Thinking Outside The Box

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Posted on 2009-10-30 13:51:09

I love crayons. I love the bright colors, the smell when you open a new box. The feel of the crayons on the paper. A new box of Crayola Crayons brings back good memories. It allows you to think outside the box. Color choices are yours. There are no rules. You're free to create.

Chiropractic is like that. Thinking outside the box. When a cold starts to come on the first thing many folks think is how quickly can I get to the store to get cold meds. 

What we need to think FIRST is how quickly can I get to my chiropractor! Take ear infections in children for example:

Middle Ear Infection ( From Chiroweb)

A good example are children and earaches. Earache is the most common reason for office visits to pediatricians. By the age of three years, more than 70 percent of children will have had at least one episode of earache and about a third will have had more than three episodes. It is not surprising, therefore, that earache is also the most common reason for children under the age of five years presenting to the chiropractor's office. According to 1992 survey data, children with earache attending the chiropractor will usually respond within about three visits. Many of these children with middle ear infections that respond to treatment by the chiropractor have had a long history of middle ear infections coupled with several courses of seemingly ineffective antibiotic treatment.

When a child with earache is diagnosed with middle ear infection by the pediatrician, the usual treatment involves a course of antibiotics.  Why then do some of these children continue to have ear problems? The cause of the child's middle ear infection may not be due to bacteria, and since antibiotics are only effective against bacterial pathogens, then frequently there will be no response. Since numerous cases of middle ear infection can be caused by a virus, and viruses do not respond to antibiotics, this may be the reason why children develop chronic ear infections.

Also, not all bacteria will succumb to antibiotics, so several different formulations may have to be tried.

Next, even though the selected antibiotics may be quite effective in eliminating the invading bacteria, the residual fluid may be retained inside the ear due to impaired drainage from the middle ear cavity. This fluid may become an ideal culturing medium for the next pathogen which arrives on the scene.

Finally, the anatomy of young children is somewhat different in that they have shorter and more horizontal eustachian tubes, making drainage difficult.
What role does the chiropractor play in evaluating and treating these children?

The chiropractor's task is to ascertain if the reason for the body's inability to combat the infection is caused by irritation of the small nerves in the spine (called free nerve endings). When these nerve endings are irritated, an abnormal tension is produced in the small muscles of the neck. This muscle tension can place pressure on the lymphatic drainage ducts resulting in inadequate drainage from inside the ear, thus preventing the body from being able to naturally correct the problem.

Chiropractic management of the patient with earache involves a detailed and thorough evaluation, usually followed by a short course of spinal adjustments and manipulation of the neck muscles to help restore normal lymph drainage. The chiropractor is the doctor most experienced in identifying these spinal problems and in correcting them, usually with a very light finger-tip adjustment. Treatment is usually short and the resolution is frequently swift. Patients who, at the time of examination, are on antibiotics probably don't have a high risk for serious complicating infections. Those patients who are not on antibiotics may need to be watched more closely and alternative treatments considered if no short-term response to spinal adjusting is apparent.

When your child has an ear infection give us a call to schedule an appointment. Dr. Mike will take good care of your child..... and me... I'll be ready with a fresh coloring book and crayons.

Carol

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