Posts by Dr. Mark Holland

Over 2 million people are injured each year in motor vehicle collisions in the U.S. While most people are able to recover from their injuries fairly quickly, many folks are left to deal with chronic pain and impairment. We see many of these patients here in our North St. Louis, MO office. Fortunately, Dr. Holland is here to help you recover from your auto injury.

The science confirms what we see in our office: A British study was carried out on 28 people diagnosed with chronic whiplash syndrome. Each participant received chiropractic care and 93 percent of them found relief following their adjustments, even though 43 percent of whiplash sufferers overall usually never find relief. This confirms that chiropractic is a great way to avoid long-term pain after an auto injury.

It's important to remember that research has also found that delaying treatment after a car crash can negatively affect healing time, so getting in to see Dr. Holland immediately is key to having a speedier recovery.

Dr. Holland has worked with many auto injury sufferers, and we're here to help you, too. Call our North St. Louis, MO office today for more information or an appointment.

Sources

• Association for Safe International Road Travel. Retrieved from http://asirt.org/initiatives/informing-road-users/road-safety-facts/road-crash-statistics
• Dies S & Strapp J. (1992, September). Chiropractic treatment of patients in motor vehicle accidents: a statistical analysis. The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 36(3), 139-145.
• Woodward M et al. (1996, November). Chiropractic treatment of chronic 'whiplash' injuries. Injury, 27(9), 643-645.

Although some people are still hesitant about chiropractic care, even the American Medical Association (AMA) recommends that adjustments should be tried prior to surgery--the one option that should be a last resort.

Dr. Holland has seen many back pain patients in our North St. Louis, MO office who have been in pain for years and who are afraid that they might need an operation for their back pain. Dr. Holland has had great success in helping patients recover and avoid risky surgery, and the science backs up our experience.

For example, in one study carried out on almost 2,000 Washington State workers who suffered from a back injury while on the job, more than 42% who saw a surgeon first following their injury found themselves having back surgery within three years. That compares to just 1.5% of the people who first sought treatment with chiropractic care, demonstrating that this non-invasive approach is extremely effective at keeping you off the operating table.

There are options to risky medical procedures. Chiropractic is a proven effective and safe way to improve the function of your spine, which is the root cause of back pain. Dr. Holland has helped many patients in North St. Louis, MO recover. Give our office a call today at (314) 588-9100 for an appointment.

Goodman DM, Burke AE, Livingston. Low Back Pain. The Journal of the American Medical Association 2013;309(16);1738.

Keeney BJ, Fulton-Kehoe D, Turner JA, et al. Early predictors of lumbar spine surgery after occupational back injury: results from a prospective study of workers in Washington State. Spine 2013;38(11):953-964.

If you have neck pain after a car accident, don't worry. Dr. Holland sees this type of condition frequently in our North St. Louis, MO office. Chiropractic is an excellent way to treat neck pain. Let's look at how neck pain is caused by a crash and how Dr. Holland can help you.

It's not surprising that neck pain is the most common problem experienced after an auto injury. During even a low speed collision, your head is subjected to very rapid acceleration. In such crashes, a head that normally weighs about 10 pounds can suddenly weigh eight times as much. This force exerts a serious strain on the tissues of the cervical spine. The bones of your spinal column are held together with strong bands of tissue called ligaments, and these ligaments provide stability for your neck. These ligaments can be sprained during a car crash, just as the ligaments in your ankle can be sprained. A sprain means that the ligament is stretched or torn.

When you experience a sprained ligament, the injured area gets inflamed and sore, and that's what takes place after a car crash. Chiropractic helps by increasing movement in the injured region, which helps the ligaments heal and helps minimize scar tissue.

If you've been hurt in a car crash and you're struggling with neck pain, Dr. Holland is here to help. First, we'll do a careful assessment to determine the root cause of your problem, and then decide how to restore your body's natural functioning. Give our office a call today at (314) 588-9100 to make an appointment.

Chiropractic Better Than Drugs for Back Pain

In our North St. Louis, MO office, Dr. Holland has helped countless patients recover from back pain. If you suffer from back pain, you've probably been tempted to take some medications to relieve the discomfort. You should recognize that research indicates that chiropractic care is usually a much healthier choice than drugs when it comes to relieving this common type of problem.

In a 2013 report published in the medical journal Spine experts included 101 subjects who had experienced back pain for at least two days. Each individual was then assigned to one of three groups. The first group, which consisted of 37 individuals, received chiropractic care and a placebo of the drug diclofenac. The second group of 38 individuals received sham chiropractic adjustments and the actual drug. The third group of 25 people acted as the control as those subjects engaged in sham chiropractic and also received the placebo, thus having no real treatment at all.

All of the subjects who received some form of actual treatment, whether through chiropractic care or the medication, fared better than the control patients who had no actual care. However, when the two active groups were compared to each other, the people who received chiropractic adjustments had improvements that were "significantly better" than those who took the drug.

Chiropractic: Natural Healing

Because chiropractic care is non-invasive and involves no use of medication, it helps promote healing without undesirable side effects. For example, NSAIDs can result in ulcers, hypertension, and other serious health concerns. Plus, the benefits of chiropractic last longer as it's designed to correct the source of the spinal interference, not just treat the symptoms.

If you're ready to get help for your back pain naturally, then chiropractic care is for you. Call and make an appointment in our North St. Louis, MO office with Dr. Holland today at (314) 588-9100. We'll help relieve your back problems in a healthy way!

References

von Heymann WJ, Schloemer P, Timm J, Muehlbauer B. Spinal high-velocity low amplitude manipulation in acute nonspecific low back pain: a double-blind randomized controlled trial in comparison with diclofenac and placebo. Spine 2013;38(7):540-548.

If you are suffering from headache after an auto injury, you're not alone. Dr. Holland sees this type of condition frequently in our North St. Louis, MO office. Chiropractic care is an excellent way to treat headache. Let's look at how headache is caused by a crash and how Dr. Holland can help you.

There are many different types of headache. Headache that's triggered by an auto collision, though, usually begins as tension or strain in the muscles of the neck. In a collision, the neck muscles can be torn, which causes swelling and pain. These kinds of headache can be felt in different places, including the back of the head or even the temple.

Another common cause of headache after a crash that we see in our North St. Louis, MO office is cervicogenic headache, or headaches that start in injured ligaments of the neck. Ligament injury is very common after a crash, and it's important to get care for this type of problem to prevent the creation of scar tissue.

Chiropractic care is an effective way to treat headaches, including those triggered by auto injuries. Your chiropractor will help reduce the inflammation and strain in your neck, which will help ease the headache pain.

Dr. Holland has been helping patients in North St. Louis, MO since 2000, so we know what you're living with. We're here to help you, too. First, we'll do a careful examination to determine the root cause of your problem, and then decide how to restore your body's natural functioning. Give our office a call today at (314) 588-9100 to make an appointment.

We know how difficult persistent headache pain can be. Dr. Holland and our staff have worked with many people in our North St. Louis, MO chiropractic clinic, and we've had great success in helping patients eliminate their headache pain.

A 2016 research paper verifies what we see in our practice. In this study, the authors started with 110 patients who were suffering from headaches that originated in the cervical spine. 58 of these patients were given a series of neck adjustments; 52 were given some stretches and exercises. The treatment period for both groups was four weeks.

The paper found that the individuals who received cervical and thoracic spinal adjustments "experienced significantly greater reductions in headache intensity, disability, headache frequency, headache duration, and medication intake as compared to the group that received mobilization and exercise."

The investigation also found that these outcomes were maintained at the three-month follow-up exam.

Chiropractic is a safe and effective way to treat headache, back pain, neck pain, and many other health conditions. If you're tired of suffering, give Dr. Holland a call today at our North St. Louis, MO office at (314) 588-9100. We're here to help get relief.

Research

Dunning JR, Butts R, Mourad F, Young I, et al. Upper cervical and upper thoracic manipulation versus mobilization and exercise in patients with cervicogenic headache: a multi-center randomized clinical trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2016;17(1):64.

Chiropractic is based on the concept of aiding your body to naturally heal through spinal adjustments and lifestyle changes that promote wellness. For Dr. Holland, this involves working hard to reestablish your body's natural performance to avoid the need for drugs or surgery. We see that many of our North St. Louis, MO patients are relieved to find a natural answer for their health conditions.

One advantage of chiropractic care is that it helps people decrease or even eliminate the use of narcotics. Prescription medications are commonly issued to people who have back problems. This is such a significant crisis that the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) issued a report stating that opioid (painkiller) risks overshadow the advantages when prescribed for back pain.

Some of the most popular opiates, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, include hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin and Percocet), morphine, and codeine. Figures supplied by the AAN cite the fact that about 50% of the patients taking these types of substances for a period of three months are still on them five years later. This can further complicate the difficulty of back pain and healing, especially if an opiate dependency arises.

Contrast that to chiropractic which involves natural healing and the benefits are clear. While a drug might be useful at temporarily relieving the discomfort of a health condition, it's not a long-term solution to the problem. Drugs don't mend your damaged spine; it will only conceal the pain.

Dr. Holland will first examine you to get to the origin of your back problems and then work with you to address the spinal interference -- without any risky medications.

If you're ready to get out of pain, naturally, give our North St. Louis, MO office a call at (314) 588-9100 to make an appointment with Dr. Holland.

References

• Risk of opioids outweigh benefits for headache, low back pain, other conditions. American Academy of Neurology;September 29, 2014.
• What are opioids? National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/prescription-drugs/opioids/what-are-opioids

If you are dealing with thoracic outlet syndrome after a car crash, don't despair. Dr. Holland sees this type of condition very often in our North St. Louis, MO office. Chiropractic care is a great way to treat thoracic outlet syndrome. Let's look at how thoracic outlet syndrome is caused by a crash and how Dr. Holland can help you.

The thoracic outlet is a bundle of blood vessels and nerves that travel through your neck and shoulder to your arm. These vessels don't have a lot of space, so they pass under and between the strong bands of muscles that support your head.

In a crash, these muscle groups can be stretched and strained. If damaged, the muscles become swollen and tender, and they can develop scar tissue which limits movement and puts stress on the tissues of the thoracic outlet. Pressure on the nerves can cause tingling or numbness in the shoulder, elbow and even the wrist. Pressure on the blood vessels can also cause problems in the arm.

North St. Louis, MO Thoracic Outlet Treatment

Chiropractic can be an effective way to treat thoracic outlet syndrome, as Dr. Holland will help improve mobility in your spine and restore normal nerve function in your neck and shoulder.

You don't have to suffer from thoracic outlet syndrome. Dr. Holland is conveniently located in North St. Louis, MO to help you heal, whether you've been in an auto collision or not. The first step is to get an accurate diagnosis to determine what's causing your symptoms and then we will determine an appropriate treatment approach. Ready to make an appointment? Give us a call at (314) 588-9100 and we'll get you back on the road to health.

Many people experience headache pain, and tension headaches are a frequent problem in our busy world. Postural problems and stress are common causes of tension headache pain, and ones that Dr. Holland and the team here in our North St. Louis, MO chiropractic office have a lot of experience in treating.

The scientific literature confirms our results: A 2016 study from Spain treated a group of 76 patients with chronic tension headaches. The participants were divided into four treatment groups: 19 patients were treated with suboccipital inhibition (the doctor presses on the tight tissues at the top of the spine); 19 with chiropractic adjustments; 19 with both adjustments and suboccipital inhibition; and 19 received no treatment.

The researchers found that the spinal adjustments were effective at relieving pain, and that the best results were found when adjustments were combined with the suboccipital inhibition.

When we get stressed, the nerves and tissues in the neck can be disrupted, resulting in pain. Chiropractic works by removing these strains and restoring the normal nerve function to the area.

If you live in North St. Louis, MO and are suffering from any kind of headache, we're here to help you get relief. Call Dr. Holland today at (314) 588-9100 for an appointment or more information.

Citation

Espi-Lopez GV, Rodriguez-Blanco C, Oliva-Pascual-Vaca A, et al. Do manual therapy techniques have a positive effect on quality of life in people with tension-type headache? A randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Physical Rehabilitation Medicine 2016; February 29.

In our North St. Louis, MO practice, we see many people who are suffering from back pain, and some of these folks have been advised they might need surgery to recover. Thankfully, Dr. Holland has helped many people get relief without the need for any type of surgical procedure. The science agrees with the success we see in our office. One medical study published in the academic journal Spine found that consulting with a chiropractor as your first step in dealing with your back pain may literally keep you out of the operating room.

In this report, medical researchers from Dartmouth reviewed data from 1,885 workers from Washington state who first saw either a surgeon or a chiropractic doctor for their back-related issues. They then examined three years' worth of follow-up medical data to ascertain whether the patients wound up having back surgery in an attempt to correct the issue.

What the authors observed was that about 43% of the patients who first saw a surgeon for their back issues ended up having a surgical procedure in that 3-year time frame, whereas only 1.5 percent of those who first saw a chiropractor had the same fate. The authors wrote:

"Even after controlling for injury severity and other measures, workers with an initial visit for the injury to a surgeon had almost nine times the odds of receiving lumbar spine surgery compared to those seeing primary care providers, whereas workers whose first visit was to a chiropractor had significantly lower odds of surgery."

These are remarkable findings. Visiting a chiropractor dramatically reduces your odds of getting back surgery, plus the chiropractic patients in this report "had lower odds of chronic work disability" and they also had fewer expensive MRI tests.

Let's also consider this important detail: this study was carried out by orthopedic surgeons from Dartmouth College, and published in the world's most prestigious medical journal on spinal injury.

The Problems with Surgery

Any surgery has risks, but a serious downside related to spine surgery is that there is a very high rate of failure. In an important analysis in the European Spine Journal, researchers wrote:

"Failed back surgery is a problem that has become sufficiently widespread to even warrant its own special conferences, with recent reviews reporting failure rates ranging from 5 to 50%."

The experts in this same study concluded:

"It is extremely difficult to identify unequivocal predictor factors that can be used to accurately predict the outcome of surgery."

As a chiropractor, Dr. Holland is convinced that surgery should be the absolute last resort for treating back pain. Chiropractic works to restore your spine to its normal function--without the need of risky surgery or drugs--and many research studies have confirmed the usefulness of chiropractic for back pain.

If you live in North St. Louis, MO and you need relief for your back pain, give our office a call today at (314) 588-9100 for a consultation or an appointment. We'll help get you back on the road to a pain-free life!

Studies

• Keeney BJ, Fulton-Kehoe D, Turner JA, Wickizer TM, Chan KC, Franklin GM. Early predictors of lumbar spine surgery after occupational back injury: results from a prospective study of workers in Washington State. Spine 2013;38(11):953-964.
• Mannion AF, Elfering A. Predictors of surgical outcome and their assessment. European Spine Journal 2006;15(Suppl 1):S93-S108.