The Joy of Sinus Season

By Bob Cox

Every spring, we experience the wonders of nature in full bloom. The days grow longer, the skies become bluer, our trees fill out and the wild grasses transform into vibrate shades of green. When the birds and bee’s take a break from doing what they’re famous for, those little honey making marvels get busy pollinating as much as they can for as long as they can. And yet, while many revel in the majesty of spring, there are many more that suffer silently from the annoying symptoms of allergies. On those blustery days when the winds from the delta kick up and spread an assortment of allergens, it truly becomes something to sneeze at, again and again.

Kelly Matts has been an ardent supporter of chiropractors for many years. Before moving to California, she had seen a chiropractor while living in Ohio for a variety of ongoing issues due to numerous car accidents. Her chiropractor used a specialized gun that helped her get immediate relief from chronic back and neck pain.

After moving to the golden state, she chose to see Dr. Blakely, primarily because Dr. Blakely uses that very same gun. From that first visit over two years ago, Kelly has loved her ever since! While also getting amazing results from Dr. Blakely for her chronic back and neck issues, Kelly told Dr. Blakely how badly she had been suffering from severe headaches caused by sinus issues. Nothing she did seemed to help.

Dr. Blakely told her that she could help her by using that wonder gun to relieve the pressure in her sinuses. At first, Kelly was skeptical as Dr. Blakely applied the gun to her face, targeting her cheeks and forehead. However; in a matter of mere minutes, relief came and it actually worked! Nowadays, as soon as Kelly feels the familiar pressure begin to build in her sinuses, she makes a bee line to Dr. Blakely’s office.

Kelly was so impressed, she recommended Dr. Blakely to a friend who also endured severe sinus issues. “My friend had suffered really badly from sinuses for years and I finally took pity on her one day after she came to our house with a horrible sinus infection. Her doctor did everything he knew to do, but could not take care of the problem. She had been to several doctors for years and I finally told her to see my chiropractor. She agreed and after just one visit, she said she was 75% better! I now call Dr. Blakely Wonder Woman, explained Kelly.

If you or someone you know suffers from chronic allergies, put down the box of Kleenex, pick up your phone and call Dr. Blakely today at (916) 944-1444 today. Your sinuses, your doctor and Wonder Woman will thank you!

Why See a Chiropractor for Weight Loss

By Dr. Beth Blakely

For those of you who have made losing weight your New Year’s resolution, I’m confident that with a little help from yours truly, we can get those extra pounds off safely, effectively and permanently.

I believe that most people who chronically struggle with excess weight tend to have an underlying issue that is the root cause to their growing problem. If that underlying issue is not addressed, it’s a losing battle. Actually, it’s a gaining battle as the weight piles on!

I have found that many people who suffer from chronic pain and discomfort tend to over-eat unhealthy food; aka comfort eating.  Some attempt to manage pain by drinking alcohol or taking pain medication, either prescription or over-the-counter.   

While these unhealthy habits are nothing to be ashamed of, the dangerous territory you’ve entered cannot be ignored. Over time, the consumption of alcohol or pain medication can lead to kidney or liver damage and once you have a liver problem, you will not only be unable to lose weight; you will have opened yourself up into some very serious and possibly irreversible health disorders.

Tragically, many people that suffer from chronic pain often live in unnecessary agony because of undetected nerve damage, which can be the underlying problem. My priority is helping my patients learn how to make healthier choices while reducing the unhealthy options that are enemies of more than just the bathroom scale.

I’ve found that the two most common culprits to excessive weight are digestive problems and hormonal imbalances. Both of these disorders are created and exacerbated by an unhealthy and imbalanced diet. Many people are shocked to discover that insulin is actually a hormone, and this important hormone needs to be balanced in order to lose weight. Keeping your blood sugar steady is critically important to the big picture of maintaining a healthy weight and a nourished body.

It’s extremely common for people to be overweight and undernourished at the same time. If you’re having a problem with losing weight and/or keeping it off, the combination of chiropractic treatments and functional medicine may be the answer to your New Year’s resolution. You deserve a trim and healthy body!

Whiplash

By Bob Cox

Tony Shannon was waiting in traffic in his car on another hot summer day in Sacramento this past August when out of nowhere, a car from behind slammed violently into his at about 40 miles per hour. The sudden and unexpected impact caused his head to violently lunge forward and then back while the rest of his torso remained protected by the seat belt he was wearing. According to Tony, it was a young kid who was texting while he was driving.

It didn’t take long for him to suffer the excruciatingly painful symptoms of severe whiplash, so he followed up on a referral from a friend, who recommended that he visit Dr. Beth Blakely in Carmichael.  From the moment he met Dr. Blakely, Tony knew he was in excellent hands. “She’s the most competent chiropractor that I’ve ever experienced. She educates you as she practices on you. She teaches you about everything she is doing as she works on you and that’s what makes her incredible. I’ve learned so much about my cervical and lumbar vertebrae and I’ve also learned a lot about my atlas, so I’ll always go back to her”, explained Tony.

Tony has also experienced all the special devices Dr. Blakely uses to help her patients get better, which includes an inclining table, a hand held vibrating massager and special tools that help realign the spine and atlas, as well as an amazing hot waterbed massage table that sends me into dreamland just thinking about it. It is truly that relaxing! “After I leave her office, I always walk away feeling 100 times better than when I walked in. So, I’m really grateful for that. I now only have some discomfort in my neck of course, but it’s not nearly as bad as when I first walked into her office”, said Tony.

When I asked Tony if he had anything else he wanted to add, he exclaimed: “Anyone who wants to be practiced on by a knowledgeable and competent chiropractor that educates you as she practices on you, Dr. Beth Blakely is the one to go to, she’s incredible”!

Is Your Body on Fire?

By Dr. Beth Blakely

The fire I’m referring to cannot be smothered with the popular maneuver (stop, drop and roll) or extinguished with a raging river of ice cold water. The fire I’m referring to is the silent but deadly fire that’s burns inside of us. Millions of American’s suffer from systemic and chronic inflammation, a condition that’s wreaking havoc on our overall health and well being.

According to neurologist Dr. Perl Mutter M.D., extensive medical research has proven that our brain health is dependent on our digestive health and the nervous system and the digestive system are intimately linked. So, people can have inflammation and other issues with their digestive system for years and have no idea because they often don’t feel it. Meanwhile, their brains are deteriorating. They’re getting Alzheimer’s, M.S., Parkinson’s, anxiety and depression. And despite all this is amazing medical research over the last 20 years, it’s unfortunately a slow trickle down process before it becomes incorporated into the medical field. It typically takes 10 to 20 years before they get on the bandwagon with what their own research says.

For these reasons, it’s very rare to find an M.D. that practices functional medicine, which is a method that thoroughly addresses overall health. I do think they’re starting to come around because more of them are recommending probiotics, but there’s so much more that can be done to prevent what we think of as age related brain deterioration. The pharmaceutical industry is now injecting anti-inflammatory products into the brains of Alzheimer patients and they’re seeing improvements!

I think what we’re going to find out is that people taking medications are destroying their digestive systems. Think about it, you swallow a pill, where does it go? What people don’t understand is there’s only one layer of cells between your small intestine and your blood stream. So, if there’s something that slips past your digestive system and into your blood stream, it poisons you. I think what we’re going to find out is that medication destroys our digestive systems. But who knows how long will it take? Another 20 years? We don’t have that kind of time.

So, we in the medical field have become acutely aware that we have raging fires burning in our internal systems, so what can we do to get rid of it? I provide functional medicine, which also incorporates nutritional support where it’s needed. I’m not a big fan of guessing what’s wrong with a patient, which is why I do my best to find out the first time I meet someone what they need by asking them to fill out a very thorough questionnaire before our initial consultation. I’ve worked with a lot of neutraceutical companies that make different formulas for calming down the digestive inflammation and I think I’ve nailed it down to some of the very best products that are available to make sure my patients get exactly what they need.

Her Pain in the Neck was more than a Pain in the Neck

By Dr. Beth Blakely

A few months ago, an attractive young lady gingerly walked into our office and it became obvious that something was terribly wrong. Her neck and head were twisted at an L-shaped angle and the look of anguish on her face said more than words could express. While it was painful just to look at her, I knew I could make a difference.

During our initial exam, she told me she was injured while lifting a heavy object. She heard a loud pop in her neck and knew immediately that something was terribly wrong. She started having severe symptoms shortly thereafter, which included migraine headaches and agonizing neck pain. She said she had initially chosen the conventional medical route and they eventually did an MRI, which revealed two bulging discs.

For several weeks, she had merely managed the unrelenting pain with large quantities of ibuprofen and Vicodin. Her doctor also suggested cortisone pain injections, but at that point, she was tired of just managing the pain and wanted to get to the root cause of the issue. That’s when she decided to give chiropractic a try.

After a thorough initial examination, I took x-rays of her head and neck, which didn’t reveal any other damage. From there, I started working on her regularly and she started seeing the benefits in about a month. In addition to regular adjustments, I offered her some botanically based anti-inflammatory supplements that really helped.

Now, nearly four months later, I continue to give her regular maintenance adjustments and she has seen a dramatic improvement. She’s living life to the fullest and is free from the chronic pain that had tormented her for way too long. Best of all, she was able to get to the source of the problem while avoiding those painful and dangerous injections!

Auto Accidents

By Dr. Beth Blakely

If I had a penny for every person that’s been in an auto accident and said they felt fine immediately afterwards, I’d be a penny-aire! In some cases, severe whiplash can be detected immediately after a mishap. However, a whiplash injury which is caused by a sudden impact may take hours, days or even weeks before symptoms are noticed.

The most common symptoms of whiplash include: headaches, irritability, dizziness, stiff or painful neck, loss of neck motion, back pain, numbness, tingling in limbs, dizziness, loss of balance, nausea, muscle spasm, swelling, ringing in ears, early arthritis, bursitis, neuritis, tendinitis, nervous anxiety, double vision, night blindness, pinched nerves and painful joints.

Statistically speaking, a sprain or strain type of injury to the neck is 6.5 times more likely to develop into arthritis later in life and roughly 50% of accident victims sustain injuries to the low back. Of these, 15% will develop serious nerve damage down the road.

So, if you drive a large car or truck, the likelihood of you getting seriously injured is much lower, right? Wrong. A vehicle that is designed to sustain minimal damage on impact absorbs much of the impact’s force and transmits most of it to its occupants. This type of collision can cause significant injury.

When it comes to auto accidents, which gender gets hurt the most, men or women? The answer is women. In general, a woman's lighter musculature means that she will have a higher incidence of injury.

If the pain you are experiencing today is related to a minor fender-bender years ago, you can get help to lead a more active life. Our customized treatment plans have helped victims of auto accidents and we’ve seen excellent results. Our goal is to relieve pain and restore as much function as possible so that you can get back to enjoying life again.

Garbage Bags are not Parachutes!

The Upper Cervical Specialist

By Dr. Blakely

Not all chiropractors use the same techniques. I am an upper cervical specialist, but I also adjust all the segments of the spine that are misaligned and need to be adjusted. Cervical is the neck and my goal is to realign the very top of the head and neck to get it back into the perfect position.

I chose to become an upper cervical specialist because this region of the spine has a huge impact on overall health and well being. How can this be? Well, the brain is housed inside your skull and then there's an opening at the base of the skull where the brain stem and spinal cord pass down into the spinal canal. If that very first vertebra is misaligned, it can affect all the organ systems when it pinches your brain stem and spinal cord at the top of your neck. Misalignment can affect your muscle control mechanisms, causing changes in your posture. Misalignment can impact your digestive system, gallbladder, heart rate, blood pressure and even your immune system.

There are a lot of doctors that will only perform upper cervical adjustments and I certainly understand why. The reason I adjust the rest of the joints and spine is because a lot of times people have had problems for many years before they seek care. Over extended periods of time, they often have degeneration in these other joints and we need to realign all the segments of the spine.

Talk show host Montel Williams did a feature on one of his programs about how he had suffered from low back pain for many years and he thought it was because of his MS. And then he started getting upper cervical work and lo and behold, his low back pain resolved.

What I have found in my practice is that about 25% of my patients with chronic low back pain, the cause was misalignment in their head and neck. Somewhere along the line, they were in an accident or injury and misaligned their head and neck, which consequently affected their lower back.

If you go to a conventional chiropractor and they keep adjusting your low back, it may never fix the problem because it’s not getting at the source. For this reason, we ask every patient to complete a lengthy questionnaire. We want to know what’s happened to you from day one to get to the source of the problem. It's quite common for it to take about 7 years for your spine to degenerate enough to realize that you actually have an issue. I hear all kinds of stories from people about how they were injured during childhood and forgot about the incident, including all the guys that have jumped off a roof during childhood. Just remember this: Garbage bags are not parachutes! 

Finding Relief from Arthritis

By Bob Cox

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one-fourth of the adult U.S. population suffers from arthritis. Overall, 22.7% (52.5 million) of adults reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis. The prevalence of arthritis increases with age and is higher among women (23.9%) than men (18.6%) in every age group.

Arthritis is defined by The Mayo Clinic as inflammation in one or more of the joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The main goals of arthritis treatments are to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.

Just before Joeetha Conley first saw Dr. Blakely, she was experiencing an increasing level of pain and fatigue caused by arthritis. “I started seeing Dr. Blakely’s shortly after she had helped my husband. I was in a lot of pain and was really tired”. I was suffering from arthritis and had a lot of pain and stiffness. I also felt tired all the time. My doctor had told me that the prednisone I was taking had made me anemic and that was likely why I was so tired”, said Joeetha.

With the help of Dr. Blakely, Joeetha has a renewed sense of optimism and a healthy outlook on life. “I'm not tired like I used to be and I feel better each time I see Dr. Blakely. She has really changed my life. About a month ago, my Rheumatologist said could go off the prednisone since I was only taking two and a half milligrams. Even with that low dosage, I was experiencing chronic fatigue. With the combination of adjustments and supplements I’m taking, I’m feeling much better”, explained Joeetha.

Along with getting relief from arthritis, Joeetha has received other health benefits that she credits Dr. Blakely with. “My digestive system was really messed up and she recommended aloe vera and has really helped. Even though I haven't been able to completely get rid of my arthritis, it’s much better. Dr. Blakely is a really wonderful and caring person”, said Joeetha.

Dr. Blakely Gave Me Wellness!

By Paula Fredette

When I first hurt my back, I didn't consider seeing a doctor or chiropractor because I don't like modern medicine. I'm not sure how I got hurt. I just turned funny and something snapped. I was in major pain all weekend, so the following Monday, I trusted my instincts and walked down the street to Dr. Beth Blakely’s office.

I was numb from my hips to my toes on the left side. At the time, I was at 25 years old with no health insurance and working at Burger King. During my first visit, I filled out a lengthy questionnaire and then shared my medical history with Dr. Blakely. She took her time with me and explained what was going on in my body. She really knows what she's talking about.

Dr. Blakely gave me an adjustment that day and strongly recommended B-12 to help relieve the nerve damage. She worked out a payment plan that I could afford and I was able to continue an ongoing treatment plan.

During my treatment, I researched the nerve damage I had and found that it normally takes 500 – 1,000 days to heal. With the combination of adjustments and B-12, I had absolutely no numbness in just two months! I was pretty much back to normal and soon began feeling better than ever. I started exercising again and dropped a lot of weight. Dr. Blakely also recommended joint support for my lower back and a supplement for my gut to improve my immune system and mental clarity.

I'm totally indebted to Dr. Blakely! When I was 25 years old, I would wake up feeling like I was 97 years old! But after going to Dr. Blakely's, I now wake up in the morning with no pain. I feel much better overall.  My knees, back and sciatica don't hurt anymore. She did a lot of awesome things for me to help me get to a point where I can now do awesome things for myself.

Today, I've got a real job working at Dr. Blakely's office. I'm surrounded by wellness and life is amazing! 

April Peracchi’s Road to Recovery

Q: What was your life like before you met Dr. Blakely?

A: I suffered for years from chronic pain and severe tendinitis. I've been a homemaker for about 20 years I think my injuries were due to repetitive tasks. Anyone who has had tendinitis knows how excruciating it can be. Eventually, one of my arms completely froze up and became useless. Until you lose the functionality of one of your limbs, you don’t really realize everything you need two hands and arms for, like eating, picking up a gallon of milk, doing your hair, showering and everything else.

Q: What steps did you take to get your health back?

A: I ended up going to physical therapy to get movement back in my arm and also started seeing my first chiropractor. I got a pretty good amount of success and wanted to progress but when I didn’t after a couple of years, I started seeing Dr. Blakely.

Q: How was Dr. Blakely different from your first chiropractor?

A: I went in and had an interview with her and she taught me a lot about supplements, vitamins and minerals. I was extremely skeptical and had previous issues with vitamins bothering my stomach. I had tried everything else and had been suffering for about ten years with pain in my back, shoulder, neck and tendinitis. So, I started taking the supplements that targeted the inflammation I had in my body, which was causing a lot of my pain. She also asked me to change my diet pretty drastically and sure enough, I started feeling relief almost immediately in all areas of my body!

Q: What were the biggest changes that you received and how long did they take to achieve?

A: Well, I started to notice a decrease in pain pretty much right away. Before Dr. Blakely, my pain was about an eight, on a scale from 1-10. I would say my pain now is probably at about a two, if I even experience it. She’s basically allowed me to be pain free.

Q: So what kinds of activities are you now able to do that you couldn’t do before?

A: Mainly just living life in general. I can do all kinds of stuff every day like housework, yard work and running errands with the kids. I take care of my 91 year old grandmother and that requires a lot of lifting and I’m able to do all that fairly comfortably and be happier doing it. My success with Dr. Blakely is still an ongoing process and it takes dedication to the program she set up for me to maintain a healthy spine and lifestyle.

Editor’s notes: Dr. Beth Blakely is a chiropractor that specializes in holistic health care practices. She can be reached at (916) 944-1444.

One Life after an Auto Accident

By Bob Cox

When Kristina Holm-Bittner was involved in a car accident two days before Thanksgiving last year, she knew she was in trouble. Her doctor ordered x-rays but they didn’t find anything wrong. Unfortunately, Kristina’s neck and back continued hurting for several months.

She was at church one day and was sharing her experience with a lady friend who recommended that she see Dr. Beth Blakely. Kristina told her she was extremely skeptical of chiropractors and that she couldn’t afford it, but her friend recommended that she go see her at least one time for a thorough consultation and evaluation.

Fortunately, Kristina took her friend’s advice and she’s getting her life back. I had the opportunity to speak to Kristina the other day about her experience working with Dr. Blakely.

Q: What symptoms did you have after your car accident?

A: I had pain in my neck and lower back and was getting by on pain medication. When I first met Dr. Blakely, I had a real positive feeling and was impressed by her. She helped me understand her whole treatment process. She began by recommending that I see a pain consult doctor and ask for an MRI, which my regular doctor did not do. The pain consult doctor gave me two epidural injections and the pain in my knee that I had for years completely disappeared! They told me that my knee pain originated in my back and probably got worse because of the accident.

Q: Why were you skeptical of chiropractors?

A: I was really, really skeptical because I’m a nurse.

Q: What else has Dr. Blakely done specifically to help you?

A: Her adjustments have really helped. When I first came in, she measured my legs and said that one leg was shorter than the other and that we needed to get my spine in alignment. I was really skeptical and thought that was bogus, but her adjustment worked! I can really feel the difference after each adjustment. I also mentioned that my vitamin D level was low, despite following my doctor’s recommendations for the previous three years. She suggested that I increase my dosage eight times and I thought “What?”, but I did and it worked! My daughter had the same problem, so I told her what Dr. Blakely recommended, so she’s helped my daughter too! The last time I went to the doctor, my vitamin D level was normal.

Q: How much better do you feel after seeing Dr. Blakely?

A: Since I started seeing her last February, my neck does not bother me at all and it’s 100% better! My back is still not right, but I’m at least 60%-70% better. We do a lot of lifting and a lot of hard physical work in health care, so I really need my health. That’s why I decided to continue to see her two times a month. Dr. Blakely has made a big difference in my life! 

The Holistic Chiropractor

By Dr. Beth Blakely

My patients often ask me why I became a chiropractor. I’ve had a lifelong interest in taking care of the body naturally. As a kid, my grandmother and father both enjoyed great success with regular visits to a chiropractor in the small town where I grew up. My dad was injured in several auto accidents and his chiropractor was the only person who really helped him. The difference it made in my father was huge. He had vision problems and all kinds of issues that were corrected with an upper cervical chiropractic technique, which is one of the techniques that I do. That’s what really pushed me into chiropractic. Here are a few other frequently asked questions.

Q: How did your interests evolve from chiropractic to also include holistic care?

A: What I’ve seen over the years is an obvious change in our environment. We’re exposed to a lot of toxic chemicals that are really affecting our immune systems and our digestive systems. I realized that for some patients, treating the spine was all they needed but there were always those few people that just didn’t seem to get well. Those were the ones that bothered me and I just felt like I had to figure out why.

Q: Can a toxic environment deplete or destroy a person’s health?

A: Absolutely! We know now that so many health issues are caused by depleted immune systems. Another area of the body I pay close attention to is the digestive system and how it affects our immune system. I saw a huge void in treatment protocol with other doctors. I’ve made that my focus so that I can tailor treatment protocols to patients and their needs.

Q: What happens during the first visit?

A: The initial visit takes about 45 minutes to an hour. I like to sit down and talk to the patient, get to know them and have a thorough understanding of everything that’s going on in their life. I have a thorough questionnaire and I request records from other facilities because most patients have been everywhere else. Unfortunately, I’m the end of the line for some people.

Q: How is your approach different from conventional medicine?

A: Conventional medicine wants to give you pills and perform surgery. I don’t want you to have to do that. I want you to get well and let your body heal on its own. I always do a thorough consultation, examination and x-rays if they’re indicated, along with the health appraisal questionnaire.

Q: What are the main things you look for when you do a holistic evaluation on a new patient?

A: There are four things I look for: 1. Undetected Nerve Damage. 2. Nutritional Deficiencies. 3. Hormonal Imbalances. 4. Toxicity. I’ve treated many people that have undetected nerve damage after they have been injured in automobile accidents. They think they’re okay, but they can suffer years down the road from the degenerative process that started with the accident.

Q: Do you offer specific help for people that are involved in auto accidents and personal injury?

A: Yes. I treat a lot of personal injury cases with great success.

Editor’s notes: Dr. Beth Blakely is a chiropractor that specializes in holistic health care practices. She can be reached at (916) 944-1444.