Tag Archives: chicago

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

Be Intentional About Your Health

It’s a brand-new year and with a new start many people are making health goals right now. It’s great to have health goals. The problem is statistics show most people do not stick to them. This blog is not about helping you stick to your goals. I can’t help you stick to your goals. That has to come from within yourself. I’d like to introduce you to a different mindset to help you. Continue reading

Pain Sucks

Pain Sucks

I’m sure we can all agree that Pain sucks! Pain exists for a reason. Pain is the body’s way of telling you to pay attention because something is wrong. What normally happens is people ignore their pain, thinking that it will just go away. Sometimes it does just go away, and sometimes not. Either way, you need to correct the underlying problem that is causing the pain. This will ensure it does not become a chronic issue. Continue reading

10 Reasons You Need a Chiropractor

10 Reasons You Need a Chiropractor

Let’s be honest, there are more like 100 reasons, but for the sake of time here are the top 10 reasons you need a chiropractor in your life RIGHT NOW!

  1. Your nervous system controls everything that happens in your body. Spinal stress = Nervous system stress.
  2. Posture improvement. We sit more than ever and it is evident by people’s posture. We look more like hunched over apes then we do erect, strong humans. Chiropractors help with this.
  3. Stress relief. Have you ever noticed that when you get stressed your body becomes very tense and tight? Chiropractic to the rescue.
  4. Headache relief. Due to poor posture and stress people are having more headaches than ever. Subluxations in the neck irritate the nerves causing your headaches. Chiropractors adjust and remove subluxations.
  5. Prevention of health issues. I help my patients to identify their negative health habits and create new positive habits which helps them to stay healthier for longer.
  6. Energy. Are you feeling fatigued and sluggish? A proper, specific adjustment can wake you up faster than a shot of espresso!
  7. Improved athletic performance. There is a reason most all professional sports teams have a chiropractor on staff. Here’s a secret, it’s not to help with injuries, it’s to improve the performance of the athletes.
  8. Avoid surgery. If your first point of contact for a pain condition is a Chiropractor, your chance of having a surgery is much less than compared to if you see a medical doctor first.
  9. Age gracefully. Healthier people age better than unhealthy people. Seeing a chiropractor regularly and being proactive towards your health instead of reactive will help you to maintain your health and wellness.
  10. You have a spine! Like any other possession you have, if you do not take care of it, it will decay and fail. Do you take care of your teeth? Do you take care of your car? Your house? Hopefully the answer to these questions is YES! If you don’t take care of your teeth, car or house you can always replace them. Don’t take care of your spine there is no replacement option…you only get one!!

If you need a chiropractor in the Chicago or Lincolnwood area I would love to be YOUR chiropractor! Give me call 773-545-9379

Dr. Steven Bourdage

Elbow Pain Relief

Elbow Pain Relief

Elbow pain relief has become a very common reason people are seeking Chiropractic care. In my office, most cases of elbow pain are directly related to cell phone and tablet usage. The position our hand, wrist and elbow are in while using these devices creates problems. Continue reading

Health Insurance Has Nothing to do With Health

Health Insurance Has Nothing to do With Health

You can not and should not depend on your health insurance to keep you healthy. Health insurance has nothing to do with health. A good comparison would be to compare health insurance to life insurance. Life insurance has nothing to do with keeping you alive. Continue reading

Do You Need to See the Chiropractor Forever

Do You Need to See the Chiropractor Forever

Have you ever heard that you need to see the chiropractor forever? Of course you have, EVERYONE has heard this before! Let’s examine this at a deeper level. Continue reading

Why Medical Doctors Think Chiropractic Doesn’t Work

Why Medical Doctors Think Chiropractic Doesn’t Work

This is a very important topic I am going to write about today. This still comes up occasionally in our office, but in reality not that much anymore. I have more medical doctors as patients now than I ever have in 11 years of practice. After having discussions with them and thinking about this topic, I have answers as to why medical doctors think chiropractic doesn’t work.  Continue reading

Chiropractic Travel Tips

Chiropractic Travel Tips

Who doesn’t love to travel? Spring break is upon us and many people will be hitting the road and the air to travel to fun family destinations. Travel can be tricky if you are suffering from back or neck pain. Even if you are feeling good, travel can make you feel tight, achy and sore. Here are some Chiropractic Travel Tips to help you feel great once you arrive at your destination.

Move

You have to move your body! Lack of movement can create tension and pain. If you are driving make sure to get out of the car and move every time you stop. Drink a lot of water while driving because this will force you to stop often for potty breaks. If you are flying the advice is the same, get up and walk to the bathroom at least once an hour.

You can also move without getting up. Perform circles with your feet, head and neck and shoulders while sitting. Any movement is better than no movement. Fidgeting can also be a helpful habit while traveling because fidgeting will help to keep movement built into the time you are spending sitting.

Relax

Travel can be stressful. Any extra stress leads to more tension and pain. Try and stay relaxed during your travels to help alleviate any extra tension. I personally like to meditate while I am flying or the passenger in a car on a road trip. This helps me to stay mentally at ease which helps my body to stay at ease.

Once You Arrive

The first thing you should do once you arrive and settle in to your hotel is stretch. Particularly the areas to focus on are the thoracic spine (middle back), hips and shoulders. These are the areas of the body that get tight after long periods of sitting. While sitting these areas are in a flexed or rounded position which creates tightness and lack of motion. Spend 5-10 minutes loosening these areas up and you will be much happier and ready to enjoy your vacation to the fullest!

Yours in Health,

Dr. Steven Bourdage DC