Is your pain just temporary or is it something more sinister?

Internal problems could be causing your pain

 

Back in the day I used to work in an inner city clinic. We saw a fair number of patients that did not have a primary care physician or who did not see their PCP regularly enough. That meant that we were often their first contact with the healthcare system, and they would come in when their back pain was excruciating, I mean at the point when they couldn’t bear it any more.

It was in this setting that I was able to see firsthand why waiting around with back pain is a bad idea. Some of these patients suffered from complaints ranging from gall bladder problems, pancreatitis and kidney issues to cardiovascular emergencies and even in one case: metastatic prostate cancer!

Delving further into the histories of these patients revealed that there were clues earlier on that would have been detected had they sought treatment earlier. These examples are just a few of what we have seen masquerading as back pain. 

The take home message on this one is: Just to be safe, see your primary care physician for your regular check up. If you find that you do have back pain, do not wait. Go to your healthcare provider. The truth is that your chiropractor, internist or family physician can properly diagnose your back pain and suggest the appropriate treatment. 

I invite you to learn more about the five main reasons people suffer from back pain. Will you get our free ebook? 

Just Click Here.

The free ebook is called: #BePainFree - The Five Causes Of Back Pain And The Seven Keys To Lasting Relief

Regards in health,

Dr. Davia H. Shepherd

Saporito Chiropractic

 *Disclaimer: Please remember that it's impossible for me to diagnose you and treat you just by you reading one of my articles. I'm superwoman it's true, but even that is beyond my capabilities. So before you engage in any health and wellness activities, do consult your health care provider. Please know that we are happy to address your personal concerns, just call us in office to schedule your personal consultation; and thanks ever so much for reading. We appreciate you.

Ever wonder why you are having pain?

The top five causes of back pain

 

We are Americans and Americans suffer from back pain! According to the CDC about 80% of patients will have back pain at some point.  80%! I don’t know about you but to me that’s a pretty big number. If you are reading this, that probably means that you or someone you know suffers from back pain.  Based on these numbers writing about back pain seems like an obvious topic. The key here is to remember that pain is a warning sign that something is WRONG, and that treating the source of the pain instead of masking the symptoms should be the priority.

So what causes back pain? Let’s use the most politically correct answer that we can here: “Well that depends!” Other doctors may break down the causes of pain in different ways, but for the purpose of simplicity lets break it down onto these five categories. Keep in mind that back pain is rarely caused by just one thing and these categories are just for discussion and may overlap. This list may also not be exhaustive.

1.      Internal conditions

2.      Overuse

3.      Trauma

4.      Degenerative changes

5.      Inflammatory conditions

If you suffer from back pain it’s a good idea to get in to see your health care provider sooner than later.  Here’s the deal. Even though many cases of back pain do end up being easily treated, there are sometimes when back pain can be a sign of something serious going on  the inside.

I invite you to learn more about the five main reasons people suffer from back pain. Will you get our free ebook? 

Just Click Here.

The free ebook is called: #BePainFree - The Five Causes Of Back Pain And The Seven Keys To Lasting Relief

Regards in health,

Dr. Davia H. Shepherd

Saporito Chiropractic

 *Disclaimer: Please remember that it's impossible for me to diagnose you and treat you just by you reading one of my articles. I'm superwoman it's true, but even that is beyond my capabilities. So before you engage in any health and wellness activities, do consult your health care provider. Please know that we are happy to address your personal concerns, just call us in office to schedule your personal consultation; and thanks ever so much for reading. We appreciate you.

Are you wasting money on supplements? ...5 ways to get the best from your supplements!

Discussions with our patients often include what supplements they are taking. Some patients complain that they aren't seeing the promised benefits form their supplement regimen and often the problem can be easily pinpointed and rectified!

Here are 5 tips for ensuring that the supplements being taken are doing what they should do and that they are not just a waste of money.

1. Is it really once daily?

Some supplements provide their best effect when taken as  a divided dose (twice or even three times daily) while others are easily dosed once daily. Read the instructions carefully and discuss the dosing with your health care provider to ensure safety and efficacy.

2. Is the dose only one pill?

Some supplements, especially whole food vitamins may require a number of pills be taken to arrive at the

correct dose. Many patients are accustomed to one a day vitamins and end up taking far fewer of these pills than would be able to provide the required effect. Check the directions for the correct dosing instructions.

3. Should it be taken with food?

Some supplements cannot be well absorbed unless taken with food. Other supplements may not be well absorbed when taken with food or may have reduced effectiveness when taken with some food or beverages. Talk to your healthcare provider about when best to take certain supplements to ensure the supplement is not loosing effectiveness. 

4. Taking it often enough?

Very often patients forget to take their supplements every day. Another common complaint is that patients forget to buy new supplements when they run out and so go for several days without their supplements. Not taking enough may not provide the results needed.

5. Does it work well alone?

Sometimes vitamins and minerals don't work on their own and need to be in combination to ensure their efficacy. Eg: Calcium and magnesium work well together. Vitamin D often is found in combination with K2. 

BONUS: Are all those supplements necessary anyway?

Many patients take supplements recommended by friends, family, the internet and other sources. Upon close examination of many supplement regimens there may be unnecessary supplements as well as supplements that may be contraindicated or may interact with other things they are taking. Having your health care provider evaluate your supplement needs is usually the best way to go about starting a supplement regimen.

Getting your nutrients from your food is always advisable however sometimes additional supplementation is necessary. Choosing natural, organic whole food supplements wherever possible is also shown to improve absorption and efficacy of many supplements.

To make it easier for our patients, you can now purchase your supplements on our blog or website. www.saporitochiropractic.com. Just click on the shop supplements link!

For more information or to schedule a Nutrition Therapy appointment, please call us at 860-596-1491.

Why I left my six figure career in big pharma to be your friendly neighborhood chiropractor

 

From as long as I can remember I always knew I was destined for healthcare but being a chiropractor is a second career for me. 

I started out early on thinking just like I imagine most pharmacologists and aspiring pharmacologists think: that I was going to be a super hero and develop a super-drug that cured something huge!  I worked in various divisions of three different large pharmaceutical companies and also one university all this for over a decade. Over the years though, you know, through research and interactions with actual patients, it became clear that about the majority of chronic conditions can be managed with lifestyle interventions. 

The more I spent time with actual patients, real people with real concerns, what stood out for me was that many of them (not all but many,) didn’t seem to need a new super drug at all. What became obvious was that most needed to learn how changing their lifestyles would influence their condition and they needed the tools to help themselves. I would have to say the search for a holistic solution started there.   

I did my research and found out that chiropractors are the number one holistic health care providers in the USA.  I also remembered the excellent results that friends and family had with their chiropractors over the years. I would eventually have my own very positive experience of my chiropractors helping me with my severe pain, and so my decision was made easily. I finally came home one day and told my husband that I wanted to quit my well paying job in pharmacology to go back to school. I knew about how the body functions, about biochemistry and pharmacology, but I needed to learn holistic patient care

I quit my lucrative job working for the pharmaceutical industry.  Like I said, I had been in the industry for over 10 years. Going back to school as a mature student posed its own challenges but I can truly say it was worth every moment. Chiropractic school proved to me that there is a growing movement of people who are willing to try more conservative options to care before pulling out the heavy hitters – the drugs, the surgery.

Choosing my specialty was easy.  Clinical nutrition: helping patients to live healthier lives and treating chronic conditions through nutrition therapy – well that was a no brainer for me, that’s what I had wanted all along! I have since made a commitment to dedicate the rest of my professional life to helping people realize that, they can live healthier pain free lives. And in this age of improper use of narcotic pain relievers, I offer patients an option for pain relief that is efficacious and 100% natural.

My reminder to you for 2021: 

You can live a happier, healthier and even longer life. It is possible for most patients with pain to #bepainfree! I invite you to CLICK HERE to get our Free Ebook: 

#BePainFree - The Top Five Causes Of Back Pain And The Seven Keys To Lasting Relief

Regards in Health,

Dr. Davia H. Shepherd

Saporito Chiropractic

PS: *Disclaimer: Please remember that it's impossible for me to diagnose you and treat you just by you reading one of my articles. I'm superwoman it's true, but even that is beyond my capabilities. So before you engage in any health and wellness activities, do consult your health care provider. Please know that we are happy to address your personal concerns, just call us in office (860-589-1491) to schedule your personal consultation; and thanks ever so much for reading. We appreciate you.

Turning things around in 2021... Is it possible?

CLICK HERE

I know that the last year was truly challenging in so many ways. I just wanted to reach out to remind you that it is January 6th but not too late. 

No matter how old you are, no matter where you are in life, It's not too late to live the best version of your health that you can, here and now. 

So take a moment, close your eyes if you can, and think about this: If your health was ideal, if you could wave a magic wand and change everything in a snap; what does the picture of your ideal health look like?

I've been talking to a lot of patients about this sort of thing recently. They have been saying things like: 

"With the pandemic I've gotten out of my routine, and I just need to get back on track." 

or 

"I'm just sick and tired of being sick and tired."

Is this sounding like you? If it is, you are not alone. Often we feel alone in our trials. I'm here to tell you that it is not just you, you are not alone and you may have options that you never even thought about. 

I am GIFTING you a free KICK IN THE PANTS: "7 day launchpad to optimal you."

Ok I'll be honest, It's not a diet or a challenge. If you are like me then I know you don't respond well to those things either :) Instead it is an introduction to a  totally different way of approaching your wellness.

If you are ready to step fully into a version of you that is healthier, happier and living life more vibrantly with less overwhelm and more energy then click here and lets get started.

Over the next 7 days we are going to focus on the foundations of optimal health. You will have the opportunity to determine your optimal health and develop simple strategies for implementation. As a result you will feel excited about the possibilities as you take action. But wait, there's more! After your 7 days, we can talk about your personal transformation.

Let me tell you about one of our patient's, we'll call her Sarah. By the time Sarah came in she had gained significant weight and had been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. She was overwhelmed, overtired and over it! She truly felt as though her diagnosis was something she was going to have to live with forever and she came in because someone told her about me, about how I had suffered similarly and had come out on the other side.

Sarah figured, might as well give it a chance. She had a problem. She truly wanted to and was committed to changing. But... I think she truly turned the corner when she surrendered to the idea that there is a different way to approach health. Last time I saw her, she didn't have an appointment, just stopped in to say hi. She looks and feels great and basically wanted to say thank you.

There are so many stories that I can share, I'd love to share your story too some day soon. If you are ready to change the status quo and think about health a different way, then I'm ready too. Lets do this together. CLICK HERE

Regards in Health,

Dr. Davia H. Shepherd

Saporito Chiropractic

2020 was a terrible year for my health and wellness

 Happy New Year. We wish you a happy and healthy 2021.

I'm going to be honest with you: 2020 threw me a bit of a curve ball as far as my health and wellness resolutions were concerned. As the year started I did my daily yoga practice and got into the gym a few days a week for spin classes, which I love, and to work out with my trainer, which is also something I enjoy. Then the pandemic hit, we were in lock down, and suddenly I had no more spin classes and could no longer see my trainer! Que Horror! 

For many the New Year comes with resolutions to be healthier and that for many may include weight loss aspirations. Many of us are familiar with the dreaded weight loss plateau. It’s not a myth! The weight loss plateau affects almost everyone on a weight loss program at some time or the other!  It can be disheartening! You are working so hard at losing weight and suddenly after losing several pounds it seems as though nothing is happening! 

Keep reading to learn more about how to continue progressing with your goals!

The initial large scale weight loss seen by many dieters is due to glycogen break down and water loss but eventually as muscle is lost, metabolism slows down and so does weight loss. Here are 5 simple tips which may help you back on the downward slope toward your weight loss goals!

 CLICK HERE

 "7 day Launchpad to optimal you" - It is a Health and Wellness Challenge. Are you ready to kickstart  your health & wellness for 2021? Are you ready to get back on track? Would you like us to do it together? Join me for free!

1.       Don’t stop! Don’t give up!

Studies show that for many patients, a modest weight loss of just 10 lbs improves long term health and well being significantly. Keep this in mind every day as you continue on towards your goal of a trimmer healthier version of yourself.  Getting discouraged will only set you back and prevent you from realizing your goal, so keep the vision of where you want to be firmly fixed in your head and know that you CAN do it!!

2.       Reconfigure your exercise program

Now that we’ve gotten beyond the pep talk and you are ready to tackle this small hurdle once more, take a careful look at your exercise program. You may feel as though you are doing all you can but there are always ways to get creative in order to get more from your work out. Building muscle is key at this point, as muscle cells have a higher metabolic rate than fat cells which equals more weight loss. Look at your endurance workouts, can you add in more speed intervals and hill intervals in your daily run? Talk to your trainer about increasing the weight bearing and resistance exercises that you are doing.

3.       Calories? What calories?

Talk to your nutritionist or healthcare provider about reducing your daily caloric intake by about 200 calories. This may be the kick start you need to get back on track, but be sure that your daily caloric intake remains at a level that is safe for you.

4.       Focus on Food: Food from Plants that is!

Even though fruit is nature's candy, in the case of Fruit Vs The cookie, the fruit wins hands down! This is the time to ensure that secret calories are not creeping unannounced into your diet! Fill up on fruits and veggies! At least 12 servings per day of veggies is recommended.

5.       Do the math: 50:25:25

Of your daily calories perhaps 50% may be allocated to carbohydrates. Eat high fiber complex carbohydrates like fruits vegetables peas and beans, and if you must have grains, make them whole! 25% of your calories could be low fat protein options. Reducing animal protein sources and opting for lean plant protein options may be the way to go at this time. 25% fat means good fats such as nuts, avocados and olive oil. Generally at this point avoiding processed foods Is a great idea.

6.       Bonus

As I mentioned, I am on my own journey to be healthier. This year I am going back to including more exercise, reducing food from animals and increasing plant based foods in my diet.  I am looking forward to seeing improvements in my numbers that we can all see with improved lifestyle choices:

1)      Improved Metabolism

2)      Improved cardiovascular health

3)      Improved blood sugar levels

4)      Weight loss of on average 28 lbs in 10 weeks

5)      Reduction of body fat by over 6%

In 2020 I managed to get on my yoga mat every morning which was good for my mind as well as my waistline but have been missing my time in the gym. Add to that all the pandemic binging - yes I also had my share of that- and you realize that 2020 was not an ideal situation; And so for 2021 my resolution has to do with crafting and doing my workouts at home. I have an app, I have a trainer that I can work with virtually, I have some new equipment and I have a plan. 

I'll let you know how it's going and I invite you to join me for the:

 "7 day Launchpad to optimal you" - It is a Health and Wellness Challenge. 

Are you ready to kickstart  your health and wellness for 2021? Are you ready to get back on track? Would you like us to do it together for free? 

Join me for free!

 CLICK HERE

I continue on my own journey I will keep you posted.

*Disclaimer: Please remember that it's impossible for me to diagnose you and treat you just by you reading one of my articles. I'm superwoman it's true, but even that is beyond my capabilities. So before you engage in any health and wellness activities, do consult your health care provider. Please know that we are happy to address your personal concerns, just call us in office (860-589-1491) to schedule your personal consultation; and thanks ever so much for reading. We appreciate you.