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HEALTH   -   PAIN FREE FOR LIFE
Are You One of the 80 Percent?
December, 2012 - Issue #98
Sad fact: Most of us experience pain each and every day - and we usually do nothing
about it.

What may be worse than "nothing," though, is the "something" many Americans seek out to address our physical discomfort. We self medicate with over-the-counter pain reducers that could damage our liver; we pick up a bottle of beer instead of a barbell; we "comfort" ourselves with rich foods that increase inflammation and raise the number on our scale; we sit on the couch and numb our bodies along with our brains.

And the list goes on.

But it doesn't have to. Masking the pain often leads to worse problems - like organ failure, adult-onset diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer. Choosing to ignore pain rarely ends well, either. Long-term back and joint pain, left untreated, can be a precursor to surgery.

"It comes down to science," says Dr. Chace Unruh, the clinic director of the Unruh Spine Center. "In our culture, 'movement' has become all too rare. The 'service-based economy' finds most American workers behind a desk 40 hours a week. Remember in high school, when you learned that 'A body in motion stays in motion?' Your science teacher was talking about physics, but the same can be said about your physical being. In most peoples' cases, the opposite is true: A body lacking motion avoids motion. We're a nation of sitters. We sit at work, then in the car, then as soon as we get home. The result is a spine and muscular system that is degenerating daily. Our bodies were made for movement - but in my practice, I regularly see folks as young as their early 20s who haven't really 'moved' in years. They're posture is terrible, their ligaments have begun to harden and, in more extreme cases, a few have even lost some height," shares the chiropractor.

So, besides "move more," what's the answer?
It depends, says the doctor. "Individuals in the early stages of degeneration can cease the process, and, with regular chiropractic treatment, even reverse it." The goal, says Unruh, is to start receiving treatment before your back is in bad shape. "Our philosophy is always 'prevention first.' We want to treat our patients conservatively, reserving aggressive physical therapy, epidurals and surgery for cases when all less-invasive, natural treatments have been exhausted."

For men and women who require more extensive treatment to reverse spinal and disc degeneration, there is hope. "FDA-approved natural injections that prompt a dramatic healing response in the body have proven highly effective," says Dr. Unruh. "The Unruh Spine Center is unique in that we have such well-respected experts under one roof. We can conscientiously and as a team address bio-mechanical issues, nutrition, chiropractic, podiatry, physical therapy, acupuncture treatments and more - all under one roof. We work as a team to help our patients achieve ultimate health."

Surgery is also an option. "We're blessed to have Dr. Moza, a celebrated neurosurgeon, on staff. His specialty, Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement, is a groundbreaking treatment that uses a prosthetic device to replace your natural disc. This pain-relieving, nuanced procedure allows you to maintain motion and flexibility, all while relieving pressure on your nerves and spinal cord," says Dr. Unruh.

To learn more about the team-centered treatment options available at the Unruh Spine Center, visit their website or call to schedule your first appointment. Better health, and a pain-free life, are possible! 288-0022 www.unruhspinecenter.com
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