicals that pack a big punch. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, naturally occurring end-products of metabolism that destroy cells and may even cause cancer if they're not removed promptly.

In fact, a recent article in Ecology Letters pointed to an even more remarkable power of antioxidants. Researchers were studying brightly colored plumage on birds (which signal their efficacy as mates). Their work confirmed that more colorful males are better able to protect their sperm from oxidative stress. The article reported that sperm quality in less colorful males improved when antioxidants (specifically, carotenoids) were added to their diet.

In short, antioxidants provided by fresh produce have all kinds of life-extending benefits!

you can find more information on our office website 

Dr Rodger Niemi
Renaissance Chiropractic Center
253-473-0300

Eating a Naturally Healthy Diet Is Not A New idea!!!!!!

the Idea that you need to get back to a naturally healthy diet is not new.   Dr. Jack LaLanne was at the forefront of the wellness crusade.  He was promoting a diet of whole food, unprocessed foods, reducing sugar and preservatives from the foods you eat beginning back in the 1940's and 1950's.

How much healthier would we be today if even a few of us had learned the lessons he was teaching back then????

this is a video from his show that aired in the 1950's.




One concept that Jack put forth back during his shows was that it is never to late to begin.


Diet, Exercise, posture, grooming, smile, positive thinking, relaxation, helping others, and FAITH were his 10 point program for improving yourself. (not necessarily in that order).

Dr Rodger Niemi
Renaissance Chiropractic Center
254-473-0300

The Usui System of Reiki Healing - Emmy Heinz-Marcelynas

Emmy Heinz-Marcelynas is a Doula teaching birthing classes at Renaissance Chiropractic Center Wednesday evenings, she also uses Reiki to help expectant mothers through their pregnancy.   

Following is a desciption of Reiki from her website @ http://bigsisterbirth.com/reiki.aspx

 

The Usui System of Reiki Healing

What is Reiki?

        Reiki is a Japanese word that means “Universal Life Force Energy.” It is the energy in all things, and when used as a gentle healing art, it helps to promote the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

How does it work?

        It is a gentle, non-manipulative touch with a transfer of the Reiki energy through the hands into the body. It is used to “treat” yourself and others. (Think of the word “treat” as something good you give to yourself or another, not as a medical “treatment.”)

What does it do?

        Those receiving Reiki may experience a deep relaxation or a reduction of stress. Pain may be alleviated. It is used to stimulate the body to heal itself by promoting balance and harmony to the organs, systems, and glands of the body. It cannot harm anyone. You cannot overload someone with Reiki. The healing takes place between the individual and the Reiki. You cannot control it with your mind, it is totally safe. Often individuals gain new insight into the possible causes of the imbalance in their lives.

Who benefits from Reiki?

        All living things, all ages, human beings, animals, and plants.

Do I need to believe it to make it work?

        No. It is not “faith healing” and has nothing to do with one’s belief system. Reiki is practiced around the world in many cultures, many languages, religions, and belief systems. The only requirement is an openness to experiencing the life-giving energy of Reiki.

Do I need to do anything special to either give or receive Reiki?

        No. The Reiki is simply activated by touch. An individual is fully clothed during a treatment and the main thing to consider is that both the person giving and the person receiving Reiki be comfortable. You may have background music, you may talk, you may both be silent. Each situation is different and the key is to be diligent and mindful of the situation.

 

How does Reiki benefit a pregnant or laboring mom?

Reiki can help an anxious mom prepare her body and mind for labor and birth. The first 15-60 minutes of a session is devoted to finding powerful thoughts and words a mom wants to bring to her birthplace- peace, energy, confidence, health, wisdom, acceptance, and strength are typical "power words" moms want to focus on. We also talk about the things a mom wants to release herself from before and during birth- fear, worry, control, etc. Moms usually have a sense of calm and confidence after a pregnancy Reiki session. During birth, Reiki can be used to create a warm and comforting environment, as well as bring a sense of power and confidence to a laboring mom. You never know how Reiki will work on a mom's physical being, but most moms describe a sense of tingly energy that flows through the body, circling the belly, and surrounding even the hardest of contractions with a feeling of primal satisfaction. It's amazing stuff!!!

Dr Rodger Niemi
Renaissance Chiropractic Center

A bit of chiropractic history!!!

A bit of chiropractic history!!!
from Time.
Monday, Jul. 09, 1951
Medicine: Crusading Chiropractor

In the U.S., 36 states allow boards of chiropractors to pass on the professional qualifications of fellow spinal manipulators. But Ohio is not one of them. There, a chiropractor must get his permit from a medical board of orthodox M.D.s. Chiropractor Herber Ross Reaver considered this absurd.  Said he : "It's like having Catholic priests license Methodist ministers. We recognize that both are prescribing away to heaven, but why should one tell the other what to prescribe?"

Reaver set out to change the state law. He began to practice, without a permit, in a Cincinnati suburb. He got plenty of patients, but every now & then the law interfered. In 13 years, Chiropractor Reaver was fined eight times. Next came three short jail sentences. On his twelfth conviction, Reaver drew a six-month sentence and a warning that if he practiced again he would be prosecuted as a habitual criminal. That did it. Last week Reaver announced that his crusade was ended and he was moving to Florida.

http://www.becomehealthynow.com/article/chirohistory/589/

Dr Rodger Niemi
Dr Doug Long
Dr Mike Long
Renaissance Chiropractic Center
253-473-0300

WHICH IS THE “REAL THING” WATER OR COKE?

My friend Ron this morning gave me a copy of an interesting email he had received about water vs coke. below is the text from that email.

at the end I have added some notes to clarify things.

ENJOY

WHICH IS THE “REAL THING” WATER OR COKE?

This is really an eye opener.... Water or Coke? We all know that water is important but I've never seen it written down like this before.

WATER

1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.
4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

AND NOW FOR THE PROPERTIES OF COKE:

1. In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the truck to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.
2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of Coke and it will be gone in two days.
3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous China.
4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a crumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.
5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.
6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.
7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for sumptuous brown gravy.
8. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of Coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains.
9. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

FOR YOUR INFO:

1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days.Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase in osteoporosis.
2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must
use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for highly corrosive materials.
3. The distributors of Coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!

NOW THE QUESTION IS...


Would you like a Coke or a glass of water

Now for my thought and comments.

1. the comments that the highway patrol carries coke to wash away blood after an accident seems to be false.  There are multiple sites that have looked for this and it has not been substantiated.

2. the T-bone stake being dissolved away was busted on Mythbusters, along with lots of other coke myths.

the other items seem to have at least some truth to them.

The acidity of coke is less than the 2.8 pH used to dissolve a nail.

Phosphoric acid is used industrially to clean engine blocks.

Coke is High in sodium (salt) and HFCS (high fructose corn sugar).   the salt makes you more thirsty, the HFCS stimulates hunger.  Thirsty so you want to drink more coke, hungry so you by the big-mac to go with your coke. 

Nearly One Million Children in U.S. Potentially Misdiagnosed With ADHD

Nearly One Million Children in U.S. Potentially Misdiagnosed With ADHD

Here is a great Article that explains how young people have been given a diagnosis of ADHD because of their behavior.   Many of these children being diagnosed as ADD/ADHD  are being diagnosed by their teachers as they start school.   Schools will often push the issue of diagnosing children as ADD/ADHD because they are disruptive to the classroom.  Behavioral problem for these younger children is very frequently due to the maturity level for their age.   Resorting to drugs to control behavior at this age can have life-long consequences.