Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Chiropractic Success with Vertigo

Chiropractic success with vertigo is high in our office here in Lincolnwood. I’ve written about this topic in the past, follow this Link to my previous blog post about vertigo. I am writing about this again because I had a really fun case that I’d like to tell you about.

A new patient came to our office recently, let’s call him Jack. Jack has been suffering from vertigo for the past 9 years! He has seen every specialist you can imagine. A primary doctor, a neurologist, an EENT doctor, physical therapist, acupuncturist, massage therapist, headache specialist medical doctor, and on and on. He saw so many people he couldn’t even remember all of them. Jack had MRI’s, CT scans, nerve tests and so much more. The conclusion was that they had tried everything, and he was going to have to live with his vertigo.

He was in tears as he described all of this to me. His symptoms were so bad that he had to plan his driving routes based on places to pull over because the dizziness was so frequent and intense, he was unable to complete a full commute without pulling over. To say the vertigo was affecting his life in a negative way is an understatement.

Chiropractic and Vertigo

The first thing we did for Jack once he was in our office was an exam and X-rays. He stated during all of his doctor visits, tests and exams, not one person ever thought to look at his neck. In chiropractic we realize that a lot of what happens in our head is related to the structure and function of the cervical spine, which is the neck. Upon examination and X-rays I found there was degenerative disc disease, a decrease in normal range of motion and a lot of tension and tightness.

I explained to Jack that my job as his chiropractor is to correct the issues I found in his neck. I couldn’t gurantee him it would fix his vertigo, but in previous similar cases I’ve found that by improving the health of people’s neck and spine, it has helped with their vertigo. We did an adjustment on that visit and he scheduled a follow-up appointment.

On Jack’s follow-up I knew something was different as soon as I saw him. He was smiling…a large happy smile! (Always a good sign). Jack told me that his vertigo was not gone, but it was way less frequent and much less intense! I was so happy to hear this even after only one adjustment.

Stories like this is why I love what I do! I actually quite enjoy when people come to the chiropractor as a last resort. After trying everything to fix their problems they think well, I have nothing to lose let’s try this chiropractic stuff. I like to tell people in this situation, I hope we are your last stop! And most of the time…we are! Get to the root cause of people’s problems and they feel and function so much better! Chiropractic success with vertigo is high in our office. Other ‘complicated’ and chronic conditions respond well to chiropractic as well.

If you are suffering from vertigo and would like to see if chiropractic can help you, please click the link to schedule an appointment.

Yours in Health,

Dr. Steven Bourdage DC

Why chiropractic is awesome

Why Chiropractic Care is Awesome

Chiropractic care has been growing in popularity as a natural and holistic approach to healing and pain management. Chiropractic treatments primarily focus on the spine and musculoskeletal system, but it can also provide relief for other conditions, such as headaches, sports injuries, and pregnancy-related pain. Here are some reasons why chiropractic care is awesome and why you should consider it as part of your healthcare routine.

  1. Natural and non-invasive approach

Chiropractic is a non-invasive and drug-free approach to healing. Unlike other medical treatments, chiropractic care does not rely on prescription drugs or invasive procedures, making it a safe and effective alternative for individuals who prefer a more natural approach to health and wellness.

  1. Improved mobility and flexibility

Chiropractic adjustments can help improve mobility and flexibility by realigning the spine and joints. This, in turn, can alleviate pain and discomfort associated with restricted movement.

  1. Pain relief

Chiropractic care has been found to be effective in treating back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Chiropractors use a combination of techniques, such as spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and exercise rehabilitation, to provide pain relief and promote healing.

  1. Improved posture

Poor posture can lead to a variety of health problems, including back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Chiropractic care can help improve posture by correcting spinal misalignments and muscle imbalances.

  1. Overall health and wellness

Chiropractic is not just about treating specific conditions or symptoms. Regular chiropractic adjustments can help promote overall health and wellness by improving the function of the nervous system, boosting the immune system, and reducing stress.

In conclusion, chiropractic is an awesome natural approach to healing and pain management. If you are struggling with pain, discomfort, or just want to improve your overall health and wellness, consider visiting a chiropractor to see if chiropractic care is right for you. You can request an appointment here.

Bourdage Chiropractic

Top Healthy Habits

It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and forget to take care of our bodies. But by incorporating healthy habits into our daily routine, we can ensure that we are doing our best to keep our bodies in top shape. Here are some of the top healthy habits to help you stay on track:

1. Eat a Balanced Diet: Eating a balanced diet is essential for maintaining your health. Choose fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Avoid processed foods and sugary snacks that can lead to weight gain and other health issues.

2. Exercise Regularly: Exercise is one of the best ways to stay healthy and fit. Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day and vary the type of exercise to keep it interesting.

3. Get Enough Sleep: Sleep is essential for your body’s natural healing and recovery process. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night to make sure you are well-rested and ready to take on the day.

4. Manage Stress: Stress can have a major impact on your physical and mental health. Make sure to take time to relax and unwind each day to help manage stress levels.

5. Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water is essential for your body to function properly. Aim for 8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated and healthy.

6. Get adjusted. Chiropractic adjustments keep your spine, posture and body functioning at its best.

These are just a few of the top healthy habits that you can incorporate into your lifestyle. By making changes to your daily routine, you can ensure that you are doing your best to stay healthy and fit.

Schedule an appointment Here

Are you ready for the new year

The Next Best Thing

New Years is upon us. It’s the time of year when most people make some sort of resolution and most of the time, they are health related. We all know how that goes, by February you’ll probably forget what the resolution even was. Let’s be honest, we all suck at new years resolutions. I want to present you with another idea. I call it the next best thing.

Take 5-10 minutes and sit in silence. No phones, computers, kids or other distractions and ask yourself this question: “What is the next best thing I can do for my health?” I bet you won’t even need 5-10 minutes. Most people can answer this question within a minute or so.

Intuitively, we already know the answer to this question. The answer will be different for everyone, and it should be. We are all at a different point in our lives and health journey. Don’t get your answers from social media, or your spouse, or TV, or even from this blog post. Get if from within you. You already have the answer.

What is the next best thing you can do to improve your health in 2023. Focus on one thing. Instead of saying I want to lose weight, what is the one singular change you can make that will lead to losing weight? Something like, I will stop snacking after dinner is much easier to focus on and will lead to significant weight loss. I will stop drinking pop, I will eliminate desserts, I will give up french fries. Pick one small thing that will lead to the big thing.

Most people give up on their resolutions because they are too big and lofty. Start small.

What Next best Thing Should I Pick

Don’t be afraid to pick a next best thing that deals with mental, emotional or spiritual health. All of these are important and connected to physical health. Next best things like, starting marriage counseling, joining a men’s/women’s group, praying, meditating, reading one book a month are all great health goals too.

Physical health goals are also a great choice too. So many people say they want to exercise more. That is very vague. I will walk 3 mornings a week, I will go to the gym 3 times a week, I will do 50 pushups everyday. Remember, small things lead to big things. Chunk it down to bite size pieces and start chewing on those!

The list is endless. There are so many small, next best things you can choose from. Go within yourself and see what your inuition is telling you.

Write it down, commit to it, and maybe even tell a close friend to help keep you accountable.

I get excited at this time of the year. I love a new chapter, a fresh start. Let’s work together to make this our best year yet! I’m on your team and would love to help you in any way I can. The next best thing will bring you so much closer to a better you. Good luck!!

Yours in Health,

Dr. Steven Bourdage DC

Chicago Lincolnwood Chiropractor | Bourdage Chiropractic

Movement For Health

How much movement do you have in your day? Do you get your 10,000 steps a day? Do you workout or exercise? These are questions I like to ask of my patients because movement is so important, and most of us do not get enough of it. Movement for health is imperative. You cannot reach your full potential without movement.

The human body is a perfectly designed machine. And this machine is designed to move. Never has there been a time in evolution where we have been as inactive as we are currently. We used to walk miles per day just to get to our food or water sources. We used to have to carry things. We used to have to squat (to poop). Our jobs used to be phsically demanding. Now we go from our beds to the kitchen table to our car and then to our desk. Because of the comforts of modern society our health is suffering! We are softer, more sick and less happy than ever before. It is my opinion that this is because of our lack of movement in our day.

There is a great book called “The Comfort Crisis” by Michael Easter that I highly recommend that dives into this on a deeper level. BOOK – Michael Easter (eastermichael.com)

What to Do?

If you spend one hour a day exercising, that is still 23 hours of your day that you are sedentary. In my opinion that is still considered a sedentary lifestyle! I’m not saying you should not workout, but what I am saying is you have to find ways to incorporate movement into your day throughout the day. The only way to do this is to be intentional about it.

Some examples of things you can do are:

Park further away

If it’s a mile or less away find another way to get there besides your car.

Take the stairs instead of an escalator or elevator. (only 2% of the population take the stairs if there is an escalator nearby) Be a 2%er!

Do some pushups while you wait for your coffee to brew or your shower to warm-up.

Walk around the block while you wait for your oil change or yours kids activities to finish.

Play at the park with your kids.

Learn a new physical skill like a cartwheel, handstand, archery, stand up paddleboarding, kayaking, rock climbing, salsa dancing etc… the list and possibilities are endless.

Movement is Not OnlyExercise

When I ask my patients about their movement they often answer me with the status of how often they go to the gym. Like we talked about above, movement doesn’t only happen in the gym. As a matter of fact, the movement that is happening outside of the gym is more important! Depending on what you do in the gym it may not even be that functional. Functional movement is movement that occurs that is useful in everyday life. Many exercises at the gym are very unnatural and not a pattern of movement that even happen in everyday life.

Let’s take a look at the bench press exercise. How often in real life do we have to lay on a flat surface and push a weight or object away from us? Pretty much never! But many people do this exercise in search of becoming stronger or having a better-looking chest. I find for many people that excessive bench pressing causes more problems than creating a benefit. Shoulder pain, poor posture and neck pain can result from excessive bench pressing. It doesn’t jive with our modern lifestyles which already create excessively rounded shoulders and tight chest muscles.

If you need help finding ways to add more movement into your daily routine, let’s talk. When you are in the office for your next adjustment I can help. I love assisting people in finding ways to better their health. Better movement for health is the goal, I can help you achieve it.

Yours in Health,

Dr. Steven Bourdage DC

Lincolnwood Chiropractor

Chiropractor for Low Back Pain

The number one thing that brings people into my office is low back pain. Seeing a Chiropractor for low back pain should be your first choice when trying to find relief. At Bourdage Chiropractic in Lincolnwood, IL we have great success in helping people who are suffering from low back pain. There are many options when choosing how to deal with your low back pain. Chiropractor, acupuncture, massage, physical therapy, family doctor, orthopedic doctor, etc… Chiropractors specialize in discovering why you are having the pain and correcting that so not only do you feel better, but we create a long-term correction to the issue.

At our office, if your condition indicates it, we will take X-rays and do a thorough exam to determine what is the cause of your low back pain. Once we put the pieces of the puzzle together, we determine what will be the best course of treatment to correct your low back pain as efficiently as possible.

Low back pain can be very debilitating. I’ve had many people carried into my office because they were in so much pain they could not walk. Many times, people who are experiencing 10/10 pain on the pain scale don’t think a chiropractor can help because the intensity of their pain is so high. These people often times go to the ER and are treated with muscle relaxers and pain killers. This type of treatment may lessen the pain, but it does very little for fixing the problem. Why not come see us where we can get you pain relief and also start the healing process to get you back to normal.

Why we are Different

A part of the healing process is the financial aspects of the care you receive. Health insurance can be very confusing. We will let you know the costs for your care upfront, so there are no surprises. I’ve heard more than enough stories from patients about how they have all this treatment and care from providers and then months later receive a big bill in the mail that was a total surprise to the patient. I hate that as much as you do. We will discuss the finances of your care upfront to make sure there are no surprises!

Chicagoland Chiropractic for Pain Relief

If you live in the Chicagoland area, Bourdage Chiropractic is a great option for you. We are located right off the 94 expressway and can be reached easily from anywhere in the Chicago area. I have many patients that come from the far north suburbs, downtown Chicago and even the western suburbs. As of this writing, August 2022 we also have appointments available on Saturdays for your convenience.

Request an appointment right here

Yours in Health,

Dr. Steven Bourdage

Lincolnwood Chiropractor

Chiropractic for a Herniated Disc

Have you been diagnosed with a herniated disc? Have you ever wondered if chiropractic for a herniated disc can help? The answer is a resounding yes! I’d like to share a success story from our office at Bourdage Chiropractic to help prove my point.

Betty came to our office after suffering with symptoms from her herniated disc for about 6 weeks. She was having lower back pain which was radiating into her left hip and leg all the way down to her knee. She rated the pain as a 9/10 on the pain scale and was visibly uncomfortable in all positions. Walking was with a limp, she could not sit still longer than 4-5 minutes and hadn’t slept a full night through since the pain began. To say she was suffering was an understatement. She was miserable!

Before coming into our office she did see her medical doctor who prescribed pain killers, a heavy nerve blocking medication and recommended she schedule a back surgery. Betty scheduled her surgery but it was for 2 months out. In the meantime, she decided to come to our office to see if she could at least get some relief before the surgery. She could not live like this for another 2 months!

Chiropractic to the Rescue

After reviewing her history and performing a thorough exam we were ready to start helping Betty with her herniated disc. Our treatments consisted of Flexion and Distraction, which is a technique to decompress the spinal discs in the lower back, spinal adjustments, some soft tissue work on the muscles around the spine and advice for how to be as comfortable as possible for everyday activities. After Betty’s first adjustment she reported an immediate reduction in pain by about 10%. That may not sound like much, but for someone to have any reduction in pain after so long of suffering brings hope! Hope is an important part of the healing process.

After one month of treatment Betty began decreasing her medications with her doctor’s approval and was walking normally! The pain in her leg had turned from sharp, burning pain to a dull ache or soreness! Her Doctor still recommended she have surgery even though she was improving. I advised her to wait, we still have another month until the surgery anyways, let’s see what happens.

2 weeks after we had that conversation, and 6 weeks after starting chiropractic in our office she cancelled her surgery appointment. She was doing so much better and functioning in her everyday life normally! Some would say it seemed like a miracle, but the truth is, it’s chiropractic. The human body knows how to heal itself, sometimes it just needs some help to optimize that healing.

What about you?

If you are suffering from a herniated disc, or if a loved one is, have you considered chiropractic care? There are times when surgery is needed, but many times it is not. If you have been told you need surgery, have you had a second opinion? If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call or text us at 773-545-9379.

Or, click here: https://bourdagechiropractic.com/appointment-request/ to request an appointment:

Yours in Health,

Dr. Steven Bourdage

Lincolnwood Chiropractor

Chiropractic and Physical Therapy

Many people often ask me, what is the difference between chiropractic and physical therapy? People who are experiencing pain get confused on whether they should see a physical therapist or a chiropractor. I’d like to dive into this topic more with this blog post. Let’s get started with a description of each, how they are similar, how they differ, and which may be the better option for you based on your needs.

Chiropractic

The main focus of chiropractic is the spine. We also work on extremity issues with great success. The basis of our technique though, is spinal health. The human spine is designed to keep us upright (think posture) and to protect the nervous system. Any pain or injury or change to the spine can affect how you feel and how you function. The chiropractor’s job is to find spinal restrictions or injuries and restore movement and position to those areas. By doing this, the body feels better, the body heals better, and the body functions better. Our philosophy is that the body is self-healing. My job as a chiropractor is to help your body heal the best it can through a healthy spial column. Chiropractic is famous for helping people get out of pain, and it is also used to help promote overall health and wellbeing.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists work to help people feel better by addressing musculoskeletal issues through the modalities of stretching, strengthening and sometimes using passive techniques like laser, ultrasound, dry needling, etc… Usually, PT is performed for a set amount of time or visits to restore the patient back to the state they desire, which is typically pain free. Once the patient is pain free, they stop physical therapy.

Which is best for me?

It really depends on what you are looking for. If you want an overall wholistic approach to improving your body’s ability to heal itself than chiropractic is for you. If you are looking for a biomechanical approach to your pain than PT would be a good choice. It does not have to be an either-or decision. Many people choose to use both! There is not a right or wrong answer when it comes to chiropractic and physical therapy. I recommend finding which style you prefer. Most importantly is finding the person you resonate with and enjoy working with, no matter which profession they are in.

Yours in Health,

Dr. Bourdage

Hollow Holds for Core

Hollow Holds for Core

Hollow holds for core are one of the best exercises you can do to protect your spine. Check out this video for a demonstration:

A good test of core strength is if you can hold this position for one minute. Like I stated in the video, if you cannot hold this for one minute, take your time building up to it. 20 second holds will quickly turn into 40 second holds. One minute will not be far behind.

You will notice while you do this exercise, your lower back will want to come off of the ground. Fight that urge as best as you can. This exercise gets its benefit from you keeping your lower back firmly planted into the ground. When done properly you will feel you whole body shaking and that is good. The shaking is your muscles becoming stronger. If you feel pain or discomfort in your lower back while you do this exercise, please stop and discuss with me during your next chiropractic appointment.

Injury Proof

The benefits of a strong core are numerous. A strong core not only helps you look good for bathing suit season, but it also helps to create better posture, have less pain, and prevent future injury. Many of the injuries I see in my chiropractic office here in Chicago are because of weak core musculature.

The core is much more than just the abdomen muscles. The core is truly the integration of the body as a whole. How your body is all tied together. The core helps connect the upper body to the lower body so it can all work in unison. A strong united body comes from a strong core.

Hollow holds for core, give them a try and reap the benefits of developing a rock solid foundation!

Yours in Health,

Dr. Steven Bourdage

chiropractic is natural

Which do you take better care of, your Car or your Body?

Why so many people are drawn to chiropractic is because chiropractic is natural. Chiropractors don’t add or subtract from your body. We work with you in your current state. We help you to improve your health by optimizing your structure.

The body’s structure dictates how it functions. If you have poor structure in the form of bad posture, tension, arthritis, poor walking pattern and/or subluxations in your spinal column you will not be at 100% health.

You want 100% health, don’t you? I find most everyone answers yes to this question. Health is the new wealth. If you do not have your health, does it really matter how much wealth you have?

Do you maintain your car? Do you change your oil regularly? If your tires are worn out and winter is coming, wouldn’t you change your tires? Do you flush the fluids, change the spark plugs, etc…? Why do you do these things? The answer as you know is to extend the useful life of their automobile. Do you maintain your body as good as you do your car? Do you perform body maintenance at all?

Chiropractic is such an easy and effective way to keep your body running at its peak. It is one of the simplest things you can add into your routine that will pay dividends over the years.

Chiropractic is natural, safe, effective and a cost-effective way to optimize your health!

If you have questions about chiropractic and how you can best start incorporating this great service into your health improvement schedule, please give us a call or email and I would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Dr. Steven Bourdage DC

Click https://bourdagechiropractic.com/appointment-request/ to request an appointment.