Busch Chiropractic Makes Pain Go Away!

When you do something well, word travels fast and that is exactly how Joe heard about the Busch Chiropractic Center.  Joe had definitely heard about Busch Chiropractic Pain Center, and even though he lived 2.5 hours away, he was willing to make the drive, if Dr. Busch thought he could help Joe. 

Joe had suffered from a low back condition (degenerative disc disease) and had tried conservative care such as chiropractic, physical therapy and pain medications.  When that didn’t work, he gave up and had a spinal fusion.  For the last two years, he continually suffered from moderate to severe low back pain, left hip and thigh pain. 

Joe absolutely did not want to have another surgery, because his recovery was so difficult and he ended up right back where he started.  So he decided to use the internet to research options other than surgery.  When Joe got to Dr. Busch he was miserable with constant pain and was having difficulty standing, sitting and walking.  He was also having cramping in his leg.  He was constantly taking one prescription or another trying to get some relief.  He took Norflex, muscle relaxers, Tylenol or whatever was available at the time.  Joe was relieved when Dr. Busch said he was confident – after a thorough examination and a review of Joe’s films – that the DRS Protocol™ would help him. 

With a willingness to stay in a hotel during the week, Joe began treating and today he is walking and moving much, much better. The 2.5 hour car ride was not an issue.  Joe is doing better than he ever expected.  And he is so happy he didn’t have to have another surgery.  His wife is also very happy to have him back to being able to walk and be active, because she was getting bored shopping by herself while they were in town!

DRS Protocol at Busch Chiropractic Pain Center treats sciatic pain

Sciatica or sciatic pain is symptom of a back problem, and it is not a diagnosis of the actual problem itself. Sciatic pain refers to pain along the length of the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body. The sciatic nerve branches off your spine at the pelvis and travels down each leg. A problem at the root of this nerve, where the nerve exits the spine, may be felt along the entire length of the leg and can cause leg weakness. Sciatic pain can be severe and debilitating.

Patients often misinterpret this as a problem with their legs, when the primary cause is the result of a bulging disc compressing a nerve at the base of their spine. Sometimes, with severe inflammation, pain will also be felt in the hips and buttocks.

Here is a general list of symptoms

• Constant pain in only one side of the buttock or leg  – generally does not occur in both legs
• Pain may be worse when sitting
• Burning or tingling down the leg is more like that a dull ache
• Hard to move your leg or foot, you can also have weakness and numbness
• Constant pain on one side of the buttocks
• Difficult to stand up or to walk

Sciatic pain is successfully treated at the Busch Chiropractic Pain Center, Fort Wayne IN, with DRS Protocol™ when the underlying cause or diagnosis is a disc condition such as herniated and degenerative disc (s). 

The new pain medication contains the painkiller hydrocodone – which is highly addictive – and the new pain medication can have 10 times the amount of hydrocodone in pain pills such as Vicodin.  The product is awaiting approval, and if that happens, it will be the first time patients can legally have pure hydrocodone. Now most pain pills add the non-addictive painkillers like acetaminophen.

According to the co-founder of Advocates for the – Reform of Prescription Opioids,  ”It’s like the wild west.” Peter Jackson states, “The whole supply-side system is set up to perpetuate this massive unloading of opioid narcotics on the American  public.”

The pharmaceutical companies say the new pain medication will offer another tool for those who are legitimately in pain.  The companies say the pure hydrocodone will avoid potential liver problems that are linked to high doses of acetaminophen – an ingredient in products like Vicodin. Patients will be closely supervised by law, and each time the patient needs a refill, it would require another office visit. Weaker prescriptions such as hydrocodone -acetaminophen products can be refilled up to five times.

One manufacturer has had a final meeting with the FDA and plans to have the product on the market by 2013.

“You’ve got a person on your product for life, and a doctor’s got a patient who’s never going to miss an appointment, because if they did and they didn’t get their prescription, they would feel very sick,” said Andrew Kolodny, president of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing. “It’s a terrific business model, and that’s what these companies want to get in on.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration, which enforces controls on medicines along with the FDA, said it could not comment on drugs that have not yet been approved for sale.

What do you think about this type of pain medication being developed?  Let us know.

To read the complete release http://tinyurl.com/7ezj5nz

Busch Chiropractic Pain Center, Fort Wayne  IN, can help you with pain from degenerative disc, herniated discs, sciatic pain and more.

DRS PROTOCOL can treat Radiculopathy

Cervical Radiculopathy is a term that describes radiating nerve pain that can start with a disc problem such as herniated or degenerative discs in your neck (cervical) area.  Your pain can run down into your shoulder, into your arm and on into your hands and fingers.  Along with the pain, you can also experience numbness, tingling and weakness.  Certain of your muscle groups can have weakness, and your range-of-motion can be impaired and you could even have a problem simply looking from side to side.

Your neck is your “cervical” area of the spine.  Each level of your cervical area is referred to as C-1 through C-8.  Each level affects other parts of your body.   A general description of what can be affected is as follows:

 C1 through C3 can cause headaches and very possibly dizziness.  You may also have numbness and tingling in the neck and upper back.  This can also affects shoulder and upper chest muscles.

C4 and C5 affects the muscles of your shoulder, upper chest and surface area of your shoulder, upper arm and can cause you have to have loss of sensation and cause numbness.  This can be a cause of referred pain into areas of your upper back

C6 affects the outside part of your elbow, forearm, your thumb, index finger and flexors of  your elbow;  this can cause referred pain into areas of your upper back

C7 and C8 affects the inside part of your elbow, your forearm including the small ring and long fingers, and the intrinsic muscles in your hand, and can cause referred pain into areas of your upper back

Above is a diagram illustrating many areas that can be affected by problems from your neck.  Conditions such herniated and degenerative disc disease can be successfully treated with the DRS Protocol™.  This treatment was developed by Dr. Richard Busch at Busch Chiropractic Pain Center in Fort Wayne IN. 

Do you have any of these symptoms?  Feel free to go to www.buschchiropractic.comor give us a call 1-888-471-4090.

The authors used database information from 2005 to 2008 of the American College of Surgeons.  The database records preoperative information and postoperative complications and death of patients who had surgery in participating facilities in the United States.  The data includes a variety of types of surgery.

The study included factors of existing medical conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular problems, age, body mass, and gender.

The study covered 3,475 patients who had received one or more spine operations.

• The age range was from 16 to 90 and the average age was 55.5 year
• 54 percent were men, and 76 percent were Caucasian

The main conditions of the study treated by back surgery were herniated disc, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease (DDD). The study focused on complications and death within 30 days after surgery.  So anything that happened after 30 days was not part of the study.

Some of the major complications were blood clots deep in the legs (deep vein thrombosis); life-threatening bacterial infections and deep wound infections; and addition surgeries.  Considered by the study to be more minor complications were pneumonia, nonlife-threatening wound infections, and urinary tract infections.

Within 30 days of surgery, 7.6 percent of the patients had developed complications and 10 had died. The study also identified risk factors for developing one or more complications, including death, within the 30-day post surgery:

• Patient’s age;
• Congestive heart failure and/or a history of heart attack;
• Preoperative neurological problems;
• History of spinal wound infection;
• Use of corticosteroids (e.g. prednisone);
• Prolonged surgery times, and other risks

Dr. Richard Busch of the Busch Chiropractic Pain Center, Fort Wayne IN, states, “What we are doing with the DRS Protocol™ is a very successful, noninvasive alternative for treating degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, spinal stenosis, facet syndrome and failed back and neck surgeries.  There are no risks such a MRSA, blood clots, recovery time, and the patient can stay on the job.  It is definitely safe for senior patients.”

To read full news release go to http://tinyurl.com/cv5w6o2

This case study noted that this patient’s previous medical treatment had included multiple emergency room visits; private specialists; and a rotation of drug therapies including Paxil, Xanax, and Celexa all of which had failed to help her. The patient’s history also included at least three motor vehicle accidents between 1995 and 1997, including one where her head shattered the windshield.

The articles note that according to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety is the most common mental health illness. It affects more than 19 million Americans ages 18-54. Patients suffering from General Anxiety Disorder make three to five times more visits to doctors’ offices and emergency rooms and the Anxiety Disorders Association of America reports that direct healthcare costs and lost productivity of these conditions cost more than $42 billion per year.

In December, 2001, the patient started chiropractic care for correction of nerve interference called “subluxations”. This patient’s results were then documented over a four month course of care. It was observed that medication was discontinued successfully. Additionally, the articles noted that after a four-month course of chiropractic care, the young woman reported an 80% reduction in her anxiety symptoms, including a 90% decrease in her headaches. The patient was able to resume a normal lifestyle without resorting to prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

The research was co-authored by Dr. Madeline Behrendt, Associate Editor of JVSR, and Dr. Nathan Olsen, a chiropractor in private practice in Boise, Idaho. They noted in their conclusion that, “These improvements suggest positive changes in mental health function may be associated with subluxation correction from the application of chiropractic care.”

Dr. Behrendt additionally commented, “This young woman spent two years in crisis, going from emergency room to private specialist, spending thousands of dollars for tests and drug therapy, without any resolution of her problems. A simple, non-invasive spinal screening ultimately provided the findings that made the difference: her spine was subluxated, impinging on nerves, and altering the proper function of her nervous system.” Behrendt continued by asking, “How many other people are suffering unnecessarily because they are missing the proper screening?”

Both share a need or desire for chiropractic care to enhance their demanding performances. Having been a team doctor for six Olympic competitions, my latest “gig” with Metallica has shown me that intense activity, endurance and strength are sought by both kinds of performers, be it on stage in front of thousands of fans or competing for a gold medal at an Olympic event.

For the last nine years and more than one thousand tour dates, I have been providing Metallica’s band members with almost daily care.  Going on thirty years of making music and more than 100 million albums sold, Metallica’s rock and roll habits of decades ago have simply been replaced with more conservative routines, as they prepare for their two-hour-plus concerts.

Pre-concert care, deep tissue work and rub-downs between songs are just a few of what Metallica’s band members have required on the road.

Voodoo doctor

Vocalist and rhythm guitarist James Hetfield has called me a voodoo doctor and bass guitarist Robert Trujillo says my treatments resemble acupressure.  I’m counted on by drummer Lars Ulrich and Kirk Hammett, who happens to be my cousin.

At the end of the day, all of the band’s members are finely tuned into the idea of how they can best prepare for demanding concerts to please their fans of many ages.

Odd as it seems, treating rock stars and competitive athletes have a lot in common.  Trujillo needs constant attention to his guitar-strumming arm and its speed-demon fingers, even between songs backstage.  Deep tissue work before shows has also become a Metallica tradition.

Metallica’s band members must individually maintain cardio-vascular endurance, an exercise and stretching regime and a balanced diet and nutrition.  With the bands’ intense concert schedule and travel itinerary, Metallica members must be at a peak performance state both physically and mentally.  Subsequently, their qualitative longevity deserves and requires preventative and maintenance healthcare on a daily basis.

To me, Metallica brings harmony to their fans as the band roams the jungle of a world filled with chaos and insanity.  Helping Metallica bring their music to the world has been my own rock and roll dream come true. It has been a privilege to work and tour around the world living in the mad, mad world of Metallica.

Almost Famous

I’ve been a huge fan since my cousin Kirk invited me to a Metallica concert in San Francisco in the early 1980’s, not long after the band formed in 1981.

My family had always been chiropractic-oriented family and believed each of our innate abilities flourished throughout our lives whenever the life force was made to flow freely with chiropractic care. That was our gospel, and one that Metallica eventually tuned in to.

During the early 1980’s,  Metallica released hits with fast tempos and instrumentals, fast becoming well known as one of the top four thrash metal bands, alongside Anthrax, Megadeath and Slayer.  Because of their aggressive musicianship, Metallica gained a loyal fan base in an underground music community.

In 1986, Metallica’s album, Master of Puppets was described and acclaimed as one of the most influential metal thrash albums of all time.  In 1993 onward, Metallica achieved substantial commercial success with the Black Album, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.  With the release of the Black Album, Metallica shifted and expanded its musical direction resulting in an album that appealed to a mainstream audience.

It was Kirk who was convinced of the power of chiropractic and insisted that his spine is adjusted regularly.  His sister, Jennifer Hammett also plunged into the world of chiropractic in the 1990’s.

As an Australian/American citizen, I would meet and work with the band on a part-time basis when I lived in Australia.  It was at the time, in 2000, that Metallica released St. Anger, an album that seemed to have alienated a number of fans. Nevertheless, the band created a documentary describing and exposing the bands most inner hopes, fears and turmoils.

After given them adjustments a number of shows, by 2002, they appointed me as Metallica’s full-time touring band doctor.

Diehard fan

The diehard Metallica fortress that had grown through nearly 30 years was becoming much more stable and solid. It didn’t
matter if fans had come and gone during the last 29 years, Metallica music had been a great source of love and support for many fans to lean on.

They have been through a lot that some fans criticized, from signing on to  a major label, to doing a ballad, to cutting their hair, to fighting Napster, as well as to create a documentary that brought on their most intimate fears to the public. Yet the Metallica fortress stood solid and unshakable.

Releasing nine studio albums, three live albums, two EPs, 24 music videos and 45 singles, Metallica has won nine Grammy Awards.  Metallica has also had five consecutive albums debut at the top of Billboard 200, the first band to do so.

Metallica was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, Ohio in April 2010. When they accepted the new title, it was one of the best moments of my life.

After having worked behind the scenes at concerts in cities around the country and the world, adjusting the band to keep on playing for fans, I can definitely say, it’s only rock and roll, but I like it.