What is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine curves from side to side. Patients may be born with it, or scoliosis can develop as they mature. In some cases, another medical condition or a trauma may be the cause. When scoliosis occurs in the cervical (upper neck) area, it can affect the Atlas vertebra. Like the Greek god for whom it is named, this bone at the top of the spine is responsible for holding up the entire head. When it is properly aligned, or orthogonal, the rest of the spine functions smoothly, but when it shifts out of alignment due to scoliosis or other factors, it can affect all of the other vertebrae in a domino fashion. If the head is not centered directly above the pelvis, the rest of your body can also become misaligned causing pain, discomfort and difficulty in moving.

Fortunately for patients of Back to Health Family Chiropractic our Fort Worth chiropractor, Dr. Chris Michlin, is the only Board Certified Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractor in North Texas. This gentle form of care for the upper neck and cervical area is combined with spinal adjustments and manipulation to relieve pressure, bring the spine into alignment, and provide pain relief. Many patients report immediate improvement after treatment with this technique.

The Atlas Orthogonal adjustments can bring upon such significant results for those with scoliosis that a scoliosis specialist comes to Back To Health Family Chiropractic from New York once a month to see his local patients and refer them to Dr. Michlin for a team approach to healthcare. By wearing a soft scoliosis brace and receiving atlas adjustments, one patient’s spinal curvature had a 17 degree reduction in less than seven months!

Gentle Care for Relief for Other Forms of Back Pain

Dr. Michlin uses Atlas Orthogonal on scoliosis patients of all ages, but it is also effective at relieving pain caused by other problems such as sciatica, fibromyalgia, auto accident injuries, sports injuries, or work-related injuries. After a thorough examination to determine the extent of your scoliosis or other spinal issue, he may recommend a treatment plan that could combine Atlas Orthogonal with other specific full spine chiropractic techniques, massage therapy, nutritional counseling, food and airborne allergy testing, or lifestyle advice to help you get back to feeling your best.

If it’s time for you to get back to health, Atlas Orthogonal might be right for you. Browse our website now for full information on this beneficial healing technique.

How has scoliosis affected your ability to move freely and enjoy life?

Unique Services for Fort Worth Back Pain & Sciatica

Get Back to Health Today!

At Back to Health Family Chiropractic, we have many services to help treat Fort Worth back pain and sciatica, including the Atlas Orthogonal precision adjusting instrument, full spine adjutments, decompression through Cox flection distraction, percussive instrument for soft tissue release, nutritional counseling, and lifestyle support. Reducing joint restriction and restoring proper function allows the local inflammation and pain reflex responses to begin to subside. Our chiropractor meets with each patient and performs a thorough examination to look for any underlying causes of pain before recommending a course of treatment. He then puts together a plan for restoring proper body functioning that is unique to you and your individual situation.

If it’s time for you to get back to health, perhaps Atlas Orthogonal treatments can be right for you. Check out our website (backtohealthtexas.com) for full information on this beneficial healing technique. While you’re there, be sure to sign up for our newsletter so we can send you more information on the latest techniques in promoting back health.

How has pain in your back kept you from enjoying life to its fullest?

Headaches and Chiropractic Care

If you have dealt with the throbbing, stabbing or dull pain of headaches, you know that it can be one of the more painful ailments that you can suffer. The physical pain can be so severe that a bad migraine or tension headache can truly impact your whole life. Many of our patients who come to see us have missed work, and lost out on enjoying time with family and friends because headaches can be so painful and difficult to overcome.

Some patients that come to see our Fort Worth chiropractor, Dr. Chris Michlin, have been suffering from headache pain for years and have found limited or no success treating the headaches with prescription medications. Chiropractic care for a migraine or for tension headaches takes a different path: We don't treat pain using medication since medication is typically only a short-term solution and does not resolve the underlying problem. Our ultimate treatment goal for patients involves getting to the bottom of the problem so that headaches are eliminated for the long term.

Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic Care

Dr. Michlin is the only Board Certified Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractor in Fort Worth and North Texas. He uses the Atlas Orthogonal Adjusting Instrument to restore the Atlas vertebra to its neutral or orthogonal position through a gentle and very specific adjustment. Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic care comes from many years of clinical research pointing to the fact that much of the problem associated with spinal misalignment and its consequences can be associated with the atlas vertebra, the top cervical bone in the neck.

Ft. Worth Headache Help

At Back to Health Family Chiropractic in Ft. Worth, our patients come to see us seeking a non-invasive resolution to headaches and the neck pain, nausea and light sensitivity that can come along with them.  In many cases headaches happen when one or more of the spinal vertebrae of the neck are out of alignment. The misalignment can make the neck and shoulder muscles seize up, causing pain and the seized muscles can cause nerves to become compressed. Malposition of the atlas can also put extra pressure on the brain stem and surrounding tissues. Pressure in this area can lead to decreased communication between the brain and body as well as disrupting the proper flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid.

If you have ever experienced migraines, “pounding” or “splitting” headaches, pain and pressure behind your eyes or “clogged ears”, you may have been experiencing the effects of pressure on your upper cervical region caused by Atlas misalignment. With careful adjustments of the spinal vertebrae that are out of alignment, compressed nerves can be freed and headache pain can be eliminated -- for the long term.

Have you found headache relief thanks to chiropractic care? Please tell us your story and feel free to leave us questions.

Auto injury patients can suffer a range of symptoms, from back pain to neck pain to whiplash. At Back to Health Family Chiropractic, Dr. Michlin is trained in diagnosing and treating spinal and soft tissue injuries. We are experienced in helping our patients find true and lasting relief from the back and neck pain that can often accompany whiplash and other auto accident injuries.

If you have recently been involved in a car accident in the Fort Worth area, do not wait to seek chiropractic care. We, at Back to Health Family Chiropractic, have a variety of different treatments and techniques we can use to help you feel better — and fast.

Fort Worth Auto Injury Patients Find Relief from Our Chiropractor

Fort Worth auto injury victms that have recently been involved in a car accident in and feel they may have suffered an auto injury such as whiplash, neck pain or back pain, your first call should be to our chiropractor, Dr. Michlin.

Fort Worth auto injuries can cause various types of pain, including neck pain, back pain, whiplash and headaches. Many of these symptoms are caused by a misaligned spine or soft tissue injury. Dr. Michlin is experienced in working with the Atlas vertebrae, the topmost vertebrae which supports a person's head. If this particular portion of your spine becomes misaligned, it can be very painful and lead to further complications down the road. We are the only chiropractic office in North Texas who offers realignment of the Atlas vertebrae by a Board Certified Atlas Orthogonal Doctor.

Other treatments we offer at our Fort Worth office to rehabilitate and resolve various injuries and pain conditions include spinal adjustments, spinal decompression and soft tissue work.

If you have recently been involved in an automotive accident, it is important that you get in touch with our chiropractor as soon as possible. The faster you come to us at Back to Health Family Chiropractic, the sooner we can make you feel better and allow you to move on with your life.

Have you recently been in a car accident? Were you injured? What were your symptoms? Do you want to heal properly instead of simply covering up the symptoms?

You want to get Back To Health!

The Medicine Cabinet In Your Kitchen
Tony Isaacs

Many of us have a cabinet full of herbs and spices we use to help improve the flavor of our meals. What many may not realize is how much common kitchen herbs and spices can also help improve our health. Here are ten top examples:

CAYENNE - Cayenne pepper has wonderful cardiovascular benefits, including lowering blood pressure. Famed herbalist Doctor John Christopher noted that a couple of teaspoons of cayenne pepper never failed to stop a heart attack in only minutes. When added to food, cayenne increases appetite, improves digestion and relieves gas, nausea and indigestion. It also thins phlegm and eases its passage from the lungs.

GARLIC - Garlic is a natural antiseptic and powerful cancer fighter with numerous other health benefits. It helps lower cholesterol, reduces plaque, lowers blood pressure, and lowers the risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Garlic is also effective against digestive ailments and diarrhea.

TURMERIC - The curcumin contained in turmeric provides powerful anti-cancer properties, especially for past smokers. Curcumin has clinically proven anti-inflammatory effects, including significant beneficial effects in relieving rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Turmeric is also packed with antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E, and may help prevent cataracts.

CINNAMON - Cinnamon contains a compound that kills a variety of illness causing bacteria, including the E.coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus. Research shows that cinnamon can also stop the growth of the Asian flu virus. Cinnamon helps lower blood pressure and helps regulate menstrual cycles. In addition, cinnamon has a tranquilizing effect that helps reduce anxiety and stress

OREGANO - Oregano is a powerful natural antiseptic. It contains 19 chemical compounds with antibacterial actions as well as four compounds that soothe coughs. In addition, oregano helps soothe stomach muscles, making it a good digestive aid, and it helps lower blood pressure.

GINGER - Ginger is a wonderful digestive aid which stimulates saliva flow and digestive activity, settles the stomach, relieves vomiting, and eases pain from gas and diarrhea. Ginger is also effective as an anti-nausea remedy. Researchers have found that ginger is more effective against motion sickness than the most commonly used over the counter medication. Ginger is also used as a pain reliever and it helps lower bad cholesterol.

FENUGREEK - Fenugreek seeds help treat diabetes, lower blood sugar and lower bad cholesterol. Fenugreek also helps maintain good metabolism, prevents constipation, purifies the blood and helps flush out harmful toxins. Fenugreek seeds and leaves are good for increasing breast milk in lactating women. BASIL - Basil is an herbal carminative which can relieve gas and soothe stomach upsets. Research has also indicated that basil helps prevent aging.

CLOVE - Oil of clove is 60 to 90 percent eugenol, which is a potent pain deadening anti-microbial. Clove has earned the official endorsement of the FDA as an effective stopgap measure for tooth pain. Clove also helps lower blood sugar by helping the body use insulin more effectively. Clove was also found in one study to speed healing of dreaded cold sores.

BLACK PEPPER - Black pepper is one of the oldest and most commonly used spices. It has a stimulating effect on the digestive organs and produces an increased flow of saliva and digestive juices. Black pepper can help relieve indigestion as well as flatulence. It also helps improve absorption and utilization of curcumin, which the body normally does not absorb very well. The above list barely scratches the surface of all the wonderful healing herbs and spices nature has provided for our "kitchen medicine cabinet". For many more examples, see: http://unitproj.library.ucla.edu/bi...

Learn more HERE

Wild Caught vs. Farm Raised

It is hard to imagine life before cell phones and wireless homes.  The convenience is wonderful.  Our technological world sure does help us stay connected to our loved ones.  Yet it also may put our health on the line.  For more information , read the article below from November 2010 / Women's Health.

* Click on the Article Image to bring up a larger copy *

We love our cell phones!  How did we ever survive without them?  As our phones get more and more technologically advanced, the health risks might be rising too.  Cell phones emit radiation to send voice and text messages between you and the other caller. Health risks aren’t confirmed yet, but some (not all) studies of frequent cell phone users suggest increased risks for brain and mouth tumors and children’s behavior problems.

To be on the safe side, Click Here to see which phones have the lowest radiation and which phones have the highest.  

Click Here for tips to Reduce Cell Phone Radiation Exposure.   

To go along with the Produce Wash recipe in an earlier blog we posted today, here is a Shopping Guide, which includes the Dirty Dozen (a list of the fruits and vegetables you simply must buy organic) and the Clean 15 (fruits and vegetables lowest in pesticides).

Chronic exposure to pesticides -- from eating fruits and vegetables without washing them -- can result in everything from dizziness and headaches to cancer and obesity.  Buying organic will help reduce your exposure, but even organic produce can harbor salmonella and E. colo, as well as trace levels of pesticides, so it is critical that you clean all fruits and vegetables prior to eating them.  If you're in a rush, rinsing them for 20 seconds under cold tap water will get rid of most dirt and pesticides, and do a decent job with bacteria.  (Whatever you do don't "clean" an apple, or any other fruit, by rubbing it on your shirt.  All that does is move the pesticides and bacteria around).  The best option, however, is to make your own produce wash.

1 tablespoon of lemon juice (a natural disinfectant)
2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar (neutralizes most pesticides)
1 cup of cold tap water

In Australia Doctors are being advised to stop giving the flu vaccine to children.  Seasonal flu vaccinations across Australia for children under five have been suspended after 23 children in Western Australia were admitted to hospital with convulsions following their injections. 

Australian Flu Vaccination Ban

Asian food is one of our favorite food groups! Sashimi, sushi, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean....we love them all!  After years of enjoying Asian food without any ill-effects, lately we have both noticed that we are getting reactions to foods at some of our favorites restaurants.  We are both experiencing a tightness at the temples, throughout the head, and in  the chest.  Sometimes, it is followed up with a headache.  We have narrowed down the cause of our reaction to MSG and have been asking restaurants to leave it out of our foods. 

Many of us correlate MSG with Asian restaurants.  However, MSG is is far more foods than we realize!  Click on the link below to learn more about MSG: how many foods have it and how harmful it is for your health!        

Last night, we watched Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.  British chef Jamie Oliver has taken on the challenge to to transform the eating habits of people in Huntington, W.V., which has been named as the unhealthiest city in America.  To help inspire others to eat healthy foods, click here to see a list of the Healthiest Foods On Earth! 

We love our cell phones!  How did we ever survived without them?  Now we won't leave our houses without them by our side.  While we depend on them every day, what are the health risks?  Research is just beginning to be disseminated about the risks.  Here is a link to an interesting article discussing just that. (Please disregard the cell phone advertisements on a site which is listing the risks!)

Cell Phones & Our Health

And what if you discovered that this chemical impostor was responsible for your insulin resistance and weight gain?

And elevated blood pressure ...

And elevated triglycerides and LDL ...

And depletion of vitamins and minerals ...

And even gout, heart disease and liver damage?

What if you were to discover that this toxic substance had been dumped into your food in gradually increasing quantities for the last thirty years, with the full knowledge and blessings of the American Heart Association, the American Medical Association, the USDA and the FDA?

Would you be angry?

I wish I could tell you that this is just a dramatic plot from some fiction novel, but it’s actually a shocking reality.

The substance dealing such a crushing blow to your health and responsible for many, if not most of the chronic diseases that are so rampant in our society, is sugar -- and more specifically, fructose.

Click here to read the rest of Dr. Mercola's article and see his video!

Four years ago on January 16th, our first patient walked into the Back To Health Family Chiropractic, which was two days before we were officially open. What a great beginning! What a great four years! We love our life!!! Thank you for being a great part of our world! The next four years times ten are going to be great!! We send a... BIG thank you to our patients who make it all possible!

To celebrate our four years in business, the Michlin Team is throwing a Patient Appreciation Party this Saturday from 12:00 - 4:00!

Dr. Daniel Clark does a great job explaining what you can do to get Back To Health and stay Back To Health without drugs and painkillers!

The Secret of Brain to Body Communication

List of Health Problems That Respond To Upper Cervical Care

As the flu season is getting underway it is important for us be aware of fact from fiction regarding the "Swine Flu Epidemic."  One of the leading researchers helping us to separate fact from fiction is Dr. Mercola who has listed the following article:

What International Health Expert Thinks of the Flu Vaccine

Is there a difference between farm raised fish and wild caught?  You bet there is!  Here is a great article explaining why wild caught is THE way to go!!

Eat Wild Caught Fish!

Check out this article.  There is some great information about how to avoid the Swine Flu!

Prevent The Swine Flu

Like everyone else in our community we have been hearing lots of information lately about the Swine Flu pandemic. I am of course very concerned with appropriate actions to maintain the health of my family, patients and community. Before we take specific action, first we have to understand with what we are dealing. Dr. Toohey gives us some well researched information in the following excerpt of her work.

On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6 in response to the ongoing global spread of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus, otherwise known as swine flu. This virus is cause for concern, but not panics, as the pandemic alert is a reflection of the spread, not the severity of illness caused by the virus. However, since the virus gained strength in a time that was not even considered "flu season", concern is once again raised, now that flu season is upon us in a pandemic state. There are shifts in the normally higher ratio of the elderly and very young affected by the virus; however the immune-compromised are still being hit the hardest. Each year 50 to 100 children die of seasonal flu. It is not clear whether the new virus is more dangerous than ordinary seasonal flu for kids, though some health officials suspect it is. Swine flu is causing more suffering in children and young adults than the normal flu (Normally, half or more of the children who die of the flu are 4 and under, however more than 80 percent of the kids who died with swine flu were 5 through 17. ) At least 40 children have died, accounting for about one in 13 U.S. swine flu deaths, scientists with the CDC said Thursday, Sept. 3; two-thirds of those had high-risk health problems, whereas only a third of the children who died in a previous flu season had those conditions. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) experts hypothesize that since it is a new virus that will spread the fastest with new exposure and children/young adults aged 5-17 are in schools; it would explain the different ratios with this flu. Doctors speculate that older age groups have some protection, because the virus resembles a strain of flu that circulated before 1957, to which older people have been exposed, says Colin Lee, associate medical officer of health in Ontario's Simcoe-Muskoka region. That might explain why people aged 20-50 are actually harder hit than the elderly with this flu.

Influenza viruses are generally constantly mutating, but every once in a while, the virus shifts its genetic structure so that our immune systems are challenged. (This usually happens when a flu virus found in animals - like the avian flu still circulating in Asia - swaps genes with other viruses in a process called re-assortment, and jumps to human beings.) A flu pandemic occurs when a new flu virus emerges for which humans have little or no immunity and then spreads easily from person to person around the world. Avian flu is severe but not easily spread. Swine flu is not severe but easily spread. In the 20th century we had two mild flu pandemics (1968 and 1957), and the severe "Spanish flu" pandemic of 1918, which was both deadly AND spread quickly, killing an estimated 40 to 50 million people worldwide.

Swine Flu Facts (and answers to frequently asked questions):

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report Surveillance for Pediatric Deaths Associated with 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection --- United States, April--August 2009 showed "As of August 8, 2009, CDC had received reports of 477 deaths associated with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in the United States, including 36 deaths among children aged <18 years."

Interestingly, the majority of those deaths occurred in children with very significant neurodevelopmental disorders. According to the data some of these children also had chronic pulmonary disorders and some were obese. In fact, most who died had multiple, severe, chronic health conditions.

As for the record of whether the flu vaccine is working, the CDC also found that "Among 31 children for whom antiviral treatment data were available, 19 (61%) received antiviral treatment, and four of those received treatment within 2 days of illness onset. Of 25 children for whom information was available, 13 (52%) had received at least 1 dose of the 2008--09 seasonal influenza vaccine, including 11 children with high-risk medical conditions."

The question remains, how do we build defenses for such a widespread virus?

The steps we need to take today are the same steps that we always must take. We must maintain a healthy immune system. In addition to a healthy diet, exercise and proper sleep one crucial way to make sure your family's immune systems are functioning at thier best is to make sure their nervous systems are free from interference. Since the nervous system has a direct effect on the immune system and because the spine houses and protects so much of the nervous system, it is important to have your family's spines checked by a Doctor of Chiropractic for any interference.

At Back To Health Family Chiropractic, we look first to neurological compromise by examining the entire spine with special emphasis on the upper cervical region. Once we determine and correct the neurological compromise that the body is experiencing, we look to any specific nutritional deficiencies that our patient may be experiencing. From there we look to the body's fitness level and recommend an individual exercise program to fit the needs of the patient.

Here is an awesome piece of information regarding the world of Atlas Orthogonality!  A person suffering from Multiple Sclerosis received astonishing results from an adjustment using the Atlas Orthogonal procedure!

Click here to read the article.

Water Bottles Are Causing Great Concern!  Keep drinking water...lots of it.  Let's all find ways to keep Mother Earth and our wallet GREEN!!

Click Here for an Interesting Read