June 2012 - Gabriella`s Umbrella

CAPE
CHIROPRACTORIAL
Chiropractic for Humans and Animals
ALTERNATIVE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE INFORMATION FOR ALL THE FAMILY
JUNE 2012
Can chiropractic help colic?
I
infantile colic experienced satisfactory results with chiropractic
t is two in the morning and your newborn baby has been
care. The median age of the infants was 5.7 weeks at the
screaming incessantly at the top of her lungs for what is
beginning of care. The study involved 73 doctors of chiropractic
now coming on seven hours! You are anxiously wondering if
that is perhaps a world record or even humanly possible? You have in 50 different clinics. The results occurred within two weeks
both tried every trick in the book to try and console her, but there is of care, after an average of three visits. (J Manipulative Physiol
just no sign of being able to calm this very distressed two-week-old Ther. 1989 Aug;12(4):281-8.)
baby. How can such a small bundle make so much noise and cause
Personally, I have treated thousands of babies over my
such unrest?
chiropractic career with different degrees of success. I feel this
Grandmother’s tips have now been demoted to ‘old wives’ tales’
is logically dependent on the physiological source of a baby’s
and Aunt Martha’s suggestion of dipping your babies dummy in
discomfort. I believe the secret often also lies in the autonomic
some whisky and some rum is about as likely as you fetching tiny
nervous system (located alongside the spine) which in a newborn
tot a Havana Cigar and handing
is very sensitive and still developing.
her the horse racing schedule in
Nervous system
the newspaper.
This part of a baby’s nervous
Another trip in the car around
system maintains homeostasis
the block with your own onboard,
(that is a stable and balanced internal
high-pitched, mini human alarm
environment through regulation of
is also out of the question. So you
heartbeat, blood pressure, body
sit with your head in your hands,
temperature, bowel movement etc).
trying to rack your weary brain as
The gastro-intestinal system of a
to what to do now?
baby can easily be upset, changing
Sleep deprivation
peristalsis (automatic bowel
Jokes aside, it’s hard to relate
contraction) and resulting in
to just how incredibly difficult it
long-lasting cramps and discomfort.
is having a bad colicky baby, but
There are strong nervous system
add sleep deprivation to a feeling
reflexes between a baby’s Gastroof total helplessness and it can
intestinal (GI) tract and their spine.
become a totally unmanageable
A problem in the GI tract will reflect
situation, which even having the
and spill over into a specific spinal
best of sense of humour can’t
region. The resultant spinal problem
always help. It’s all very well being
can then create ongoing abnormal
told that your baby will eventually
reflexes back to the GI tract.
grow out of the problem, but what
Autonomic nerve supply to the gut
are you supposed to do in the
comes mainly from the thoracic
meantime?
region, hence why we often find
To clarify the above from a
problems in a baby’s thoracic spine.
medical perspective, infantile
Gently treating the affected spinal
colic is a term used to describe
area helps to restore normal reflexes
“persistent often violent crying
to the GI area involved and helps
Undiagnosed spinal problems could be a
for no apparent reason in an
restore balanced autonomic activity
major cause of infantile colic.
otherwise healthy and thriving
with improved peristalsis.
young infant.” Their distressed behaviour is believed to be a
Most colicky babies I have seen, that have responded well to
reaction to an often unidentifiable discomfort. It is different
chiropractic treatment, did so after three to four treatments. The
from normal crying because the distress does not stop when
spinal problems would clear along with the symptoms of colic.
the infant’s physiological needs are met.
I have seen babies sleep for five hours immediately after treatment
Colic begins at one to four weeks of age and usually ends
and then progressively improve. By the same token I have seen
spontaneously at three to four months of age. In the meantime, in
a baby’s symptoms become much worse for 24 hours after
moderate to severe cases which may involve uncontrollable crying treatment and then completely resolve.
for many hours both day and night, it is destructive to both baby
Either case strongly emphasises the strong relationship between
and family.
spinal reflexes and colic. I always encourage checking a newborn
Because the onset of colic follows shortly after the trauma
baby within the first four weeks, so any injury or stresses from
of birth, and because a high incidence of stiffness and stress has
birth can be dealt with safely and gently. If suffering with colic
been found in the neck and upper thoracic spines of infants with
I recommend checking for and then treating any spinal problems
colic, chiropractors have suggested that undiagnosed spinal
three to four times. This should be sufficient to clear any spinal
problems could be a major cause of infantile colic and thus
issues in a healthy baby, with a resultant improvement in colicky
gentle chiropractic treatment can often be the natural,
symptoms. If the spinal problems won’t clear or the symptoms
simple solution.
persist, then further medical intervention or investigation is advisable.
In a Danish research study 94% of 316 infants suffering with
A problem such as reflux is a good example of something u
CAPE
CHIROPRACTORIAL
Chiropractic for Humans and Animals
ALTERNATIVE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE INFORMATION FOR ALL THE FAMILY
Can chiropractic help
colic?
u that is unlikely to respond or clear,
because it is a developmental physiological
problem that will only resolve after months
(in this case, despite treatment, the thoracic
spinal problems will just keep recurring due
to recurrent irritation of the lower end of the
oesophagus).
In summary, it is highly advisable to
check the spinal health of your newborn
baby irrespective of symptoms. If your baby
develops colic, or similar symptoms it is
again advisable to check their spinal
health and clear all possible spinal related
problems found.
In an otherwise healthy baby, these
should clear within three to four treatments
with a resultant improvement in baby’s
symptoms. Chiropractic treatment of
babies is natural, gentle and safe.
A baby’s spinal health has a direct
effect on the health of their nervous system
and thus their general well being, growth
and development. It is an area that is often
overlooked, yet ironically can often hold
the key and provide valuable insight into
JUNE 2012
a baby’s general health.
The triggers for colic are also not
always obvious, I have seen babies develop
colic after being sick with just a simple cold,
after their mum’s taken antibiotics or other
medication (inferred through breast milk), or
even after taking natural remedies for colic
containing an ingredient they were allergic
to! Such are the ironies of life, even when you
are just a newborn.
(This article is dedicated to little Rebecca
and written at the request of your now ‘once
again sane’ mum and dad.)
Puppy problems
Teddy the Shih Tzu was not even six months old when I first
saw him. He was struggling to walk with a bad paresis (partial
paralysis) in his hind legs. The problem had begun suddenly and
with no apparent cause, but he was a very active puppy and had a
tendency to jump up and down off furniture.
I deduced from examination that he had damaged a disc
between his thoracic and lumbar spine, which was creating
pressure on his spinal cord and interfering with neurological
information going to and from his hind legs. It’s hard to believe that
a puppy could suffer such a severe problem, but it is actually not
uncommon.
The region between the stable thoracic and more mobile
lumbar vertebrae is a transitional area between two very
different, less supported sections of a dog’s spine. It is very
susceptible to damage, especially if there is repeated twisting,
which tends to occur when jumping off furniture, turning in the air
to catch objects or during general rough and tumbles. Initial sprains
in this spinal region can cause muscle spasm and altered joint
movement. This over time leads to further strain on the area and
eventual damage of the disc.
In many breeds there may also be an added congenital
predisposition to disc problems. Hip dysplasia can also result in
long-term sprain of this region due to increased pelvic and lumbar
movement in relation to the thoracic spine. This is often why
dogs with hip dysplasia can end up with spinal disc problems
and subsequent hind leg paralysis.
It is vital to periodically check a puppy’s spine during their
development to ensure there is no spinal joint stiffness or
compromise. Unfortunately, our furry friends can’t communicate
back pain until they have severe symptoms, so maintaining and
preventing degeneration in spinal health should form an important
part of caring for our pet’s wellbeing.
Fortunately in Teddy’s case he recovered completely after about
eight chiropractic treatments and has continued to have periodic
visits to ensure the health and mobility of the originally damaged
spinal segments. To date this has prevented recurrence and will in
the long-term prevent wear and tear in this area allowing him to
live a long, active and healthy life.
THE CLINIC AND US
Dr David Black
18 BROOK CRESCENT, NOORDHOEK
We run a dedicated clinic in the heart of beautiful Noordhoek, away from
the hustle and bustle. I do treat both people and animals (oh yes in separate
rooms if you’re asking). If you need any information, please ring Carri-Anne
on 021 789 1546. Feel free to leave a message if no-one answers, we
promise to get back to you soonest. You are also welcome to email me
(drblack@iafrica.com) anytime if you have any queries or questions and I will
endeavour to answer you as soon as possible.
Oh, and if you’re wondering who Gabriella is ... she’s my black and white
Newfoundland dog, so you can’t book an appointment with her (unless
you have a handful of tasty treats!) You can check out her website
www.gabriellasumbrella.com – she has a selection of healthy treats,
cool bling and trendy bling collars! To all the dads, Happy Father’s Day!
B.Sc. DC A.E.C.C (UK)
Chiropractic
for
Humans
and Animals
Tel/Fax: 021 789 1546
Email: drblack@iafrica.com
www.gabriellasumbrella.com