Tag Archives: chicago chiropractic

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.

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Chiropractic and Carpal Tunnel

I’d like to share an amazing success story with you that involves chiropractic and carpal tunnel. I had a patient, let’s call her Sue. She came to our office with carpal tunnel symtoms. She had surgery 6 months ago for her carpal tunnel. Sue said the surgery gave her about 6 months of relief, but now the same exact symptoms she was having before her surgery were back again. Sue was frustrated. She had this surgery and is essentially back to where she was day 1. During our consult together I asked her how her neck feels. She responded with “my neck hurts all the time, but it’s my hands that concern me because they are numb.” I continued to ask some basic history questions. I learned that no doctor had ever looked at or examined her neck in the past. This is important because there are certain levels in your neck that send nerves down into your hands and arms. Before opting to have a surgery, ensure that all possible causes of carpal tunnel have been investigated.

We started the exam with looking at Sue’s neck. I examined the area by feeling the muscles, the spinal alignment and motion, and various orthopedic tests. Their was a lot of muscles tightness, spinal restrictions, forward head posture and signs of nerve impingement. The icing on the cake was the neck X-rays we took. The X-rays showed degeneration at the C4-C6 levels. This is the exact area the nerves leave the spine and travel down into the arm and hand. I explained all this to Sue and asked her if she was ready to start healing and feeling better. Of course she was ready! She had been suffering with this for too long.

Chiropractic Treament

We began treatment right away. Our visits together initially consisted of chiropractic adjustments and some muscle work. As Sue’s neck started to feel better and have less tension, we started working on posture correction as well. Within 3 visits she started noticing relief and improvements. Her neck feeling better, she had less numbness and tingling in her hands and more strength in her hands. She stated she was having less headaches and more energy which I didn’t even know were issues to begin with! (Please tell your chiropractor about all your symptoms!)

10 visits into Sue’s chiropractic treatment and she was feeling so much better. She was feeling better than she could have imagined. I’m excited to see her continual progress and at the end of her treatment plan we will take some updated X-rays to see the changes her spine has undergone. Not only do I want to know she is feeling better, I want to see that we made physical changes to her spinal structure, so we know it’s a long-term correction and not just a band-aid fix.

Do You Have Carpal Tunnel

Have you been diagnosed with carpal tunnel? Have you been told that you need to have a surgery? Chiropractic and carpal tunnel can be a life changer for you. I urge you to schedule an appointment with a chiropractor. In my office we will do a full history, examination and X-rays of necessary. If I cannot help you, I will help to point you in the right direction of someone who can. Stories like Sue’s are not uncommon in my office. My goal is to help people avoid unnecessary medications and surgeries. Give us a call or request an appointment online, I’d love to help you!

Dr. Steven Bourdage DC

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

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 is natural

Chiropractic is Natural

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 it’s peak. It is one of the simplest things you can add into your routine that will pay dividens 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.

Crawl for Core

Crawl For Core

One of my favorite exercises to improve your overall health, strength and fitness is crawling. Crawl for core strength and stability. For most adults it has been decades since you have been on all 4’s crawling around. If you watch how babies and kids move, they are pliable, nimble and agile. The can spend extended time in a deep squat, they can fall down and bounce right back up, and they crawl around on the ground. All of these movements are natural human movements that we should continue to perform even into adulthood.

Benefits

When performing the crawling exercise, not only are you engaging your full body musculature, you are also firing neurons in your brain. The cross crawl pattern of moving your opposite extremities at the same time has been shown in numerous studies to be beneficial to the brain. Patients that suffer from Alzheimer’s and dementia have been shown to have positive effects of practicing cross crawl exercises. Anytime we can find exercises that benefit both brain and body…I’m a fan.

I use crawling mostly as a warm up before my other workouts. I set a timer for 5 minutes and try to keep crawling for that whole time. Beware, it takes time to work yourself up to a 5 minute crawl. If you are not ready for that yet, start small. I recommend crawl for one minute, rest for 2 minutes. Repeat 3-5 times. Sometimes, if I am not working out or if it’s a rest day, I will still get down on all 4’s and crawl. I feel so much better physically after I crawl for core, and it also wakes me up. I always feel more alert after.

There is no shortage of ways to incorporate crawling into your routine. Please give it a try and let me know your thoughts.

Your Chicago Chiropractor,

Dr. Steven Bourdage DC

Chiropractic and Exercise

A lot of patients ask me if chiropractic and exercise should be done together? Did you know receiving chiropractic adjustments can help you to make the most of your exercise program. Chiropractic helps exercise, and exercise helps chiropractic. Let me explain more..

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Being Healthy is Hard

Being Healthy is Hard

To be healthy requires you to make healthy decisions. Being healthy is hard. You have to decide to get enough sleep, eat healthier, exercise, fill your mind with positivity, and all the other habits that create health.  Being healthy can also cost you money. Visits the the chiropractor, gym memberships, at home exercise equipment, vitamins, organic food, massages, etc… These things all cost money. I can promise you this though, being sick is a lot harder and more expensive than being healthy.

Any time or money you spend on your health is a wise investment in you! When you are sick or in pain most people are willing to spend whatever time or money it takes to regain their health. Be more proactive and spend it upfront.

The most common time people start to think about their health is once a crisis hits. We’ve all been there, or know someone who has. A person has a heart attack and then decides it’s time to start an exercise program. Or you get diagnoses with Diabetes and then decide it’s time to eat better. Or you throw your back out and can’t move and then decide it’s time to start strengthening your core. All these scenarios are OK, but wouldn’t it make so much more sense to avoid the crisis all together?

Chiropractic should be an integral part of your healthcare plan. Chiropractic can not only help you get out of pain, it helps you stay out of pain, keep you mobile, functioning and full of energy…who doesn’t want that?

Faith in Chiropractic

Faith in Chiropractic

I understand that when a person walks into a chiropractic office, they have to have some sort of faith in chiropractic. Now don’t get me wrong, if you have been to a chiropractor before or have seen the results of chiropractic first hand, you know it works. There are a lot of people who have not had these experiences, or know nothing about chiropractic, but yet, still find themselves seeking the help of a chiropractor. They typically walk into our offices with this faith, or hope that we can help them. Or, sometimes they come in with a certain degree of skepticism. Either way I like to meet people where they are at, and show them how amazing their body is and what it is capable of.

The definition of faith is “the complete trust or confidence in someone or something”. When someone has been suffering for a long time, and they have not found results for their condition they usually end up in a chiropractic office as a last resort. I don’t take this responsibility lightly. Whether they have complete faith in me and chiropractic does not effect the results. Chiropractic works whether or not you believe in it…kind of like gravity. Even if you don’t believe in gravity, it’s still working.

Results

I truly wish people could follow me around all day at the office to see how powerful chiropractic is. You’d get to see and hear the stories I see and hear. Like the man who came in for lower back pain, but also told me he has had vertigo for years. Then after one adjustment his vertigo was gone. Or the pregnant woman who’s baby was not head down, but after a series of adjustments to her pelvis the baby flipped to the correct position. The man who hadn’t slept a full night in a year because of headaches and jaw pain who finally slept a full night after just three adjustments. The colicky baby who kept his whole family up every night that finally slept soundly after being adjusted. These stories go on and on. And most people have no idea chiropractic can do these things.

When I talk about faith, I am not speaking about religion here. Chiropractic is not a religion. I know this word is used in religious context more than anywhere else. Please do not be confused, chiropractic is a science, an art and a philosophy all in one.

My role as a chiropractor is very important to me. If you do become a patient in my office, it doesn’t matter if you have faith or are a skeptic. I will do my best to take care of you, help you heal, and when you see the results that chiropractic is famous for, maybe you will become a believer too!

Your in Health,

Dr. Bourdage

 

Sciatica? Chiropractic Can Help

Are you suffering from Sciatica? Chiropractic can help!

Sciatica can be caused by many different issues. It can be arthritic changes in the spine, a herniated disc, muscle imbalances around the hip, or muscle tightness. It is important to discover what is causing your sciatica and address that issue. That is our approach here at Bourdage Chiropractic.

Sciatica is characterized by pain in the back. This is accompanied by pain, numbness, tingling, or burning that travels down the leg and may even be felt into the feet and toes. The further down your leg it travels, the more severe your case is. It is important to have this checked out and do not wait for the symptoms to get better on their own. The longer you wait, the greater chance your sciatica may become chronic in nature.

Sciatica is the most common condition I treat at Bourdage Chiropractic. We have good success in helping people heal from this oftentimes awful condition.

Please watch the video above, and if you have any questions I’d be more than happy to discuss with you. Give me a call at 773-545-9379.

Yours in Health,

Dr. Steven Bourdage DC