Chiropractor - Peabody
215 Newbury Street
Peabody, MA 01960
978-535-6155
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The Gift by Dr Ellen Blomerth
If someone gave you a gift that took them 9 months to make, that they put alot of effort into (their heart and soul), and then even after they gave you the wonderful gift, they or someone else spent even more years helping you use that gift... Do you think you might appreciate it? Would this gift be precious to you? Would you want to take care of it so it would last a long time?
It gets even better. This gift comes with all sorts of special features, each one similar to other gifts like it, but unique to the person the gift was made for. It has all sorts of cool automatic functions that you don't have to program or reset all the time. These features will even run, and give you all their benefits with you knowing how they do what they do. This really cool gift will help you appreciate music, and art, and sports if you want, companionship and love if you so choose, good food and the whole range of human experiences. It even runs on things found in the environment so you don't have to keep buying batteries for it. Sound interesting? Do you think you might enjoy one of these gifts? Well you do own one. We all do! I hope you are enjoying it, and also appreciating it so that gift that someone worked so hard to give you will last you a long time and give you years of pleasurable use.
Of course I am talking about our bodies. In the day to day course of taking care of my patients and teaching them about the proper care and feeding of their own unique special gift that is their body, I often find myself trying to find ways to communicate the value of what they own. Because everybody we know owns a body, we tend to take them for granted. Often we don't really appreciate what our bodies can do until after we lose some function for a time, then get it back. In my business, where I take care of a lot of backs, most patients agree that other people do not understand how disabling a back injury can be until they have suffered from one themselves. And all people with bad backs are very happy when they get back their full function. The same can pretty much be said or any body part or function.
I sometimes use this gift analogy to explain another good reason why people need to make taking care of their body one of their priorities. Telling them how bad they could feel or what they won't be able to do if they don't eat right or do their exercises only works for those people who have experienced bad pains and don't want to go through that again. Motivating people to exercise by explaining how it will make them look better, or more sexy only works for those who care if they look better or sexy.
However, there are lots of people who make pretty much everyone and everything else more important that taking care of themselves. Their health is sinking fast while they feel trapped in a world where they can't take the first step towards better health because the dog must be taken to the groomer and their child's 20 different projects must be overseen in infinite detail, taking every minute of their frazzled day.
Maintaining good health to care of this wonderful gift that we were given, is often just a case of balance.
- Balancing the demands on our time (is volunteering for one more project just because someone asked you to, really the best use of your time)
- Balancing when and ow much and what you eat ( we are all different as to what is best for our own personal chemistry)
- Balancing adequate and restorative rest with healthy activity, work and recreation. And balancing the needs of our body, (making sure it will give us long term, pain free service with minimum stops for repairs) with meeting the needs of our families and work.
Learning how to balance goes a long way towards appreciating the gifts we have been given and then taking care of ourselves, for longer, healthier lives.
If you have children, you know how much effort goes into raising a child. Wouldn't you like to think that your children will one day appreciate that effort and take care of themselves? Well the main way children learn about such things is by observing what their parents do. So if you put everything and everyone else first and don't take even a little time to care for yourself, that how would children learn that it is important to care of themselves when they get older?
How does chiropractic fit into all of this? Discovering and teaching you the unique needs of you body so that you can properly care of it is just one of the wellness services that we offer. We try to help when you hurt, or when something isn't working right. And we encourage you in your efforts to find that balance in all aspects of your life. Coaching and encouraging your efforts rather than judging. Supporting and working with you rather than dictating care. Teaching and explaining rather than confusing or ordering.
As you set out your goals and aspirations for the New Year, I hope that you find my gift analogy useful in thinking about how you might approach you life differently. And if you would like Blomerth Chiropractic to work as part of your health care team, just give us a call. We appreciate working with or current patients, enjoy welcoming back old friends to help with new or ongoing issues and look forward to meeting new people to help care of all those unique and wondrous gifts we were all given and are learning to appreciate.
The first step towards better health is to call for an appointment, call 978-535-6155 right now while you are thinking of it, and before you forget!
IS YOUR LOWER BACK PAIN JUST A SORE MUSCLE?
IT COULD BE SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS!
When they experience low back pain most people try heat, ice, sleeping on the floor, even taking pain pills hoping their pain will go away. But the more you don't know, the more likely you may experience serious disc or nerve injury or even something worse.
Mild low back pain that clears in a couple of days with a little rest, tender care, and a couple of pain pills is usually nothing to worry about. But if your pain kep recurring, even if you are active, or if it continues longer than a week, you would be wise to get it checked out.
Low back pain is nt as simple as it sounds. The pain can range from a mild ache to severe debilitating agony that leaves te sufferer lying on their back unable to move.
Here at Blomerth Chiropractic, when a person with low back pain comes to us for help, the first thing we do s try to figure out what part, or parts, of their body is causing the pain. The injury may be due to muscles, joints,bones, ligaments, tendons, discs, nerves. Or...it could be an internal problem with an organ referring to pain to the lower back. Kidney inflammation or kidney stones, inflamatory pelvin disease, bowl and uterine, even prostate problems and in very rare cases cancer can all refer pain to the ower back and sometimes can fel just like a stiff painful muscle.
How bad it hurts does not tell you what is hurt. I've seen muscle spasms land people in the hospital while other were walking around with bulging discs and continuing to work.
It if turns out to be something simple, like stuck joints or pulled muscles, a few visits might be al it takes to clear the problem. More serious conditions like a disc bulge or pinched nerves take longer to heal. We take care of disc problems all the time and most can be treated without surgery. If ther is an internal organ problem or if your back condition is too severe for us to treat, then we refer you to the proper doctor for treatment. If your lower back pain is not healing with a week or so...do not ignore it. Low back pain conditions are much more simple and faster to treat when new. And while we often successfully treat even long standing back pain conditions, it takes longer to heal and becomes a more complex problem the longer you have had the condition. So if you have been suffering with lower back pain...don't wait!
Give us a call, even if your medical doctors do not have good answers for you, to find out i ter may be something we can do to help. For the month of October, we are offering free low back pain consultations where we sit down with you, discuss your condition and let you know if we can help. Why suffer unnecessarily? Give us a call today at 978-535-6155
From Dr. Ellen Blomerth, registered Neuropathy Dr ™
Your brain runs and controls everything that happens in your body. Your brain sends signals along your nerves to all your organs and body parts in order to communicate with them. Your body sends signals back up the nerves to the brain to tell the brain what is needed. Joint problems in your spine or spinal disc problems can cause interference with the proper working of this critical communication system. Chiropractic care removes interference to your nervous system so that it will work as best as it can for you. When your brain and body can communicate optimally, you naturally become healthier. This is why chiropractors teach their patients that health comes from the above down (from the brain to the body) and from the inside out (meaning that when your body functions properly, it heals itself).
You can spend hundreds of dollars on vitamins, supplements and good food, but if your body can’t digest the nutrients properly, or absorb the nutrients like it should, or eliminate the left-over waste products, because the nerves going to your insides aren’t working properly… then the nutrition is not doing you much good.
You can exercise all day, but if the nerves going to your heart and lungs and muscles are not working properly… then the effort will not build as much health as you would like.
When you suffer with neuropathy, there are a number of causes for your nerves not working right. Our specialized neuropathy care includes gentle chiropractic treatments to remove nerve interference so that your body has a better chance to heal.
Have you completed your initial neuropathy care with us and are continuing your treatments at home? Remember to schedule follow-up visits at least once per month to continue the gains you have made in your health. Call today to schedule a convenient visit at 978-535-6155.
Are you wondering if our care might help your condition but are a little afraid? We offer modern, gentle treatments that can safely and comfortably help people with a wide range of health challenges. Call us for a free consult where you can learn if we might be able to help you. Our number is 978-535-6155.
AUGUST WEIGHT LOSS/DETOX CLASS
HEAD INTO THE FALL HEALTHIER THAN EVER:
- GET A JUMP START ON YOUR WEIGHT LOSS
- LOWER CHOLESTEROL, TRIGLYCERIDES AND BLOOD PRESSURE
- TRIM BELLY FAT
- CLEAR BRAIN FOG
CALL TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT: 978-535-6155
When: Class begins Monday, August 8th 6:30 pm
Where: Blomerth Chiropractic Office
Cost: $100 down the week before class begins, $200 on first day of class
Cost includes all supplements and supplies, 4 classes, first day and final day measurements of height, weight, blood pressure, measurements of waist/hips, and Body Mass index
Classes run Mondays Aug 8, Aug 10, Aug 22, Aug 29 all at 6:30 pm.
Class 1: initial private weigh-in/measurements, learn how toxic are you, how did you get toxic in the first place, how being toxic hinders weight loss, how proper detoxifying helps you lose weight. Receive initial supplements to begin detoxification.
Class 2: learn how to make great tasting smoothies, what foods make up a low glycemic index diet, how the detox diet works. Receive special alkalizing protein powder and fiber powder for making your smoothies.
Class 3: classes’ choice of exercise program or non-toxic cleaning and personal products program
Class 4: final private measurements/ weigh-out, answer questions for where we go from here, share successes and insights gained from the classes experiences.
NATURAL HEALTH TODAY TV SHOW
Click on www.danverstv.org for “Natural Health Today”. Or, click on broadcast schedule under the community access tab, for airing times on which stations. Or you can watch Natural Health Today on Comcast channel 99.
It is a new season for our Natural Health Today TV Show. Here are some of the questions sent in by our viewers and Dr. Steve’s answers. If you have any questions you would like to see answered on the show, simply send them to us by snail mail, or e-mail at www.blomerthchiropractic.com in the send us a message box, or drop them by the office.
Questions From Our TV Viewers
Q from Karen: My husband hurt his back playing softball last Sunday. I’ve told him he should stretch more. Which stretches are best for him to avoid another “back attack”?
A: Most stretching fails if it is not part of a back strengthening exercise program. We incorporate core strengthening exercises as part of a total approach to help you re-gain health. The right strengthening exercises automatically stretch overly tight muscles and help you regain muscle balance.
Q from Bruce: My feet have been bothering me lately. The only thing that I can think of is I have been walking a lot more mowing my lawn. But I have always mowed my lawn by hand in the summer. But this summer my feet seem to be bothering me. My neighbor says it sounds like “heel spurs” to him. What do you think?
A: Yes heel spurs could be one of many possibilities. You might have flat feet causing your foot pain. When we examine our patients, we also look at their foot gear and show them what to look for in a functionally supportive shoe. Special custom insoles we make often relieve our patients’ pain by correcting its cause.
Q from Arthur: My wife thinks I am overweight just because I huff and puff on the cellar stairs. Do I really need to go with her to Weight Watchers? It seems to take so long to lose weight, are there any 'tricks' that could help me?
A: Huffing and puffing on the cellar stairs may indicate heart or lung problems beyond just being overweight. Not everyone needs the Weight Watcher program if they learn the basic way to lose weight: eat limited carbohydrates, have protein every 2-3 hours and do not skip meals (a low glycemic index diet). We give our patients a dietary diary to see what their eating trends are before suggesting an individualized approach for them. And if they have trouble losing weight, we lead them through a nutritionally based detox program to help their liver which makes weight loss easier.
Q from Edna: My daughter is in great shape. She takes gymnastics three days a week. She has started having neck pains but she has not fallen on her neck. Is this just normal 'growing pains' for a child?
A: 'Growing pains' are not causing your daughter's neck pain. Gymnastics are a great way to stay fit and develop coordination. But as in all sports there can be overuse injuries. Some children in gymnastics class become 'too flexible' which leads to pain. We check muscle balance and give exercises to enhance good spinal stabilization. We like to encourage sports like gymnastics for the good it can do. But we know that some children’s gymnastics routines have caused them to lose some spinal stabilization which is just as important as flexibility.
Q from Shirley: I stay active between my garden, my bike and my yoga classes. But I have been waking in the morning with a stiff achy back. Don't tell me to cut back on my activities just because I turned 50 last year. What do you recommend for someone like me who likes to stay active?
A: We recommend you stay with all your good activities. But adding chiropractic care makes sense just as going to a dentist makes sense. By examining you we find out which joints may be a little stuck, which muscles are weak, which muscles are tight and have trigger points. We also look to see if your feet are flat and whether your spine is crooked. Because knowing all these things helps us help you stay healthy and relieves your pain naturally. Your stiff achy back in the morning can be helped. The first step is finding what you need to add to keep up your good healthy life style.
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