Chiropractor in Kansas City Helps Patients with Foot Pain, Morton's Neuromas, and Plantarfascitis

 I love adjusting feet!  It is one of the most interesting parts of the body to adjust...and there's usually instant gratification for me.  The best part is the smile on the patient's face when they stand up and their feet feel better right away.

I have treated many patients with foot problems with about a 95% rate of success with many different foot conditions.

 Plantarfascitis - a foot condition where the tendons and ligaments underneath the feet shorten and tighten.  Patients usually complain of pain with their first steps in the morning.  That first step irritates the attachment sites on the bottom of the feet starting the inflammation and pain reaction in the body. Adjusting the feet, exercises, stretches, and in some cases therapeutic ultrasound give patients pain relief, reduce inflammation, and increase flexibility in the soft tissue.  Acupuncture has also been known to help this as well.

 Morton's Neuroma - I have also had success in reducing the pain with Morton's Neuromas.  Most of the time adjusting the feet and mobilizing the soft tissue of the feet and ankles will take pressure off the area where the neuroma is forming.  The neuroma is a benign tumor that is actually a thickening of the tissue surrounding the nerve that goes between the toes.  Once the foot is adjusted there is more mobility and less pressure on the nerves, and the pain lessens.  There are instances that patients will still have to undergo surgery, but many times I have seen their pain completely resolve and thus avoid surgery altogether.  I have also had patients who have had surgery and only have temporary relief.  It is critical to look at the biomechanics of the feet and the quality of footwear.

 Foot pain - Ever twist your ankle?  Wear heels? Shoes with poor arch support? Break your foot or ankle and have to wear a cast?  These are some of the most common causes of foot pain that I've seen.  When I adjust the feet I check all of the bones in the feet to determine where there are misalignments and restrictions in motion.  There can also be restrictions in the ankle and knee as well that need to be adjusted along with the feet.  This is especially true in cases of sport injury, prior fracture, patients who wear heels, and patients who cross their legs a lot.  I have helped quite a few runners and track athletes return to competition after adjusting their feet and legs.

If you have foot, ankle, knee or hip pain, I recommend that you be evaluated by a Chiropractor who has a lot of experience with adjusting these areas.  I have so many patients that never knew a Chiropractor could help these types of problems, and now feel so much better!

Better Health is only a phone call away!

Dr. Kristine Baker

Kansas City Chiropractor Helps Patients with Back Pain and Posture

Do you lean to one side in the mirror?  You should check...really.

 Why?  This could be an indication that you have misalignments in your back, or a bulging disc, EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS!

 I see so many patients that come in the office and their low back hurts and their upper body is leaning forward or to one side.  This is what we call antalgic posture.  You will HAVE to assume this position to be pain free when you have a disc bulging in your spine, or other major misalignment.  Sometimes long before you have symptoms, your posture starts to change to compensate for a misalignment aka subluxation in the spine.  If you can get adjusted before this becomes symptomatic, then your chances of having severe back pain are much less.  In fact, you may not even have a back pain flare up at all.

 This is part of the reason that I stress regular adjustments as part of your overall wellness plan.  The frequency that your body needs adjusted is different for everyone.  Sometimes at first it is once or twice a week, and then it tapers down to every week, every other week, and then monthly.  I have patients that feel great as long as they get adjusted every 4-8 weeks, and the lucky ones who only need a "tune up a few times a year". 

The patients that need the least amount of maintenance adjustments usually have the following habits:

1. They drink plenty of water

2. They eat minimal sugar and processed foods

3. They exercise - anywhere from regular walks around the block to marathon runners

4. They have good sleeping posture and get plenty of sleep

Why am I stressing the importance of maintenance care? 

Last night I was reminded about the importance of maintenance care on my car.  My engine was starting to run a little hot and then I realized I hadn't checked the fluid in my radiator for way too long.  My car needed fluid in the radiator, and now the problem has resolved!  For the cost of a gallon of radiator fluid (about 5.00!), I saved myself the cost of a new engine (several thousand dollars!).

Just like your car, maintenance care is much less expensive that repairing a big problem that has been ignored.   Sometimes when you keep an eye on the little things, it keeps the big things from happening.  Regular adjustments are an affordable and enjoyable way to have your spine and body checked on a regular basis by a Doctor that is trained to maximize the longevity of your body.  I have found and corrected many little problems with my patient's health long before they were big enough to interfere with work, family, and vacations.  I've even found a few undiagnosed life-threatening problems with patients who were on a maintenance program, and were so grateful for my careful attention to their overall health. 

 Getting adjusted for minor problems or when back pain and neck pain initally starts takes less visits to resolve and is easier to correct and maintain long term.  I invite you to look at yourself in the mirror and look for the following indicators of needing an adjustment:

1. Hips are unlevel

2. Shoulders are uneven

3. Head is tilted to one side

4. The arch of either foot is flat on the ground. (This can cause foot, knee and back problems)

5. Your upper body is leaning to one side or leaning forward.

Great posture contributes to great health!  Maintain your body so that you will be healthy and mobile for decades to come!

 Better Health is only a phone call away!

Dr. Kristine Baker

Kansas City Chiropractor Uses Acupuncture for Patients Wanting Stress Relief

Frazzled? Overtired? Sleep deprived? Worn out? Feeling Disconnected?

I've seen patients feeling this way time and time again.  I take care of many patients who have a high stress job or family life, and they tell me that they can handle stressful situations with more ease after an Acupuncture session.

How does Acupuncture work?

Acupuncture is a system of balancing energy via channels in the body called meridians.  In my office, I use a tool called Acugraph to measure the energy in the Acupuncture meridians.  From that scan I can determine how the body's energy needs to be balanced.  There are certain Acupuncture points that raise energy, lower excessive energy, or balance energy in split meridians.  Split meridians is a term that is used when one side of the body has too much energy and the other side has too little energy.  For example the Lung Meridian may read 25 on the left and 75 on the right side on the patient's Acugraph scan.  The point that is used to treat that will even out the energy between the left and right side readings.  Think of opening the door between a room full of water, and a room with no water.  The water level will be even in both rooms once the door has been opened.

When you balance the energy in the body, the body feels better.  Sleep can improve, alertness increases, and in almost every case patients tell me that they feel more grounded and peaceful.

I have also seen Acupuncture help someone go through the stages of grief after losing a loved one with more ease.  There are points that are known to help depression, anxiety, letting go, worry, and anger.  Each of these emotions is associated with and can impact different meridian systems.  Therefore if you are in a state of guilt and grief which are associated with Lung, you may also have problems with your arms, chest, lungs, taking a full breath, and swelling in the body.  All of these symptoms can be impacted by an energy imbalance in the Lung meridian triggered by grief or guilt.

The Acugraph program that I use in my office is so valuable and allows me to show patients exactly how their meridians are out of balance.  By combining the treatment points recommended on their scan with the classic Acupuncture points used for certain conditions, I am able to get results that have my patients leaving my office happy and at peace.

What more can you ask for really?

Better Health is only a phone call away!

Dr. Kristine Baker

Chiropractor in Kansas City Helps Chronic Pain Post Surgery with Total Body Modification

I witnessed something truly extraordinary this weekend.  A friend of mine who is also a patient had bilateral BK (below knee) amputations 3 months ago and still had excruciating pain in her tibias (shin bone) where the bone had been cut.  She had been absolutely miserable from the pain she had been experiencing, even with pain medication.  Her pain level was so high that she couldn't even wiggle the stumps or amputation sites, and had a lot of pain climbing into her wheelchair and during transfers in and out of her wheelchair.

Several days before I treated her, I instructed her to drink her water requirement of 1 quart per 50 pounds of body weight per day.  I also told her to eat a lot of meat protein and vegetables, so that her body had the fuel that it needed to heal.

During her TBM treatment I thought of a chronic pain correction I had used on another patient with chronic head pain, and used it on her.  In a matter of 30 seconds, she had almost NO pain in her tibia at all!!!  She immediately started to cry because it was almost unbelievable.  She could touch her tibia with no pain! 

After she cried and we celebrated the amazing results, I said "Are you ready for me to work on the other tibia?"  About a minute later, we were so happy again, as now BOTH tibias weren't hurting!

She had avoided wiggling her legs because of the excruiciating pain before the correction, and after the correction she tried wiggling them.  No pain!  It felt so good to her because before her amputation she liked to wiggle her ankles and twist her feet around. 

She called her mom and sister to share the good news!  She said it was her first day as a Happy Amputee. 

It was a moment I'll always remember. 

Better Health is only a phone call away.

Dr. Kristine Baker

Kansas City Chiropractor Educates Patients on the Importance of Proper Hydration in Healing Back and Neck Pain

In my office I see so many patients with recurring back pain and neck pain.  As a holistic Doctor, I ALWAYS ask the question "How much water do you drink a day?"

 A lot of times I hear "not enough" or "I drank 3 glasses of tea with lunch".  Then I ask "How many ounces of water only did you drink today? Yesterday?"

 Time and time again I see the same predictable results.  The patients who follow my recommendation for 1 quart of water per 50 pounds of body weight per day have INCREDIBLE results that last a long time.  Patients that do not meet their water requirement struggle with their progress, can easily get frustrated, and then wonder why they aren't seeing the significant improvement they hoped for.  Dehydration is actually one of the main precursors to a loss of health. 

As their Doctor, it is challenging for me to deliver the care that patients need if they are dehydrated.  Severely dehydrated patients cannot handle as much correction during their visit, and can feel lightheaded during or after their treatment due to dehydration.  I am usually getting glasses of water for the dehydrated patients at the end of their visit.  Their body is demanding water at that point.  After they drink the glass of water, they all feel more alert and feel better overall.

Now I always recommend a quart of water and a high protein meal or snack within 1-2 hours prior to their appointment.  This sets everyone up to maximize their results!

 Why am I writing multiple posts on drinking water?

 I am committed to giving my patients the best possible holistic health care using different techniques like Chiropractic, Acupuncture, CranioSacral Therapy, and Total Body Modification.  Drinking their water requirement is essential for them to have long term wellness and the results they desire for their body.  Many times, if they drink enough water, they do not have frequent relapses or re-injury of their body.

 Hydration is one essential component in your overall wellness plan for your body.

 Finding a Holistic Doctor that is looking out for your well-being from multiple angles including hydration, diet, stress, spinal alignment, workplace ergonomics, and sleep (quality and quantity) is paramount in achieving long lasting wellness.

Better health is only a phone call away!

 Dr. Kristine Baker