Dr. Estner - Rhode Island Chiropractor Blog

5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Chiropractor

Back Injury, Back Pain, Dr. Stephen M. Estner, Estner Chiropractic, Personal Injury Chiropractor, Testimonials, Whiplash No Responses »

Feb 292012

1. Evaluate your health and well-being goals. When striving for optimum health and well-being, you want a chiropractor who will work with you to help you achieve the best results in the shortest amount of time. Have a clear picture of what you feel your needs are, and be willing to alter your treatment plans if new issues should arise after your examination.

2. Seek a professional opinion. It is important that your chiropractor offers you a full and thorough examination prior to discussing or implementing any kind of treatment plan. Just because you have an idea of what your health issue may be, does not mean that they should act upon that information without verifying it medically for themselves.

3. Look for a program of monitored progress. You want a chiropractor who will pay attention to and monitor the progress you are making in your treatments. This is important because it will give you and your doctor an idea of which treatments are working, and which are not. Your program may then be adjusted to help you reach optimum health and healing.

4. Request an x-ray examination. While many spinal issues can be diagnosed by an in-depth office examination, some issues can be difficult to properly diagnose without the aid of an x-ray. You want to be sure to have the most thorough information available on the actual state of your physical body before beginning your chiropractic treatments.

5. Check the chiropractor’s references. It may take some extra time, but it will be well-worth the effort to check online for chiropractor reviews, feedback and with the state chiropractic board for any grievances or complaints (as well as glowing recommendations) that have been posted regarding your chiropractor.

Best sleeping positions to avoid back pain

Back Pain, Chiropractor, Natural Pain Relief, Neck Pain, Stephen M Estner No Responses »

Feb 242012

Few people realize at the onset of lower back pain that their sleeping habits could be causing the problem. It is very easy to blame lifting or improper movements, but many of us sleep in positions that are less than beneficial to our spines.

The spine has 3 areas that are meant to be curved; the neck or cervical spine, the middle or thoracic spine, and the lower-back or lumbar spine. When we sleep in certain positions, or if we have excess weight, we are compromising one or more areas of the spine – which can and does create back pain. Some of the best remedies for back pain caused by improper sleep positions is to use pillows for support and sleep in the best possible positions to relieve any excess pressure or strain on your spine.

As a basic guide, the alterations below should help in each category. If symptoms persist however, make sure that you visit a RI Chiropractor for a full examination to rule out more serious spinal issues.

Side Sleepers – Place a pillow between your knees to avoid twisting the lower back when the upper leg/knee slides forward onto the mattress during sleep.

Back Sleepers – Place a pillow or a towel under the backs of your knees. The support in this area will help preserve the curve of your lower back and keep pressure off the sciatic nerve.

Stomach Sleepers – If at all possible, this position should be avoided as it causes a great deal of strain on the back. If this is the only position you can sleep in however, place a pillow beneath your abdomen and pelvic area to reduce some of the strain.

Personal injury chiropractors help relieve pain

Back Injury, Personal Injury Chiropractor, Personal Injury Treatment, Whiplash No Responses »

Feb 132012

Once you have visited the emergency room after an accident, and have followed-up with your own physician, as well as any other physicians recommended to you, you may still be experiencing back and particularly neck pain from your injuries. The fact that you are in physical therapy of some kind may not matter as your pain may not be alleviated by therapy alone.

Quite often, accident victims fail to experience any lasting pain relief because the core issue of the injury is not addressed by physical therapy. Physical therapy will address the muscle aches and pains with an aim toward alleviating swelling, but real pain relief can only be attained through realigning the vertebrae that have been affected by the car accident in the first place.

Unfortunately, one of the most commonly sustained injuries, whiplash, is often the most under-treated as well. Patients visit the emergency room, are given a clean bill of health by a family physician after a few weeks of rest, and return back to normal life. The pain however, remains, often for months and years, unless the spinal injury is corrected and treated.

If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident of any kind, or if you have sustained an injury involving your back or neck, contact Estner Chiropractic now at (401) and speak to an experienced professional chiropractor for more information.

Neck Pain Patient Testimonial

Neck Pain, Testimonials No Responses »

Feb 022012

"Thanks to Dr. E My back feels wonderful not only that I’m able to rotate my head L/R even more so. Your the Best Doc!" ~ Tim Connelly

ask a chiropractor–cost of care

Chiropractor, Estner Chiropractic, Insurance Coverage, Personal Injury Treatment No Responses »

Feb 012012

How expensive is chiropractic care and will my health insurance cover it?

Most health insurance companies cover chiropractic treatment. No referral from your PCP is necessary. Your insurance may have a visit limit per calendar year; which is usually 12. The visits can be distributed in any manner. Your co-payment depends on your plan. Some co-pays are noted on your card as office visits and some are subject to a specialist rate. If you are involved in a motor vehicle collision, you may waive the right to use your health coverage and opt to have the other carrier cover the treatment. This will preserve your visits for the future. In the event that you have no coverage, cash fees will range from $30-$110 per visit. However, payment plans are available and credit cards are accepted.

ask a chiropractor–personal injury treatment

Estner Chiropractic, Personal Injury Chiropractor, Personal Injury Treatment, Whiplash No Responses »

Jan 272012

How are car accident injuries treated with chiropractic?

In our office we effectively treat patients who have been involved in an automobile accident. Most patients are seen prior to their first visit by either a walk-in center or hospital, some go to their PCP. If diagnostics have not been performed before the first visit, we will order testing of the areas of chief complaints. Most commonly this will include x-rays but sometimes a CAT scan or MRI is necessary to assess the extent of the injury prior to commencing with therapy. An examination including neurological, orthopedic and chiropractic analysis will be performed. At that time a treatment plan will be devised. Most injuries of this nature take anywhere from 3-6 months to fully heal. Therefore treatment is divided into three sections: Acute, Sub acute and rehabilitative.

Acute: This is to reduce inflammation, muscle spasm and pain and restore range of motion. Common therapies in this phase include: Electric muscle stimulation, ultrasound, heat/Ice, light force manipulation and laser therapy. Subacute: restoring stability to weak muscles and for the manipulation to become long lasting: Therapies include manipulation, trigger point therapy, massage therapy, traction and light stretching. Rehabilitative: Strengthening phase. Exercise and stretching to provide a permanent [position for muscles and joints.

If in the event the patient does not respond favorable to therapy. This office will refer for physical therapy, pain management (injections), PCP, Neurological and orthopedic consult. Sometimes it is necessary to co manage the patient with another specialties through the treatment period.

Snow Shoveling, Back Pain, and Injuries

Back Injury, Back Pain, Chiropractor, Estner Chiropractic No Responses »

Jan 182012

Although we are well into the winter months here in New England, you never know what the weather is going to bring next. Winter storms see people who are not accustomed to strenuous exercise, outdoors in the cold, shoveling often heavy and large amounts of snow from their walkways and driveways. Before you become another statistic and join the ranks of those who have done serious injury to their backs by shoveling snow, take some precautionary measures.

Before heading outside, there are some simple precautions you can take to help prepare you for the task ahead. First, drink lots of water. There is always the chance of dehydration with any heavy exercise, even in the winter. Second, wear lots of thin layers of clothing. This will allow you to remove some of the layers if you become too warm, without endangering your health. And three, do some warming up exercises to prepare your body and muscles for the work ahead.

Do a combination of stretching and something to get your heart beating, like jumping rope for a few minutes or some jumping-jacks. Remember to warm up your legs as they are the major muscle group that you will be using if you stay in proper form. Falling out of form due to exhaustion or overtiredness is one of the major reasons for injury while shoveling snow. When you stop using your legs to lift and move the snow, you resort to using your stomach and back.

Remember that snow shoveling is repetitive work. You will need to take short breaks between every 15 minutes of shoveling. Keep water nearby to drink if you need it, and if the snow is light enough, push it rather than lift it. And if you feel yourself getting light-headed, or nearing exhaustion, be wise and stop. Go inside and rest, the snow will either melt or be there when you are ready to get back to it.

If you are concerned about a back injury and would like a consultation or examination, contact Dr. Stephen Esnter at Esnter Chiropractic at (401) 275-2225.

Why Chiropractic Treatments Benefit the Entire Body

Back Pain, Chiropractic Preventive Treatments, Cold Laser Light Therapy, Personal Injury Chiropractor No Responses »

Jan 132012

Your body is an amazing machine. You’ve heard that plenty of times, yet perhaps not fully understanding the abilities that the body possesses to cure, heal, and transform your health when properly cared for and maintained. Chiropractic medicine works with the body’s innate ability to do this so that with proper maintenance of the spine through treatments and exercise, your body will remain in optimum health.

Through your body’s innate intelligence, the various functions of the body are controlled and directed with the help of the nervous system. When the spine experiences a subluxation, or a vertebrae becomes misaligned in the spinal column, it will cause the normal functions and interactions between the brain and the body, via the nervous system, to develop problems.

Chiropractic treatments, whether you have sustained an injury or not, can realign the spine and restore normal, healthy function to the body and brain. Periodic adjustments are not only beneficial for any spinal issues, but may also relieve any number of symptoms and disease that you may be experiencing. Among those symptoms that are relieved by chiropractic therapy are headaches and migraines, upper and lower back pain, allergies, fibromyalgia, and many others.

In Rhode Island, regular visits to the chiropractors at Estner Chiropractic center are as easy as a phone call away. With locations through the Ocean State, you’re sure to find an Estner Chiropractic office near you. And if you have been involved in an automobile accident, be sure to ask about the Cure Cube, a unique form of transportation offered to personal injury clients under certain circumstances.

Holiday Headaches Eased by Chiropractic Treatments

Chiropractic Preventive Treatments, Estner Chiropractic No Responses »

Dec 232011

It’s no secret that the holidays can be times of great stress, anxiety, and sleeplessness – all prime circumstances for headaches to bloom. And while your basic tension headache may be relieved with rest, and perhaps over-the-counter medication, migraines that are brought on by over-exertion and stress to the body and spine, are not.

Migraines often require treatment before they will subside, and in order to alleviate the symptoms you must find the cause. Because the cause of migraines can be difficult to isolate, prescribed treatments involve combinations of modalities.

Traditional chiropractic subluxation can provide some relief, with the focus upon eliminating tension in the upper and lower back, and neck area. Naturally, as these can be muscle related difficulties, the use of massage therapy is also highly therapeutic in lessening pain and migraine symptoms.

If you have been experiencing migraines for any length of time, contact Estner Chiropractic at (401) 275-2225 for a consultation and put an end to migraine pain.

Chiropractic Very Effective for Back Pain

Estner Chiropractic No Responses »

Dec 232011

Remember, chiropractic treatments for back pain are affordable and they work quickly without harmful drug-related side-effects. If you would like a consultation or more information contact Estner Chiropractic at (401) 275-2225 or visit the website.

Let’s Take A Look At The Best Back Pain Treatments Available Today
December 22, 2011

Although there аrе many back pain treatments, there іѕ still no instant cure. Lіkе many οthеr tenacious ailments such as the common сοƖԁ, back pain can bе hard to ɡеt rid οf. that doesn’t mean you саn’t find relief, though. it just mау take some time аnԁ patience, аnԁ a willingness to try several different approaches. the focus οf this article wіƖƖ bе οn several back pain treatments that аrе worthy οf your consideration.

In the modern world, wе often want to take a pill or some οthеr quick cure for every ailment. Yеt, for many pains аnԁ illnesses, the best cures аrе time аnԁ rest. This іѕ often the case with back pain. WhіƖе there’s certainly nothing wrong with using a remedy to relieve the pain, you should realize that some back pain needs a few days to heal. It’s a good thουɡht to rest during this time, especially if the pain іѕ severe. Lie as flat as possible, as propping your head up with pillows can cause a misalignment between your head аnԁ back. On the οthеr hand, tοο much rest іѕ nοt recommended. A couple οf days іѕ fine, but beyond this аnԁ it may take your back longer to heal.

Cеrtаіn nutritional supplements mау help with back pain. Vitamin B12 аnԁ Vitamin D аrе two vitamins that аrе sometimes effectual аt relieving low back pain. A Vitamin D deficiency can bе responsible for many types οf muscle pain, including back pain. Minerals, especially calcium аnԁ magnesium аrе vital for the bones аnԁ the spine. Here are two supplements that hаνе bееn proven helpful for back pain, thеѕе аrе often combined in a single formula. Thеѕе аrе chondroitin sulfate аnԁ glucosamine, which аrе recommended for people suffering frοm arthritis as well as аƖƖ-purpose back pain. You mау want to consider supplementing your diet with some οf thеѕе items in addition to аnу οthеr treatments уου’re pursuing for your back pain.

Rhode Island Chiropractic offices: Car Accident, Auto Injury, Back Pain relief