DR. STEPHEN J. WOHAR
HEALTH & WELLNESS LETTER
A newsletter for the patients of Dr. Wohar
727 Route 481 Monongahela, PA 15063
Phone: (724) 258-3371 · Fax: (724) 258-3374
Website: www.drstevewohar.com
Email: drwohar@verizon.net
Office Hours: Mon. 9am-5pm Tues. 3:30pm-8:30pm Wed. 10:15am-2pm
Thurs. 3:30pm-8:30pm Fri. 9am-4pm Sat. 8am-12pm
October 2010
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The Uniqueness of Chiropractic
“Chiropractic is founded upon different principles than those of medicine.” - D.D. Palmer, Founder of Chiropractic
If you have received this newsletter, you have some experience with chiropractic healthcare. I usually address a specific health topic in the newsletters. This month, however, I would like to go over the history of chiropractic and its unique contribution to health restoration and maintenance.
What is Chiropractic?
“I feel it my bounden duty to not only replace displaced bones, but also teach others, so that the physical and spiritual may enjoy health, happiness and the full fruition of our earthly lives.” - D.D. Palmer
Chiropractic is the largest natural healing profession in the United States and Canada. It helps you get and stay well without drugs and surgery. Chiropractic literally means “to practice with the hands”. It was discovered by D.D. Palmer, in Iowa, in 1895.
The First Chiropractic Success
“Look well to the spine for the cause of disease.” - Hippocrates, “Father” of Medicine
Did you know that chiropractic began with a man who had been nearly completely deaf for 17 years?! Harvey Lillard was a janitor in the office building Palmer worked. He told Palmer he heard something “pop” in his spine while bending forward. Almost immediately he lost most of his hearing. Harvey and Palmer became friends. Palmer studied the spine and nerves exiting from it. One day, he asked Harvey if he could take a hands-on check of his back. Harvey agreed. Palmer described feeling a couple of spots where the bones felt out of alignment with the others. With Harvey’s permission, he “racked them” (Palmer’s words!). Amazingly, Lillard’s hearing returned!
Disappointment and Discovery
“Pressure on nerves causes irritation and tension with deranged functions as a result. Why not release the pressure? Why not adjust the cause instead of treating the effects? Why not?” - D.D. Palmer
Palmer, understandably, was excited with this experience. He believed he found the cure for deafness and boldly advertised it within the Davenport, Iowa community. Many people with hearing problems came to him for help. A lot of them had hearing loss from working in loud, manufacturing environments. Disappointment followed when very few people noticed improvement with their hearing.
However, Palmer had unexpectedly stumbled on a discovery that would improve the lives of millions. Even though results with hearing loss were disappointing, people reported improvement of many other ailments and conditions. Less back and neck pain, fewer headaches, better sleep, more energy. Before long, Palmer was overwhelmed with the number of people coming to him for help. I recall a picture I saw of his clinic while I was in school in Davenport, Iowa. There was a line over a ¼ mile long of people waiting to get in to see Dr. Palmer!
How Does Chiropractic Work?
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.” - Thomas Edison, inventor
Chiropractic grew for decades despite major opposition from the established medical community. Palmer, his son, and MANY early chiropractors served jail time for “practicing medicine without a license”. This persecution ended when citizens petitioned for their release and paid their bail. Politicians feared the disapproval of the public and eventually left the Palmers’ alone.
Chiropractic grew and thrived for one simple reason—IT WORKED! But there was little research to prove HOW it worked until the 1960s. Since then, a large body of evidence from within and outside of the chiropractic profession has demonstrated how chiropractic helps.
Our bodies are run by an amazing computer—our brain! It controls the body’s functions by sending and receiving billions of nerve messages every minute, back and forth between the brain and the rest of the body. The spinal cord is protected by the bones, or vertebrae, of our neck and back. Nerve roots exit between the bones and travel to every part of the body.
Everyday stresses on the spine, such as sitting at a computer, sleep posture, playing sports, working, getting “stressed out”, or doing simple daily chores, place stress on the connections between the vertebrae—the SPINAL JOINTS. Areas of the spine can “lock up” or get out of alignment. Chiropractic calls these joint problems subluxations.
Chiropractic works by using precise hands-on or instrument-assisted adjustments to realign the spine and restore normal movement to the joints.
What Problems Does Chiropractic Help?
“Do not forget that chiropractors did not treat diseases. They adjust causes, whether acquired, spontaneous, or the result of accident.” - D.D. Palmer
Many people know that chiropractic helps provide welcome relief from neck and back pain, headaches and whiplash injuries. Because the nerves exit from the spine, chiropractic adjustments also help with nerve-related conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, numbness of the feet and hands. Ongoing research and 115 years of chiropractic experience suggests that some organ-related symptoms such as stomach pain, bowel function and vision problems, may respond favorably to chiropractic care. Many children with chronic ear pain, growing pains, and sprains and strains from falls or sports injuries, also do very well under chiropractic care.
The Sooner the Better
“The only failure one man should fear, is the failure to do his best.” - D.D. Palmer
The sooner you make chiropractic care a part of your approach to health, the better. Neglected areas of spinal misalignments lead to premature degeneration, or aging, of the spine. Osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, disc bulges/herniations, worn-out knees and hips are just some examples of conditions related to long-term, uncorrected misalignments of the spine and related joints. These may have associated nerve degeneration symptoms such as numbness and tingling of the feet and hands. Although chiropractic care may provide significant improvement even when there is long-term, permanent damage, more care over longer time periods is usually necessary to achieve and maintain maximum benefits. So as with other aspects of healthcare, such as care of your teeth and eyes, it is better to take regular care of the spine before more serious conditions develop.
OFFICE NEWS
New Faces
We have two new assistants in the office. Colleen works on Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays and Julie works Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Working in the healthcare field requires a lot of learning. Thank you for your patience during this transition and training period. WELCOME to both of them!
Chris’ Leave of Absence
Many of you have asked about Chris. She is on a leave of absence since early August. Since we regularly get requests for her address, here it is:
Chris Deutsch
527 Finley Street
Monongahela, PA 15063
She welcomes and appreciates your cards and correspondence. We miss her presence in the office and keep her in our thoughts and prayers daily.
Billing Questions and Concerns
My brother, Frank, is handling our billing while Colleen and Julie train. He has close to 15 years billing experience. Statements will be sent out mid-month with payments due by the last day of the month. No bills were sent out in August because of Chris’ leaving.
Also, we hope to switch to a new billing system within the next six months. We are looking for one with a simpler, easier to understand format. Please do not hesitate to call and discuss any billing questions and concerns.
Conditions Which Commonly Respond Well to Care in Our Office
- Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Headaches
- Shoulder Pain
- TMJ/Jaw Pain
- Sciatica
- Sprains/Strains
- Rotator Cuff Problems
- Plantar Fascitis
- Knee conditions
- Hip Pain
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Spinal Stenosis
- Disc Problems
- “Whiplash” injuries (car accidents)
“I have an irrepressible desire to live till I can be assured that the world is a better place for my having lived in it.” – Abraham Lincoln
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Reminder of Upcoming Dates that the Office will be Closed
Monday, October 11th (Columbus Day) – Office OPEN
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Thursday, November 11th (Veterans Day) – Office OPEN
Thursday, November 25th (Thanksgiving Day) – Office CLOSED
Friday, November 26th – Office OPEN
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In This Issue . . .
Page
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Uniqueness of Chiropractic
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Uniqueness of Chiropractic, continued
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Office News
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conditions Which Commonly Respond Well
