Paula Moore The Chiropractor

Bunion Help

July 28, 2010 · Leave a Comment

What Is a Bunion?

Bunion is Latin for bunio or turnip. The foot is made up of 26 bones (an ankle bone, heel bone, bunch of mid-foot bones and 5 metatarsals-the long bones that connect with each toe). The toes have 3 bones each and only two in the big toe or hallux which is Latin for enlargement. Each long metatarsal bone joins with one toe and is ideally in good straight alignment with the toe. This is normal foot anatomy

Big Toe Deformity

Sometimes the hallux or big toe can become angled or lean inwards and this odd leaning deformity is called a hallux vaLgus angle (think L for leaning).

This leaning of the great toe can force the metatarsal bone to stick out from the side of the foot at the base of the big toe. If this happens, usually a swollen bunion forms that is often painful. A bunion is not arthritis but this angled toe may become arthritic (hallux limitus rigidus or stiff big toe). Rigidus is more commonly used but limitus or limited big toe movement is the correct term and only becomes rigid when/if the big toe joint fuses over time due to mechanical stress on the big toe joints.

Sore Bunions

The symptoms of a bunion can include irritated skin around the prominence, pain when walking, redness, pain at rest, sometimes blisters or ulcers and often callous or hard skin formation around the big toe.

Bunion Causes

A third more women than men get bunions and this is probably what has a ‘bunion specialist’ convinced that bunions are caused by poor fitting shoe wear. It seems that a more likely cause is over pronation of the feet, flat feet, and excess flexibility of the foot ligaments and that these structural differences are then further aggravated by poor fitting shoes. African bush men get bunions and even Oprah Winfrey has a bunion

Natural Bunion Treatment

There are many natural bunion treatment options advised from going barefoot and wearing Vibram Five Fingers I own a blue pair! Other treatments for bunions include, foam toe spacers, hallux valgus splints, orthotics for bunions and bunion operations. Personally as a chiropractor and a woman with bunions, I subscribe to natural bunion treatment.

Mobilisation of the Big Toe

If you are looking for a natural bunion treatment, then this may be for you. I found this video online and I think it is excellent. I have started to use it for my own bunions. If you have arthritis of the big toe, have sore bunions or just have an interest in preventing bunions this may be a good place to start. Chiropractic foot treatment should definitely be considered. We have a lot of experience in hands on manipulation of feet. So watch this mobilisation of the big toe or go to a professional who is confident with natural bunion treatment. Stayed tuned because I will have a personal video up soon to show you my own progress with my big toe mobilisation.

Paula Moore the Chiropractor

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Does Egoscue Work?

July 7, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Does The Egoscue Method Work?

Yesterday I had my first session with Egoscue therapist Rav (I recommend Rav ) It turns out that Rav was an engineer, built bridges and such. He was always the sporting sort and had studied the Egoscue method in his spare time. When he was made redundant, he decided to pursue Egoscue full-time.

Can Egoscue Cure Bunions?

I emailed Rav and asked about my bunions and round shoulders and this is what he said: I am an Egoscue therapist and also practice Muscle Balance & Function a similar process to Egoscue. These methods of identifying and correcting postural related dysfunction have indeed helped in reversing bunions (as well as valgus deformity and hallux rigidis). Personally I have helped with Valgus deformity and quite often excessive pronation and sometimes bunions accompany this condition. Although these conditions can be helped there is no quick fix (through Egoscue) and is dependent on the client being dedicated to the exercise. Rounded shoulders are common and can be fixed in less time.

Egoscue Examination

It wasn’t a medical history as such but the questions seemed relevant to my posture. As a chiropractor that takes medical histories every day, I found he did a good job.

Egoscue Diagnosis

Rav explained that my pelvis had an anterior gravity stance, which gave me a sway back posture, and in compensation, my shoulders are rounded. Although I disagreed with some of his findings, most of his findings were astute.

Egoscue Treatment

Rav said he had over 500 exercises from which to choose. I was to perform two sets of 15 repetitions of each exercise taking 40 minutes each day. I do most of the exercises on the floor with emphasis on the gluteal muscles and shoulder blades. I enjoyed the Egoscue exercises and think that they will help over time.

Do Egoscue Method Exercises Work?

It took me 5 years of full-time University training to qualify as a chiropractor. It took Rav 1 year of on-line study and a few seminars (when the Egoscue trainers come over from the States). I don’t have a problem with the educational differences because the Egoscue method seems mostly concerned with muscular rehabilitation. I don’t think the Egoscue method works quickly. Egoscue would best suit the professional athlete, or the individual with a gym membership who is prepared to put time into their health.

I will continue with my Egoscue exercises 40 minutes a day, until I receive new exercises from Rav. I think most people want to feel well quickly (that is the kind of results driven society we live in) and for their acute and chronic pain, the majority will still seek a chiropractor, osteopath or physiotherapist and yes unfortunately pain killers.

Paula Moore The Chiropractor

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Are MRI Scans Safe?

August 17, 2008 · 50 Comments

MRI Scan

On day 7 of my low back pain I had my MRI scan with Vista Diagnostics just outside Waterloo Station, London (www.vistadiagnostics.co.uk). By this time my symptoms were 80% resolved but being a chiropractor I was aware of the feeling of low back instability and knew something wasn’t right.

How Does an MRI Scan Work

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. There is no ionizing radiation (the type from an x-ray, or from flying or watching TV). Radio waves are 10,000 to 30,000 times stronger than the magnetic field of the earth are sent through your body. This affects the body’s hydrogen atoms (those found in water), forcing the nuclei into a different position (flipping them). As they move back into place they send out energy in the form of radio waves. The scanner picks up these signals and a computer turns them into a picture.

Mri Claustrophobia

First of all I recommend that you bring your own ear plugs as I wasn’t offered any by Vista Diagnostics. I think this is poor. I had no idea just how loud the machine was going to be (some MRI scan labs offer you head phones with music). Think night club base mixed with slow pounding jack hammer on the pavement. This is far more stressful than having to stay still or going into a tube.

If you are having a spine MRI (for your low back)  then you really don’t go into the tube all that far. My legs were sticking out from about the knee down. I kept thinking stupid thoughts like what if someone tickles my feet? It is a great idea to close your eyes as soon as you lie on your back before you start going into the tube. Don’t open your eyes to look at your confined space (this made claustrophobia a non-issue for me).

Drink bottled water after your MRI scan. There is no official stance on water drinking after an MRI scan. It just makes sense that if you are playing around with your hydrogen ions  you might just want a top up supply!

Are MRI Scans Safe

This is what I think. There is no way that having a magnet 30000 times the pull of the earth flipping your hydrogen ions around is completely desirable. We may not ‘feel’ it is doing anything but anyone sensible knows that many health problems come without any symptoms. I am not saying don’t have an MRI. You have to weigh-up the benefits and risks. We know the benefits but I am just not convinced if we know the possible risks. They don’t let pregnant women have an MRI scan and when I asked the radiographer at Vista Diagnostics why not, she said ‘because we just don’t know the possible effects, although we are quite sure it is safe.’

My body got very hot during my MRI scan. I am not talking a little warm all over, or a bit stuffy but my back was hot as if lying on a hot plate just starting to heat up. I assumes this was from the energy released from my body during the hydrogen ion flipping. I also experienced fasciculations (muscle twitching) in my triceps and latissimus dorsi muscles. I couldn’t control them. I just kept thinking damn, I am not suppose to move. It lasted about 60 seconds. I have googled a few other opinions on MRI scan side effects:

  • I recently had an MRI, this is the third or fourth, any time I go though the anti-theft devices at stores. The alarm sounds when I have nothing on me.
  • Submitted by tania (not verified) on Wed, 11/01/2006 – 11:16am. My husband also had a similar situation as yours with horrible headaches following the MRI, please let me know what u found out
  • I had an MRI for my hand injury about 3 yrs ago and after that the first night in my bed I was hearing buzzing and ringing in my ears. The sound have been subsiding until 3 weeks ago which has become worse. Could that be a side effect due to that MRI?
  • I had my first MRI of my brain yesterday and I felt very weird, spaced out, and VERY tired and got a terrible migraine afterwards. I had earplugs in, but they didn’t help a whole lot. While I was in the MRI I felt pressure on my forehead and it also felt like an energy swirling in the middle of my forehead. VERY uncomfortable. I still feel like crap today.      

Read more about safety/side effects of MRI scans

So there you have it. I still wouldn’t hesitate to have an MRI, but I also strongly believe that the only ‘safe’ medical procedure is no medical procedure!

My Slipped Disc

By the way, my MRI scan shows  a left-sided (L2) lumbar disc prolapse (also known as a slipped disc or disc herniation). I have started a daily spinal rehabilitation program mostly based on material I have learned from Dr Stuart McGill. I can not recommend his book enough. I think he is leading the way with spinal rehabilitation.

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Check out Dr Stuart McGill and buy his book ‘Ultimate Back Fitness And Performance.’  

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